04/06/03

I went into our first day of Gospel Music Week wondering if we would have anything interesting to share, since our interviews don't begin until Monday. Barring any stories of snowstorms and lost luggage to hamper our trip, it promised to be a light report for me to type at midnight.

Be careful what you wish for. We left Chicago just in time, hours before a major snowstorm was scheduled to hit. Not to be outdone by the Windy City, Nashville attracted equivalent precipitation in the form of daylong rain, as well as a flash flood warning. Still, give me rain over snow to ensure we reach our destination.

If only the weather were the only hassle. In a stunning display of incompetence, our airline succeeded in losing a good third of the passengers' luggage—including ours. I'm happy to report that just a few hours before bedtime, our belongings were finally delivered to us. Also on our flight were the members of Switchfoot (sans Jon Foreman) who were in Chicago because of a layover. Fortunately for them, their items (including musical gear) were among those on our flight. Isn't flying fun?

Upon arriving in Nashville, Mike Herman and I checked into our hotel suite, completed our registration, and then ran into some old friends, publicists, and key music industry people (most notably John Styll, former editor of CCM Magazine and president of the Gospel Music Association)—not a bad way to start!

It turns out there was far too much to do on our first night for one journalist—a running theme at GM Week, to my understanding.

Our freelance writer, Andy Argyrakis, was scheduled at the last minute to emcee "The Tsunami Showcase" at a local venue. It began with local artist Kevin William, Stereo Motion, and new Furious? Records worship band, Everyone. The real highlights, however, were Glassbyrd (backed by members of Caedmon's Call and The Normals), All Star United (whose newer material sounded fresher in a live setting), and urban pop siblings Souljahz. Meanwhile, Mike and I kicked off our Gospel Music Week experience with an evening of worship in the legendary Ryman Auditorium, led by Michael W. Smith and an all-star choir of Christian artists (including Amy Grant, Geoff Moore, and Natalie Grant. Though very similar to the worship experiences led by Michael in the last two years, it was refreshing to see so many new and talented Christian artists part of the occasion.

The worship service also began the week with a healthy dose of patriotism and humility. Many in the Christian music industry have been wondering what kind of tone this year's GM Week would have in light of the war in Iraq. Michael began the worship service with "The Star Spangled Banner" (including the worshipful second verse) and "America the Beautiful." After that, he brought out Scott O'Grady (the U.S. pilot shot down in Bosnia behind enemy lines some ten years ago), who spoke on the importance of prayer for our troops and our enemies. He then led the worshippers in prayer. That was followed by a powerful but exhausting hour and forty-five minutes of worship, with no down time between songs and few worshippers sitting. In the end, Michael emphasized the artists' desire to please God and defer the spotlight from themselves, asking everyone to "pray for us."

I parted ways with my colleague Mike to attend the songwriter's showcase, which featured an array of songwriters, including all of the 2003 Song of the Year Dove nominees who performed their songs acoustic and unplugged in a standing-room-only hotel ballroom. Familiar faces Bebo Norman and Steven Curtis Chapman were joined by less known songwriters such as Marie Barnett (modern worship classic "Breathe") and Lowell Alexander (Point of Grace's "You Will Never Walk Alone"). TobyMac performed an impressive acoustic rendition of his hip-hop song "Irene" with his co-writers. Co-emcee Mark Schultz ditched a performance of his Dove-nominated "Back in His Arms Again" in favor of a new song, "Letters from War," inspired by the relationship his grandparents shared during World War II, and seemingly just as timely today.

Mike, meanwhile, attended the limited invite 20th anniversary celebration for Michael W. Smith. Long-time friend and collaborator Amy Grant spoke, and songwriter/artists Wes King and Wayne Kirkpatrick both performed songs that they helped Michael write. The highlight, however, was a delightful video presentation hosted by Michael's young daughter Emily. The production was clearly a family effort, however, featuring all of the Smith family in hilarious parodies of "Leave It to Beaver," "The Osbournes," and "The Croc Hunter."

Phew, just remember that this was a "light" evening! There's only more interviews, concerts, and presentations to come. For now, my suitcase is dying to be opened …

04/07/03

With the craziness of travel, registration, and opening day behind us, Monday proved a very typical example of what GM Week is like—perhaps atypical in that everything seemed to flow unusually smoothly.

