A Tale of Two Goodgames and the Little Concert that Could

When I was in college, I heard about this guy named Randall Goodgame. If his name alone wasn't enough to get your attention (or at least become the fodder for bad jokes), his songwriting certainly stopped traffic. His lyrics were insightful, lighthearted, and melodic. Catchy. Turns out he was an alumni of my alma mater, BSC, (located, of course, on Arkadelphia Road, not far from the laundromat). And so somehow (I don't remember exactly how it came to be), I got to pick him up from the airport when he came to play a concert at our school. I remember three things from that experience: hearing him play "John 11" in Yielding Chapel, how he helped me revise some of my poetry for Professor Sprayberry's class (he'd taken her class, too, and man he was really nice because I look back on some of those poems now and they were awful), and how he talked on and on about his lovely daughter, Livi, who had recently been born to him and his wife, Amy, also a BSC alum.

This weekend my experiences with Randall Goodgame came full circle. I got to see that beautiful daughter Livi all grown up into a gracious 6th grader, playing violin alongside her Daddy. And hear her sing along with his songs. In my friends' backyard. With about a million kids running around. Eucharisteo!

this is how I spent my Saturday night

Here's how it came to be: For the past few years, Randall has felt this calling to minister to children through his music. It began when he and his buddy Andrew created a kids' album with some silly (and some more spiritual songs) called Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies. There was, apparently, a show scheduled for this past Saturday in Atlanta. My friends and I and our brood of little ones had all been excited about it for ages -- we were needing a Slugs and Bugs concert fix. However, on Wednesday evening, we found out it was cancelled. "Egads!" we said. "This cannot be! Someone, please, think about the children!"

So, I wrote Randall and asked if he was still planning on coming to town and if we could find a place for him to play, would he come?! And he said yes!

There were lots of e-mails back and forth. A group of my mom friends had been planning a book group for that night (appropriately, on parenting), so many of us already had Saturday evening reserved. So we did the right thing, rescheduled book club, and had a Slugs and Bugs concert in the Sayler's backyard instead! (Thanks again, guys, for hosting and setting up and everything!) It was the shortest time I've ever promoted a concert, much simpler than anything I've ever done, a far cry from the concerts I used to book in the Cellar at BSC and not at all like the one I'm promoting for September 29. But it was fun!


One of the best parts about experiencing a Slugs and Bugs live event is seeing the lovely animated cartoons and watching Randall sing along with the background music and also lead the hand motions. It's like some kind of acrobatic act.

"I Wanna Help" -- the S&B version of "We Will Rock You"

Thankfully, we even found some folks with a projector and a screen, willing to bring them. The funny thing is that by Saturday morning, we had TWO different sets of folks willing to bring projectors and screens. All day I kept thinking that I needed to tell Ron that he didn't need to bring his set, but I was out running errands away from the internet and I forgot. However, it turns out that the other folks (Becky's parents) got stuck in traffic, so it was fortunate (providential, even) that Ron showed up early and ready to go with a projector and portable screen! So thanks, man!

Team Redd also got stuck in traffic. The news and the internets misled us about the extent of construction on I-285, and we thought it was only the eastbound lanes. Alas, we spent an hour and a half on the road, moving very slowly. On the bright side, two little Redds got naps and the parents got to chat. When we arrived, it was apparently perfect timing, as we sat down on a shared picnic blanket just as Randall began his first song, "God Made Me."

The concert itself was amazing. About ten families sitting on lawn chairs and picnic blankets in a shady yard on a perfect fall evening under a clear sky, enjoying one of our favorite musicians perform our kids' favorite songs. I found Randall even more entertaining in such a small setting, and cracked up a few times at his exaggerated expressions to entertain the kids. Livi is an excellent assistant for her Dad, reminding him of song lyrics and demonstrating song motions, as well as playing along on a few tunes on her violin and singing BGV's. She even played the foil in the "Under where?" song, stealing her poor father's favorite stuffed bunny.

 (Thanks, Hwangs, for sharing your blanket with us!)

Still waking up from naptime in the car.

At one point, Randall took requests, and Jacob got to hear his favorite S&B song, "Who's got the ball?!" I don't know why he likes it so much, but it is memorable, and the song involves the names of Andrew and Randall's kids, and the acutal Livi was in attendance, so that was kind of cool. And the video is fun, with all the kids acting out the ball game and running around like crazy. About halfway through, though, Randall remarked, "I forgot how long this song is!" while strumming along on his guitar as Andrew's voice narrated the action. Good time for a water break!


During the concert, the kids learned new hand motions, and got to parade around the backyard, sing and dance and clap their hands. Or they could just sit and listen, if they so desired, like mine. And where else but at a backyard show can you bring your picnic dinner with you and enjoy it while you sing? We were also treated to two brand-new animated videos from the latest Slugs and Bugs record.

Last night was a lovely evening full of lovely people. As my friend Becky mused, "It felt like we won some kind of contest!" I'm pretty sure a "backyard house show" was one of the upper levels in the latest Slugs and Bugs Kickstarter campaign, so yeah, it was quite the special experience! We are just going to have to do this again sometime -- in fact, I suggest if there's another Kickstarter offer, that we all pool our money to get them to play another backyard show. Jacob asked me if we could get Randall to come to our neighborhood. We shall see.

