Week 41...

So, when I married Rachael, it was actually my second time around the block. My oldest boys are from my first marriage. My relationship with their mother was never easy. I didn't understand that at the time because it was all I had ever known. I don't think this is the place for sharing all of the gory details of how my first marriage fell apart. Just know that it exploded and shattered my entire world into thousands of tiny pieces. Some of it I glued and duct taped back together. Some parts had to be completely replaced. Some parts I never regained, and in most of those cases, it was a good thing. I hit the bottom and found out exactly what I was made of. I had never been so afraid to look at myself in the mirror. I had never been so afraid, period. 

I do know that I would not be the man, husband, father, leader or friend I am today, had I not gone through that pain. "Parable of the Broken Man" was written deep within the belly of my trials. You can hear that in the lyrics. Rachael doesn't like this song. She doesn't like remembering or thinking about things that scarred my heart.

I don't hold any grudges. It all worked out exactly how it was supposed to. I am thankful for it.

Today, my ex and I have a pretty great relationship with each other. My wife and my ex-wife have an even better relationship with each other. Crazy... I know. It has been a true blessing for everyone involved. We are all on the same team when it comes to the big boys. Every time my ex comes over, she loves on the three little ones as if she is family. 

If you had asked me twelve years ago how I thought my story would play out, I wouldn't have even come close to scripting this. I'm glad I'm not the one who is doing the writing. 

Enjoy, 

Christopher

     Daniel Owen played bass guitar. Kevin McClain and I tracked drums for a rerecording this song in 2009. It sat on a hard-drive, that I thought was dead, for a few years. A buddy of mine recently showed me how to retrieve all of my lost data! There was some good stuff on that joker. 

     "Parable of the Broken Man" will be a decade old in December, 2012. Wow. The original demo version had a super dancy outro part, complete with some sweet electronic drums. Due to the subject matter of the song, that part didn't make the cut for future versions performed by One Amazin' Kid. 

Lyrics

I'm waiting on the phone call
That says you're coming home 
With willing hands 
And a heart that won't give up on this again

So many things we've held precious
Were left here beside this open door
Now who is to own them
Without us, what can there be?

I'm waiting on the light
That once filled your eyes and heart with hope
But every time I reach
I am crushed beneath the weight of your words


So many things we've held precious
Were left here beside this open door
Now who is to own them
Without us, what can there be?

I know now what Hell is
I've felt it's touch
I've seen it devour the one I love
I've run into the fire
And come out empty handed
My heart is broken

Tonight, I will wait for you for the last time
Don't give up, don't let me down

Week 31...

I had a request for "Sink, Swim" by my old band, One Amazin' Kid. I just had to oblige. 

When I met my wife, Rachael, I knew I was in trouble. She was young and inexperienced. I was pretty much the opposite. My experiences included being married, divorced and being the father of two little boys. Alas, there was an immediate connection with Rachael, regardless of age or baggage. I fell head over heels for her. Along the way, we've dealt with a lot of that baggage. There were moments when I  deeply regretted and was saddened by my past decisions, (none of those regrets have anything to do with my boys.) I've mourned the chunks of my heart that I gave away, previous to knowing Rach. If only I'd have known she was out there. If only I could have introduced myself to her, whole and unbroken. Hindsight, right? I know for a fact that I would not have been the man she needed without my trials. They have sharpened me along the way. I am a better man. The journey has been long and rewarding. 

"Sink, Swim" is a song about regret and the aftermath. Those "old bones" from our closet or the bottom of the sea, where ever we might hide them, will always make themselves known. I am so thankful that I found someone filled with grace and understanding. Rachael Rebecca, I am glad that fate fell upon the two of us! 

Enjoy, 

Christopher 

     Recorded August 6-7, 2012. My dear friend and ex-bandmate, Grayson Berkowitz recorded the electric guitar parts at his house, then Dropbox-ed them to me. He does good work, I tell you. Thanks for your time, Grumpa.

