I am flying. Seat 28D feels painfully small. To my right there is a not so small middle-aged man napping in a flowery luau shirt. His glasses are slipping down his nose. To my left is an aisle. I must remember to keep my left elbow tucked closely against my body, for the flight attendants are moving quickly and are much too busy to be cautious about the occasional overhanging elbow. By the feel of them, their mobile drink stations seem to be made of reinforced titanium. The drink station is getting closer now. I am thirsty but the thought of managing a beverage in these close quarters always sounds like more work than it’s worth. I wonder if they serve yahoo. I decide to order a cup of cran-apple juice from Liz the stewardess, excuse me, the flight attendant. The only time I drink cran-apple juice is when I’m on a plane. When I am safe on the ground the juice never enters my thoughts. But here, in the sky, I crave it. I don’t know why. Maybe the sharp sweet and sourness of the drink is a refreshing change to the bland musk that fills my mouth from the recycled air of the overstuffed cabin. My juice is gone.
I have recently noticed that I am an ice-chewer. I love to feel it crunch between my teeth then swallow the cold slushy leftovers. I remember hearing once that ice chewing can become a real addiction. I don’t know if this is true, but I feel as though I have been told that there is something we get from chewing ice that we don’t get when simply drinking water. Research anyone? A young boy just grabbed my arm with both hands to steady himself from a small air jolt. I am bored.
The last two days I played at two different festivals. One was in Pennsylvania called Creation East. The other was in Dallas called Celebrate Freedom. I don’t know how many of you have gone to any Christian music festivals, they are, if anything, an interesting place to be. Let me begin by saying I am honored to have been asked to be apart of Creation and CF (Celebrate Freedom) along with the handful of others I am playing at this season, and I must say that they are a great way to get in front of a lot of people at one time. Summer Festivals are almost always outside. There is only one I have been to that wasn’t, which was in Scotland. As you probably deduced, summer festivals occur in the summer, which means summer festivals are hot and sweaty sort of things. Many times it rains as well, which turns them into hot and muddy sorts of things. For hours upon hours and sometimes days upon days a great slew of bands will mount any number of stages and offer their best slice of rock to a mass of eager hand-clappers and “whoop-whoopers”. But what I find more interesting than the music is what’s happening offstage. It’s the people themselves that seem to grab most of my attention. I am amazed by them.
For one, the sheer number can be staggering. But beyond that I think it’s the spirit of the crowd that is so intriguing, maybe even inspiring. The fact that so many would come together and brave the heat, muddy their clothes, sleep in tents, and still night by night fill the place with their voices is incredible to me. Though I would greatly prefer the smaller more intimate settings of an indoor venue, I have come to appreciate the festival for what it is in spite of the sweat. Viva La Festiva! By the way, have any of you heard the Coldplay record, “Viva La Vida or Death And All of His Friends” a lengthy title I know, but know with over ten solid listens under my belt I can safely say that I very much enjoy it. Thoughts?
So today I fly back to Southern California. I’m playing at the L.A. Convention Center with a band you may be familiar with called P.O.D. If I remember correctly, the letters stand for “Payable On Death”. If you have any other clever guesses at the mysterious meaning of the three letters please comment below. Phil Wickham and P.O.D., an interesting line up to be sure, but I am expecting a fun night. I’m thinking about writing a new bridge for Divine Romance so Sonny from P.O.D. can rap it during the show. Then we can close the song out with a scream off. I’ll try to get some pictures so I can share them with y’all here on the blog.
Lastly but not leastly, many of you have been asking about the live record that I recorded in May. For those of you who are not up to speed: I recorded a live show in Portland with me, my acoustic guitar, and about 2500 peeps singing out my songs and some hymns. It was a rad night of worship. We are currently editing it and making sure it’s ready to be listened to and soon…very soon, we will be making it available for free download here from this site. This week we’ll tell you all the exact date it’ll be available so stay tuned!!!!!! I am very excite!!! (said in high pitched middle eastern accent)
-phil
I’m gonna see you tonight, should be a blast.
I have to disagree and say I think the coldplay track was a step backwards for them. I was extremely excited because I LOVE Brian Eno and I love coldplay and the Viva track has a real U2 vibe. But overall I was a bit disappointed with the record. They had a definite radiohead vibe to a lot of the music, but not in a good way. I love when bands re-invent themselves and I think that is what they were trying to do, but I think they did it in a not so good way.