Ethan also had a request. At the very end of the evening, when everyone was leaving, I asked Randall to play Ethan's favorite song. It's not from the Slugs and Bugs albums, but he requests it every time we ask him what he would like to hear from our music collection. Though Jacob wasn't feeling well and I had to take him to the van during part of the song, I was able to hear Randall finish playing "Bluebird" as the sky darkened and the evening came to a close. His daughter joined in and she sounded so much like her mother! I hope I never forget the look on Ethan's face as he watched them play and sing. What a beautiful way to end the night. We sang that song and talked about the show all the way home. "Bluebird, bluebird, don't you fly away..."

Here are the rest of my photos from the concert. I tried to actually just enjoy the show and the moment instead of cataloging it all through the camera (in this case, my ipod), and I think, in that, I succeeded.

Mesmerized, I tell you.

 

  

delightful daddy-daughter duo

Hutchmoot Explained. Mostly.

This past weekend we drove to Nashville for an event called Hutchmoot.

Why? Well, let's flashback a bit. About nine years ago I had the privilege to attend a summer program at St. John's College in Oxford, England. The college just happens to be located across the street from The Eagle and Child (a.k.a. The Bird and Baby), a local pub. If you are a C.S. Lewis fan, you might recognize the name. Lewis and his friends, including J.R.R. Tolkien (a.k.a. The Inklings), would meet weekly in a back room of The Eagle and Child to discuss their writings and shared interests. The room where they met was called The Rabbit Room. (I'm going somewhere with this, trust me.)

Flash forward to the present day. Andrew Peterson, the singer/songwriter/author, has created an online community to discuss art and music and literature. In light of his appreciation for C.S. Lewis, he calls it The Rabbit Room.

A few months ago, Andrew and his brother Pete invited some people to a real-life version of what has become a thriving online community. They called it Hutchmoot -- a hutch being a place where rabbits congregate and moot an Old English word for an assembly. Hence, a gathering of folks associated with The Rabbit Room would be called a Hutchmoot*. Get it? Yeah, it's geeky. But we roll that way.

At Hutchmoot, we had good company and good conversation. We listened to exceptional music and profound thoughts from Andrew Peterson and other Square Pegs familiar 'round these parts, like Eric Peters and Randall Goodgame. We ate excellent food prepared lovingly and with care. We enjoyed humorous LOST references, The Far Side comics, discussions about the nature of art, and we basically walked around in awe all weekend that no one else thought we were in the least bit odd. We most definitely "got our nerd on" and "geeked out" --two phrases we heard oft repeated from the speakers-- over characters like Sam Gamgee and the works of an author named Walter Wangerin, Jr. We got to hear Mr. Wangerin speak. I'm still reeling from that last one.

More to come, more to come, but I need sleep to continue processing.

*A miniature robin told me that Clay Clarkson, the author, is the one who came up with the name Hutchmoot. Not only do I appreciate he and his wife's books on parenting and motherhood, but he just shot up on my coolness meter like a gazillion points. Plus, his daughter Sarah came and spoke at the event. She's a writer and a fellow kindred spirit who is a huge fan of Anne of Green Gables. I liked her already.

|

Andy and The Andys in Atlanta

Andrew Peterson. Andrew Osenga. Andy Gullahorn.

Three most formidable singer-songwriters together here in the A-T-L! If you are familiar with our blog or just our taste in music, you will know these are three of our favorites. The only other place I think I've seen these three together is at one of AP's Behold the Lamb shows, but this is going to be SO MUCH BETTER. I'm sure hilarity and much good music will ensue.

Details come from Andy G, courtesy Ron Davis, also known as the Tim's brother-in-law, or, as I like to call him (due to his copious concert-attending): "The New Tex." (Thanks, Ron, for the heads up!)

Andys World Tour at Impact:

Andy Osenga (from Caedmon's Call), Andy Gullahorn, and Andrew Peterson will be coming to Impact at The Church of the Apostles on Sunday, October 18th, for a night of music. Mark it on your calendar; you’ll want to be there. The concert will be in the chapel at 7:30pm.

Actually, it may start at 7pm according to the website. So be there early. We will. Come on, be square!

Book Review -- North! Or Be Eaten

“Wild escapes. A desperate journey. And the ghastly Fangs of Dang!”



When I was little, I reveled in tales of far-off places, thrilling dangers and the fulfillment of legend. Even now, as an adult, I long to be lost in language, to immerse myself in a world that is both foreign and familiar, and to ultimately be captivated by a story that gives us a glimpse of the larger Story in which we find ourselves.

Andrew Peterson’s latest addition to his children’s book series, North! Or Be Eaten!, does just that, and yet it never takes itself too seriously. This is a good thing.

You may remember Peterson from his debut novel, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, which we reviewed here in 2008. This latest installment picks up where the last ended and continues at a galloping pace, careening through the landscape of Skree with twists and turns that might break your neck if you’re not careful.

There are swordfights and sea dragons as well as poetry and song. Each chapter's exploits lead quickly into the next, and I found it hard to put the book down and return to real life. Even more humorous proper nouns and quick quips kept me rolling, while the robust plot in this faster-paced installment had me hooked until the end. This book is also a bit darker, but only in the sense that bad things still happen to good people and the author doesn't shy away from the reality of death. Thankfully, the story overflows with more hope than the waters of Fingap Falls.