Though weary from the previous night's musical showcases and events, Mike and I awoke early as dutiful members of the Gospel Music Association to participate in the annual Monday Morning Live event. This is sort of like a company breakfast, at which President John Styll delivered his equivalent to the "state of the union" for GMA members, focusing primarily on digital downloads (pirated music) and how it's hurting the music industry. The meeting is also a time for members to vote on the new year's board members and when the special GMA awards are distributed. Among the award winners were The Fish Radio Stations for the Impact Award and K-Love's Jon Rivers for the Scott Campbell Radio Award.

With the "business matters" aside, most of the day was spent in discussions with artists. I'll spare you most of the details and encourage you to keep reading the various interviews in the months ahead. By the time this week is over, we'll have enough interview content to last us into the fall or winter.

Some of the highlights included Nichole Nordeman (she'll be taking some time off soon with the arrival of her first baby), Chris Rice (who offered a very thoughtful discussion on songwriting), modern rock band Sanctus Real (all four were very eager to participate in the interview), and worship leader Rick Munchow. I also took the time to hang out at Rocketown Records' Launch Pad, where Shaun Groves unveiled a number of new songs from his upcoming album, Twilight (due August 5). Some of you may be following our monthly series by Shaun, journalizing "The Process" of making an album. The songs I heard were promising enough to get enthusiastic about the sophomore effort.

Later in the day, we spent time with the staff of the newly reborn and redesigned Seven Ball Magazine, Christian music's alternative rock magazine, which has been notably absent in the last few years. They're back and better than ever, and we spent a good deal of time at their open house event talking about the magazine's future with its editors and the many enthusiastic publicists who stopped by to visit.

After squeezing in a fast dinner, it was time for the musical showcases. Our freelance writer, Andy Argyrakis, hosted another showcase featuring such artists as Latin pop artist Patty Cabrera, worship band Among Thorns, and Irish rock band Ceili Rain. Mike and I joined a friend to attend the Essential Records showcase at the Ryman. We arrived just in time to catch folk artist Andrew Peterson performing songs from his terrific new album, Love & Thunder. He was followed by an impressively energetic FFH and folk-pop songwriter Bebo Norman, who delivered an outstanding rendition of his Dove-nominated song, "Great Light of the World." The buzz is that Bebo will win the Dove Award for Best Male Vocalist or Best Song. The concert finished with Third Day performing a handful of songs from their new Offerings 2 worship album.

Of course, it's simply impossible to be attend every function. We missed out on the Forefront Records showcase that featured tobyMac, Rebecca St. James, Stacie Orrico, and their latest signee, Lil' IROCC. The Creative Trust Workshop showcase was a special limited invite event that premiered their new artist Warren Barfield, whose debut arrives later this fall. The Curb Records showcase featured the recent releases from Plumb, Natalie Grant, and Jim Witter, as well as Jamie Slocum and newcomer Nate Sallie. And that's only some of the events available to the GM Week participants that evening.

Mike and I, however, chose to attend the Sparrow Records rock showcase featuring three of our favorite bands—Sanctus Real, The Elms, and Switchfoot. Though we'll probably suffer from severe hearing loss later (especially by standing next to the massive subwoofer), all three acts put on a breathtaking show with their unique styles of melodic rock.

The most incredible part in all of this is that we've only just begun. There are still numerous artists whom we plan to visit and watch over the days ahead …

04/08/03

Tuesday. Another day packed with interviews and music showcases. Pretty much a similar itinerary to the previous day's events, though the effects of long nights and early mornings became more apparent with several interviews showing up late or meeting in the wrong place. No harm done, but the contrast from the prior day's smoothness is clear. In the end, we picked up another healthy collection of future interviews, including our morning chat with piano rock band The Swift, our lunch with acoustic duo Shane Barnard & Shane Everett, and our end-of-the-day conversation with pop group FFH.

One thing that truly stands out when attending Gospel Music Week is the sense of community. Many have grown jaded, weary of the whirlwind of activity surrounding the non-stop events in Nashville during the week, and they would say I'm being overly sentimental or naïve—this is after all, my first Gospel Music Week as a member of the media.

