Presently, I find myself in the foothills just outside of Sacramento, California. The town is Auburn, otherwise known to the natives as “A-town”. Since last time we’ve connected I’ve been to a few places. The first was Creation West, which is quite a large Christian music festival that takes place in the state of Washington. The venue is a massive natural amphitheater that is nestled right up to the cliffs of “The Gorge”. The Gorge (not the “George”) is kind of like Washington’s version of the Grand Canyon, definitely smaller than the original, but still vast and majestic to say the least. I acted as kind of the festival worship leader for the first few days, leading in the mornings, afternoons, and evenings, along with teaching a worship seminar and playing a few sets of my own stuff. They kept me pretty busy, but I was happy to do it. It was actually a bit daunting at times, walking onto the main stage with just me and my guitar in front of 20,000 people.
After a few days at the Gorge, I traveled about a hundred a fifty miles over to the Seattle area, Bremerton to be exact. It was green and cool as Seattle always seems to be. I played in a venue called the Roxy. It’s an old theater refurbished with a rocking sound system and lights. It was my second time playing there and it’s always a good time.
Now I’m in “A-town” playing at a Calvary Chapel event. It should be a good time as well.

I do have a question for all of you, so if you have any input please respond. Here’s the question:
With the new record coming out there will be new merch coming as well. Me and the team have been brainstorming about it. You know, what kind of things to people want and so on. But I thought why don’t I ask you guys. What does someone want to buy other than CD’s and shirts? Any ideas?

Anyway,
Like I said before, the record is just about finished up. This little video is a bunch of random things from that process. Hope you like it.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH61-mRG9u4]
until next time
-phil

Well, it’s been a few weeks, and there hasn’t been much to write about until recently… except for the small fact that recording is DONE!!! Wooohoo, and I can’t wait for you guys to hear it. Although I do fear that once in a while I get little-league-parent syndrome. You know, like those parents who are so proud of their little kid and love them so much that they will never actually come to grips with the fact that when their child strikes out for the seventh time in a row, or drops yet another pop fly, that maybe they just aren’t good at baseball. Instead they blame the bat, or the mit, or the coach, or the umpire. I wonder if I ever feel that about the songs… about the record. Well, if you listen to the CD, and you quickly realize that I do have that very same syndrome, then I would appreciate it if you wouldn’t tell me. Thankyou. That is all about that.
Other than finishing up recording there hasn’t been much going until quite recently. After we finished I took a little time off to be home in San Diego, and I literally did nothing. Well, not completely nothing but close to nothing, and I loved it. But still the excitement of the road beckoned and I heeded it’s call. Now I’m back out on the road, actually I’m back in the air to be perfectly honest. Today marks the fourth day of traveling/playing, and I just arrived in Austin, Texas to be apart of a worship conference out here. Yesterday, I played in Boston, the day before I was in Detroit, and tomorrow it’s off to Washington. Needless to say it’s been busy. I must say though that I now have another favorite city on my list of favorite cities. I have been to Boston before, but I didn’t have any time on my previous visit to begin to experience what it really is or what it really has to offer to those who take some time to search it’s old and beautiful streets. I don’t know if it was the weather, or the buildings, or the culture, or the food, or all of the above, I just know that the memory of that day, walking through those streets, will stick with me for quite some time. Maybe forever. My only complaint, and this isn’t for all of you Bostonians, is that you need to lighten up a little bit. No offense, but you guys seemed a little uptight, on edge, or something lke that, and maybe you could just take some time to relax, thats all I’m saying.
Anyways, gotta go get a soundcheck now. Until next time,
-phil

C= I miss you all, but I really wanted my next post to include a little studio video that me and my buddy Brody put together (actually it was mostly Brody), but I have yet to be stationary for a long enough period of time to upload the quirky little thing on youtube.
“Lame excuse,” you say back to me. Well, lame or not it’s true. With all the airports, houses, and hotels I’ve been in over the past week and a half there has yet to be any internet for my blog-happy computer to log onto. Or, if there has been, it’s been in short five to ten minute increments, barely long enough to watch bloopers of the office on youtube let alone upload an action packed studio vid myself.
So sorry for the feeling of neglect I have inspired in your kind little hearts. It has not been purposeful whatsoever. I feel like a soldier who’s been away on the battlefield writing back to his most beloved family. Speaking of battlefields… and war… and… countries…and freedom… and independence…and stuff. Today is…
THE 4TH OF JULY!!!! YAY!
Fireworks, flags, fun, and red sunglasses.

I hope yours is as fun as mine.

P.S. If you have no idea what that “C=…” thing means at the beginning of this blog then read the comments on the last blog called “Home”.
I love you
-phil