“Whether crushed or sheltered by the Maker’s hand, ’tis beneath it we go, from breath to death.”
— Triliban Plubius the Bruised, The Bridge, (Skree City Press)

In the midst of frenetic chases, family quibbles, measured despair, and weighty choices, short bursts of beautiful prose appear, sentences that make your breath catch and your heart yearn for More. Somehow Peterson manages to mingle the earthly and ethereal and yet still appeal to adventuresome eight-year olds. As always, the threads of redemption are subtly woven throughout this tale of trolls, toothy cows and troublemakers. I don't know how he does it, but I'd pay to be able to mix the silly and the sacred like that and make it work.

I would recommend this to anyone with an imagination and a heart. (That means you!)

If you're curious for a bit more, I'd suggest you check out the Wingfeather Saga online.

Andrew Peterson is the author of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Book One in the Wingfeather Saga, and The Ballad of Matthew’s Begats. He’s also the critically-acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist of ten albums, including Resurrection Letters II. He and his wife, Jamie, live with their two sons and one daughter in a little house they call The Warren near Nashville, Tennessee. Visit his websites: www.andrew-peterson.com and www.rabbitroom.com

|

Resurection Letters

Since we are coming to the close of Andrew Peterson Week here at Team Redd (though there is still one final post), and I have already shared some of my favorite Good Friday songs with you, and because we are approaching Easter, and because Andrew Peterson is such an awesome songwriter, I want to share what just might be my top favorite Andrew Peterson song of all time: High Noon.

Curt over at the Rabbit Room reminded me of it when he posted today about Andrew's tour and upcoming CD Resurrection Letters, and he shared a link I'd almost forgotten about, the Resurrection Journals from Holy Week 2007. (You'll forgive me if my memory is fuzzy -- I was staying awake with a newborn at the time.) If you haven't yet, you should also go read those journals, which are thoughtful reflections on the days leading up to Easter.

Which also reminds me...Andrew posted one last post on his old blog with a video from the Resurrection Letters tour, which is like the Christmas Behold the Lamb of God tour, only with the Easter Bunny. Wait, no, that's not right...

Anyway, as you celebrate with family and friends this weekend, and especially as you proclaim the triumph of the resurrection, I hope these lyrics, this allegory, helps you contemplate the glory of the moment on which all of history hangs, the climax of the age, in which the life of the age to come breaks through into our time, and Christ rose, the Heavens resounded, and the people rejoiced. Let His name forever ring out!

High noon in the valley of the shadow
When the deep of the valley was bright
When the mouth of the tomb shouted,
"Glory, the groom is alive"
So long, you wages of sin go on,
Don't you come back again
I've been raised and redeemed;
You've lost all your sting
To the victor of the battle at
High noon in the valley
In the valley of the shadow

And the demons, they danced in the darkness
When that last ragged breath left his lungs
And they reveled and howled
At the war that they thought they had won

But then, in the dark of the grave
The stone rolled away
In the still of the dawn on the greatest of days

High noon in the valley of the shadow
When the shadows were shot through with light
When Jesus took in that breath
And shattered all death with his life
Be gone, you wages of sin
Go on, don't you come back again
I've been raised and redeemed
You've lost all your sting
To the victor of the battle
High noon in the valley of the shadow

Let the people rejoice
Let the heavens resound
Let the name of Jesus, who sought us
And freed us forever ring out

All praise to the fighter of the night
Who rides on the light
Whose gun is the grace of the God of the sky

High noon in the valley of the shadow
When the shadows were shot through with light
When the mouth of the tomb
Shouted, "Glory, the Groom is alive"
Be gone, you wages of sin
Go on, don't you come back again
I've been raised and redeemed
All praise to the king
The victor of the battle
High noon in the valley
In the valley of the shadow

|

And the winner is...

We put the entries into a hat...

and Jacob, who likes paper, picked one! He was so cute getting it out of (his) hat and handing it to me very sweetly. I wish I'd taken a picture. Anyway, enough of this...

The winner of a copy of Andrew Peterson's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is Kelsey!

She even submitted a limerick even though she didn't have to:

I've a friend who's a fan of AP
And she wants me to join in her glee
Now he writes a book
I think that's the hook
That catches my interest in he.

(he? him? oh well, close enough)

Please e-mail me at allisonredd[at]gmail[dot]com with your address, Kelsey, and I'll send it along!

Thanks for everyone for playing! And if you don't have a copy already, you should go buy one this weekend -- it's available almost everywhere!

|

Andrew Peterson Week Update

Okay, okay. So no one wants to write a limerick. I get it.

It's too quiet around here. So as of tonight, if you want to win a free copy, all you have to do is comment.

Just post a comment, ANY comment, by midnight Thursday on the Giveaway post to win a free copy of Andrew Peterson's new book On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness.

I was going to write a post today about how Andrew Peterson helped bring Team Redd together, but I'll have to save that for tomorrow. It's only fitting that I give it adequate effort and include some old-school pictures. It'll give you something to look forward to while you enter the contest. Deadline is tomorrow at midnight!

|

Giveaway: On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson
releases TODAY, March 18th!

Visit Andrew Peterson's Official Website here.

Visit AP's site devoted to books, music, art, and life, called The Rabbit Room, here.

Read AP's biography here.

Read a fantastically long excerpt from the book here.

Read my review here.

Buy the book online from various sources here.

Read about limericks here. (Don't worry, that will be explained soon!)

We at the Team Redd household have been anticipating the release of this book for years. Ever since Andrew Peterson first shared with us a short story he had written about children's fingers magically walking down the stairs in the middle of the night while they we sleeping, we hoped that one day Andrew would become a published author. (It sounds gruesome, but it was really imaginative all the same!)

