MySpace meets real life.

A few weeks ago, one of my MySpace Friends (Trey) sent me an email with an idea. He knew that I played house concerts, and he wondered if I could play at his wedding. After a few emails back and forth, and approval from his future father-in-law, I booked my plane ticket and rental car to southeast Texas.

Trey and I conspired together and concocted a harebrained scheme: I would simply hide from the bride until the near the end of the wedding, where I would emerge to play her favorite song. A plan so perfect it could not fail!

And actually, it didn't fail. I came out of hiding at the appropriate moment, and sang Sandra McCracken's "Thy Mercy." The bride must not have liked it though-- she cried and held Trey while I played.

Afterwards, I played some hymns at their reception, and got to see the newly married couple interact with all the joy and excitement that comes with such a beautiful day. I was an outsider looking in, glimpsing their love for one another.

During the traditional Father-Daughter dance, I looked over to a nearby table and saw a framed picture of the bride:I recognized the picture, because I see it every time I log in to my MySpace account. She's in my "Top 8." At that moment, it hit me that, in the vast expanses of the interweb, everyone has a story, and I was able to be a part of two Friends' stories for one day. We share a love for these hymns, a common soundtrack that momentarily brought us together to celebrate.

That's one of the things I love about playing concerts (whether they be solo, with the band, or house concerts): it's a time to celebrate the Gospel together with people who I might have only a fleeting connection with otherwise.

I probably can't play at your wedding (!), but if you're interested in info on having me come share these hymns with you and your community, you can find it over at my site.

Matthew is a common name.

I was listening in iTunes to some roughs from the solo record I've been working on (I promise I'll write about it soon), and my EP showed up in the "MiniStore" window at the bottom. On a whim, I clicked on it, which took me to my EP page on iTunes. Lo and behold, someone had written a new review, and a very kind one at that:

Theologically sound, and beautiful (5 out of 5 stars)

This 5-song EP is sincere, pure, Godly, and encouraging. Not one song is a let down, and each one gives you a closer look at Jesus and his amazing righteousness, death, and resurrection.

I was happy to read that this person enjoyed my EP, but then I noticed his name-- "Matthew S."

It's hard out here for a Matthew Smith. Matthew and Smith are both very common names. I keep getting Friend Requests from Matthew Smiths on MySpace. I had to get MatthewSmith.us because .com, .net. org, were all taken. And despite all this, I still get called "Matt," and, inexplicably, "Michael," all the time.

But that is neither here nor there. My point is, fellow interwebians, that I did not write this glowing review of my own record, no matter how it might seem. So, if your name is something other than "Matthew S.," "M. Smith," or some other suspiciously similar name, and you enjoy my little debut EP, please avail yourself of the iTunes review system and help a brother out.

Night of rock.

Last night I went to The Mercy Lounge for Andrew Osenga's CD release show, with opener Matthew Perryman Jones. I wish I had written down a setlist, but Matthew played mostly songs from his new album Throwing Punches In The Dark (including my favorite, "Refuge"), and Andrew showcased his new album, plus Photographs songs "Kara" and "Kankakee." Both guys shared a band, and much rock was had for sure. Andrew even pulled out "Black Dress," an old tune from his days with The Normals. Andrew forgot a bunch of lyrics on several songs, which led to a hilarious episode of him asking a clearly exasperated Cason for lyrics so he could begin a song. This is, of course, one of the reasons why I always have a music stand with lyrics when I play. A music stand is not very rock and roll though. Unless you pick it up and smash it on stage, which is a little questionable, because at that point it's probably obvious that you want to smash something and be all rock and roll, but can't afford to destroy a guitar.

All that to say, it was great to see my friends playing music together, and celebrate the release of The Morning. Read more about Andrew at this interview with Relevant Magazine.

A picture is worth a thousand words, but these dark, blurry shots are probably just worth a few syllables.

Jones with band, including Andrew on lead guitar.

Andrew + Paul Eckberg.

After Andrew's show, I headed over to The Basement (probably my favorite rock venue in Nashville) to hear Taylor Sorensen and The Trigger Code, who, inexplicably, seem to have changed their name to TS & The Trigger Code. Guys, guys. Just change your name to The Trigger Code and be done with it. This "TS" stuff is absurd.

