Ep 100: Fernando Ortega returns for our 100th episode to discuss his new album!

It's celebration time! For the 100th episode of the podcast Fernando Ortega returns to discus his new album For All the Saints. We also have a thorough discussion about his book Fernando's Birds bird watching in general, what it means to be rooted to a place and home, and how he has learned to grieve loss and embrace the joys of life over the years. It's a wonderful discussion to have for this milestone episode.

Fernando also appeared on episode 52 of the podcast to discuss his previous album The Crucifixion of Jesus, which to this day remains the most listened to episode of the podcast.

PostConsumer Reports as a podcast will be winding down over the coming series of episodes. For anyone who has listened to these discussions surrounding art and faith over the years, thank you so much for taking the time. I hope the conversations have been enlightening and joy-filled and I also hope it has provided a platform for artists to spread the word about their work and life. I'm not exactly sure how many have listened or who continues to listens, so I'll just throw this bottle out into the ocean a few more times and see what happens. Finally, thanks Fernando for answering my questions all those years ago, giving me the encouragement to start this podcast, and being such an amazing guest.

Ep. 91: Joel Heng Hartse on how Dancing About Architecture is a reasonable thing to do

 

Joel Heng Hartse is the author of the new book Dancing About Architecture is a Reasonable Thing To Do: Writing about Music, Meaning, and the Ineffable." He joins Chris on the podcast to discuss how writing about music is similar to dancing about architecture and they ponder their favorite bands and songs all while figuring out how to continue having a critical eye toward art while still allowing others to enjoy the music they love.

You can find Joel's book here and anywhere you purchase books and you can find out more about his writing and work at his website: https://www.joelhenghartse.com/

You can find Chris's old article on Plankeye's The Spark here.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 90: Brian Doerksen on his song "215"

Ep 85: Singer-songwriter Rick Lee James

Ep 88: Rachel Wilhelm on Composing a Modern Requiem

Ep 87: Harmony Smith—Vineyard Worship Leader, Songwriter, and Pastor

Ep 68: E. Byron Anderson on his book Common Worship

Ep 62: Stephen Backhouse on the Life of Kierkegaard

Ep 50: Stu G on the Beatitudes Project

Ep 26: Zac Hicks author of The Worship Pastor

Ep 47: Dr. Lest Ruth on the History of Contemporary Worship

Ep 81: Rain For Roots 

Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen

Ep 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Ep 83: Blair Masters—Keyboardist, Composer, and Dogs of Peace Member

Episode 83 features an interview with Nashville musician, keyboardist, and composer Blair Masters. Blair has played on numerous albums over the years, from Newsboys, Amy Grant, Charlie Peacock, Rich Mullins, Margaret Becker, Steven Curtis Chapman and yeah, even Barry Manilow, Andy Williams, and Megadeth. He's also the touring and recording keyboardist for Garth Brooks and has composed and recorded music for a number television shows. Our talk focuses on the span of his career and gives an in-depth look into the music of his band Dogs of Peace, who he is in with Gordon Kennedy, Jimmy Lee Sloas, and John Hammond. They latest album Heel is available for streaming everywhere or purchase here. He's also in Tim Akers & The Smoking Section and a Tom Petty cover band called The Petty Junkies. You can find a fuller list of his recording credentials here.

There have been a number of PostConsumer episodes and articles featuring that relate to Blair's work:

Ep 77: Jimmy Abegg

Ep 75: Jeff Frankenstein

Ep 74: Charlie Peacock

Ep 73: Phil Joel

The Troubled Future State of Christian Music

The Christian Music Supergroup

Rich Mullins Was Weird, But...

Ep 77: Artist and Musician Jimmy Abegg

Jimmy Abegg is a veteran of both the music and art worlds. He also has a heart of gold and is generous with everyone he meets. Currently Jimmy is in need of financial help to complete the building Blind Jimmy's Lighthouse, an art and music studio he's building behind his home. You can support Jimmy through direct donations on his website or by simply buying his artwork, such as hi-resolution prints of his album cover of Charlie Peacock's Lie Down in the Grass. Associated with Rich Mullins's Ragamuffin Band, Charlie Peacock, and the band Vector, our conversation intentionally focuses on his own art and music, especially his plans once his studio gets completed, including recording albums, offering art workshops to the community, finishing his podcast, and writing his memoir. Please take a look at the videos after the episode link for examples of his work throughout the years.

