Rest In Peace, Davy Jones February 29, 2012

Davy Jones: 12/30/1945 – 02/29/2012

“Even if they never meant to be more than entertainment and a hit-single generator, we shouldn’t sell The Monkees short. It was far better TV than it had to be; during an era of formulaic domestic sitcoms and wacky comedies, it was a stylistically ambitious show, with a distinctive visual style, absurdist sense of humor and unusual story structure. Whatever Jones and The Monkees were meant to be, they became creative artists in their own right, and Jones’ chipper Brit-pop presence was a big reason they were able to produce work that was commercial, wholesome and yet impressively weird.”
- Poniewozik, James (February 2012). “RIP Davy Jones, The Monkees’ Daydreamboat”. Time (magazine).


Below is a brief telling of our recent concert experience seeing Davy Jones at Bearcreek Farms.
I’m so very glad we went.

  

Another fun concert experience.   At 66 years old, Davy still sounds great.
The six-piece band was absolutely top-notch.  When the concert was over and most of the crowd gone,
my wife yelled “You Guys Are Awesome!” at the remaining band members onstage.
Dave Robicheau did some amazing guitar work on “Valerie.”
Aviva Maloney is a multi-talented wonder.
You can check out them and the other band members here:  http://davyjones.net/djband.html

Davy sang some of his solo songs, did a number from his Broadway days in “Oliver,” and lots of Monkees favorites.



His wife was onstage for a couple of really good dance numbers.
Jones, of course, shared many stories and jokes, and had frequent audience interaction.

We saw The Monkees June 13th, 2001 at the Fort Wayne Embassy (with some of the same band members).
That was a great concert, but this was a more “personal” overall experience.
Especially since we got to meet him and get our pictures taken with him!


———————


AND here are some general pix from Bearcreek Farms:


  

        

Don’t Ask. Don’t Sell. February 27, 2012

I had a “conversation” with a Greg McCaw, a former CCM insider (he was “no longer needed” after he came out). He estimates that as many as 35% of those in the Christian Music industry are closeted gay.
Based on his experience, Mr. McCaw suspects most who work alongside them within the industry know of their orientation. Just not the general public.
So in reality, people like Marsha Stevens-Pino (For Those Tears I Died), Clay Aiken, Jenifer Knapp, Ray Boltz, et al, were not outsted from the industry because they were gay, but because they admitted publicly they were gay.

According to Greg, “It is OK to be LGBT privately, as long as you don’t say that you’re LGBT.  This is especially true if you have a talent that is quite marketable.”
Privately pro-LGBT thinkers keep quiet because they know most of their buyers are fundies.  It’s easy to become victims of the hypocrisy of religion.

There are many who make their living from selling “Christian goods” who are sincere believers that do valid ministry.  But, as Greg also says, Christian events and “the Christian music industry and the Christian publishing industry… are not primarily about ministry, they are primarily about sales.”

That’s all good and fine, I suppose.  Most of us probably already know that anyway.  But when people become less than who they are, or must be somewhat decietful concerning their views just to ensure their paycheck…
well, that’s not very Christian at all.
Making your money “off the gospel” is usually a dangerous thing.  It’s easy to end up being an ear-tickler.  Especially, I believe, in fundamentalist circles.

You can justify your cowardice because, in the words of Frank Schaeffer, “there are bills to be paid, because you are booked up for a year, because this is what you do.”

Yes, the livelihood of many gay Christians, as well as their straight allies, is tied to the CCM industry’s “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell” policy.
Thank God, the tide of public opinion is turning, brought about in part, by the many Christians and denominations who are taking a stand for equality, consequences be damned.  This has happened time and time again throughout history, in relationship to various issues of human rights.
These people are those to whom, in my opinion, true ministry is more important than the Christian Money Machine.

-df

Books. I Like Books. February 16, 2012

[Every so often, I re-post this list for my new readers. So...]


These are just some of the books that have helped me SO much on my journey.
They have challenged me in ways I could have never imagined!
I believe they can truly help change the way we live.
(CLICK ON ANY BOOK image for a few quotes, or a brief review.)


Velvet Elvis   He Loves Me   The Shack 


If Grace Is True        Blue Like Jazz         

Thou Shalt Not Love


Lies (And The Lying Liars Who Tell Them)        Grace (Eventually)


A New Kind Of Christianity     A Heretic’s Guide To Eternity   


The Naked Gospel       The Myth Of A Christian Nation


Jesus Wants To Save Christians


Rejecting Religion. Embracing Grace
(Hey, I’m mentioned in this book!)