So, when we were given the chance to review his new book and give one away on our blog, we jumped at the chance.

And now it's time to announce the first ever Team Redd Giveaway!

Win it!
We have one copy of Andrew Peterson's book On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkess to send to a lucky reader!

All you have to do is post a comment, ONE comment only (no cheating please!), on this post and then we will put all the entries in a random number generator to find the winner!

It sounds easy ... too easy. So, I decided to make it a little more, um, interesting. In order to properly enter the contest, you must write a limerick about either Andrew Peterson or another fantasy author that you enjoy! Don't worry, the winner will still be picked randmonly, it's just that if we have to look through a bazillion comments I'd at least like them to be funny.

Also, be sure to include a working e-mail address where you can be contacted if you win. Comments will close Thursday night, March 20th, at midnight. The winner will be picked by random number generator and announced on this blog Friday morning! So come back to see if you've won!

Andrew Peterson writes limericks. You, too, can be like AP.

Don't worry, I've decided to start you off with a limerick of my own.

An old pirate named Podo from Skree?
Toothy cows and a girl named Leeli?
Surely you jest!
No, it's only the best
A new book by the famous AP!

See, that wasn't so bad, was it? (Heh. It's horrible, I know! So make yours better! We may even post some of the most amusing ones on our blog.)

Here's a quick review of the groundrules in order to win a copy of AP's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness:

1) Post ONE comment only on THIS POST. [Edit: ANY COMMENT is fine.]
2) Your comment must be in the form of a LIMERICK.
3) Your limerick may be about Andrew Peterson or another fantasy author/book series of your choice. (Feel free to glean ideas from the links above.)
4) The funnier, the better (for our enjoyment, anyway).
5) Include contact information (either in the post or on your blog)!
6) Make sure you post your limerick COMMENT by Thursday, March 20th, at midnight EST.
7) Come back here on Friday to find out if you won!

Acknowledgements: Thanks to Waterbrook Press (Random House) for the free copy.

|

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness Book Review

Any book with the subtitle "Adventure. Peril. Lost jewels. And the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree." will be sure to get my attention. Upon opening said book, I would expect to find action, mystery, suspense...and a large helping of humor. I was not disappointed!

In his first novel, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, Andrew Peterson weaves a magnificent tapestry out of what is at first glance merely an enjoyable children's fantasy story. Peterson has transmogrified* the ordinary adventure into a rollicking, robust tale that is neither too silly nor too sad nor too syrupy sweet, yet has the proper doses of all of the above. From beginning to end, this first installment of the Wingfeather Saga resounds with hope, stirs the heart, and tickles the funny bone while offering glimpses of the One True Story that makes all others worthwhile.

This imaginary world is imbued with a gaggle of cartoonish, oddly familiar creatures: some good, some benign, and some dangerous. The good, a family called Igiby, are our protagonists, and these three ordinary children will soon be caught up in an extraordinary adventure that begins in their own small township. When Tink, the middle brother, finds a mysterious map which mentions the lost jewels of Anniera, the siblings are propelled into a series of events that will forever alter their ordinary, somewhat comfortable lives, (since it is hard to be comfortable when you have been ruled by Gnag the Nameless for nine long years). With help from their mother Nia, grandfather Podo and various friends, the Igiby children attempt to avoid the dangerous Fangs--and horned hounds, toothy cows, and the occasional traitor in disquise--who are determined to harm them and capture the lost jewels for their leader.

Something that surprised me about this story was Andrew's ability to make even the most hilarious-sounding characters come to life with a pathos and drama that runs deeper than your usual children's book. From the Igiby three to Peet the Sock Man and Zouzab the Ridgerunner, Peterson has managed to develop amazingly complex, robust characters despite silly-sounding names. I did not expect to get so caught up in the Igiby's world, but by the end of the book, Peterson's ability to bring his characters to life forged an emotional connection, and I just couldn't put the book down. Though I guessed correctly about some of the events and circumstances, I was enthralled with these children and their world and stayed up past my bedtime, like a kid with a flashlight under the covers enjoying every stolen moment.

Not only has Peterson created a thrilling story, he also has perfect comedic timing coupled with a unique and somewhat odd, yet appealing, narrative style. Just a few chapters in, I was almost overcome by the giggle-inspiring vocabulary. The trilling titles of Leeli Igiby and Oskar N. Reteep, quotations from notables Eezak Fincher and Bip Thwainbly and locations like Fingap Falls and the Glipper Trail beg to be read aloud. From descriptions of Zizby matches on the lawn to a garden full of totatoes and a forest filled with cave blats, I had to keep pronouncing the not-quite-familiar words to myself so I wouldn't get confused. (By the way, AP, if you read this, I'm still not sure how to pronouce "Anneira". A-near-ra? An-ne-eye-ra? In my head it's stuck as A-near-re-a, for some reason.) Also, dear reader, you must be prepared for the footnotes. "Footnotes?" you might ask. "In a kid's book?" Somehow, Andrew makes it work. The result is only slightly jarring, as he will intersperse the most tense and serious moments with a random aside, but it helps to break the creschendo of action and offers a chance for the reader to make mock-serious Masterpiece Theater voices.

(The only thing better than reading this book aloud with your family would be to watch a live performance of Andrew Peterson voicing all the characters. You know that Aeden, Jesse, and Skye must have so much fun listening to their Papa tell bedtime stories!)