Other Jimmy Abegg related links:
Purchase Charlie Peacock's West Coast Diaries Vol. 1 on vinyl
Stu G's Beatitudes Project that Jimmy did artwork for
Jimmy's Between the Songs Podcast Interview about Rich Mulllins and the Ragamuffins

Also, please check out my book on the 12 days of Christmas

Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 

Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, 
Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Music Related Podcast Episodes:
Bonus: Stu G on the Beautitudes Project 

Ep 74: Charlie Peacock
Ep 73: Phil Joel of Newsboys and Zealand

Ep 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson

Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign

Ep 56: Andrew Osenga

Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser

Examples of Jimmy's work:

Ep 75: Jeff Frankenstein of Newsboys

Episode 75 features an interview with longtime Newsboys keyboardist, programmer, arranger, and even bass player (on synth!) Jeff Frankenstein. He details what it has been like to navigate changes in the music industry over the past decades as well as changes within Newsboys as a band. He also describes how they've found a balance in being a touring band with families back home. Jeff's kindness and enthusiasm shines through in whatever he does and it's worth listening back to the many Newsboys albums in order to pick out his particular contributions to the band's music and performances. You can find tour dates and much more at Newsboys's website.

It is also worth noting that my book Celebrating the 12 Days of Christmas has now been officially been released, which you can purchase on the Wipf and Stock Publishers website or on Amazon. Those who supported my Kickstarter campaign will be receiving their books soon. I'm also in the process of booking interviews and speaking engagements about the book, so if you are interested please contact me! 




Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 

Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, 
Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Music Related Podcast Episodes:
Bonus: Stu G on the Beautitudes Project 

Ep 74: Charlie Peacock
Ep 73: Phil Joel of Newsboys and Zealand

Ep 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson

Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign

Ep 56: Andrew Osenga

Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser

Ep 74: Charlie Peacock—Artist, Producer, and Writer

Ep 74 features an interview with Charlie Peacock, an artist with four decades of experience in the music industry as a songwriter and solo artist and a producer for renowned artists like Switchfoot, The Civil Wars, Audio Adrenaline, and Marc Martel. Our conversation ranges from his thoughts on fame, the state of the Christian music industry, and the wisdom he's gained from getting debilitatingly sick after years of pushing himself past his limits. His new album Lil' Willie is available on various streaming services, his recent autobiographical writings and podcasts done with his wife Andi can be found at https://thewriterthehusband.com/ and more info on what Peacock is currently working on can be found at https://www.charliepeacock.com/ Much of his recent music is available for free on Facebook, which you can find here: www.facebook.com/sound
Peacock is one of my life-long musical and artistic heroes, and it was a true honor to spend some time with him. Finally, those wishing to purchase his recent re-release of West Coast Diaries Vol 2 on vinyl can do so through Discogs.
  Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Music Related Podcast Episodes:
Episode 73: Phil Joel of Newsboys and Zealand

Episode 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Episode 50: Stu G on the Beatitudes Project

Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson

Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign

Ep 56: Andrew Osenga

Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser

Ep 73: Phil Joel on his new book and being in Newsboys and Zealand

On Ep 73 of the PostConsumer Reports Podcast we have Phil Joel, notably of the bands Newsboys, Zealand, and also a prolific solo music career, who has just released his first book Redwoods and Whales. You will need to read the book to discover Joel's inspirational meaning, but essentially it is much better if we end up like a redwood and not a whale (of the beached variety...). You can find links of where to buy the book at his website: http://www.philjoel.com/. While currently gearing up for another Zealand album, Joel is also in the midst of the successful Newsboys United "Greatness of Our God" tour, which finds him reuniting with Peter Furler, his former bandmates, and Michael Tait of DC Talk who has be leading the band for the past several years. In our conversation we discuss the tensions of songwriting in the Christian industry, what led him to write his book, and his reflections on the lates chapter of being a Newsboy.

