Mike King

I Love KANSAS CITY and Mumford and Sons. Thank you for this Song.

Several of my friends around the country jokingly refer to me as the real mayor of Kansas City. This comes out of my passion for my city. I've lived here my whole life and I truly love my city. You can only imagine then how happy I am that one of my favorite groups, Mumford and Sons, chose to write and perform this song - Back to Kansas City.

I Love These Guys

I am still glowing from Sunday night's special, The Night That Changed America, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Beatles appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show.  I remember watching as a six year old boy that night 50 years ago with my Dad and Mom. I have been a life-long Beatles' fan. I also like the fact that my kids also share a passion for the Beatles and also my other super group - U2. I love these guys and I'm looking forward to the release in June of their upcoming album Songs Of Ascent. Gotta love that name. Here is the new video of Invisible, the first song released during the Super Bowl from the coming album.

This Ages Me...

I had so many highlights from the recent Wild Goose Festival. One of the most spiritual profound moments for me was on the eve of the festival. Ian Cron, Joy Wallis, Todd Fadel and Topher Philgreen were sitting in a circle engaged in conversation about the festival and the conversation turned to music that shaped us spiritually. Since we were all pretty much from the same era some blasts from the past emerged. One of the names that came up was Evie Tournquist. I know that ages me. We even had a little Evie sing-a-long. At that point, the night took a magical turn and reached a crescendo when we each picked a favorite hymn and together joined in singing it. Holy, Holy, Holy; I Love Him; I Come to the Garden Alone, and on... transcendent, enriching and worshipful. Todd Fadel oversees the music for Wild Goose and he is a wonderful man, follower of Jesus and has a sweet family. Todd just sent this Evie song to me and Joy (because we declared ourselves the Evie fan club). Maybe you had to be there but I think it is beautiful. Thanks Todd.

Christian Formation and Music

My friend Mike Crawford weighs in on Christian Formation and Music for Immerse: A Journal of Faith, Life and Youth Ministry.

Christian Formation and Music: Part One By: Mike Crawford Music is one of God's most powerful and creative forces, and it's played a huge role in my life and is certainly playing a large part in the lives of my kids. I've been reflecting on how I encountered music as a young person and also how I've fostered space in my kids' lives to make sure they encounter the beautiful partnership between God and man in both the listening to and creation of music. First, a couple quotes I found while reading a great book on calling by Ken Gire, called Windows of the Soul: "What can we do that makes us the gladdest, what can we do that leaves us with the strongest sense of sailing true north and of peace, which is much of what gladness is? Is it making things with our hands out of wood or stone or paint or canvas? Or is it making something we hope like truth out of words? Or is it making people laugh or weep in a way that cleanses their spirit? I believe that if it is a thing that makes us truly glad, then it is a good thing and it is our thing and it is the calling voice that we were made to answer with our lives."  -Frederick Buechner "There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets in the future."    -Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory For me, the future started knocking on the door when I was in fifth grade. The specific day was August 16, 1977, the day Elvis died... Read More!

Poison and Wine

The Civil Wars were the best concert I've seen this Spring.  They appeared Friday night on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  I love the lyrics to this song entitled, Poison and Wine.  So good.

Rock the Light comes to Youthfront Camp South

ROCK THE LIGHT UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP

Contemporary Christian Music Festival Moves to New Location South of Kansas City

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After a decade at Starlight Theatre, the Rock the Light contemporary Christian music festival is under new management and moving to a new, more spacious location in 2010. The festival is now under the ownership of Wayne Seboa and Wes Campbell, who also own and manage the annual Sonshine Festival in Willmar, Minn.

 

Celebrating its 11^th year in 2010, Rock the Light will be held on the 660-acre Youthfront South camp site in LaCygne, Kan., about 60 minutes from downtown Kansas City on U.S. 69. The festival has also been expanded to three days.

 

Performers already confirmed for Rock the Light 2010 on Sept. 3-5 include Skillet, Newsboys, Leeland, Thousand Foot Krutch, Francesa Battistelli, Downhere, Superchick, Needtobreath, Seventh Day Slumber, Hearts of Saints and Worth Dying For. More artists are expected to be confirmed soon.

 

“Rock the Light was a highlight at Starlight every Labor Day weekend for the past 10 years,” said Denton Yockey, president and executive producer of the Starlight Theatre Association of Greater Kansas City, Inc. “Even though the festival is going in a new direction this year and in the future, we’re confident that the many fans of contemporary Christian music in Kansas City and throughout the Midwest will continue to enjoy a tremendous live entertainment experience at Rock the Light.”

