Wow, Where to begin?

Circleslide had the opportunity to play at a Festival in Albany, OR this past weekend for Mike Silva Ministries.

We had a great time playing on the “Fringe Stage”, and also opening the Main Stage for Superchick, Newsboys, and Skillet.

God’s hand was clearly with us this entire weekend. Originally we were not scheduled to open main stage, but due to a competition that we won between the bands on the fringe stage, we were able to do so.  It was amazing for us in that all but one of the songs we played were songs from our new album “echoes Of The Light”, and we had never performed them live before, and didn’t have a clue as to how they would be received by an audience, or judges for that matter.

Main stage was a great experience for me! I had never been on a main stage before.

There were many other things that happened during the weekend where it was undeniable that God was moving. On Sunday morning, we had the opportunity to play one of our new songs for a church in Seaside, Oregon. It was the first time that pre-sales of our new album were available at a concert. we were overwhelmed with the positive reception,  and were treated like family

Even though it was great for us to get the pre-sales, play main stage, and do so many of the other things that would take too much time to write out and talk about, there was one thing that happened this weekend that stood out above everything else.

On Saturday afternoon, our producer and great friend, Brandon Bee was playing at the festival.  Brandon is on the same management company as were are, and our manager Keith flew out for the weekend. As Brandon finished his set and was getting off of the stage, Keith and I struck up a conversation with a guy by the name of Rick Baker. Rick began to tell us with as much enthusiasm as a child has on Christmas morning that he had given his heart to the Lord that very morning because of an invitation that was given at the festival, a few hours prior.

“I’M GONNA SEE YOU AND GOD IN HEAVEN WHEN I DIE!!!” was one of the many things he said to Keith and me during our conversation.

As he told us his story, it was cool to hear how God had been putting people and situations in his life to soften, and bring him closer to God.  Rick told us that he had been an Alcoholic for fifteen years and due to a conversation he had with someone a few weeks prior, he decided to quit drinking and was fifteen days sober on the day he asked Christ into his heart.

I say all of this because it was so perfect for me to see.

It can be so easy at times to lose focus and forget what our duty as Christ followers. We are called to love, minister, and bring people closer to Jesus in everything that we are, and all that we do.

Although Rick felt like we were pouring into his life, the converse was also true. I couldn’t have been more blessed to hear his testimony and see REAL life change happening before my very eyes, so this note is a simple way to welcome another brother on the journey, and to offer up praise to God for all of his blessings.

He is MIGHTY to SAVE!!

~Lee

Christmas Carols, Christmas Tunes, Holiday Music…like a magical switch that activates the ‘official’ beginning of the season…once I hear a really familiar Christmas Song on the radio…I realize that it’s that time of the year again.

More so than the decorations, fruitcake, or stores converted into Sacred Halls of Buying and Spending, or even the occasional Mall Santa…If I hear brenda lee singing ‘jingle bell rock’, or the ‘dance of the sugarplum fairy’ from the ‘nutcraker suite’, or ‘christmas wrapping’ by the waitresses…I’m immediately transported into the ‘christmas’ state of mind…snow or no snow…

So, my fellow bandmates and I thought we’d share what our favorite Christmas Tunes are…feel free to keep this going in the comments section…you never know when we’ll get the inkling to record some of these.

Eric: “Lib and I both like Seven Day Jesus’s version of “O Holy Night”.  It is an amazing arrangement that comes out like a passionate worship song more than a “Christmas” song.  I’ve done an arrangement of “the little drummer boy” that is really cool as well.  (pretty much play it with almost no drums, just focusing on the words.  If you get rid of the pa rump a pum pum’s the words are really powerful.”

Lee: ” I’d really have to say dave matthews band’s ‘christmas song’ just because of how unique it is… I just really, really like that. As far as christmas carols…“Silent Night” has always felt like the most reverent of them all to me. Not just that, but it  always just seems to strike that familiar chord as far as my childhood memories go,  here in Indiana, being with family, holding candles, and all of that…

Jonathan: “It’s always been a dream of mine to go visit Israel… walk where Jesus walked…see for myself all the places I’d read about.  I guess, for that reason, “O little Town of Bethlehem” really is my favorite…and no one sings it better than my man, Nat King Cole. Too bad we don’t need fireplaces down here in Corpus Christi…or else I’d roast some chestnuts and crank that thing up, right now.”