Whether I am or not, there are few other occasions when so many Christians gather together to share mutual passion and admiration for sharing the gospel with others through the blessing of music and art. It's not every day in Nashville, much less the rest of the world, when you can see a wide and diverse array of artists meet each other in a room and express their respect for one another. The commonality of faith and occupation tears down many of the walls people normally put up in public, with all kinds of media types quick to say "hello" and "who are you?" while passing in a hotel hall or elevator. It's not uncommon to find through conversation that one person's work somehow affects another's. Yes, some of the week's networking can be shallow and even petty, but the overall picture is quite a site.

One of the day's highlights was a small, intimate showcase for new Reunion artist Jill Paquette, whose debut releases in July—a small number of you may remember an artist by the name of Matt Brouwer, and an even smaller number will recall that Jill was featured on that album as a fellow college student and friend of Matt's. We're excited by the new crop of Christian artists, and Jill is certainly among them.

The evening brought its typical share of more showcases than anyone could possibly attend—a shame really, considering all the work and talent present in most of these events. The Worldvision showcase at the Ryman Auditorium featured the likes of Avalon, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Twila Paris. Gospo Centric presented a concert including Kirk Franklin, Trin-i-tee 5:7, and Dorinda Clark-Cole. Skillet and Justifide were among the highlights at the Ardent Records showcase, as well as new artists Todd Agnew and Jonah33.

Rocketown featured new artists Taylor, Alathea, and George Rowe with veterans Chris Rice, Out of the Grey, and label-owner Michael W. Smith (who ended the evening by leading the audience in a worship song that will be featured as a live track on an upcoming compilation). Our own evening closed with the Warner Brothers Christian rock showcase, featuring new artists Dakona and Strange Celebrity alongside the overwhelming blues/sacred steel sound of Robert Randolph and the Family Band and the anthemic rock of downhere.

Oh, if we had more time! Imagine the response to all these showcases if they were open to all fans, including those outside the industry, and if we were able to attend them all. That's what we can look forward to in the community of the Heavenly kingdom—where itineraries and fatigue will be irrelevant, the concerts endless, and journalistic deadlines unheard of. Well, for now I can live that. There's still another day of music and discussions ahead of me.

(Warm greetings and grateful thanks to our dear friends from the community of Provident Music—Mandy, Jackie, Brooke, Alisha, and Gina—for the wonderful dinner. Yes, we've had our picture taken already!)

04/09/03

Three days ago, it was cold and rainy in Nashville. Two days ago, it was nearly 80 degrees and sunny. Today it's cold and windy again with a light drizzle. Thanks to the extreme changes in the weather, the late nights, the early mornings, and the confluence of people from around the world, several Gospel Music Week participants have developed cold symptoms (including yours truly). Still, we soldier on to keep our appointments, and no cold is going to keep us off our feet today of all days.

We all have heroes—our savior Jesus Christ, family members, teachers, mentors, etc. Today, I finally got to meet Michael W. Smith, an artist who has influenced me musically as a pianist/vocalist. For years I've mentioned to friends and colleagues in the Christian media that he's one of the few artists I've yet to meet. The response almost always has been "you're kidding!" as though everyone in Nashville goes bowling with him on a regular basis. I'm happy to confirm what most people say about Michael—he is indeed the real deal. We talked to him about his contribution to The Gospels Come to Life audio Bible, his forthcoming greatest hits project (celebrating his second decade in Christian music), and his forthcoming pop album (his first in four years).

Today I also made a new best friend in Joel Hanson, lead singer for PFR. Over lunch we discovered a common love for faith, music, The Simpsons, and Spinal Tap. For those familiar with his work, his second solo album is now receiving widespread distribution in Christian bookstores, and he still performs occasionally with his Beatle-esque bandmates.

It was another day filled with interviews. Another highlight was an extremely insightful joint interview with Margaret Becker and Ginny Owens. Mike and I made a gentlemen's wager on how many interviews we conducted during the week (including those we assigned to our freelance writer, Andy). Strangely enough, I nailed it on the head without even trying to count—thirty-three separate conversations with Christian artists!