Please check out these past PostConsumer articles on the Newsboys:
PostHumous Record Reviews: Newsboys' Love Liberty Disco
Record Review: Peter Furler Band's Sun and Shield
Peter Furler: His New Album and 15 Greatest Songs



Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.


Related Podcast Episodes:

Episode 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Episode 50: Stu G on the Beatitudes Project

Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson

Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign

Ep 56: Andrew Osenga

Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser

Ep 70: Glenn Kaiser and Michelle Van Loon

Ep. 70 features an interview with Glenn Kaiser, a true music legend. His blues and rock and roots music spans 5 decades, from his work in the Resurrection Band to his solo work and the Glenn Kaiser Band. Kaiser is also a pastor and teacher at the Jesus People USA ministry and community (http://jpusa.org/). I was able to talk with him at the 2018 Unite Fest in Peoria's Glenn Oak Park. You can find Kaiser's music at:
https://grrrrecords.com/glenn-kaiser
https://glennkaiser.bandcamp.com/

This episode also features an interview with author Michelle Van Loon, who recently released her book Born To Wander: Recovering the Value of Our Pilgrim Identity. You can discover more of Van Loon's writings at:
http://michellevanloon.com/
https://theperennialgen.com/

And please check out my previous article that featured some thoughts on Glenn Kaiser and Phil Keaggy: The Troubled Future Legacy of Christian Music
as well as my previous interview with Michelle Van Loon



Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 

Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Episode 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus

Episode 50: Stu G on the Beatitudes Project

Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson

Ep 59: Jeremy Casella's New Album and Kickstarter Campaign

Ep 56: Andrew Osenga

Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Ep 67: Singer-songwriter John Van Deusen
Ep 62: Stephen Backhouse on the Life of Kierkegaard
Ep 45: Religion and Philosophy Professor Brooks McDaniel
Ep 47: Dr. Lester Ruth on the history of Contemporary Worship
Ep 26: Zac Hicks author of The Worship Pastor
Ep 07: Pastor Luke Edwards on "why churches should stop giving stuff away"

Ep 08: Dr. Jeremiah Gibbs on Postmodern Apologetics

Ep 11: Thom Blair on the Hebrew English Interlinear O.T. and Logos Bible Software

Ep 17: Pastor Douglas Wilson 

Ep 68: E. Byron Anderson on his book Common Worship

  

Ep 57: Does Christian Music Need a Savior? UTR Media's Dave Trout Thinks So

Dave Trout is an industrious guy. He's the kind of person I understand. He has big dreams and big plans for his company UTR Media and the music festival he puts on every year Escape to the Lake (http://escapetothelake.net/). The thing is, Dave's field of expertise is a niche interest, in his case "Christian music" or CCM. In other words, Dave Trout is a Christian music nerd. But that's OK, he is in safe company here at PostConsumer Reports.

Ep 57 of the PCR Podcast features my conversation with Dave about his re-launch of UTR Media, which has already started with 5 new podcasts and looks to continue with live concerts, videos, interviews, and articles featuring independent music by Christian artists. 

Music industry has changed significantly in the past 15 or so years, changes which have forced the CCM industry to become an increasingly small pond consisting of increasingly unvaried lifeforms. With UTR Media Dave is hoping to stir things up, to explode the pond even into a lake or a river....anyway, enough with metaphors.... Dave is just as disgusted and unsatisfied as you are with the sounds of Christian radio and his hope is to provide a place where great music can be heard and incredible artists can be discovered. Check out the interview below, their new promo video, and all their new podcasts on whatever podcasting app you use the most.
http://utrmedia.org/
You can read my profile on UTR's annual Escape to the Lake Music Festival here.


 You can stream the episode above, subscribe to the podcast on itunes or Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.


