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YEAR-END NEWSLETTER, 2003
So, you may consider this your year-end wrap-up with LOST AND FOUND. Then, again, you may not. The choice is up to you. Either way, I'm considering it the year-end wrap-up for LOST AND FOUND.
Last you knew, we were heading out on the Fifth Annual LOST AND FOUND Christmas Tour, and working on an album of just piano called Just George. Well, we finished both those projects, but giving you details would get me all out of chronology, so you'll just have to wait for the proper time. After I flew home from Dallas, I began recording that Just George cd at my house. And then I finished it. Michael came to my house and we recorded a brand-new song to test out what I'd learned with the Protools set-up. Here's a photo of our new recording studio. Homey, ain't it? Or, it certainly is homey to me, since it's my actual home. All in all, I'd say we're off to a good start with this home studio thing, and the Just George album is now available at our website.
"How many youth pastors does it take . . ."
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Following that excitement, we drove on off into the state of Pennsylvania to play in a town called Mount Joy. We thought it was called a Men At Night school, but it turned out to be named after the Mennonite denomination. Had a great time, and saw our long-time friend and Owner of Everything We've Ever Recorded, Ryan. He brought a sign listing all the lyrics to every single one of our songs that mentions the word "love." And, in case you didn't know it, that's a l-o-n-g list. From there we headed east and south to La Plata, which is in Mary's Land. Saw lots of old friends, some of whom are now cops, and drove off into parts north. Next up was Providence, Rhode Island (or thereabouts), where Garth and Brian welcomed us warmly and with coffee. Before the concert, Garth changed some light bulbs in the narthex. In my opinion, this photo is a punch line looking for a set-up. As is always the case with these folks, we enjoyed ourselves immensely, until Michael dropped me off at a hotel near the airport and drove off to visit Justin on Lawn Guy Land. Then I drove out from my house and we met up in Gowanda, NY (as in Zoar Valley Girl Scout Camp where I once worked as a waterfront director). Had a great time and enjoyed the opening band lots.
Then we took a big chance and crossed into Canada without a work permit. Turns out, that was perfectly acceptable on that particular day, and we had a great time playing some songs for the group in St. Catharines, Ontario. Some folks drove up from Grace Lutheran Church in Niagara Falls, which is the parish in which we spent our youth. From there it was back across the border to play in Jamestown, NY, as in 10,000 Maniacs. The fellow who opened for us was awesome, though I do not remember his name. If I see him again, I'll be sure to plug his album to you because, as I say, he was awesome. Then I drove home, and Michael visited with his parents in Western New York, until driving all the way to Minnesota. (If you're saying "Wow, that Michael sure seems to be doing all the driving lately," you are correct my friend. Not sure how that happened, but it might have something to do with my weekly manila envelopes of cash to Troy, the booking guy. But shhhh, that's just our little secret, okay?) Anyway, I flew to Minnesota, Michael picked me up, and off we drove to Marshall, which is out a ways. Had a nice time with the nice folks, and drove off toward Iowa, which was perfect because the next night we were scheduled in Carroll, Iowa. And here's an interesting fact: we spent two whole days in Iowa without getting one single speeding ticket! Isn't that amazing? Lots of people have questions about our hairstyles and how we maintain our respective looks. Well, as you can see from this behind-the-scenes-photo, before the concert in Carroll, I took some time back stage to get my hair tidied up a bit.
From there we drove back to Minnesota for a pair of unusual events: back-to-back junior-high events. The first one started Friday night, with a main session at midnight. The next one began with a whole new group of kids, following the exact same schedule. In between there was a large snowfall, but Michael was prepared. Sunday morning, we drove through the blizzard to the Minneapolis airport, and boarded our plane, which took off late, getting us into St. Louis a couple hours behind schedule. However, the kind folks at the Youth Specialties National Youthworkers Convention took pity on us, and allowed us to still play the main session, albeit a bit later than planned. And speaking of the Youth Specialties National Youthworkers Convention, that's where we were next. It was unusual to be with all these folks in the midst of the absence of Mike Yaconelli, and yet it was still a magical time of spirit-filled wonder. Had a grand late-night concert with our pals CPR, and flew the next morning to Minneapolis where I got to drive for once while Michael went home. As I passed through Minneapolis, I stopped by our friend Jonathan Rundman's house to lay down a couple of tracks for him and then drove on off toward Ohio. Though he looks like he's writing a term paper, Jonathan also has one of those Protools set-ups, so he's actually playing engineer. And though I look like a first-year organ student practicing in the church basement . . .well, I guess that's actually about my level of expertise on that instrument.