The Misunderstood God      Evolving In Monkey Town   


Love Wins      Fall To Grace      A Time To Embrace   


There are so many more; Like Bert Gary’s “Jesus Unplugged,” and Jim Palmer’s “Divine Nobodies.”
There’s “Insurrection,” and “The Orthodox Heretic,” both by Peter Rollins, and “Crazy For God,” by Frank Schaeffer


Most of these, and more, are available at the “Life Walk” Bookstore.” [Click here.]
And, I’m always finding new insights in new books.


For other recommended books, click on the “Books” link to the right, under “Categories,” and scroll through the entries.

Happy reading. Have a good life.

Davy Jones at BearCreek November 13, 2011

  

Another fun concert experience.   At 67 years old, Davy still sounds great.
The six-piece band was absolutely top-notch.  When the concert was over and most of the crowd gone,
my wife yelled “You Guys Are Awesome!” at the remaining band members onstage.
Dave Robicheau did some amazing guitar work on “Valerie.”
Aviva Maloney is a multi-talented wonder.
You can check out them and the other band members here:  http://davyjones.net/djband.html

Davy sang some of his solo songs, did a number from his Broadway days in “Oliver,” and lots of Monkees favorites.



His wife was onstage for a couple of really good dance numbers.
Jones, of course, shared many stories and jokes, and had frequent audience interaction.

We saw The Monkees June 13th, 2001 at the Fort Wayne Embassy (with some of the same band members).
That was a great concert, but this was a more “personal” overall experience.
Especially since we got to meet him and get our pictures taken with him!


———————


AND here are some general pix from Bearcreek Farms:


  

        

“LOST” Meets “Velvet Elvis” September 30, 2011

Yeah!

Pastor Rob Bell and ‘Lost’ Exec Producer Carlton Cuse signed for ABC drama “Stronger.”

“Stronger” is a non-supernatural drama with spiritual overtones, humor, and a helping of autobiographical input from Mr. Bell.

“With his knack at understanding culture, his creative abilities, and his understanding of the message of Jesus, I think we can expect some profound things from [Rob Bell]. Rob doesn’t seek to copy culture, but he is involved in culture making.”
- J.R. Woodward

Boy oh boy, I have HIGH expectations for this.
I can hardly wait!

Check out more about it. CLICK HERE.

Three Dog Night July 15, 2011

One  //  Easy To Be Hard  //  Out In The Country  //  One Man Band  //
Mama Told Me Not To Come  //  Celebrate  //  Liar  //  Shambala  //
Old Fashioned Love Song  //  Never Been To Spain  //  Black & White  //
The Family of Man  //  Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here  //  Joy To The World  //
And Many More!

Wow.  Another great concert at the Foellinger Theatre.
These guys still sound fantastic!
Plus, the obligatory humor and anecdotes.  They even did an updated
rap/hip hop version of Mama Told Me Not To Come.  Good times.

From 1969-1974, nobody had more Top 10 hits, moved more records, or
sold more concert tickets than Three Dog Night.

                 

Herman’s Hermits – 2011 June 26, 2011

♫ ♪ Something tells me we went to something good. ♪♪ ♫ ♪

What a great concert last night at the Foellinger Theatre in Fort Wayne.
Lots of good music. Not only Hermit’s songs, but covers (and imitations) of The Monkees, the Stones, Johnny Cash, and more!
Plus, Peter Noone was a funny, funny, (did I mention funny?) FUNNY guy. The night was a laugh riot.
At one point, someone in the audience handed him an early Herman’s Hermits LP, and he was singing and dancing with his face behind the face on the cover. Lots of jokes and crazy stories.  All in all, a top-notch Saturday night.  AND I got an autographed t-shirt! Good times.

   

    

Buffalo Richie June 2, 2011

SOMETHING’S  HAPPENING  HERE!

When I heard the remaining members of Buffalo Springfield were at it again,
I had to break out Richie Furay’s “I’ve Got A Reason.”

Sonically,  this album still holds it’s own as one of the
best of all times.  Not to minimize Richie’s talents, but
my musical idol Michael Omartian’s influence is more
than noticeable.
These are great songs, masterfully produced, and just
plain fun to listen to, and sing along with.