Peterson has thoughtfully imagined not only the names of characters and places, but also his entire mythical world. I admit, by the end, Peterson impressed me with the cohesion of his narrative. As one who wrote a senior thesis on C.S. Lewis' Narnia Chronicles, after finishing this first edition of the Wingfeather Saga, I will tentatively predict that Andrew has created a more comprehensive world than Lewis did. (Narnia fans, don't skewer me, please! Hear me out!) While Lewis borrowed his creatures from Norse, Greek, and Roman mythology as well as from his friend J.R.R. Tolkien, Peterson created his inhabitants (almost) entirely from scratch, providing extensive (and hilarious) footnotes on their backstories and providing humorous details that may or may not be relevant but are always entertaining. Admittedly, there are traces of Tolkien and Lewis and even J.K. Rowling (garden gnomes = thwaps) throughout, which is not surprising since they are some of his favorite authors. Peterson, however, breathes new life into an oft-imitated genre, with a unique voice and an enduring theme. I won't go so far as to say that the Igibys are the next Harry Potter, since that may be an impossible feat in the publishing world these days, but these books are sure to instill a love of reading into at least a few hundred dozen kids, one of whom I hope is my own.

As a fan of Andrew Peterson's music for almost ten years now, I would be remiss if I didn't mention some of his songs and lines that this book brought to my mind. The obvious "Little Boy Heart Alive" is overshadowed, in my opinion, by these fitting lines from a song Peterson wrote with Andrew Osenga, titled "More":

A thing resounds when it rings true
Ringing all the bells inside of you
Like a golden sky on a summer eve
Your heart is tugging at your sleeve
And you cannot say why
There must be more

When I read the last sentence of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, I felt at once that Peterson's book rang true. The hope that was shining in the Igiby home reflects the Hope that shines throughout Peterson's music and his life. I am grateful that through this book he has shared with us some of the light and laughter that fills his home.

Andrew Peterson is a critically acclaimed singer-songwriter and recording artist best known for his Dove Award-winning songs of the year, “Nothing to Say” and “Family Man.” A natural-born storyteller (being a preacher’s kid from the south), he wrote and produced the popular Christmas play and musical, Behold the Lamb of God. He has recorded seven albums and tours every year. Andrew and his wife, Jamie, are the parents of two sons and a daughter and live in Nashville, Tennessee. His website is www.andrew-peterson.com.

I hope this review inspired you to pick up a copy for yourself! You can buy it at Amazon or directly from Peterson himself at The Rabbit Room. We do have one extra copy you can win for yourself, so stay tuned for the Giveaway Announcement coming soon!

*transmogrify (v): to change or alter greatly and often with grotesque or humorous effect.

|

Andrew Peterson Week

Andrew Peterson's new book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness, releases tomorrow, Tuesday, March 18!

In honor of the AP Blog Tour that is taking place, we have deemed this Andrew Peterson Week here at Team Redd. So, along with our regular programming, we will post something related to the multi-talented AP (be it about this book, music, songwriting, etc) EVERY DAY this week. That's right, you're guaranteed at least one post a day! (I've been working on following through with things that I've promised lately, so thank AP for helping me aspire to higher standards.)

I finished reading our advance copy of his new book Saturday night, and I'm working on a review this morning, which I hope to have posted soon.

Until then, be sure to check out our friend Travis' blog, The Hog's Head, which normally features Harry Potter-inspired content, but is also highlighting Andrew Peterson this week (I swear, I thought of it before he did.). He'll also be posting a review and a giveaway as well as the ones here, so stay tuned.

|

AP Book Review and Giveaway

Most of our friends and family know the story of how we met at an Andrew Peterson concert eight years ago. However, most of you may not know that Andrew, besides being a fantastic musician, is also a published author!

His new book, On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness: Adventure. Peril. Lost Jewels. and the Fearsome Toothy Cows of Skree., will be appearing in bookstore shelves in a mere eight days!

To celebrate the release with much fanfare and gaiety, next week is the blog tour of Andrew's new book, and we are honored to participate by posting an original review. Last Friday, not just one but TWO copies arrived in our mailbox, which means we'll be giving one copy away! Come back here next Monday (you can return sooner, of course, but I can't post the review until then) to find out all the details. That's right, a Team Redd review of AP's new book AND a chance to win a free copy for yourself!

Oh, the exuberance. To whet your appetite, here's a summary:

In the once-quiet land of Skree, Janner Igiby, little brother Tink, and crippled sister Leeli stumble upon lost jewels of the mysterious King of the Shining Isle Anniera. But Gnag the Nameless seeks the treasure for purely evil ends, so our brave trio, accompanied by their trusty dog Nugget and ex-pirate grandfather, must escape his minion Fangs.

Singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson spins a page-turning tale of redemption peppered with songs, poems, and hilarious asides that follow the Igibys through a fantastical world of wonders, complete with...

memorable characters like Brimney Stupe, Armulyn the Bard, and the soft- shoe dancing Peet the Sock Man

fanciful creatures: sea dragons who sing by the light of moon, spine-tingling toothy cows, snarling horned hounds, and mischievous flabbits

and dazzling places: from Books & Crannies Bookstore and Anklejelly Manor, to Fingfap Falls, and across the Ice Prairies...not to mention the Dark Sea of Darkness.