Gabe: “I love songs of good cheer…i’m a jolly person, usually, on the outside…but inside, it’s all melancholy and woeful blues. For me, my favorite is a true christmas ‘blues’ song…full of hope, theology, sadness and wonder: ‘O Come, O Come Emmanuel’…and Sufjan Stevens performs a haunting version on his Songs For Christmas Album.”

So there you go…those are our faves…let’s all get together and go caroling sometime.

-gabe

back on november 7th, something happened that really wrecked me.

I was in a hotel lobby in san antonio, working on my macbook, finishing up some details before the show, when i did something very stupid and incredibly illogical, i carried my open macbook on my palm, like a waiter carries a tray of food. I was in a hurry to print a few things…when i walked to the business room i saw that the printer was being used, and in my haste i did a kind of ’spin’ move…and you know the rest. The computer wobbled, i lost control, and it fell to the cement floor…bouncing a few times…each time, a punch to my stomach.

the now closed computer rested upside down on the floor. I picked it up, and walked to a chair in the lobby…i was sitting there, knowing that when i flipped the screen, i would not be happy…but i breathed a prayer, and opened it anyway. A kaleidoscope of black and blues flickered in front of me like stained glass…only much less inspiring.

my screen was beyond damaged…and i felt sick. This year began with a broken down van, and so this feeling was familiar to me…helplessness. Like the van, here was  a tool that i had taken for granted, but one so essential to my job, that to be without it, was inconceivable to me…but Life, and the show, had to go on…so we took the stage at Godstock.

But like a bad report card in your back pocket that you know you HAVE to show your parents…I knew there was a painful reality waiting for me as I went home.

This was all very frustrating and yet, in the time that i didn’t have my mac…i instead spent it praying, interceding, and talking with God about all of this and so much more.  He knew my financial situation. He knew there was no way I could replace or even repair this thing…the budget had gotten rather tight.

And so rather than wasting time on ‘youtube’ or ‘rottentomatoes’ or ‘facebook’ or ‘hulu’…I buried my face in God’s word…and the more i did, the more  i found myself hungry for it. I was thirsty for true water…and I began to realize how spiritually dehydrated I really was.

Later, we performed a concert at a place called, of all things, ‘the miracle center’. Afterwards, i met a couple as I left the stage…some friends from a long, long time ago.

we spoke for literally 10 seconds, I shook their hands…as I was rushed by the church staff to our merch table to sign autographs.

they got a hold of my dad, somehow, and told him they wanted to buy me a new guitar…and that it would be available sometime in february.

I was very excited, as you can imagine, and then an idea popped into my head…i mentioned to my dad that more than a new guitar, i really, really needed a new computer.

weeks went by, and i forgot about this offer…but a couple of days ago my dad relayed the message to these amazing people and when they heard i was in need of a new computer, they told him that i should email them, and that they would buy me a new computer right away.

that was yesterday.

i just got back from the store and picked  up a new macbook…the one I’m using right now to type these words. It’s a miracle…that’s all I can say.

i was able to transfer all my backed up files…and so all my songs, emails, documents…are right here…as if i’d never busted my other mac.

This shows me God’s faithfulness in such a powerful way…and encourages me so much, i can’t even put it into words…

I’m so glad to be ‘plugged’ in again…i really am…and yet…I’m so grateful for this ‘break’ i’ve had. I’ve been fed, and i’m hungry for more…I’ve been reminded of the words of Christ when He said, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

amen to that…

gabe

One question that is commonly and frequently asked of musicians is ‘who inspired you to get involved with music?’
Most of the time, the answer is usually a parent, or a teacher, and that is certainly the case with me. I feel, however, unusually blessed to have been inspired by a host of others…friends…friends who took the time to nurture and pour into my life in ways I could never fully pay back.

One such friend is John Ray. He and his amazing wife, Jane, like beautiful tapestries are intertwined and connected with some of my best memories.

