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 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 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. 

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.

Derek Webb Isn't Exactly A Christian Anymore...Or is he?

So...according to an interview with the Give and Take podcast Derek Webb isn't exactly a Christian anymore...or is he? 

You can listen to the interview here: http://mygiveandtake.com/2016/04/22/a-conversation-with-derek-webb-and-david-zahl/ (here's the itunes link)

Webb was his typically provocative self during the interview and had many fascinating and insightful things to say about the current state of the music industry and about intentionally being an artist who flies under the radar, which in Webb's case means having enough committed fans that he makes a decent living but not enough fame that he has to make compromises in his art in the hopes of pleasing the adoring masses in the hopes of maintaining the fandom of the masses. Essentially, Webb has been able to make the kind of music he's wanted to throughout his career and he expresses his profound gratitude in the interview for this set of circumstances. Webb's career has certainly been a test case for pushing the boundaries as an artist (especially within the realm of "Christian Music"), being an innovator and disruptor on the economic side of his artistry (e.g., giving away his albums, starting Noisetrade), all while finding a decently modest amount of success and recognition (despite "flying below the radar" Webb is still pretty much in the upper echelon of known artists)

But in the interview (which was recorded after Webb's Mockingbird Conference, which was put on to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his landmark album) he also says he's scared to death of the new songs he's writing because of the stories he's telling. I have my guesses about what he means by this, and this is based on where he goes in the rest of the interview. Webb says he hasn't been going to church since his divorce and admitted infidelity to his ex-wife and artist Sandra McCracken. Webb says he is in the midst of a deconstruction and possible re-construction of his faith. He says that when he is in the realm of having and practicing his faith it takes on a relatively conservative theological bent. He has a pretty high ecclesiology, which means that if he were a Christian, his beliefs would not allow him to not be in Christian community, which is to say that his belief in Christ (when it is present) causes him to strongly believe that he should live in committed Christian community, which is to say he cannot allow himself to be one of the "spiritual but not religious" types who believe in Jesus in some personal way but do not practice their faith outwardly in a typical way such as regular church attendance. Here is a direct quote: "The last time I put any real thought into the construction of my theological grid, I don't know that I would allow myself Jesus without the Church...and so, is there a season where I'm having to say no to both for a minute? Maybe...? Um...and I think that if I come back to it I'm going to have both. I don't think there's a version..I have a very high view of Scripture. I have a very conservative theological ethic when I have it...That's the only answer I have right now."

Notice Webb's emphasis on the "if" and "when" of his beliefs. Webb seems to intentionally leave his self-definitions vague and the interviewer doesn't really press him to parse out where he presently finds himself on the spiritual map other than to say/ask "you don't exactly seem like a religious "none" but maybe more like a religious "done" (my paraphrase), titles which Webb mostly eschewed. Webb also noted that the turnover of his friends in the past 2 years have been near 100%, which is to say that he has almost an entirely different set of friends then he had before. He says he has found people to be more accepting in bars than in churches. They more readily accept you for your past than people in churches, who are more ok with you singing about your sins in your songs than actually being a sinner in real life.

So where will Webb go with his new batch of songs (which he says might take on a synth-heavy industrial rock tone—think Nine Inch Nails)? Will he turn his critical eye on the church who wasn't willing to accept his mistakes and who was not there for him when he needed them? Will he confess his personal doubts and struggles for belief? Will he bring to light the part he played in his failed marriage? Or will he be putting God himself on trial? Will this be a walking towards or moving away from faith record? I know—it is all speculation for the time being.

Here are the vital questions: has a prophetic voice for the Church led to doubt which has led to skepticism which has led to cynicism which has led to non-practicing unbelief? Has Webb allowed the witness of the Body of Christ to speak into his life or has he simply chosen to "go his own way"?

You can click here to see my article written as a counter argument to Webb's views on "Christian music: "Yes There Is Such a Thing As 'Christian Music': A response to Derek Webb

Rich Mullins Was Weird But He Was Also So Good Christian Radio Had To Play Him

Photo supplied courtesy of © David R Banta. You can find his work at www.davidrbanta.com.

NOT YOUR EVERYMAN KIND OF ARTIST...
A little while ago I was doing some "research" for a Rich Mullins article I was writing—that is, I was listening to his music. The song playing was "Calling Out Your Name" from The World As Best As I Remember It Volume 1. I have heard the song countless times now and it might be in my top 5 Rich Mullins songs ever. Nonetheless, as I listened once again to this masterpiece I could not help but think "man, this song is weird...how in the world did it ever get played on Christian radio?"