Sensory descriptions and characters rich in heart, courage, and smarts make this a tale children of all ages will cherish, the whole family can read aloud, and book groups will surely discuss for its overarching theme of hope with layers of meaning about the life’s tangle of the beautiful and the horrible, the temporal and the eternal, and good and bad.

Remember, come back on Monday, March 17, for a full review and all the info on how you can win your own copy! Or, if you just can't wait that long, you can pre-order your very own autographed copy of On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness here.

|

Andrew Peterson Remembers Rich Mullins

AP reflects on Rich Mullins, who died ten years ago this week

New Andrew Peterson Album(s)

AP shares some exciting details about his current project.

Appendix M

Speaking of Andrew Peterson, he is releasing another collection of bootleg recordings and other rarities. Titled Appendix M: Media/Music/Movies , this compilation will have ... well, the title pretty much spells it out for you. Read more here.

Pre-orders are now being taken, and the proceeds will help fund AP's next studio album, Resurrection Letters, which is currently in the recording process.

New Andrew Peterson Album

Andrew Peterson is working on a new album, and he created a blog to document the recording process. There's some entertaining stuff here!

Behold the Lamb of God (2006)

Andrew Peterson's Behold the Lamb of God has established itself as an integral part of Team Redd's Christmas festivities. In addition to enjoying the album, we've also had the privilege of experiencing the Christmas musical live each year since its inception, including each of the Nashville shows. Each year's concert is magical, and this year's was no different.

Nashville, TN -- 12/6

For the third straight year, the Nashville concert has been held at the historic Ryman Theater -- an appropriate venue for the army of talented musicians that Andrew enlists each year. Writing a review of the show is an interesting task, since the show is basically the same each year ... but really it isn't. The performance of Behold the Lamb of God remains fantastic and fresh each time, and each year a different nuance of instrumentation or lyric catches my attention. Even the "in the round" portion follows a familiar pattern each year, from Andrew's "hobbit" references to Derek Webb, to the obligatory Andy Gullahorn comic relief song, to the displays of mind-boggling instrumental prowess by musical guests. But again, these well-worn grooves never become tiresome.

Here are a few notes from this year's show:

(Note: There are way too many guys named "Andy" involved with this performance, so Andrew Peterson will be designated as "AP." Also, some of this might be non-chronological.)

AP performed an opening song ("The Far Country"), and he then introduced the evening's format. In honor of the special evening, AP had written a limerick for each of the "in the round" performers. He assured us that the word "Nantucket" would not appear in any of his rhymes.

Derek Webb's introductory limerick referenced his successful journey with the One Ring to Mount Doom. Before playing his song ("A King & A Kingdom"), he explained that "in the round" is really just Nashville-speak for "if you hate the person who's currently playing, you won't have to wait long to hear someone else."

Sandra McCracken joined Derek for her number ("Shelter"). AP used her introductory limerick to stress the fact that Derek married up.

Randall Goodgame talked briefly about his latest collaboration with AP, a children's album called Slugs & Bugs & Lullabies. Basically, the album is to help kids remember that God made them, and also that they could be eaten by animals at any time. Randall sang "Bears," with BGV's provided by AP, Andy G., and Andy Osenga.

Eric Peters made a long-overdue BTLOG appearance, complete with his usual self-deprecating humor. ("[Playing with this assortment of talented musicians] I feel like a piece of spoiled lettuce in an otherwise delicious sandwich.") Of course, he then proceeded to belt out a terrific performance ("You Can Be Yourself").

Andy Osenga arrived at the show straight from the hospital, as his wife had given birth to their second daughter just two days prior. Osenga is an amazing dude, because he can flat-out wail, both vocally and on guitar. He delivered a great song ("New Beginning," with a few lines rewritten to align with his daughter's birth) and also indicated that he was returning to the hospital after the show, to take his new daughter home for the first time.

Andy Gullahorn lamented the fact that he was performing without his wife, Jill Phillips, who was vocally-impaired due to illness that evening. Nevertheless, Andy G. was terrific. He described his song "More of a Man" as being "basically about the feminization of man," noting how marriage and fatherhood have carried him far from his days of hunting and working on a farm, ushering him into the world of Dora the Explorer, salads, and Gilmore Girls on DVD. As with many of his songs, Andy G. makes the transition from comic to poignant almost seamlessly.

Ron Block, of Alison Krauss and Union Station fame, sang a rollicking country/Gospel number, with lyrics punctuated by blistering lead guitar breaks. He's just as phenomenal on guitar as he is on banjo (which is very).

Sara Groves played two of her songs. I'm not too familiar with her work, but I enjoyed her set.

Pierce Pettis also played a couple of unfamiliar songs, which were both really good. It has been a real treat to see Pierce join AP at the Ryman for the past three years. He truly is a brilliant songwriter.

After a brief intermission, Andrew and friends presented Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ. If you haven't heard this album yet, you really have no excuse, since you can stream it through AP's website. This album highlights why AP is one of the finest songwriters around. Instead of taking a familiar approach to Christmas, AP begins in the Old Testament and establishes the narrative context for the coming of Christ. (Yay for narrative!) And it doesn't hurt that he has plenty of talented musicians to support him in the telling of The Story.