Last week, I was going to drop John an email, or a call, as I watched Ken Burn’s documentary on our National Parks. As the camera panned over the Rocky Mountains, I remember John and I camping there for a few weeks. He and I would stupidly try to scale heights and mountain walls without proper gear, rope, or common sense. On one occasion, he had to climb back down to get me ‘unstuck’ from a position where I couldn’t go up or back down…about a hundred feet in the air…and so, when we reached the top, I exalted in the glorious view with a healthy sense of humility…and fear.

A fellow Texan, we would trade off driving, as we criss-crossed the nation in vans full of missionary students. Name that tune was a common past time, as well as stopping to investigate the beauty of nature that, too often, I now simply pass by.

In Texas we marveled at ‘enchanted rock’…in Memphis we cleaned out a house where cockroaches covered the walls like shiny, black wall paper…across the ocean, in Minsk, Belarus…we, like pilgrims of a new age, celebrated thanksgiving dinner with our translators…and laughed in dismay as ‘cranberry sauce’ and ‘stuffing’ were just a couple of the things that our Belarusian friends found infuriating about us…and in St. Petersburg, after the wildest train ride I’ve ever had, we both marveled at the majesty of St. Isaac’s cathedral, and the wonders inside the hermitage museum.

We became strong friends, in spite of the fact that he was 10 years my senior…he was a mentor, pushing me to make better choices as a musician, to trust my gut, to work with others in a musical setting. His wife, Jane, an accomplished artist, collaborated with me on the artwork for my first CD (through these thorns). She also drove Debbie to pick me up at the airport in Tulsa…John and I were working in El Paso together, and the meal the four of us shared could be considered one of our first ‘real’ dates, and I’m sure Jane and John got a kick out of watching our awkwardness that night…for I was in love, and all through the El Paso trip, I pestered John for advice.

Through the years, John has championed my musical journey even as he and Jane raised their four beautiful daughters, Hope, Hannah, Naomi, and Olivia to be lovers of God’s wild, exciting and sometimes dangerous plan.

Maybe you will understand, then, why it is that there is a darkness, a sadness, spear-like, puncturing my heart as I try to wrap my head around the fact that Saturday, 10 year old Olivia Ray…who in August had danced at our concert, wore her circleslide bag with pride as she helped us tear down our gear that night…Saturday she was hit by an SUV as she crossed the street, in a crosswalk, after attending a children’s athletic event…later she succumbed to internal bleeding and died.

Deb and I will drive to Arkansas, to be with our friends at the memorial service. We will try and offer comfort, we will try and understand how this fits into God’s design…but who knows if either will be found this side of eternity?…neither comfort or understanding seem to be very close right now.

If you know the Ray family, you know their spirit and their faith are strong…but it’s a sad overcast day here in Nashville…and my heart is flying over the scenery of happier times…and the world seems a bit emptier today.

-gabe

Just by way of an update, we played in Cary, North Carolina yesterday. It was a great show for us, for many reasons…one of them being that it marked a new time for us. Debbie, who has been booking us forever, turned over the reigns to Covenant Artist Agency…and we loved this show they got for us. The people of St. Francis Methodist Church treated us like family right away.

During the few days between San Antonio, and NC…we did some work on our show…and introduced two newer songs, “Samson” and “Gone”…and judging by the crowds reaction…’Samson’ could be one of those songs in the set that has the energy and intensity of a ‘weatherboy’ or ‘morning star’. We were talking after the show, about the need to stay in shape if we’re going to be doing this set, night after night…it’s quite the workout. I think I lose about 5lbs after every performance…but don’t worry…my body seems to know just what to eat to find them again.

It was also nice to see some very dear, dear friends from the past show up and support us at this concert…especially those who drove a long way to see us.  We love it when we get to see familiar faces singing along, or just lending us encouragement for a while. It always beats when people drive from far away just to hurl refuse and insults at us.

And now, we’re taking a couple of weeks of much needed rest. Eric and Libby are headed back to Seattle…Jonathan is headed back to Texas…Lee is off for Indiana…while Debbie and I fly out to Seattle as well…we’ll all be spending time with people we care for and love…resting, and getting ready for what God has in store for us this fall.

we’ll keep you informed of our progress…as always.

g

ps. the title has nothing to do with the post…unless you count ‘what is’ as the update part, and the ’should never be’ as the part about people throwing things at us…

]]> http://circleslide.net/blog/417/feed 0 http://circleslide.net/blog/361 http://circleslide.net/blog/361#comments Wed, 09 Sep 2009 05:46:52 +0000 gabe martinez http://circleslide.net/?p=361 wednesday, sept 9, 2009

The last summer has flown by us…ichthus festival, reunions in arkansas, camps in oklahoma, north dakota, and new hampshire, the fourth of july and prisons in michigan, the haunting beauty of new england and the heat and amazing food of my home in san antonio, texas…to name a few.