Related Episodes and Articles
Ep 56: Andrew Osenga
Andrew Greer Interview and a Recap of Escape to the Lake
Jimmy Abegg Interview

The Troubled Future Legacy of Christian Music

Why I Cringe Everytime Someone Says "I Hate Christian Music"
Ep 55: Singer-songwriter Nathan Peterson
Ep 53: The Mosleys—Husband and Wife Duo
Episode 52: Fernando Ortega's The Crucifixion of Jesus
Episode 50: Stu G on the Beatitudes Project

Ep 53: The Mosley's—Husband and Wife Duo

The Mosley's are Stephen and Rachel Mosley, a husband and wife sing-songwriter duo from Florida, who make earthy and reflective music indicative of the Americana folk of the South. Their first full length album Ordinary Time was produced by Phil Madeira and co-produced by Jimmy Abegg. I got to sit down with them for an interview at UTR Media's Escape to the Lake festival (read my in depth look at the festival here). You can read more about The Mosleys and purchase their music at their website: http://www.themosleysmusic.com/



You can stream the episode above, subscribe to the podcast on itunes or
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Google Play, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Related Links:
http://escapetothelake.net/
https://radarradio.net/
https://www.windsofheavenstuffofearth.com/ (website for the new Rich Mullins book)

Check below for related podcast episodes.

PROFILE: UTR Media's Escape to the Lake Music Festival

The first week of August 2017 I jutted up to Cedar Lake, Indiana, just south of Chicago and Gary, for UTR Media's Escape to the Lake music festival and retreat. UTR's Dave Trout had invited me up to cover the event, do some interviews, and attend the Rich Mullins Tribute concert on August 4. This is a profile of my time there.

I can best sum up my time at Escape to the Lake with this brief anecdote: 
I was sitting on the front porch of one of the dorms at the retreat center, taking in an unplugged rehearsal with Jimmy Abegg, Ben Pearson, The Mosley's, and half of For Brothers (more on that in a minute), when a familiar looking woman sat down and started listening along with us. I was there as a hanger-on, a privileged guest who never would have otherwise been given access to a front row seat for hearing one of Christian music's most revered artists (Abegg) and photographer/cinematographer (Pearson). But I was the journalist. Who was she?

The Rich Mullins 20th Anniversary Project is a Big Missed Opportunity

_______________________________________________________________________________
Alternative title: 
Some Thoughts and Concerns on the Rich Mullins 20th Anniversary Project
_______________________________________________________________________________

UPDATE: I have begun an podcast about Rich Mullins with Joe Cook of the Ragamuffin Archive. For our first episode we were even able to interview Jimmy Abegg about the Be God's Podcast. You can listen to the episode here or subscribe on itunes  Google Play  Tunein Radio  or  Stitcher

It has been an amazing past several years for the legacy of musician, writer, teacher, and walking human enigma Rich Mullins. 

Rich Mullins, My Patron Saint

Note: A shortened version of this essay was given as an address at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Peoria, Illinois on November 19, 2016. The audio, along with a speech and interview with the EMT who was present at Rich Mullins' death, will soon be available as a podcast.

Late in his life, Thomas Aquinas, the great medieval scholastic theologian, author of the towering three volume Summa Theologica (that is, the "sum" of all theology) had a divine encounter with the living God. If you ever happen to pick up one of the volumes of the Summa and read it you will find it an immensely dense work full of meticulously reasoned arguments on (among many things) the creation of the world, the character of God, the moral life required of the faithful, and the importance of the work of Christ. In reading the Summa you get the impression that its author must have contained worlds of knowledge within himself and that his intellect was beyond compare. Aquinas was a true and rare genius.

PCR Podcast Ep31: Mitch McVicker—Singer-songwriter and musician

Mitch McVicker is a singer-songwriter and musician who's released 7 full length albums over the span of his career. He won the Dove award for "Song of the Year" for co-writing "My Deliver" with Rich Mullins. In our chat we talked about his latest album The Grey: When black and white fade, about being a do-it-yourself touring musician, and what it was like playing himself in the Ragamuffin film. Find out more at McVicker's website: http://mitchmcvicker.com/. For past interviews he has done (especially those that go in depth about his time with Rich Mullins) please check the end of this article.


Subscribe to the podcast on itunes 
Check out the podcast page to subscribe on Stitcher, Tunein, and PocketCasts.