In addition to the artists above, AP's band included Garrett Buell (of Caedmon's Call) on drums, Cason Cooley (as seen on Conan O'brien) on bass, a string section led by the illustrious Marcus Myers (of Silers Bald), Steve Hindalong on percussion, Josh Coffey on mandolin, Kurt Heinecke (of Veggie Tales) on various flutes and whistles, the superb Ben Shive and the incomparable Gabe Scott. (Ben and Gabe were probably tied for most instruments played during the night.) Part of the enjoyment was watching the ballet of seamless instrument transitions between and during songs. Sandra sang the lead vocal in Jill Phillips' stead for "Labor of Love," and she did a fantastic job. Actually, everyone involved did a wonderful job. With all the vocal talent available, the harmonies were lush and glorious. And the musicians had plenty of opportunities to shine, especially during the instrumental versions of "O Come, O Come Emmanuel" and "The Holly and the Ivy."

Each year, we often get asked why on earth we trek to Nashville to see a concert, and sometimes we end up asking ourselves the same question. But as soon as the show starts, we know the answer. And once the show ends, a new question forms: how long until the next concert?

(As an added Square Peg Alliance bonus: we ran into Matthew Perryman Jones at dinner before the show. And I have to agree: McDougal's Village Coop has some of the best chicken tenders ever!)

Fayetteville, GA -- 12/8

Providentially, the question of "how long until next time" was answered quickly, as the BTLOG tour made a stop just south of Atlanta. In past years, the Christmas tour has been a stripped-down version of the Nashville show, but this year there wasn't that much stripping down. Instrumentally, the string section was missing, as were Ron, Steve and Kurt. Pierce, Randall, Sara and Andy O. were not present either, but the rest of the vocalists were, including a recuperated Jill Phillips. Needless to say, the touring band was still a musical ensemble of extraordinary magnitude. The format was similar to the Ryman show, although each artist (except AP) played two songs in the round. I won't re-hash the concert in detail, but here are some highlights:

AP kicked off the night with a new song called "Four Loves" (which, incidentally, is not based on the C.S. Lewis book).

Derek also played a new song, and Sandra quipped that she always hears his songs for the first time at concerts.

Andy G. cracks me up. He played the same song as he did at the Ryman, but with slight variations on the intro story. The deadpan delivery kills me every time.

In addition to possessing mad mandolin skillz, Josh Coffey plays a mean fiddle.

Eric Peters filled in for Andy Osenga, and I was curious how Eric was going to handle some of the vocal wailing parts. But he absolutely nailed them. It was pretty awesome.

I cannot reiterate how much "the man" that Gabe Scott is. Not only does he play multiple instruments during the show, he's also intimately involved with the support roles that make the show happen. I expected to see him working with the stage set-up/breakdown, but I didn't expect to see him working the merch table after the show. What an awesome guy.

One final note: The concert was part of the Dickens Village that the hosting church presents each year. It was kind of surreal to hear street urchins announcing an Andrew Peterson concert with fake British accents.

We certainly enjoyed both shows, but, alas, the BTLOG tour steams on, leaving Team Redd behind. If AP and friends happen to come near your area, please check them out. As for me and my household, we'll have to make do with the cd version until next year.

Almost Perfect

This Weekend in College Football ...

Georgia Tech smacked-down Virginia Tech, 38-27.

Auburn eked out a 24-17 win over South Carolina on Thursday night.

Alabama lost to Florida, 13-28.

Had U[sic]GA lost to Ole Miss (and the hated Dawgs barely scraped by, 14-9), it would have been a perfect college football weekend for Team Redd.

GT did climb six spots in the AP poll, to No. 18.

In Other News

On Friday night, we drove up to Knoxville's New City Cafe to catch Andrew Peterson and Jill Phillips during their "Square Peg Tour 2006." Accompanying them were the inestimably-talented Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn. Everyone sounded great, and the setlist was a fairly even split between Andrew and Jill, with a couple of solo numbers from Andy G. and even one by Ben. Plus, New City is always such a cool place to see a concert, largely due to the venue's ongoing support of artistic excellence. We caught the evening's second show (at 9:30 PM), which was apparently a bit more relaxed and intimate than the 7 PM one. This environment prompted Andrew et al to try out a number of new songs, which were great to hear. Andrew had one especially powerful one, about the complex nature of his relationship with his father, and the implications for his relationship with his own son. I love that Andrew can write songs with content that doesn't resolve neatly and easily; indeed, he isn't afraid to honestly yet hopefully capture aspects of life that are messy and uncertain. In fact, his shows usually embody this, with the amazing music punctuated by the occasional flubbed lyric, mid-show huddles to amend the setlist, and the frequent between-song ad-libs, whether humorous or serious. Some might view these as faults, but I enjoy these quirks which serve as a reminder that, as Jill's new album states, "Nobody's Got It All Together." Andrew (and Jill and Ben and Andy) make no apologies for clearly displaying their need for God's grace, and they then offer powerful glimpses of that very grace in their art.

As always, if you have a chance to see any of these fine folks in concert, don't pass it up.

Square Peg Overload

Team Redd loves good music, and the fine folks of the Square Peg Alliance definitely provide copious amounts of it. In fact, we've been privileged to see over a third of them in concert within the last week. Here's a brief summary:

Last Friday Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken played at Rockdale Community Church in nearby Conyers. This church always lines up quality acts for their summer concert series. Derek and Sandra provided a wonderful evening of music to the beyond-capacity crowd (probably 300+). We were at the church when the doors opened (thirty minutes before showtime), and the place filled to ~70% capacity within fifteen minutes. Extra chairs arrived from other rooms, but a good number of folks still were relegated to standing along the walls and in the back.