 

New owners Seboa and Campbell are partnering with Youthfront, a Kansas City-based organization that has engaged in youth ministry since 1943. In addition, Chuck Tilley of Tilley Associates of Brentwood, Tenn., which helped Starlight create Rock the Light and has been involved in artist booking, marketing and on-site management for the festival’s first 10 years, is continuing with the new owners.

 

“We know that Rock the Light is a favorite summertime tradition for many families and young adults in Kansas City and throughout the Midwest, and we are confident the popularity of this music festival will continue to grow,” Seboa said. He added that Rock the Light’s new location will provide many exciting new activities for festival-goers including camping, swimming, canoeing and hiking.

 

For information on Rock the Light 2010, including artists, tickets and volunteer opportunities, visit www.rockthelight.com.

Amy Grant is back...

Ok, this post is published under risk of ridicule from many of my hipster friends.  I will admit that making a post about Amy Grant is pretty out of character for this blog.  I'm much more likely to comment on Sigur Ros or Coldplay and my iTune purchases are most often such performers as Lady Gaga, Paramore, Death Cab for Cutie, Bon Iver, etc.

But when I saw Amy Grant was releasing her first album (Somewhere Down the  Road) in seven years I thought I would check it out.  I listened to the previews of two songs on iTunes and ordered the whole album.  I know, I've only listened to the title track and "Better than Hallelujah" so the rest of the project could suck... not.

There is something about Amy's voice and song writing skills that gets to me.  I gotta say, I love Amy. 

Those of you, my friends, who think you are too cool for Amy Grant -- go hide in the closet with headphones on and check her out.

Go girl...

Bizmarks

On Tuesday night I attended the Release Party for the new Bizmarks self-titled CD project.  This was a great night with my friend Tim Bridgham and Katie Falk opening before the Bizmarks took the stage.  Aaron Mitchum wrote the lyrics and music for the new project.  Aaron was involved as a student in Youthfront and now serves on staff.  It has been so fulfilling watching Aaron develop as an artist, a leader, a youth worker, a budding theologian, a husband and a soon to be father.  Aaron has matured significantly over the last couple of years as an artist.  I really, really like this new project.  A couple other friends from my church also play in the band which is also a cool thing.  The only thing missing this night was Paige, Aaron's wife, who plays the violin but was in California.  Below are a few pictures from the Release Party.  I especially like the nice Youthfront product placement picture with Aaron.  Check out the CD on iTunes here.   

Do you have this yet?

Good Music

I seem to be on a good run of finding new, really good music.

Micah, my son, has recommended The Script, a three-member band from Dublin, Ireland.  Good songwriting, very catchy songs.  I bought their entire recently released project.  Most of the time I pick a song or two but this is worth buying the album.

Ian Cron recommended Estonian Composer Arvo Part and played me a couple of his pieces.  I’ve always loved classical music.  Part’s music is celestial.  Check out 7 Magnificat Antiphons: IV. O Schlussel Davids and Berliner Messe: VIII. Agnus Dei.

On a break during the Reclaiming Paul Conference Tim Bridgham and Micah Thomas were playing Max Richter.  I’m stricken by On the Nature of Daylight from his 2004 album The Blue Notebooks.  Here is the video from YouTube

NPR recently highlighted Adele and School of Seven Bells.  Adele is twenty years old and describes her musical style as “heartbroken soul.”  Even though Adele attended the famed BRIT School in Croydon, UK, it was her MySpace that actually catapulted her career to stardom.  Get Adele’s entire project 19, great stuff.  Her video Chasing Pavements is worth a watch - here.

I was telling Youthfront staff member Erik Leafblad about Kristen May, a friend and  student who was involved in Youthfront and has a band called Vedera.  I recently connected with Kristen and her husband Jason at Starbuck’s.  They are currently opening for The Fray on their current tour (I will come back to The Fray).  I watched Kristen sing publically one of her first times during a trip I led to Hungary and Romania.  She was really shy then, not anymore.  They play in KC on New Years so I hope to catch them.

OK, back to Erik.  Erik followed up my story about Kristen told me about his high school buddy Justin Vernon, who fronts the group Bon Iver.  Justin has a very unique voice and style.  Erik said to watch for him on Letterman, here it is  

Now, back to The Fray – their new song You Found Me pre-released ahead of the album is a great preview hopefully of more good music to come.

Finally, while I was hanging out with the Affeldt’s in Spokane before Christmas we exchanged several music interests.  Jeremy turned me on to Mat Kearney.  The Nothing Left to Lose album is all good.

So what have you discovered that you would like to pass on?