Here’s a list of some of my favorite new music (this is a bit random, but hey that’s just me)
This exercise is being used to hopefully stoke the fires of creativity in my own musical journey.
I hope to post new music on
www.myspace.com/thelonelymoonband and www.virb.com/LMB
by August of ‘08.
Here’s my latest blog entry regarding THE TOP 40…
happy reading and if you feel inclined… happy listening…
Occasionally a friend of the LMB (lonely moon band) may wonder…
“What’s the deal with your myspace top 40 friends?” or “I’m your friend, why am I not in your top 40?”
Like many other myspace and facebook folk, we are really fond of lists, so here’s a list of the top 40 artist we’ve chosen as friends with a brief explantion of our connection to them…
1 THE BAREFOOT BELIEVERS BAND – this was originally a music site that was associated with www.barefootbelievers.com, but now it simply serves as an overflow site for LMB material. If the Gulf Shores, AL ministry (barefoot believers with the baldwin baptist association) ever wants to reclaim the site for local ministry purposes or summer missions they can contact jeff @ jeff@fbcfp.org about set up, etc..
2 through 11 are all artists that I have personally met; not only have I met them, but I also admire their artistry…
2 BAY CHANDLER – Bay and I were high school classmates and great friends. We still stay in touch a bit. His music is excellent.
3 FOUR DAYS LATE – I attended college with Adam and Robbie. Adam was my roomate for a couple of years. These guys rock. Adam and I continue to stay in touch. I hope to bring his band to my area for worship leadership sometime in the near future.
4 STAINED GLASS REPUBLIC – I am good friends with one of the former members of the band, jeff blakemore. I believe the music that this band is creating is unique and beautiful. Keep up the good work SGR!
5 PHIL KEAGGY – Overall, h’e’s my favorite artist of all time. I was already a super fan when he approached me in the Nashville Airport (he was curious about the nylon 6 string martin backpacker that I was playing). He played my guitar, signed my guitar, and gave me a copy of his latest project then, Freehand – acoustic sketches 2; what an amazing meeting. PK is simply the best.
6 MICHAEL TAIT – I met him at a dctalk show in Birmingham, AL (Oak Mountain Ampatheater). His creativity and solo career have been a personal blessing to me over the past few years.
7 THE SILENT – I met the lead singer / bass player at a camp in Alabama. I let him borrow some sound equipment from my office at FBC Gulf Shores. He was extremely friendly and interesting. Their music is great.
8 CHARLIE PEACOCK – I gave this artist a demo with some LMB recordings on it, and I also gave him a demo of some insitu / byron townsend recordings. I eventually heard back from someone that Charile worked with. No record deal was offered, but still… meeting him at his solo piano concert at the UMC of Gulf Shores was super cool. I continue to follow CP’s work. He is a great artist and helper to other artist. CP is also a music producer in Nashville, TN.
9 DECAY DEBATE STREET – This band is no longer together; some of the members of DDS are now in a band called The White Oaks. I met these guys at a show (CD release party for “the adventures of so and so”) in Birmingham, AL many years ago. They had such a great sound. I wish DDS would have recorded more, but it was not to be.
10 THE WHITE OAKS – Some members of DDS are a part of this band. I like their sound.
11 OHIO AVENUE – I attended a show of theirs at UMC Fort Payne, AL. They were great. They really know how to rock.
12 SCOTT KRIPPAYNE – I attended one of his performances in Pensacola, FL. He was on the bill with Point of Grace. My copy of his album “gentle revolution” would be worn out by now if it were vinyl or tape. Thank goodness for digital downloads.
13 through 40 are a bit random; no major personal connection here. I would like to see each of them perform live someday. For now I simply visit them from time to time via the LMB myspace site, in hopes of hearing a new recording of theirs or discovering a show that I might be able to attend…
If you are a big music fan like me, you may want to check out the sound of these excellent artist…
13 JEREMY CASELLA – He’s my new favorite. His combination of folk and electronica is pure ear candy. Maybe ear candy isn’t a good term… candy rots your teeth and has no nutrition value, it only brings immediate satisfaction. I guess what I mean is his sound is pure ear thanksgiving dinner.