Back in 1976, when this came out, I was part of a youth group that ran
what we thought passed for a bookstore.  We never sold much, but it
was a place to hang out and listen to music.  We had some some good times.
Wow. It’s like that was lifetime ago.

Anyway, “Jesus music” was starting to see some higher quality recordings at this time.
Certainly Norman’s “Upon This Rock,” and Petra’s debut record had good writing, talented musicians, and some great songs, but
the production money just wasn’t there.
Part of the backing for “…Reason”came via a partnership with Asylum records, to whom Richie
promised that, although the record would reflect his Christian faith, it would not
be “preachy.”  It was a positive LP, without being religious.  This gave the album a much greater marketability.

I think the only other Furay LPs I’ve owned
were “Dance A Little Light,” with a cover of one of my childhood
faves, Jay and the American’s “This Magic Moment,” and Richie’s last before his long
musical hiatus, “Seasons Of Change.”

 


Of “Dance A Little Light,” one reviewer said,
“Though recorded by what was technically a Christian rock group, [it] is
a far cry from the heavy-handed, musically inept evangelizing often associated with the genre.”
Frankly, that’s pretty high praise.



I think the next time I was aware of anything Furay was doing is when he teamed up with
the Elefante Brothers for “When Will the World See That We Need Jesus,” which
would later be covered by Petra. [Video below.]


I like music.  I have one on the widest variety of “likes,” if you will, of the people I know.
I can never imagine being stuck in one decade or genre of music.
BUT, if I had to pick a favorite period, it would be the late 60′s through the 70′s.

My wife and I have seen a lot of the “old” acts in the past few years:
The Monkees, Denis Deyoung, Alice Cooper, An ABBA tribute band, and The Grass Roots, to name just some.
We recently saw B.J. Thomas, and we have tickets for upcoming concerts to
Hermin’s Hermits and Three Dog Night.

So Richie, Stephen and Neil;
“For What It’s Worth,” I would be greatly pleased if you
would get yourselves to Fort Wayne, Indiana.
I’d love to add Buffalo Springfield to the above list,
before the man come and take you away.


[Click on image to read the
Rolling Stone Article on Buffalo Springfield]



[Click on any of the Richie Furay album covers above for reviews and purchase options.]

A Spiritual Man May 22, 2011

We really enjoyed the recent B.J. Thomas concert here in Fort Wayne. Lots of great music by a fabulous vocalist, with a really good band.
Unlike many artists, he still has that great, versatile voice.
Hits like “Hooked On A Feeling,” Raindrops…,” “Theme from Growing Pains,’” “Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” “Mighty Clouds of Joy,”
“Home Where I Belong,” and so many more.
He closed with a powerful version of “Suspicious Minds,” which he originally recorded around the same time Elvis did.
(The song was written by Mark James.)

Mr. Thomas gave lots of background stories, humorous insights, and bits of wisdom from his personal journey.
He even managed to work in a few comments about that night being “the end of the world.”

It didn’t take much to see that he had, long ago, started down a path similar to the one I have taken.
He gave testimony to the omnipotence of Father, the lordship of Christ, and the universal love of God, all while acknowledging himself as being a
spiritual man, while being decidedly NOT religious. He says, as so many have, that no one religion can contain God.

The whole audience seemed full of love for the entertainment and insights of this man. He just came off as being a really nice guy.
He had a great rapport with the crowd, interacting with verbal comments yelled from the seats, and allowing everyone to take
pictures during the concert. That’s very rare. People would walk right up to the edge of the stage, just inches from him, and take pictures.

Anyway, my wife a met some nice people, sang, danced, clapped, and had a great time with old memories while creating new ones.

Thank you, B.J. Thomas. It was a night to remember!

—————
(Here’s a bit from a previous interview that I just found)

“There’s lots of ways to find your faith and your spirituality. Yeah, that was what turned us around in those days. That was kind of a spiritual awakening to us, that we found through Christianity. I don’t think I ever was a religious person, but there was a spiritual awakening that happened. When you go back and make a lot of specific references to certain things, certain things change, and evolve over the years. I might have been presented as a very religious entity in those days, but I’m not a religious person as we speak. And, I’m not sure that any one religion can serve all humanity. So, I think you have to have your life experiences and you have to dig your faith out of your own heart and your own spirit. There’s an evolution and a progress that goes on in a lifetime.” – B.J. Thomas

Faith Unashamed September 28, 2010

Shawn Thomas: “Faith Unashamed”