You can go here and check out my "writings" page if you want. About twice a year I write something there. I just did, and it's totally rad as always. And by "totally rad," I mean that it's my typically over-analytical, ticked-off, deconstructionist looniness. Feel free to comment about it on this blog if you have thoughts on my newest rant. I think Todd, Robert, and Johnny might have some particular interest in this one.
Also, a few pieces of news:
First, the new record is sounding pretty darn good. There is a chance that I'm biased. Either way, the great Caleb Carruth came in on Monday for some background vocals, and of course it sounds awesome. And my pal Wes Lunsford (who will probably be famous pretty soon) will be in tomorrow to rub some funky vocal goodness on a few of my tunes. Rough mixes will be showing up here soon, I promise.
Second, all you PA/NY/MD folks can be on the lookout for a blog here specifically related to you. I'm getting really close to having a rough plan for my trip (or trips) to your neck of the woods.
Third, I had to take photos for the new record today. Our good friend Ari Jones, who has been my photog for the last several records, put up with me again today. I'm as vain and self-worshiping as the next guy, but I'm an unenthusiastic, insecure weirdo when it comes to photo shoots. I just keep thinking that I'm buff, bronzed and beautiful, and then I look at the photos, and I realize that the Pasty-Pudgy Train has pulled into the station and dropped off the fat kid with bad teeth. I drove Ari nuts, I think. But I paid her, so I guess it's okay.
Rough photos will not be showing up here soon, I promise.
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12 comments:
Please tell me you smiled. I'm sick of seeing Christian artists look like they have IBS.
a smirk will suffice!
"Smarmy" is Ross's "Blue Steel"...
You, my friend, kick ass. I said ass.
This writing, like all of the previous ones, is direct and I would say "spot on" if I were a Brit. I have already sent the rest of the folks in the band to read it. I don't think I fall prey to that attitude, but I have to say it is quite possibly my greatest fear as a guy who stands in front of a microphone in church every week.
Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Nathan L. K. Bierma
alex, please explain. are you spamming me, or sharing a good book that will change all our lives?
dude. awesome book. Quick Summary (which does no justice) Maybe heaven isn't quite the fluffy clouded place, christian hymn sing that we've been taught.
Based on Rev 21, Isaiah 60, 1 Thes 4, Romans 8, and more. Nathan Bierman explains that God is a God of restoration and regeneration, so wouldn't God renew the earth rather than create a new one? Imagine an earth with culture intact, infrastructure intact, cities intact, but restored...minus sin. Art, Buildings, Corporations all working in sync for the Glory of God.
anyway, if you don't pick it up before I see you, I'll let you borrow it. It's kingdom changing and kingdom building.
[Re-posted to fix typos, etc. - apparently there's no "edit post" button?]
My first foray into the Ross King forum, and it's bound to be a big one...
Let me begin by saying this: what's the big idea having a contest for a pre-release CD while I'm away on a trip to Europe?! I would've gladly left the Netherlands early if only I had known... (ok maybe not, but the potential was there). I don't think I could have come up with anything better than "And All The Allegations True" anyway, although "Su Casa Es Mi Casa" is great too.
Next up: tour dates and destinations. I'll be back in New York (state, not city) in early September. I'll be at a small Bible college near the PA border. If you're somewhere within a 3-hour-drive radius, I WILL FIND YOU. I mean that in a good way, of course. And I'll even bring a friend! Save a few seats for us on a couch somewhere.
On a more serious note, regarding your most recent writing on the other website (are you sitting down for this? you'll want to)...I guess I don't see the emergence of "superstar worshiper leaders" as much of a surprise, considering the general trend of Christian music toward complete convergence with (imitation of?) secular music anyway. When "Christian worship music" is just another genre on the iTunes playlist, are we really listening to it because it attracts the presence of God, or simply because it makes good earcandy in the U2/Coldplay/Tim McGraw mix? And if the latter is true as often as it seems to be, then how can we be shocked when those worship leaders become - be it willingly or unwillingly - Christian pop-culture icons? Same music, same methods, same audience, same results.
Ross, I know from past dialogue that we're skeptics of two different colors when it comes to the role of secular music in the Christian lifestyle, but I feel like Christian celebrity is just the natural byproduct of a culture that has allowed -- even embraced -- the infiltration of the world into its music. Like you said regarding Luke 6, we can't serve "God AND...". Christ was referring to money, of course, but there's really nothing that can comfortably fill in that blank. I feel like it's true in music, too.
I guess my question and concern are this: after those kids went to your concert, after they experienced someone who WAS real and not self-aggrandizing, and after they (hopefully) participated in real worship...did they go back home and get rid of the things that they now realize don't meet that criteria? Did their taste of truth leave them longing to forsake the fake? Or, instead, did they just go back and add you to their playlist along with everyone else? Hopefully it was the former, but judging by the general popularity of the artists and groups that fit the description you gave in that article, I can't help wondering.
Undoubtedly there are individuals and churches unwittingly victimized by worship leaders who use them as a springboard to stardom. But sadly, I feel like there are just as many (if not more) congregations willing to promote that very attitude and approach because A) it attracts numbers, and B) the other artists/music they listen to aren't any different. From that perspective, dichotomy would be hypocrisy.
I know what I've expressed isn't exactly a popular opinion, but since you've never been scared by serious dialogue, I thought I'd bring some as my "blogwarming gift". I'm still a hardcore Ross King fan, honest! I write because I care, heh. Cheers!
jason--
YES. great thoughts. i'm out of town, with limited time and limited access to internet, so i have to make this short. But I'm with you. we need to unpack this secular/christian music thing, because it sounds like we'd see that differently (as you implied), but your point about the mixing of cultures and worlds is dead-on. more later.
also, welcome to the blog.
thad, did you see that you got some props for your brilliance?
Thad's entry was absolute creative genius! I still wish I had heard about the contest in time. Nonetheless, I've decided to sit here for the next 5 minutes and come up with names I would have entered, stream-of-consciousness style. Here goes...
Ross King -
1. No Room At The Inn Tour
2. The Desperate Housedrives Tour
3. Your Dog's On My Leg Again Tour
4. Clear The Garage Tour
6. Don't Let The Door Hit You Tour
...and now my personal favorite:
7. "And All These Odd Locations New" Tour
Ok so I wouldn't have won with those anyway, but it was still fun to do. Now how am I supposed to go back to work without thinking about this all day long...?
...but wait, there's more! (didn't get much work done today)
8. "Houses of the Holy" Tour (and you thought your Van Halen reference was old school)
9. Casapalooza (my tribute to the winning entry)
10. Ross King: Home's Where My Guitar Is
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