14 DEREK WEBB – He seems to me to be one of the most relevent artist around right now. My two favorite songs of his are “a new law” and “a king and a kingdom.” Like Casella, Webb’s combo of folk and electronica on some of his recordings is wonderful.
15 SANDRA MCCRACKEN – She’s a new favorite too. I understand that her husband (14) is a part of her musical team as well.
16 JON FOREMAN – Many CCM fans may not recognize his name, but the lightbulb comes on when I say he is the lead singer of switchfoot. This EP release thing he has going with Fall, Winter, etc… is excellent. I really enjoy his music from top to bottom. He’s the real deal.
17 RYAN SMITH – Son of Michael W. Smith. Everything he releases is top notch. I’d love to trade licks with him and improv some vocal stylings.
18 TIM WILDSMITH – I am also a fan of one of his cheif influences… Damien Rice. If you don’t know his stuff, give “recovery” a listen, and you’ll likely become an instant fan like me. Also check out his cover of “it is well with my soul” on itunes.
19 KEVIN MAX – He’s my favorite singer of all time. The song that he sang on Mark Heard’s tribute album “lonely moon” and another song I was given by a friend “if i could make it work” are simply perfect.
20 PHILIP LARUE – I was a big fan of the bro and sis duo: Larue. When they stopped recording, I discovered Philip’s solo tracks. They rock. I am looking forward to hearing more from him.
21 – JOSH BALES – My sister in law, Alana, saw this guy live in Tuscaloosa, AL. She shared his sound with me, and I am forever in her debt. His work is truly amazing. I hope to see him live sometime soon.
22 – THE FOLLOWING – A trio of brothers; their dad just happens to be steven curtis chapman. These kids are pretty amazing musicians. Their band t shirt (which can be purchased by their fans on their myspace site) reminds me of “the goonies” logo. Cool beans.
23 – JOSH THOMPSON – I found this guy’s music on myspace. He’s got a great sound.
24 ALICE PEACOCK – I wonder if she knows Charile (8)? Like Josh (23), I found her recordings on myspace. I think her music is excellent.
25 IAN KEAGGY – Son of Phil Keaggy. This musician has a gift – just like his pop.
26 JOEL HANSON – I love everything this artist has done and is doing. I’m sure to love what he’s going to do as well. PFR fans will recognize his vocals.
27 MIKE PACHELLI – I discovered this gifted artist through Phil Keaggy’s myspace site. He’s great.
28 SARAH BETTENS – Another new fave.
29 LEIGH NASH – Everything she’s done (with sixpence none the richer) and is doing (as a solo artist) is golden.
30 BRUCE HORNSBY- How does someone get to be this good? He’s amazing.
31 MICHAEL TYLER – I discovered this singer / songwriter via Ryan Smith (17). The guy obviously has a gift.
32 MICHAEL OLSON – CCM that’s not sappy, but it is still happy and real.
33 ALEXA RAY JOEL – Daughter of Billy Joel. Looks like the talent of the father has been passed to his little one.
34 PHIL MADERIA – He’s just filled with good music, and thankfully he’s decided to share it with you and me.
35 DAVID CONDOS – Here’s another new fave that I found on myspace.
36 SARAH MASEN – Here’s a friend of re:think records that continues to shine as an independent artist.
37 PHIL WICKHAM – I appreciate the passion of this artist.
38 EVAN WICKHAM – Good stuff, much like his bro (37).
39 THE POLYPHONIC SPREE – They just turn the creativity knob to “11″ again and again.
40 JILL PHILIPS – In the vein of Sara Groves, she is a blessed artist that delivers a blessing with every musical creation.
give these 40 artists a listen at www.myspace.com/thelonelymoonband
just go to the TOP FRIENDS section of the website
peace to you,
jeff