Airplanes are such an interesting cacophony of people, much like summer festivals. Having just come home from my very first Creation Festival, I relish the comment about mud and heat. I would add Port-O-Johns, ear-ringing, and wet sleeping bags to list of things people intentionally suffer in order to enjoy said festivals. I’m jealous that you can visit my home county of San Diego. I think the one thing you and P.O.D. have in common is that you are both Christian artists and you’re both from San Diego County (add Switchfoot and the list is complete). I really enjoy your music. Might I recommend Sudoku for long plane rides?
Elizabeth (the girl backstage at Creation from SD who asked the stupid “paint medium” question).
Thanks for the update… Hope you come around the Reno,Nv area sometime..
cool… random thoughts… great! I am working in a journalism career, Hmmm.. I agree, you have a great way of expressing yourself in your writing. Wow, hmm I think what makes it so cool for ppl to attend to such festivals is the fellowship with others and coming before God and praising Him, feeling Him, listening to Him. Well, I hope this brings comfort to musicians like you who need to deal with heat and sweat in such occasions. I thank God for spell check…lol. Well, thanks for the True Love lesson. I will have to look up that Bm… well I youtubed coldplay’s song and well it relaxing and I have to say it is something I have to remind myself of. Hmmm… but I thought it was a little repetitive, I needed a little more… maybe not! maybe if I had more I would not remember the essence of their message. Well, hopefully this long comment didnt scare you away. oops, once again, i am writing uncontrollably.
Funny, I think chewing ice is supposed to help your body release iron into your blood stream and help with anemia. That’s what I hear. I think chicks have to do it after they give birth. I used to be an ice chewer but do it way less frequently b/c it’s apparently really bad on tooth enamel. Wierd.
Also, Coldplay, is awesome. I really really like Strawberry Swing. It’s like I’m chillin’ in a field with my friends on a sunny day.
I bet it gets wierd at festivals with a bunch of random people coming at you (if you do the meet & greet thing) saying all kinds of stuff, maybe not any more strange than a blog.
Not sure if others have chimed in on these topics (I’m too lazy to read the 30 other comments)…but here’s my feedback:
1. Ice. I hear it’s bad for your enamel. And yes, addictive.
2. Coldplay. Only listened to the entire album about once, and it was in the background of a fast-paced card game…but I think it’s a record with a lot of songs that won’t fit radio. I like that. A lot.
3. P.O.D. I would very much like to see that Divine Romance break down/scream off. Sad that I am many moons from SoCal.
4. Festivals. I love them. Mud and fair food and all.
Lookin’ forward to the acousticy/worshippy/live recording.
Yea, well I was listening to the wrong totally Off version of coldplay’s song and well, I just dont know which is which now, I am just confused.
i NEVER have cran-apple juice unless i’m on a plane either…
weird stuff.
Well Mr. Wickham, I am very delighted to find you are such a fun person. I adore your music, it was something I held on to very tightly when I was trying to get back into the swing of God and all his glory and realizing all my failings. The lyrics where like honey to a sore throat.
I fly every year at least twice and it never seems to amazing me the people you find on planes. The exact stereo types are always sitting in your row. Haha.. sigh. I actually adore it. I love seeing people. God’s creation. They light that each one of us shines, not knowing..
Have you ever looked at people as just spirits?
now, not like the silly ‘ghostly’ things everyone pictures, but like, light. light contained by an eathly body. each one of us are so bright, so beautiful, but we do not realize this…God made us all unique, with different personalities, trials, goals…but we are all love. We are all so beautiful, because God made us so.
and I think thats how God REALLY sees us.
as our spirit.
our light.
our love.
Well, although i have a strange feeling you wont get to read this, i wish you would think about it.. close your eyes and then open them. SEE everyone as their true self..it’ll change the way you react, think, and love.
You are coming to my church’s big 4th of July celebration, I am thrilled.