These places seem so distant from each other, in not only miles, but in climate, in  culture, in the way people go about their daily lives, and what they hold dear to their hearts.

And yet I couldn’t help but be awed by one common thread in all of our travels. Overwhelming me, knocking me flat on my keister, each time I saw it.

For some people it’s called ‘good manners’, for some it falls under the category of etiquette…and some have raised it to an art form…I’m talking about hospitality.

A crazy ancient practice that involves allowing strangers into your home, and treating them as equals…providing them with food, company and shelter.

In this band, I’ve experienced so much of this practice, that I unable to recount or remember everyone who has opened their home, their kitchen or their best room for me, my wife and the boys.

On this last trip, we were given lobster in Maine, in Michigan, we were given too many feasts to count, in georgia a mother of 4 boys cooked several mouth watering meals for all of us while going to nursing school at night… in my home state of texas we had to bring back the food in bags and coolers…we couldn’t carry it with our hands…bar-b-que, and tex mex food…we all gained at least 10 pounds…and loved every second of laughter and storytelling, and catching up.

People slept on floors so we could have the best room in the house…groceries were purchased with items reserved for kings and queens…and all this during a Down Economy. I am so undeserving of this kindness…really. All we do is write and perform songs for an hour… maybe an hour and a half. I’m dumbfounded and humbled by it all.

And the thing is, one day I’m sharing a phenomenal meal with someone who I know is decidedly left of me politically…and the next night…someone is sheltering me and cooking something exquisite for me who I know is to my right.

And in the backround, on the television, the noise says we are all just too different, too divided, too far apart to hear each other over the yelling, and the screaming and the anger and the name calling.

I know the issues facing us are real, and important.

But I’ve been reminded that in the living rooms, and kitchens, and porches, and back yard barbeques across this country…there are still people who care to give each other the best. Who will bend over backwards to make sure your belly is full, that you have a good night’s rest and that you have enough gas for the next journey. And it restores my soul…this unified heartbeat…this demonstration of genuine kindness.

It’s a true reflection of a Father who loves us and cares for us…in spite of our shortcomings…and I just wanted to say, ‘thank you’ to all of you for doing this for us…a reassurance that a flame still burns in the hearts of the faithful.

See you soon.

gabe

(just spray this stuff on guys…same thing)

Hello, dear readers. The world is a much different place when we last had a conversation. Allow me to recap: Your fearless and deeply flawed heroes had wrapped up a tour of the northeast…highlights included performing for amazing people in New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, New York, New Jersey and Indiana, eating pizza in times square, and writing new circleslide tunes.

Starbucks, Dunkin’ Donuts and other varieties of coffee were consumed by the gallons.

An old van died with 386,000 miles causing our faith to be tested…a new one was miraculously purchased, causing our faith to be bolstered… and, already less than a month old… it already has 5,000 miles.

Circleslide returned to Nashville and began recording with Salvador’s Keyboard player/producer Chris Bevins. A fine, fun time was had by all. The result was three new songs: “Ever going to win”, “Gone”, and “Looking UP”. The songs were recorded at Chris Bevin’s studio and at my house, which I’ve decided to call, “reveal” studios…it’s actually just a room above my garage…but I’m going to insist on telling my wife, “hey, I’m heading up to ‘reveal’…be back in a second”…and wait for her to blow her bangs up and roll her eyes at me. Yay!

Recently, Nic Gonzales, (Salvador) invited me to join his band and his lovely wife, Jaci Valasquez on a couple of shows in Austin and Corpus Christi, Texas. The only thing is that there wouldn’t be room on the bus for the rest of the guys…would I mind opening the show by myself? Hmm. I thought about saying no… It’s a bit terrifying to be up on a stage, alone, when you are so used to having a full-fledged rock band that’s got your back, night after night. Circleslide is a band, after all…and it just felt a bit weird.