Lyrics

The sea came alive with old bones

And ours were held responsible

Who's to care if we sink or swim

As long as there is air

Let's hope we've brought enough harm

To every single soul

Now that fate fell upon us

Now that fate fell upon us

This mother only cares for the young

And aged are we by blistering suns

The cradles song ever begs me to rest

It's always in the air

Let's hope we've brought enough harm

To every single soul

Now that fate fell upon us

Now that fate fell upon us

If we could spend our nights

Eyes locked and opened wide

Consequence would fade

Beneath every blink

These names I have held from you

But all to hold onto you

Now that fate fell upon us

Now that fate fell upon us

The sea came alive with old bones

And ours were held responsible

Week 26...

First off... OFFICIALLY HALF WAY THROUGH 52!!! 

In all honesty, I never thought I'd make it this far. Like I said in the intro to 52, I am not a very disciplined person. Maybe I've taken some steps in the right direction, though. Stay tuned this week. I will be having a Half Way Party Contest. 

This is my friend Joe.

I have an old friend named Joe. He's a pretty great guy. For years, literally years, he has wanted the two of us to cover Queen and Bowie's "Under Pressure." I thought 52 would be a perfect place for our version to reside. Joe used to play in a band named the Radio Silence. He also filled in for One Amazin' Kid, for a stint. I first met him at our old church. He was this long haired, skinny kid who had a feather hanging from his Peavey Predator. He took guitar lessons and I'm pretty sure he wanted to be a shredder. Thankfully, he matured into a tasteful player and a great songwriter. It was nice getting to reconnect with him for the weekend; even though his son, Noah bullied my littlest sweetheart, Isaiah Jane. Noah is now banned for life from ever trying to date one of my daughters. 

I recorded the Radio Silence several times. The last time, I remember stopping during one of the vocal sessions to ask about the inspiration behind a song called "Graves." For some reason, it kept resonating with me. Joe cracked a small grin and sighed. He said, "Well, It's kind of about you." We had both gone through some rough times due to relationships ending. I was touched by his silent and sincere support. I don't know if he would have ever told me about the song if I hadn't asked him. I am truly glad I did. 

Well, Joe, we did it. I hope it exceeded your expectations. I hope the whole world enjoys it. 

 Christopher 

     Recorded June 21-25, 2012. Guest vocals by Joe Lieb. If you listen closely near the end of the song, you can hear some sleigh bells. I sampled these for Joe's old band back in the day and have purposefully used them on every recording I could. All of the sleigh bells on my Christmas record, And Winter, are these very bells. Because Christmas is not Christmas without sleigh bells. Thanks, Joe, for making Christmas what it is today!
     "Under Pressure" written by Freddie Mercury, Brian May, John Deacon, Roger Taylor and David Bowie.

Week 23...

This week, I thought I'd revisit a song from my old band, One Amazin' Kid. At the end of our time together, we had a bunch of songs that we were playing live, but hadn't recorded past the demo phase. This was one such song. 

I wrote it after having a conversation with an old friend. Our paths had separated along the way. We reminisced on old times and talked about our lives apart. We both had our share of struggles to deal with. I was dealing with the aftermath of my divorce and was trying to figure out how to start over. He was dealing with drug abuse and depression. He talked of feeling completely alone and turning to drugs and alcohol to fill the void. The conversation left me mourning for him. I walked away from the talk with fresh eyes and a new perspective. Even with all I was going through, I felt the complete opposite. My void was filled. I kept saying to myself, "the past is in past. Grace covers all. Life has worth. Why doesn't he see it?" I could never seem to find the right way to say these things to him, so I put it into a song. 

"Rest For the Weary" is one of my favorite songs I've ever written. The lyrics mean so much to me. I hope you find something in them for yourself. Tell your friends about it. It would mean the world.

Enjoy, 

Christopher

     Recorded June 1-4, 2012. My old drummer Kevin McClain and I started tracking this in October, 2009, but never finished it. Those drum tracks had been sitting on a defective hard drive for a few years until my amazing neighbor kindly showed me how to retrieve the files! Kevin has recently been touring Europe with his new band, American Aquarium. Check them out if you get a chance.

