Another Set from Wilmington

Here's a link to another set from that same concert. If you're ever near Wilmington, OH, check out this place. Amazing sound and more amazing people.

Wilmington Revisted

Last weekend I had the privilege of spending a day and a half with the band in Wilmington, OH. We played friday night to a small collection of people in one of the best venues I've ever played -- incredible sound, lights, space, etc.

Saturday we practiced and then got a chance to spend some time serving food at the noon meal that our friends at Joe's serve to people in need.

This venue puts all their concerts online, so feel free to watch it if you like. It's encouraging and challenging to listen to it for me, since I hear all my weaknesses but also feel how much fun it is and how the heart of the songs is getting through at least some of the time!

First gigs with the Northern Brilliant

I've been swamped getting ready for the Dandelion Seed artists' conference next week - not to mention trying to get caught up on everything else I got behind on that's been catching up on me. All that to say I've been wanting to really do justice to what for me was a hugely significant first set of shows in Ohio over a week ago. The first live attempt at this Watershed Project songs, and the debut of the Brilliant.

We played two nights in Bluffton, OH. The first was at the University. Played in a courtyard. Was sloppy but glorious. The next night we played in the back room of a Mexican restaurant. Handed out earplugs for people who wanted them -- and played some LOUD rock and roll.

That's basically what happened. I'll try to get at how I felt about it and why at some point soon -- in the short term -- it feels like something I've been wanting to do since I was 16 and it's starting to click. A lot of it is the band. The songs too. Switching from acoustic to electric. And there's more but I definitely have not hit my writing target here (remember: short, clear, deep) so I'll stop.

You Never

You Never from Jonathan A Reuel on Vimeo.

It's been crazy -- more than usual. Feel myself getting into that place where I forget to look up, slow down, and miss the important things. What would I do if it weren't for Love that doesn't go away, stop, or forget me?

Just a couple verses and a chorus which slipped out of me a couple days ago between other things.

Get a song, help someone

The deal is basically make a donation (you choose how much) and download a couple tunes from the album ahead of time. Driving from Asheville NC to Ohio for the gigs last week I drove through some of the wreckage from the storm. I hadn't heard about it yet (it was early morning) and I started to notice bits of pink fuzz alongside the highway. I couldn't figure out what it was. Then there were trees broken down and the traffic slowing. Then it just got worse and worse -- it was insane: semis upside down, roofs of houses blown off, people standing around looking dazed, helicopters, rescue people, etc. Finally I realized the pink stuff was insulation from destroyed buildings.

When Denice (who is helping with management, booking, etc) had the idea to put up a couple songs from the upcoming album for donation to help out with disaster relief it sounded great to me. Whatever comes in through this will give to Mennonite Disaster Service (they do great work). If you don't help this way, consider finding some other way to, even if it's just by starting by taking a few minutes out of whatever you're in the middle of to think of people whose normal life has been turned inside out, and who may still be (literally or emotionally) standing numbly as the sun rises to reveal the wreckage of what was their home and community. Sometimes these things shock us awake in new ways and we find a new life and new purpose out of it -- but that doesn't happen alone.

First Practice with the (Texas) Brilliant

After driving through a crazy hailstorm somewhere between NC and Dallas, and noticing that there is a well established group called "Texas Tornado" I have decided that it's appropriate to call the band "the Brilliant." For one, they are brilliant, all 7 of them (3 Texans, 2 from OH, 1 from MI), and second it's kind of fun to be Jonathan Reuel AND the Brilliant, since at this point when I pick up the electric I definitely don't feel like I belong in the "Brilliant" category -- although you can count me in the "deliriously happy and learning quickly" box. And, after all, this is rock and roll we're playing, and the Brilliant is good enough to play with "the loud and sloppy."

Enough of that. We had our first practice last night here in Wylie Texas and all I could think of the whole night was "Really? I get to do this?" We've got some work to do, but the guys knew the music pretty well and there were some amazing moments. I think this music is going to work live. I've had my doubts because it's a different animal than banging the acoustic guitar and adding some parts. These songs require the bass and drums to carry them much of the time -- which they are doing brilliantly.

Cornerstone Festival

The band and I were selected as one of the possible bands to play at the New Band Showcase at Cornerstone music festival this year. There's a pile of bands and they pick 15 or so of them based on votes and/or the opinions of music industry people. (Cornerstone Festival is a music and arts festival held every year near Bushnell, Illinois the week of July 4th.)

You can vote for us to help us get there. Seems like a small chance it could happen, but I never thought we'd get this album done either, so who knows! If it did happen it would be a great last hooray before heading into sabbatical.