However, it might be good for me to be forced to open the show, just me and an acoustic guitar…get back to my roots…the coffee house days…trying to stop the conversations in the back of the room…try to let the baristas hear a lyric …try to get all of us to share a moment together. So I’m doing it. The bus leaves on Thursday…I’m excited, nervous, scared and I might fall off the stage…so, I’ll keep you posted.

In the meantime, thanks for sticking with me as I took a break from blogging. There was no ‘real’ writer’s strike…and yet, there kinda was. Once we got back from the road, my mac died on me. The hard drive just quit. Thankfully, I had backed everything up…and I had Apple Care. But I went without the computer for about a week…and it felt kinda good. But, I’m back…and the hiatus has allowed me to think of some cool ideas for this place…and once, again…I’ll be at the computer…over sharing…and trying to have some kind of dialogue with you…some of the coolest people around.

There is no shadow of turning with thee;

Words cannot express the gratitude I feel. We drove to our concert in Maine in a brand new van.

It’s been a rough three weeks. I’ve been reminded of past lessons, found in places like 2 Corinthians chapter four verses 16-18:

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

After a grueling trek back to West Virginia to return the rental truck…we said goodbye our old van. I know it was only a machine…but after spending most of the last 7 years of my life inside of it…it felt like saying goodbye to a family member. Sentimentality is one of my weaknesses…and in the tradition of fight club…we gave it a name in death…presley.

‘presley grey–goodnight, sweet prince’*

We gathered up belongings left behind…and we drove the rental car back to New Hampshire. I was feverish…strep throat…my common advesary when i don’t get enough sleep…was fighting me again.

But we made it, with a few naps here and there, back to Concord, NH. And over the weekend, some amazing people had decided to help us towards getting the van. That’s really all I can say. Gifts have been coming in the mail, some from friends, some from strangers…even up here at the Camp. We’ve been driven to tears by the generosity.

And on Tuesday afternoon…we drove off the lot in a silver 2009 Chevy Express 3500. Debbie says it’s got ‘Spurs’ Colors’. A happy coincidence.

We were both too exhausted and sick to really enjoy the moment. Typical. But when we pulled over on our way to Maine for the first gas fill up…right by Kennebunkport–of all places—I was overcome with gladness, awe, amazement, disbelief, and praise for this moment. We were in a new van. Our God provided. We thought we might have to cancel these shows…go back to nashville…and re-think it all…but we’re still here. We’re still fighting. We’re still kicking and screaming our way to the finish line. We haven’t yet finished our race. We may be on our knees…but that’s how battles are won…that’s the way to get the attention of God…he gives grace to the humble.

We don’t deserve this new van, not by a long shot. I know my temper has been shorter these past few weeks…my desire to wallow in self pity has been insatiable. But in all this, I’ve seen this band, including Debbie…refuse to give up on worshipping the Lord…a no-surrender attitude in Trusting in Him…Eric fasted for about a week…we prayed together…we believed God would provide…and He did. Great is his faithfulness…indeed.

Some of you have expressed an interest in giving towards this new van. You can email us at circleslide@bellsouth.net for more info…thank you, so much.

*(goodnight sweet prince is a sarcastic internet meme…just in case you thought i was getting carried away)

400 kids singing at the top of their lungs…makes for a great weekend if you’re in this band.

But the weekend is over and we have a concert in Maine on Thursday.

The good news is that there might be a break-through with the van situation. We are so grateful for all the prayers! Seriously. Thank you so much.

The truck we’ve been renting is from the dealership in Morgantown, West Virginia. It’s their truck. Not like ‘enterprise’ where you can drop it off almost anywhere. So we got to drive tonight, and return it tomorrow morning. Deb rented another car, here in Concord, New Hampshire…and she’ll follow me there.

We’ll settle up on the truck in the A.M…and gather belongings left behind in the the old grey van…and I’m pretty sure I will be sad to see it in such a state again.

We’ll get a little sleep…and drive the rented car back here to New Hampshire…and we’ll continue to believe for that new vehicle.

I hope that when I blog again on Wednesday…I’ll have some good news.

till then…get some sleep for us.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 NKJ
” Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.