Lyrics

Morning breaks, sweetly

Lift your face to the glory of the skies

It burns away the faults of yesterday

Open up, Blessed

Your heart aches and your soul was left to die

But don't believe you've been forsaken

We can be golden

We can feel innocence again

On this search for every reason

To give this life one more chance

We can be golden

We can forgive ourselves our past

Broken still

I feel it coming 'round

A mourning song begins

Strengthening before the shadows even fall

And it's become the thorn in your side

Open up, blessed

Joy awaits where hope is found

And the lights there are blinding

We can be golden

We can feel innocence again

On this search for every reason

To give this life one more chance

We can be golden

We can forgive ourselves our past

Broken still

I feel you coming around

Your burdens are fatal to hold alone

So you can rest them all on my shoulders

For tonight, lay it on me

For tonight, bury it in me

The winds blow colder with every step you take

But you, my friend, will never be alone again

For tonight

Week 21...

She's the winner!

So the winner of my Quarter One Contest was the one... the only... Mrs. Patti Dawn Reese. She was the lucky winner of an entire bag of cash, a full wardrobe makeover from my very own haute couture collection, and the right to choose a song for me to cover for 52. It took her an extremely long time to choose one, but she finally decided on this little diddy: "Don't Look Back In Anger," by Oasis. I hope that I made you proud, young lady.

Enjoy, 

Christopher

     Recorded on May 21-22, 2012. You should check out Patti's husband's work. His name is Brandon Reese, and he is an incredible artist. He once did a sweet show poster for my old band, One Amazin' Kid. 

     "Don't Look Back In Anger" written by Noel Gallagher.

Week 12...

So, I fell in love with this girl, right? She is funny and smart. She is beautiful and kind. She has her stuff together. Honestly, she is very much out of my league. She went to private school, you know. The world was her oyster but she decided she wanted this clam of a man. Namely, me. I don't deserve her, I'll admit it. Did I mention that she has a father? Oh, man.

Three months after Rachael and I started dating, she went on a mission trip with YWAM. She was gone for five months. I was miserable. But through that time apart, I realized how much she meant to me. I knew if we could date for three months then be apart for five and still be into it... It must be something special. We sent letters and emails. We would talk on the phone when we could. And guess who payed her phone bill. Have I mentioned her father yet?

Mr. Brown and Rachael circa 1986

Needless to say, Mr. Brown was not so enthused at the idea of his little princess falling for a man who had been married and divorced. A man with two kids and a decade more of life experience. The situation was definitely not the norm. But there was something about this girl that I couldn't get over. 

He called me one afternoon, (surely after receiving his phone bill.) He wanted to meet me for a chat. We arranged a time and place. I had a feeling that we might hit it off. Rachael had mentioned that he was a musician. I went into it like a job interview. A job that I wanted - no, needed, very badly. I made sure I had good posture and dressed well. We sat down at a table in the food court at Southpark Mall. He sat back in his chair, crossed his legs with his hands on his knees and listened to my story. Every now and then, he would come back to the table to write a note on his legal pad. I thought, "oh, he's just taking notes so he can remember things." I felt like it was going pretty well. Nearing the end of the conversation, he dropped the bomb on me. He told me that he no longer wanted me to see his daughter. It took the wind right out of my sails. I remember feeling embarrassed. I could feel the blood run to my cheeks.

Just at this moment, over Mr. Brown's left shoulder, I saw a familiar face. My bassist, Jason, from One Amazin' Kid was standing there, making a ridiculous face. He thought I was in a business meeting and was trying to mess with me. Jason is one of the most hilarious people I know, but I didn't seem to have any problem keeping a straight face and focusing on the situation at a hand. He then realized, by the look on my face, that he shouldn't be messing around. The atmosphere was heavy. It was funny to talk about later, but not in the moment. 

I surprisingly mustered up enough courage to rebut his statement. See, I knew something that he didn't. I knew that Rachael was in love with me. I knew the chemistry and connection that bound us together, even before we started dating. I knew that this woman would change my life; and I, hers. I knew. So, I said, "I mean you no disrespect at all, but that is a decision that Rachael will have to make."  

An engagement, a wedding, a boy, a house, twin girls and seven years have passed since then. I have learned and grown quite a bit. A good chunk of that is because of my father-in-law, Gary Brown. He is a great and generous man. He is a wonderful teacher. He recently sent me a text message in which he called me, "son." I don't know if he knows how much that meant to me. If he reads this, he will. Oh, the old days aren't completely forgotten. The family still likes to joke about Scary Gary and the alleged "bullet with my name on it." I wonder whatever happened to it?