The band blazed through a short and ferocious set of new songs ("The Defender," "I Am Just Like Cain," "Bulletproof," etc.) from the album they've been recording this past month. The band has such a dynamic stage presence and fervor that they are always fun to see in action. (Trigger Code bass player Jeff Irwin is playing bass on the solo album I'm working on right now.)

Taylor rocking so much that my shutter speed can't keep up.

If you cut these guys, they would bleed rock. Then they would punch you in the face, because it's not cool to cut people.

A picture may be worth a thousand words, but I prefer to measure in Rock Units (RU).

This picture is worth 1,249 RUs.

Andrew Osenga > Neil Young?

Battle of the Serious Hat-Wearing Songwriters. Read my airtight argument on Andrew's blog.

Solo tour pics.

Here are some pics from the Hunt Valley, MD concert last weekend. Thanks to everyone who made it out to the tour this past month.

Photos by Dan Gerding. Thanks to Brody for sending them.

Imagination and Heroic Obedience.

I was listening to (Indelible Grace founder) Kevin Twit's podcast and was struck by the following comment, which describes something I've experienced for the past few years but could not find words for until now:

"God really wants our imagination more engaged [in worship]. I had a professor at seminary, Dan Doriani, [who said] one of the problems with legalism is that it really gives no room for the imagination to soar. It just says 'ok, what God wants me to do is this, this, and this, and it's all spelled out for me.' But in reality, what God calls you to is heroic obedience.

He doesn't just give you a list of things to do and say 'Check these things off.' He says 'Live for [My] glory in every aspect of life' and that's going to cause you to think, and pray, and cry out and say 'Lord, help!'

The hymns help engage our imagination and begin to teach us how to use the imagination in the Christian life."

--Kevin Twit, from his Summer Conference Worship talks
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Brewing up a house concert.

Last night, about 25 people packed into a top-floor apartment's cozy living room for a house concert here in Philadelphia. I was in a rare mood, telling stories about Isaac Watts and the hymnwriters lonely-hearts club, interacting with questions during the Q&A time, and even taking a request ("Jesus I My Cross Have Taken"). Brownies and ice cream were served, as well as the host's delicious home-brewed beer.

Thanks to Jason and Nicole for being wonderful hosts, and for everyone who came and made it such a fun time.

For info on how to host a house concert, head over to my site.

Solo tourin'.

I'm sitting here in my friend Bob Kauflin's guest bedroom, which he has graciously allowed me to use while he is on vacation and I am on a three-day empty gap during my tour. I've been touring more and more, and am looking ahead to 2007 with excitement and slight trepidation, as more opportunities open up to play band, solo, and house concerts.

It has been an exciting month, including:

• my first Northwest concerts ever
• a weekend of sun, sand, and shrimp in beautiful Charleston, SC (leading worship at the Proximity Conference with Cason)
• and now an extended trip through Virginia and Maryland (with a swing up to Philadelphia for a house concert on Thursday)
  

Highlights from the tour so far:

• having brunch with old-school Indelible Grace contributor Brian Moss in Seattle
• catching up with my former pastor, Scotty Smith, in Charleston
• Exploring Charleston (Motto: "We're the clean New Orleans!"), including eating amazing barbequed shrimp and grits at 82 Queen
• hearing The Morning over the PA before my Danville, VA concert (a reminder that God is in the process of setting all things right)
• being surprised by my parents, who drove up to see the Danville concert
• passing by Jerry Falwell's personal airport and wondering what the cosmic implications of that must be
• the surreal experience of playing "All I Owe" (with a cellist, no less) in front of the fuselage from Oceanic Flight 815 at Fairfax Community
• Recording a vocal today for a song called "I Come Running To You" for a new project based on The Valley Of Vision by Bob's Sovereign Grace Music [Update: They aren't going to use my vocal on the final record. Zuh?]
  

Tomorrow I hope to do some writing for my new record, as well as catch up on responding to emails. If you live in the greater Baltimore or Richmond areas, please come out to the concerts this weekend and be sure to say hi!

Tastes like burning.

I am lying down, trying desperately to recover from some hot wings I ordered from a place near where I'm staying here in Maryland. I innocently ordered some "original hot" and some "atomic."

I am a fool.

I'll try to recover and then blog about what I've been up to lately.