Derek and Sandra sounded fantastic (despite a few amplifier issues), energized by the large and enthusiastic audience. Sandra played a great opening set, accompanied by Derek on most of the songs, and after a brief intermission, Mr. Webb played an assortment of songs spanning his entire repertoire (both Caedmon's and solo). I especially appreciate how Derek connects the socially-themed content of Mockingbird, his latest album, with the unabashed Gospel message of his previous works. Derek also discussed his plans to make Mockingbird available for free download for three months, which is very cool. One humorous moment (of several): At the end of the show, Derek was introducing Sandra's song "Awake My Soul," and he related how he initially mistook the song for an old hymn the first time he heard Sandra singing it (since Sandra has done a lot of great work in writing new tunes for lesser known hymn texts). But it really is a McCracken original that only sounds like it could be an old hymn. Not two breaths later, Derek stated that the song was "a hymn text from the 1700s that Sandra had written a chorus for." After a few awkward seconds, she piped up and caused Derek to do a double-take and realize what he had just said. "See, the song is that good, it still fools me!" He then made a comment about how good Sandra looked for being 300 years old. Funny, funny.

(One other cool thing: we were able to snag a copy of Sandra's new disc Gravity | Love, which wasn't supposed to be available until late August. Yet they were on sale at the concert. Good stuff!)

On Tuesday Matthew Perryman Jones played at Eddie's Attic here in the Atlanta area. Eddie's is a cool but small venue, and MPJ definitely packed the place, especially with some of his hometown connections. I've seen him play at Eddie's before, but this time he was supported by a band, including the ubiquitous Cason Cooley (keys and vocals), Justin Orton (drums) and a bass player whose name was also Matthew. MPJ is currently touring with Faith Gilmore, a fellow Nashville singer-songwriter, and he and the band played during her opening set. I had never heard of her before Tuesday, but I thought she was fairly decent. MPJ sounds really great with a full band, although not as much rock was had as he originally intended: he commented that he had originally planned to play most of his set on electric guitar, but the fickle instrument was proving problematic. Regardless, he still sounded wonderful, and it was definitely an "on" night. In addition to his own material (including several cuts from his new highly-endorsed-by-Team-Redd album, Throwing Punches in the Dark), he treated us to a couple of great covers by Paul Simon ("American Tune") and U2 ("Like A Song"). Also, I think the hometown crowd really energized him, because he was much more light-hearted and banter-prone than usual ("not as dark and brooding," as he put it).

One funny thing: Because of the relatively large crowd and Eddies' small capacity, the musicians really couldn't get too far from the stage after each set. So they just sort of hung out in the back corner where we were sitting (I was with a group of about 15) until it was time to play, with only a velvet rope demarcating the slim corridor leading up to the stage. They basically got to take about five steps off stage, wait, and then turn back around.

The only downer for this show was that Allison was out of town visiting her parents. But she wasn't completely deprived of music, because ...

On Wednesday Andrew Peterson played in Opelika, AL, and Allison and her mom were able to enjoy the concert (without me, sadly). Andrew's right-hand man Ben Shive was absent, since his wife just delivered their new son, but fellow Square Pegger (and fellow Andy) Andy Gullahorn was present to provide guitar skillz. It's notoriously difficult to write a review of a concert one hasn't attended, so I'll leave the floor open for Allison to provide additional details. From what I hear, though, it was a great show, with a new song from each Andy, as well as plenty of old favorites, comical banter, and even some cover tunes.

So to recap: one week (6 days, actually), three concerts, five Pegs. Not too shabby!

Concert Calendar

For the past two summers, Rockdale Community Church in Conyers, GA, has been hosting free concerts on Friday nights with both local and Nashvillian folk-rock acts. In the past, we've experienced the talents of Andrew Peterson, Eric Peters, Randall Goodgame, Andrew Osenga, and Matthew Perryman Jones. All highly enjoyable, and did I mention FREE?! In the past, I only found out about the shows through the artists' sites or by looking at the calendar once we attended, not realizing there was a website with this most valuable information.

Here is a complete listing of these free Friday night shows.

Sadly, we've missed most of June's shows, but here are two upcoming that might be of great interest to our readers:
July 7th -- Matthew Smith and Indelible Grace
July 14th -- Derek Webb and Sandra McCracken

Flesh and Blood

"I love the fact that it's a Communion song because of all the things that happen in a church service, I believe Communion is perhaps the most important. No one should leave a church meeting without at some point, in some way being confronted with the body and blood of Christ." (Andrew Peterson)



Flesh and Blood
Words and Music
by Andrew Peterson and Ben Shive

Flesh and blood
Born a baby
Flesh and blood
You lived and breathed
Amazing love
You came and gave your flesh and blood
To set me free

Hallelujah for the bread it is His body
And the wine it is the blood that binds us now
And the living bread remains
The communion of the saints
Sing the mystery of faith
Flesh and blood

“Flesh and blood
You are my children
Flesh and blood
If you believe
So take this cup
And when you taste my flesh and blood
Remember me”

Hallelujah for the bread it is His body
And the wine it is the blood that binds us now
And the living bread remains
The communion of the saints
Sing the mystery of faith
Flesh and blood

We remember blessed Jesus, we remember
God help us all if ever we forget
That the author of the story
Cast off His crown of glory
For a crown of thorns
And flesh and blood