I've been talking to my brother-in-law, Tyler, (singer/songwriter in his own right,) about doing a piece for 52. I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to surprise Mr. Brown with a song. We decided to do something from the Beatles, since they are one of Mr. Brown's favorite bands. Everything came together nicely. But we realized it needed a bassline. Even though we wanted to surprise Mr. Brown with the song, we thought it would be even better if he played on it. He came the next day, ready to record. It was perfect. I even managed to get his little princess to record some background vocals. So, here it is...

Enjoy, 

Christopher

     Recorded, March 15-19, 2012. Lead guitar, claps and background vocals by Tyler Brown. Background vocals by Rachael Brown Kincaid. Bass guitar by Gary Brown. I played guitar, claps, tambourine and those sweet Hammond licks. I had a blast doing this one. Thank you guys for giving your time and talents. I hope the hot tea and spaghetti was payment enough. 
     Update - At this time, I have yet to hear anything from Sir Paul McCartney. If you talk to him any time soon, let me know what he thinks about the song. 

     "I'm Looking Through You" written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

Week 11...

This post is a little bit of a carry over from last week. In the mid-nineties, I was introduced to a couple of bands and a sound that would spark my love for the guitar and songwriting. I have never been about who could be the most technical with their skill. For me, it was more about that wall of sound coming out of the speakers. My two biggest influences were the Smashing Pumpkins and Hum.

Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut

I would love to know how many hours I spent listening to and memorizing their records. How many gallons of gasoline I used while carting my friends around, just so we could listen to music. Seriously, we would spend entire evenings driving around in my '93 Ford Escort, (aka the Freshcort,) with the stereo at full volume. I was one of the older guys in my group of friends, so of course I had to pick on the younger ones. I can remember driving in the dead of winter, with the windows rolled down, as to freeze the younger lads in the back seats. All the while, I had the heat blazing on my feet and hands. They never seemed to mind... Because the music was on.

If we weren't driving around, we hung out in our church parking lot, or the CPL for short. We would talk, throw football or frisbee, do really stupid stuff like set off fireworks or explode two liter bottles of soda. There was always someone on our hit list. To pull off our pranks, we would regularly use things like eggs, water balloons, a three man sling shot, a life-size dummy or a full case of dish soap. These were weapons in our arsenal of mayhem. But, we were good kids. We were getting into that kind of trouble so that we wouldn't get into the wrong kind of trouble. That was the deal, every weekend night, for hours on end. We were forging the bonds of friendship. Figuring out who we could trust in this lonely world. And all of it was done... With the music on. It is a time, encapsulated; beautiful in my youth; vibrant in my memory.

This week's song is "I Hate It Too," from Hum's 1995 release, You'd Prefer an Astronaut. It has always been one of my favorites from that record. I love diverse dynamics within a song, if you couldn't tell from my own music. "I Hate It Too," is a perfect example of that. This is the first time I've had the privilege and opportunity to collaborate with other people on 52. My old pal, Adam Morgan took a day out of his busy schedule to lay down the drum tracks. Together, Adam and I started One Amazin' Kid and Hopesfall. We had a lot to catch up on. My dear friend, Daniel Owen played the bass. He was my band mate in Laurelei and during the middle stages of One Amazin' Kid. I've been honored and blessed to have these guys in my life. They is good people. 

Enjoy, 

Christopher

     Recorded March 11-13, 2012. Drums tracked February 27. Drums by Adam Morgan. Bass guitar by Daniel Owen. After Adam and I finished recording the drums, we went to eat the lunch special at Carmella's. That is always worth mentioning. 

     "I Hate It Too," written by Matt Talbott, Tim Lash, Brian St Pere and Jeff Dimpsey.

Week 9...

Back in '05, Hem, an indie-folk rock band from New York City, was in heavy rotation at my house. I couldn't get enough of Sally Ellyson's voice. It is so hauntingly beautiful. Their music takes you to a place in time far from the jarring clamor of today. It's pristine and pure and never disappoints. 

Circa February 2006

At the time, my wife and I were dating. I was pulling out all the stops to try win her heart. I'd seen that Hem was playing a club called the Vinyl, in Atlanta. I thought it would be a fun day trip for the two of us. I purchased tickets online and we planned to go. As the show was approaching, I received a call from a friend of mine who booked shows for a local club. She said that she'd booked Hem, but couldn't think of any good local openers. She said, "I know it's not your type of music, but can you think of anyone who could fill the bill." I laughed and told her about my adoration for Hem. I offered for my band, One Amazin' Kid to open. She took it. 