Anyway, on the way home, I passed a fellow who apparently forgot to take the leash off his pet deer before he went driving on the highway. Poor animal. Then it was Thanksgiving, and we gave thanks. A day or so later, Famous Actor Justin Vetrano came to my house, and he and I drove together to St. Louis to begin the Fifth Annual LOST AND FOUND Christmas Tour. This year's festival included us (duh), the Fitz Family, the aforementioned actor, rapper Agape, and folksinger Rachel Kurtz and her friend Jayanthi. It was truly a treat of a show, and this year's common-sense head-south approach kept us snow-free for the whole tour. (Can I get hyphen please?) We started in St. Louis with a fine show. The next night was Ponca City, Oklahoma, in the Poncan Theater, which is really a nice venue, though they don't want you signing the walls in the basement unless you're Cathy Mattea. Notice the sign beneath the sign there? Also, adding class to this year's tour, Rachel and Jayanthi dressed delightfully each night.
Ponca City
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Though I do not have a photo from the first night, I'll include them from here on.
Kansas City
Dallas
San Antonio
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From there it was back up north to Kansas City, or thereabouts. Had a great time and saw lots of familiar faces. The kind folks at the church there allowed me to use their keyboard, since mine was giving me trouble with sticking keys and general bustedness. Afterward, we headed off into the night to get to the next venue, which was in Dallas, or thereabouts. Here we had two nights in a row and were thankful to have those nights at such a comfortable place with generous hosts. We did laundry, played video games, slept, and recorded a Christmas cd for Rachel to sell on the tour. And a touring group couldn't ask for a more comfortable backstage area. As with the last time we were with the Crossroads folks, they had us sign a ceiling tile, which we gladly did. From there, we headed south to San Antonio, where we had one of the funnest shows of the trip. A wonderful group packed out the place, and we were pleased to learn that Robert Cade (the inventor of Gatorade) grew up in the congregation. It was interesting for Troy to be set-up with the sales stuff out on the sidewalk, making it the first-ever LOST AND FOUND Sidewalk Sale! (Which fits, I suppose, with my insistence that this be the year-end edition of the newsletter.)
Then we all drove to Houston, so that Michael and I could play a little set for the folks at the Woodlands UMC Church. From there, we headed over to Tomball for the next Christmas show. Had a nice time, and enjoyed ourselves mightily. The next morning, Michael and I got to play a few songs for the folks at one of the Lutheran High Schools in Houston. Had a great time, and got to hang out with our relocated friends the Struckmann family. That night we drove over to New Orleans and had some of that great Louisiana Cuisine, like in this picture from a gas station pump. The next morning, Michael and I played for the students at New Orleans Lutheran High School, where we have not played since the bike trip. That night, Rachel and Jayanthi offered to cook up some curry for us, and it was delightsome! We played in Metarie and had an appropriately delightsome after-dinner Christmas show. And with that, sadly, the Fifth Annual LOST AND FOUND Christmas Tour drew to a close. It really was a great show and if you missed it, well you missed a great show.
However, no time to dwell on that, because the next morning we were up with the dawn and flying off to New Jersey. Michael's flight was cancelled, but through his clever machinations he was able to meet me in New Jersey and we were happy to return once more to Gloucester County Community Church, where we were warmly welcomed. That night, we drove over to over friends Bart and Marty's house in Philadelphia where we chatted the night away. The next dawn's flights took us to our respective homes for a long winter's nap. And that was appropriate because Christmas approached quickly and we had to get ready for it.
But first, there was England. In a flurry of year-end why not, Cris and I flew to London for three quick days of doing what folks do when they go to London (i.e. getting rained on). Had a really fun time, and walked many miles. Imagine, for a moment, that this Christmas tree is your average 7-foot tree in your living room. Funny, innit?
Okay, diversion over.
So, after Christmas, Michael and I returned yet again to Lansing, Michigan, to be with the folks whose gathering takes the definite article. The Gathering was a blast, and we had a blast being there. Got to see our friend Bob Lenz, Rapper Agape, Reed Schroer, Outside The Lines, and also to meet some great new bands, most notably Chinese Happy. While there, someone made us a visual representation of our Stein Auf shirts. From there, we rested over New Year's (Michael in Michigan, and I in Western New York) until we met up at my house and headed over to Cleveland to be with the Lutherans from northest Ohio, where I now sit writing instead of doing what I should be doing, which is sleeping in preparation for our morning appearance. However, sleep will come soon, as my little narrative now draws to a close.
If you'd like to see some pictures taken from where Just George sits, you can click on Photo Phrenzy and be whisked away to that page. If you'd like to listen to the Just George cd, you can return to the front page and follow the links to the Stuff To Buy page.
Hoping all is well, I remain,
Just george
Read more of George's monthly newsletters.
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