Andrew M. Barnes

How easy would your life be if it were one massive cliche?

Everything about you simply standard issue.

Nothing inspiring.

No originality nor meaning.

An empty chorus.

Carrying along without rhythm.

An overlooked existence.

No need for God.

Drifting day to day with no challenges.

Walking merely in the greater gray of life.

No emotion.

With only commonplace thoughts.

Just another cliche not worth mentioning.

Sure, life would be easy…

Actually, it’s been official now for awhile.  I started my own videography company, it basically includes me, my camera, and my computer.  I’ve officially had the name now for about a couple of months.  In case you are unaware, the name is New South Video.  Here’s my quick justification for the name…

My name has no ring to it.  Andrew Barnes Videography, do anything for ya?  I thought so.

New South represents Charlotte, since I live in Charlotte it seemed like a good fit.

I went with Video instead of Videography because I do more than videography, but I’m not really a production company.  Well I guess I am, but really, I didn’t want to be lumped into that group of people who have a video camera phone and iMovie, which somehow in their world makes them a production company.  That’s like using Paintbrush to do AutoCad work.

Anyway, I video a number of things…sporting events, weddings, interviews, tonight I’ll be recording musician Jessica Campbell (as well as tomorrow).

If you don’t believe I’m legit feel free to talk to the IRS, Mecklenburg County, the USPS, and/or my bank.  Now I’ve just gotta finish my website…that could take years.

I wanted to take today and mention a pretty cool event coming up Sunday, April 6.  My good friend, Thomas Whitley is bringing in Shaun Groves to his church to not only sing, but speak about Compassion International.

Mr. Groves might not remember me, but I definetly remember him.  Several years ago I was a ‘runner’ for him and his band.  And by ‘runner’, I mean I drove him and his band from Charlotte to Columbia and back in the same day.  Basically, I got to hang out with them all day.  I’ve done similar jobs working with other artists, but none of them were as genuine as Shaun Groves.  Trust me, I have run into enough ‘Christian’ ‘musicians’ to make that declaration (and yes I did mean to put Christian and musicians in different quotes).  I could give examples of the things he said that really impressed me, however I think I’ll hold off.

There was one funny incident where I had a Christian Radio Station playing and an artist by the name of Jaci Velasquez came on.  He basically made me turn the radio off for a few minutes.  I can’t remember everything he said, all I know is I tried to stay as professional as possible and not run off the road because I was laughing uncontrollably (I tried to hold it in). 

Anyway, he’ll be in Shelby, NC at Eastside Baptist Chruch on April 6 for the morning service.  It takes alot for me to miss a Sunday at my church, but I’m planning on making the hour drive, sitting front and center.

Check out Thomas’ blog about this event for more.

This past Saturday a group of volunteers and staff from Elevation met up at Lake Park…Park(?) for lunch.  It was the typical Americana lunch with hot dogs, chips, soda, chocolate chip cookies (the only real American cookie).  I would probably eat that combination of foods everyday if wouldn’t someday kill me.  So anyway, we’re getting ready to dig in and the Brey asks everyone to go around say one thing you are thankful for.  Seems easy enough.  I was the second one in the circle so I guess I better think quick…

Guy #1: Sunshine.

Guy #2 (Me): Cool Breezes.

Everyone Else: Family, Friends, Jesus, etc.

Now lets get something straight, I am thankful for each of those things everyone else mentioned, but I think Guy #1 and myself have a different way of thinking when it comes to being thankful.  Most everyone is thankful for family, friends, Jesus, and etc., but to me those are somewhat cop-out answers, they’re easy.  Guy #1 and myelf could’ve easy said ‘weather’, but again that’s too easy.  Let’s breakdown our two answers…

Sunshine- Produced by a massive ball of fire, the effects of which travel millions of miles to produce and sustain life on our planet on a daily basis.

Cool Breezes- Keep individuals like myself and this guy who have a core temperature of 114 degrees from dying.

The worst part of this was my manhood being questioned for giving such an apparently unmannly answer as ‘cool breezes’.  Hey Marc, next time its a 100 degrees give me a call.

I’ve waited 6 years for this and I’m not joking in the least bit.  I’m exhausted, but I decided to stay up and download my pre-order of the new Counting Crows album Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings.  Luckily I didn’t have to stay up until midnight for it be released, more like 11:20pm.  I guess they figured that there’s been a good number of fans waiting for 6 years so they just pardoned the last 40 mins.

To preface my review, I’ve heard five of the songs on the album over the past couple of months, three of which were studio recordings.