So my sweetheart and I moseyed on down to Atlanta. We had a blast. We were at that point in the relationship where you can just ride and talk the entire time, with no music at all. I think they call that love, right? We went to the show and listened to their set. It was super solid. Afterward, we got to meet the band. I told Sally that we would see them just a few days later in Charlotte. She was beautiful, graceful and sweet. 

The show in Charlotte came around. After my band played, Sally stopped us to talk. She said, "You know, at first I was like, 'oh great, a #@$%ing rock band.' But then I heard you sing. It was great!" I was truly honored and humbled that those words would come from a voice that I admired so much. 

The song I chose for week 9 is called, "Oh No." It's from Hem's album, "No Word From Tom." I hope you enjoy it. 

Christopher

     Recorded on February 27, 2012. I think it's pretty cool that 52 is now what's considered a full length record. A FREE full length record, y'all. Tell some friends about it, won't ya?

     "Oh No," written by Dan Messé and Gary Maurer.

Week 5

On October 8th of last year, I lost a friend. Kortney Blythe Gordon, her unborn baby (Sophy), and three others were driving down a Georgia highway. They were hit head-on, and  Kortney and Sophy died instantly. You can read more about Kortney, here. She was always, always smiling. She had an incredible joy inside. When you were in the same room with her, you could see that joy radiating out. I was comforted and encouraged every time I got to see her. The last time I did was at the One Amazin' Kid reunion show in December of 2010. I got to meet her fiance, Ben Gordon.

They were married in May 2011. Soon after, they became pregnant with a little girl they named Sophy Joy. They had only been married five months when the accident happened. My heart still breaks for Ben and the Blythe family. When I heard about the accident, I offered to do music for the memorial service. I was taken aback when Ben called me himself.  He mentioned that she always loved the hymn, "Be Thou My Vision." He told me to make it my own. Moments later, I was in my office praying and meditating on the song. The ideas seemed as though they were being downloaded from above. I was just trying to keep up. I rested on those ideas for a couple of days, but the song didn't seem finished. A verse from the Bible from the book of Psalm kept ringing in my ears. 

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.  Psalm 100:4-5

I added this as a bridge to the song. I felt it was honoring to Kortney and the family. The service was a beautiful celebration of a life lived out to the fullest. The eulogy, written by her Dad, was filled with sweetness and grace. He wrote, "She was tireless in her passions. She was passionate in her ministries. She ministered to all who crossed her path. She made Christ the light of her path."

Just weeks later, I performed this same rendition at a wedding for a friend. It was such a tender season. A season in which I witnessed the extraordinary circle of life. A season in which my vision of life ripened. I know my existence is in the hands of One far greater than I. As the song says, "Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, still be my vision or Ruler of all."

Enjoy, 

Christopher

Recorded at various times between January 25-29.

Words attributed to Dallan Forgaill in the 8th Century.
Translated from ancient Irish to English by Mary E. Byrne in 1905.
Versed by Eleanor H. Hull in 1912.

Week 4

This week, I went with one of my old favorites; Sulk by Radiohead. It's from their second release, The Bends. This record was my first exposure to the band. After one listen, I was hooked. Thom Yorke's vocal range was right down my alley. The dynamics of their sound spoke loudly to me. From a spacious wall of sound one moment, to soft and quiet; sometimes, all in the same song. The first time I popped this record into my cd player, I was but a rookie guitarist. It broadened my horizons, drastically. It challenged me to scrutinize my song compositions and melodies. It made me take a step back to look at the broader musical picture. To this day, it is one of my favorite records. 

Back in the day, when I played acoustic sets for One Amazin' Kid, this was one of my go-to cover songs. I often played solo, so I filled in the guitar lead with vocals. Kind of different, maybe. I don't know. I will let you be the judge. Let me know what you think.  

Enjoy, 

Christopher

     Recorded late in the evening on January 23, 2012. I still had the remainder of a gruesome cold. You can hear it in my voice. I apologize for that.

      "Sulk," written by Greenwood, Greenwood, OBrien, Selway, Yorke.