A night at the fair

Way to make me BLUSH, Internet. You guys are so nice. You are all invited to come over for TV. Just don't expect me to start entertaining you or anything.

On to the topic at hand, which is that I think I lost a little TV cred last night. I was doing the ten-minute cleaning spree I do before we have friends over when Phillip called. Our friends the Neighbors had extra tickets to see Third Day at the fair and did we want to go? I had to think about this. Jim Halpert? Or my old friend Spontaneity? Phillip sounded like he really wanted to go to the concert so I said, "Finnnne", and sat down to double check that TiVo would catch The Office. (Which I watched this morning before work, so that when people asked me if I saw it, I could say I did, instead of saying, no, I went to see a Christian band play at the fair an hour away and have them look at me like I am Hmm, Interesting.) (And I had to hide behind my cereal bowl the whole time because ohmygoodness AWKWARD. Seriously. What does Michael have to do to get FIRED?)

The Neighbors, incidentally, were supposed to have a baby on Wednesday. I kept wondering what we would do if the baby suddenly decided to make her entrance next to the ferris wheel, or the hamburger line, or the main stage in the middle of the concert. I am highly unskilled at this kind of crisis management. After a while I decided that the Neighbors would simply speed their way back to the city and Phillip and I would hike up the hill to my sister's house and beg for a ride home. Satisfied with this course of action, I was able to turn my attention back to eating as many fair scones as humanly possible. (We are going back to the fair on Saturday, because Phillip and my sister want to ride the rides, and I just want to eat more scones. I am not kidding about these scones, people.)

Anyway. I have actually seen Third Day before. I was (I think) a junior in college and the freshmen in my bible study were all, "OOH, they are the BEST." So they dragged me off to the little Christian college down the road where Third Day was playing in a big gym. (This is also where I saw Ani DiFranco for the first time and totally cried my eyes out when she sang 'Angry Anymore' with Julie Wolf. That was a different kind of religious experience.) I had never been to a Christian music concert, mostly likely because I never listened to Christian music. I'm a Catholic! I didn't grow up going to Young Life or any of that stuff- how was I supposed to know who Rich Mullins was? But there was one freshman in particular who was determined to find at least some Christian music I would listen to, and it turned out that Third Day was a relatively consistent winner in my CD player (and I actually still listen to the compilation CD he made for me). (Ah, CDs! I am so old!) Off I went to the concert where we had pretty close seats and an excellent view of six hipster boys with electric guitars attempting to turn the concert into a "worship service".

I don't know what other Christian music concerts are like (I am still not a fan, sorry!), but one thing I really like about Third Day is that they are almost leading a sing-along instead of performing. They're leading worship. (And maybe that's the hangup I have with Christian music- I don't know how to listen to it and I don't know how to think of the people who sing it. Are they performers? I don't get it. I infinitely prefer straight up worship music to Christian versions of rock and pop.) But at a Third Day concert you are expected to stand up and sing and dance around. Last night was FREEZING (people threw sweatshirts on stage because Mac Powell was shivering) and I decided I might be warmer if I stood up and bopped up and down. And I am pretty much a fan of any live performance, no matter what it is. They had a pretty cool set, a lot of energy and a lot of that "feeling" you get in a huge crazy worship service, the kind that people complain isn't present at Catholic churches, the kind that Catholic converts claim doesn't matter and isn't what's real. I'm in the "it's not what's important" camp, but that doesn't mean I don't love it. And what's there not to love about hipster boys with guitars? NOTHING.

Then I went home and checked my email and saw that I had all these lovely people leaving me notes on my website and I got really embarrassed and told Phillip that now I had to be INTERESTING and I am so NOT INTERESTING and EEK. Then he reminded me that you were all reading this tripe before, so quit freaking out. And I did. And now I have written a post about Christian music, of all mind-numbing not-interesting things. Oh, I apologize. Although, much like other things I am taking suggestions for (what to see in London's West End in November? what book to read next?) I am open to music recommendations. Maybe. I'm not promising anything.

Have a good weekend! I will eat a scone for all of you!

Comments

[Maureen]

Have you seen the British original version? We got it through Netflix, and as hard as it is to watch Michael Scott, it is a thousand times harder to watch David Brent. We actually had to fast-forward a few scenes because we just could not handle it.

[Renae]

Hi Maggie,

I have a little experience with the Christian concert thing. Most of the time it is just a huge worship service because these artists are doing this for God. And many of them struggle with whether they are doing it all for their own personal fame and glory or for God. So it can't be about "their" song or "their" music. It has to be about God and His music, etc.

As a former Catholic (no bad issues, just no fellowship), I was involved in Search, TEC (teens encounter christ), etc but they left a lot out compared to YL and all that. It is definitely different. I honestly love the music and the reverence but I have to tell you, I really don't do the bouncing! Hubs and I were in the balcony of a Chris Tomlin/Matt Redman concert back in February. The teeny-boppers started bouncing and we thought the balcony was coming down - scary sh*t man!

As far as music recommendations, check out Chris Tomlin's Arriving CD and Matt Redman's greatest hits. Matt has wrote a ton of the great Christian hits out there. Also the Aqua WOW Worship CD is great - esp disk 2. The other thing I LOVE about Christian music is that much of it is actually pulled directly from scripture, so I can go look it up in my Bible (Gasp, I know, actually using the Bible! Heh!). If you're ever interested in exploring more, shoot me an e-mail. I have a huge collection of Christian music - and yes, on CDs!

[Renae]

Another thing - a lot of Christian musicians tend to be HOT! They live a cleaner life than a lot of secular musicians so the looks hang on longer! Not such a Godly thought but hey, I'm only human!

[Christina/Mrs Broccoli Guy]

I love Christian concerts - except when people are all mellow and don't dance around. I *have* to dance and scream at a concert. Sort of like having popcorn at the movies. The experience isn't complete without it. :-)
Best Christian concert I went to: Rebecca St. James and Tree 63. T63 is really good - love their S. African accents and they sound a little like the Police, only, y'know, singing worship songs.

oh and you think you're old with compilation CD's? HA! I have a big box of Cassette tapes! *And* I had a bunch of records and 8 tracks when I was a kid. Okay, that's pathetic, I'm competing for the Who Sounds Oldest award. sorry about that. :-}

[Melissa]

ha...my first thought when you said compilation CD was....the 80's version of 'the mix tape'...yes, I'm even older~ haha. Remember that Friends episode when Ross made a mix tape----soooo funny.

Incidentally, we have more in common than I originally thought: I was raised Catholic. I'm not now, however. But that's not of significance. Love Third Day. Recently went to see Chris Rice, whom I love. His concert felt like a gathering of friends camping or something and he dug out his guitar to strum a few tunes for us. Very real...unassuming, which I totally appreciate.

all for now...just wanted you to know that I'm still reading and, you know, expecting amazing posts. No pressure. (hehe)
melissa in the middle of the state

[Vanessa]

First of all I have to say, and I might be biased because I am a Christian, that Third Day puts on one great concert! You might want to check out Jeremy Camp, not too bad.

Also, on the book front. I can't remember if you've ever mentioned this or not - The Time Travelers' Wife. THE BEST BOOK EVER. I've read it at least six times in the last few years. Very, very good. A little tricky at first, but you're smart, you'll catch on quick.

And I am addicted to TV too. My husband doesn't get it though. Such a shame!