To my knowledge "Calling Out Your Name" was never an official single for Mullins and yet it still got played on my local Christian radio station throughout the 90's and for a few years after his death (WCIC). Consider how strange this song is:

When Will the Christian Music Industry Get Its Act Together? (especially when there is money to be made)

The release of Steve Taylor's new album Goliath last week reminded me of something that has continued to irk me for a few years now.

As far as I see it Taylor's old record labels (Sparrow/Geffen/Warner Music) have missed a prime opportunity to:
1. Make a decent amount of money (which I assume they are interested in)
and
2. Introduce a whole of new group people to his music and give old fans a chance to reconnect with the music they have come to love.

The Christian Music Supergroup

The release of Steve Taylor & the Perfect Foil's new album Goliath has got me thinking of an interesting phenomenon in the music world: SUPERGROUPS

"To be or NOT to be ('Christian', that is): The Dilemma of a Christian Artist

If you could only choose one...

Last week I wrote two posts on "Christian" music:
Why I Cringe Every Time Someone Says "I hate Christian Music" and
Yes, There is Such a Thing as "Christian Music": A Response to Derek Webb

This week I have two more articles on the same subject in response to two comments I received from readers. You can read the first article here: 'Christian music is like beer': An insight from a reader."

Today I am responding to Heather Peterson, keyboardist, singer, and songwriter in the band Hello Industry. You can go here to listen to an interview I did with her husband Nathan last year when their album Matter came out. I think Heather's position on whether or not to call oneself and one's art "Christian" is important. She is a working musician (she's also a piano teacher!) and actually has to exist out in the big bad world. As artists Hello Industry has gone back and forth for years playing in Christian environments (churches, youth camps, ministry conferences) and then just trying to play "normal" shows wherever they can. Their faith is embedded in every aspect of their art and yet I can tell they really feel a tension in how they label themselves and how they communicate their faith.

"Christian music is like beer": Insights from a reader

"Here, let my try some of that......Hmm....I don't know....something's not right....something's lacking...."

Last week I wrote two posts on "Christian" music:
Why I Cringe Every Time Someone Says "I hate Christian Music" and
Yes, There is Such a Thing as "Christian Music": A Response to Derek Webb

In the first post I tried to get us to see that "Christian" music as a term should not be limited to it's most popular and also most narrow sense: to refer only to the bland derivative pop music played on mainstream Christian radio. There is so much great music out there, both past and present and in so many varied styles, it does no service to lump every Christian musician/artist into one monolithic camp. Then, in my second post, I attempted to formulate another way to go about using "Christian" as a term designating a certain kind of art/music, that is, a way other than a manipulative marketing scheme. 

This week I will have two more articles on the same subject in response to two comments I received from readers. Some of the things people said really got me thinking and I wanted to explore more into understanding what "Christian" music is and why it has such a love/hate existence in Church culture.

Today I am responding to Eric Masters, a guy I've gotten to know a little the past few years. 

Yes, There is Such a Thing as "Christian" Music: A response to Derek Webb

I've just put Derek Webb into a very uncomfortable situation. 

In 2013 Derek Webb wrote an essay on his tumblr entitled "Safe For the Whole Family: The Marketing of Jesus", which is essentially his argument as to why we should not call works of art "Christian", and why there is really no such thing as "Christian" music. In light of a recent Christianity Today article called "Why I Stopped Hating Christian Music" and my own recent article relating to the same topic I decided to write a response to Webb's essay. It's something that has been festering in me for some time regarding the issue of "Christian Music" and I hope I have been able to fashion a legitimate argument. It is not that I think Webb's perspective is entirely wrong, but I do think it is lacking on some levels...(oh, and I should also say, I'm a long time Derek Webb fanboy! Apart from a few things here and there [some of the Caedmon's Call EP's and independent releases and the acoustic version of Control], I own basically everything he's put out.) My intentions are not to bring down Webb or be a troll or whatever but to instead further and deepen the conversation about what Christian music is and is not.
_____________________________________________________________________

Why I Cringe Every Time Someone Says "I hate Christian music"

Christian Music is dead! Long live Christian Music!

Last week Christianity Today published an article online by Peter Chin called "Why I Stopped Hating Christian Music". I related to a lot of what he mentioned in the article and would like to offer my own contribution to the conversation on Christian music and the Christian music industry. On top of that, here is a response to an article Derek Webb wrote a while ago on his blog about "Christian Music", which is called "Yes, There is Such as Christian Music: A Response to Derek Webb." In many ways I know there are no easy answers to the questions "Is there such a thing as "'Christian' music" and if so, what is the criteria for it?" There are compelling arguments on both sides of the issue and lately the side for getting rid of the term altogether seems to have the most traction. I, however, come down on the "Yes, there is such a thing as Christian music" side and would like to present my case as such over the course of these two articles. Your feedback is welcome...even though I realize things could get ugly...