-Chloe
great blog. i like the long ones.
also i know exactly what you mean about the cranapple juice on the plane. it is the only thing ill drink up there in the beautiful sky and the only time ill drink it. weird. haha. oh i love flying, passing through the clouds..oh i love it. anyway im excited for the new live album
the longest blog post…ever.
but it never got old.
brilliance.
aisles are better than windows.
well, after driving up to LA twice in the past two days, i had the chance to listen to the entire album a good 6 times. i tried to love it. i tried to display agape for it… no such luck. i definitely agree with evan in that i believe it was the band’s attempt to ‘re-invent’ themselves, however, how do you follow up an album like X&Y? it kind of reminded me of Leeland’s sophomore album (opposite way) in comparison to their ‘Sound of Melodies’: there just weren’t any tracks that hit as hard…except for Alive in Technicolor…i love it. it makes me smile and get excited and want to go do something productive instead of sit around and critique music all day.
keep staying busy, you have no idea how inspiring your ministry is
love
-btz
I had a chance to check you out at the L.A Convention center..I must say..that being it the first time I’ve seen you in concert and I absolutly Love you music…It was A BLAST!!!!
Thanks for staying afterwards to sign C.D’s I’m sure you were tired!! <3 thanks though
God Bless
oh dear Philly you are so funny!!! I love reading what you write, i always end up smiling =) i get to see you in august just 3 days after my birthday!!! im excited!!! its been since… what, march? oh and i think ill be bringing you a present, but not one like last time. haha i wonder if you remember my last present… you were in paris, texas that is and you talked to me and my friend brittany about the shirts we made with your name on them and it was so much fun!!! haha, you also did an impersonation of you mom and the litte mouse from the narnia books, i know his name but cant spell it but you know who im talking about. ive actually got that on video. well im bored right now and i think im just rambling. ill see you soon. <3
You’re engaged!!! Mazel tov! Congratulations! Wow, God bless you two!
Yes, I did just see you at Creation. It was very hot, and it rained everyday. Sometimes it was calm, and other times it was hard. There was, indeed, lots of mud. And lots of wet clothes. Mom and I spent 8 nights in a tent. It wasn’t that bad, we had an air mattress and lots of blankets. But we had to walk… a lot. I got a little sun burn, but nothing to suffering. I got a couple nice “light” spots from my braclets.
The bands were good and all, but the attitudes of the people made it the way it was. People were only there to be entertained. I was trying to listen to someone read the word, and these four kids were talking louder than he was. And he even had a microphone! I tried to listen to a different band, and the kid I was with kept talking to me during my favorite song by them. No respect.
So, through the hot sun, the mud, the pouring rain, and the talkative rude kids who were only there for one thing, I did enjoy a couple bands. The only reason I got to enjoy you was because I was alone. Thank God.
P.O.D.-Put On Deodorant….I think it’s pretty fitting….
oh, and did you know that drinking a beverage without ice can help you lose weight? not that you are fat, but if you ever feel like the ice is taking it’s toll, order your beverages without it. Ice causes the digestive system to cool, which makes the process slower, so you are more likely to retain water and fat. Just thought you might like to know…..
Your thorough explanation of the flight made me feel as though I was there with you. While that does not seem like something enjoyable, I was very amused and happy to come along. Your writing style is easy to follow, and it makes me happy to read your blog. I love eating ice…and I used to eat paper when I was little…it humors me to think these could be related incidents…
God Bless.
PS. Just saw that you are playing a show in Bakersfield in October…I am definitely going to be there. =D
the new coldplay is great
Hello Sir,
wanted to let you know you did great at Creation. Mornings are always tough there… People are wiped out from the night before. You did really good at getting everyone singing during ‘cannons.’
I thought it was sweet that you just went up with your guitar and put on a show.
Keep it up.
Also, congrats on getting engaged.
I just wanted to say that your preformance at the Somebody Loves You Los Angeles was absolutely amazing.I always feel so close to God whenever I see you preform live.I was a bit nervous when I first got to the convention center because after everyone gave their life to Christ, I had to pray for them and give them their Bibles, and encourage and congratulate them. After I saw you preform and was able to worship and pray, I didnt feel nervous about it.God has reallly given you a gift and you’re so humble about it. And I’m pretty dern sure that’s why I love you so much!
I also wanted to say Congraulations on your engagment! I pray God Blesses you and your wife-to-be :]
God Bless you always.
Amber
yes viva la vida is an amazing album.
I think there is something in the airplane air that makes me crave cran-apple because that is the only time I drink it, too. And I don’t think I could ever get enough Coldplay. Lost! is my favorite.