Related Podcast Episodes:

Episode 09: Caleb J. Kruse on Meeting Rich Mullins

Episode 10: David Leo Schultz Director of Brennan
Episode 19: Joe Cook of The Ragamuffin Archive and Western Indian Ministries

_______________
Rich Mullins Articles:
Take a look: The vast online Rich Mullins library
When Will the Christian Music Industry Get Its Act Together?
Rich Mullins and America As Promised Land
The Theology of Rich Mullins 
So...They Made a Movie About Rich Mullins

Reed Arvin and Liturgy Legacy & a Ragamuffin Band 20th Anniversary Interview

Other Interviews With Mitch:

Classic Christian Music: A List of Radio Stations, Websites, Books, and Documentaries

I recently put up a post that has been viewed by more people than I ever thought it would. It is about the state Christian Music, or CCM, or "Jesus Music" is in, specifically how the music of older artists (or "legacy" artists) have gone out of print and that for those artists still touring their concerts are relatively small (though faithfully attended by a few). You can view the article here: The Troubled Future Legacy of Christian Music.

The Troubled Future Legacy of Christian Music

Related article: A Classic Christian Music—A list of radio stations, websites, books, and documentaries

This past weekend I had a most amazing concert-going experience in Champaign, Illinois.

I was there seeing two little known aging rock artists. I say little known because the crowd was mostly in their 40's or above, with a few sprinklings of people in their 20's and 30's, as well as a few kids. I also say little known because only around 200-300 people were there, and though the venue was mostly full the two artists who performed have both had sustainable music careers for over 40 years. So...you'd think more than 200-300 people would be there...

And I should also say both of these artists are rock legends who continue to put out music showing they are still at the top of their craft. Well, what was the problem? Why weren't there more people there? The answer is easy: they both are "Christian" artists who put out "Christian" music within the realm of the Christian music industry. The concert I went to featured a doubling billing of Glenn Kaiser playing solo blues and Phil Keaggy playing a rare show with a full band. Most anyone who knows anything about these artists would easily call them "rock legends", most especially Keaggy but I think Kaiser deserves to be up there too. It was the best concert experience I have had in years and it made me a little bit sad.

"Christian"music, you see, has a legacy problem and it manifests itself in two main ways:
1.) there is basically no infrastructure for artists  to go on tour. 
2.) there is basically no infrastructure for artists' music to stay in print or reach a new audience.

On the death of Rich Mullins, 19 years after the fact (The boy becomes a man)

So, I suppose Rich Mullins died 19 years ago today and I suppose I'm still a bit in denial about it. Everyone's posting their tributes, so I thought I'd offer mine too. 

PCR Podcast Episode 19: Joe Cook of the Rich Mullins Ragamuffin Archive and Western Indian Ministries

Joe Cook is the station manager for three stations in the Western Indian Radio Network (http://www.westernindian.net/) in New Mexico and Arizona. He and his family moved out west a few years ago to do ministry among the Navajo nation and its people. Joe is also the operator of the Ragamuffin Archive, which features numerous Rich Mullins, interviews, live shows, and song rarities (https://www.youtube.com/user/theentrtnr or on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/ragamuffinarchive/?__mref=message_bubble). In our interview we chat about his ministry and the strange story of receiving a box (or boxes) full of all but unheard Rich Mullins material. You can find Joe's family's blog at: https://cookfamilywim.wordpress.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/cookfamilymissions?__mref=message_bubble





_______________
Rich Mullins Articles:
Take a look: The vast online Rich Mullins library
When Will the Christian Music Industry Get Its Act Together?
Rich Mullins and America As Promised Land
The Theology of Rich Mullins 
So...They Made a Movie About Rich Mullins
Reed Arvin and Liturgy Legacy & a Ragamuffin Band 20th Anniversary Interview

Rich Mullins Related Podcast Episodes:
Episode 09: Caleb J. Kruse on Meeting Rich Mullins
Episode 04: David Leo Schultz director of Ragamuffin the Rich Mullins Biopic

PostConsumer Culture Club #4—The Week of September 20-September 26

PostConsumer Culture Club: A list of everything we at PostConsumer Reports have been digesting this week, with brief commentary. Hopefully, we can culture something good in you. Happy PostConsuming!

Here is what we watched the week of September 20 through September 26.