Most participants agree that while the musical showcases are good, there are entirely too many to appreciate. In past years events were consolidated and so featured fewer arists. The Inpop Records showcase was particularly revelatory, unveiling two "new" artists on their label—Erin O'Donnell and (surprise!) Plus One. The "former boy band" officially signed with the label just a few days ago (sans Jason Perry), now playing their own instruments (with a foundational backing band underneath). The evening also introduced young rock band Anthem from Phoenix, Arizona, as well as the new and improved Fusebox, sporting an impressively beefed-up guitar rock sound similar to Lenny Kravitz.

Andy fulfilled his third and final gig as showcase emcee for Christian Radio & Retail Weekly, featuring veteran artist Randy Stonehill, modern rock worship band Daniel's Window, and reggae band Christafari. In addition to performances by Relient K and GRITS, the Gotee Records showcase unveiled urban youth choir Sandtown, whose incredible energy drew a strong response from the audience. The BEC Recordings showcase included performances by KJ-52, Kutless, and Jeremy Camp, as well as new artists Everman, Seven Places, and The Cross Movement.

That's it! With no more showcases to attend, no more interviews scheduled, and no more seminars to attend, Gospel Music Week 2003 is generally over. Only one last event remains …

04/10/03

Another year, another Dove Awards ceremony. Actually, the Dove Awards were an especially fine event this year. Though the recipients were in large part the usual suspects (a recurring problem in Contemporary Christian Music), there were a few pleasant surprises. The Gaylord Entertainment Center hosted one of the most professional looking Dove Awards to date, thanks to a collaborative effort between the Gospel Music Association and last Monday's Flameworthy Awards (country music's people's choice awards).

The quality is certainly worth viewing because of the production and the performances, so whether you know the winners or not, be sure to catch them on PAX TV (April 19, 9pm ET/PT) or one of the subsequent TBN broadcasts.

For those who want to avoid hearing about the winners, I'll refrain from alluding to them on this page (best of luck avoiding news and press releases). Those who want to know the winners now should follow this link to see the list of nominees and winners (indicated in bold).

Hosted by CeCe Winans and Steven Curtis Chapman, the 34th Dove Awards began with Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee, the Blind Boys of Alabama. Third Day offered a meaningful tribute to our troops in Iraq, with lead singer Mac Powell proudly declaring, "There's freedom in Iraq tonight!" Likening the support of our troops to Aaron raising the arms of Moses, the band's request to pray for the coalition armed forces was met with a standing ovation.

The evening was peppered with touching acceptance speeches and sparks of humor—especially funny was an exchange between co-presenters Kirk Franklin and Kurt Warner and the costumes of Best New Artist nominee Daily Planet during their performance. Featuring tributes to Hall of Fame inductees Amy Grant and Pat Boone, the evening concluded with an impressive collaborative tribute to Michael W. Smith's 20 years in Christian music.

I must say, attending the Dove Awards for the first time was equally surreal, fun, and disappointing. The media pressroom outside the ceremony's arena only utilized two small television monitors, which weren't propped up enough for everyone to see well. The video feed was also prone to technical difficulties, and our viewing of the awards was regularly "interrupted" by various award recipients and presenters arriving backstage for press conferences.

While it's great to be able to talk to these artists after their stage time, it prevented us from appreciating most of the events—apparently, as in past years, ear monitors were available to listen to the ceremony, but this was not sufficiently made clear to most members of the media in the room. Though I caught much of the ceremony, I fully intend to watch the event later to see the parts I missed. Nevertheless, it's fun to be present for the gala presentation, and surreal to stand in one of the arena entrances and watch all the celebrities pass you by—I'd estimate 50 in a ten-minute span, when I stepped out to watch the Blind Boys of Alabama open the show.

The press conferences are handy for reactions from the recipients and news about upcoming projects from the artists. Below is a list of several gossip tidbits we gleaned from the artists who visited backstage—potential spoilers are present, so stop reading here if you're aiming for surprise.

That's it for 2003's Gospel Music Week, a fun and educational time despite developing a nasty head cold in the last twenty-four hours. Thanks for reading!

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