Counting Crows
Saturday Nights, Sunday Mornings

1. 1492- An older Counting Crows song, but completely revamped.  Extremely upbeat with a ton of electric guitar.  Doubt this one will be a single, but of course I’ve been listening to this one for a couple of months already.  Make sure you get through to about the last minute, Duritz really breaks the whole song down from then on.
2. Hanging Tree- Starts with a cough, but don’t let the slow start full you.  It doesn’t take long before a very nicely put together chorus kicks in.  Two elements that seem to dominate this album - more electric guitar and more verbage from Adam Duritz.  Definetely a change of pace from their previous albums.  Think Hanginaround, but with more direction.
3. Los Angeles - One of my favorite songs.  The song takes on a very bluesy sound.  This may never be a single, I actually hope it never does.  This is another song where you gotta listen all the way through.
4. Sundays -  The first thing I thought of was this was a Barenaked Ladies song.  The second time I listened I heard a calmer Kid Things (a hidden track on This Desert Life).  This will have to grow on me I guess, I’ve heard much worse from them.
5. Insignificant- I’d compare it to Have You Seen Me Lately from Recovering the Satellites.  It’s got a nice sound and some fantastic imagery.  I think alot of people could relate to this song.
6. Cowboys- Would be shocked if this didn’t up as a single.  One of those songs where the tempo drops and picks up and then drops again and again, it really works though.  You can tell they’ve made guitar work more important on this album.  Would have to be cut for radio, hopefully the last minute stays intact.
7. Washington Square-  For some reason I have had my doubts about this for awhile now.  It’s a much slower song, but that’s not why I don’t really dig it.  If I could put my finger on it I’d let you know.
8. On Almost Any Sunday Morning- I really like being able to close my eyes and just listen to Duritz tell a story through his music.  The harmonica helps.
9. When I Dream of Michelangelo- Another song I’ve been listening to for about two months.  It’s surprisingly short, and the more I listen to it the more I feel like it relates to me.  Which is one of the reasons I enjoy Counting Crows.
10. Anyone But You- I can’t figure out who this sounds like, possibly James Blunt but I don’t think that’s right.  Has a Buttlerfly In Reverse sound to it, but much calmer as awhole.  I could see this one a soundtrack at some point.
11. You Can’t Count On Me- The first single, hopefully not the last.  The song isn’t that bad, I just don’t think it should’ve kicked off the record.  I’ve heard it live a couple of times and I haven’t been impressed.  The studio version is much better.  Doubt this will have much market appeal.  I guess it can be somewhat catchey.
12. Le ballet d’or- Acoustic rich.  Wanna say the chorus has a Bon Jovi sound to it, but that’s just my first impression.  I could listen to this one over and over, kinda like Chelsea from Across A Wire, of course I’m a sucker for trumpets and New York City.
13. On A Tuesday In Amsterdam Long Ago- Nice piano mix with the vocals.  I could really feel the pain throughout.  I posted a video of this on my Facebook, its not an official video, but it really works for the song as awhole.  I’ll have it posted on here in a few days.
14. Come Around- A nice combo between Daylight Fading and Hard Candy.  This is a nice song to end the album with.  Another single possiblity.
15. Sessions (Bonus Track, iTunes)- The whole thing just really confused me, I guess that’s why its not on the album.  It’s not a bad song by any means, ends with heavy instrumentals which of course I am a huge fan of.
16. Sunday Morning L.A. (Bonus Track, iTunes)- Kinda wish this was on the album.  Has a Goodnight L.A. sound and feel.  Feels like Led Zeppelin takes over about half way through, big thumbs up from this guy.
17. There Goes Everything (Bonus Track, iTunes)- Mixed feelings, will probably be skipped more than played.
18. Come Around (Acoustic, Bonus Track, iTunes)- Slightly different from the original song, but I’m a sucker for a more acoustic sound.

Welp.  That’s everything I’ve gotten my hands on so far.  18 new tracks, plus a 20 minute interview from iTunes for a whopping $12, definetly worth it.  I’ll be out tomorrow to get the hard copy.  Yea, I know that’s just kinda crazy. 

Overall this album doesn’t sound much like any of their older albums.  The sound is richer, the lyrics are more developed, and you can really tell the band was intentional with the whole album.  A couple of duds, but out of 14 songs you’ll get 11 or 12 solid tracks.  GO BUY IT.

If you don’t laugh at this then it is quite possible you don’t have a soul….or maybe its the other way around.

Have a great Monday!

Everyone knows today was Easter Sunday.

Which means a bump in church attendance across America.

For those of Elevation Church, it meant a great opportunity to reach the city with the Gospel.

I don’t think there are any words to describe what happened today.  Take a look…

• 4,800 in attendance (an increase of about thousand, correct me if I’m wrong)
• 500+ salvations

The word John Bishop chose was PHENOMINAL.  I concur.  When I first saw those numbers I just kinda stared for a few minutes.

On a sidenote- I’m not sure on the etiquette when it comes to talking about things that happen behind the scenes, but let’s just say errors plagued the technology of Elevation this  morning.  I don’t think I ever seen so many pieces of equipment get restarted as many times as this morning.  We’re talking about over an hours worth.  Beyond frustrating.  Sometimes its to the point where you just wanna say, ’hey, um God, we’re on your side.’ 

After two services you would’ve never thought we had so many equipment failures earlier.  I can’t even remember the last time we had so few mistakes and those were hardly noticeable.  I’m not sure anyone except for the handful of production guys (they’re too humble for me to post their names, except for maybe Jeremy) that call the Butler In School Dentention room ‘home’ for 6 hours every Sunday could fully appreciate how smoothly the morning went after such a rough start.  The feeling however,  is nothing compared to what the numbers above do for me.

Props to the staff, Pastor Furtick (except his shirt selection), the trillions of volunteers (except Marc Bowen), the band, and most importantly to God for showing up and doing what he does best-change lives.

So yea, you could say it was PHENOMINAL. 

By the time God is done with Elevation, we’ll probably run out of adjectives to describe what He has done.