And on a completely unrelated note, when I was checking out at the Mart of Walls earlier this week, my cashier took a moment to tell me one of my purchases was silly. A flash drive. She had seen it in another store for less money. I graciously thanked her, made my purchase anyway and came home. When I pulled my brand-new, hot pink flash drive out of the packaging, I found a coupon for 50 free song downloads.

Win. I win.

I got four CDs + out of the deal. One of those CDs has been rocking.my.world. this week. Keith and Kristyn Getty‘s Awaken the Dawn. Check out some of my new favorite songs:

The arrangements on the CD are much better (you should probably get a copy) than these TV studio recordings, but the words are so stellar.

Moving on, I’m thinking about buying Duffy’s album. If you have it, would you mind giving me your opinion? I’d like to make an intelligent decision. I love these two songs, but I’m not convinced that’ll carry through the whole album.

Thanks! I don’t normally buy girly albums.

I stumbled upon a new independent artist named Jeff Caylor last week and was fairly impressed with his work. His music is only 70% up my alley, but where my self-interest is lacking, his blog and visual creativity make up for it. Knowing a bit about the business, I decided to support him and haven’t been disappointed. In fact, my CDs came in the mail today with a bit of extra love and it completely made my day. Thanks Jeff!

Besides for his handwritten charm, another reason to support this guy is because Christianity Today says so. They’ve tagged this album the 5th best of 2007.

And here’s his first music video. He made it himself with sculpey and his point-and-shoot. It’s awesome.

So check out Jeff’s site, there’s tons of awesomely-nerdy sound engineering stuff that’ll keep you from your responsibilities around your home; and good music.

Ok, let’s move on.

Mainly, just watch it because he’s funny. Hysterical, actually. Then, if you’re interested go here. I glad that even though Dave finally signed with a label, he still had Ed Cash produce his CD. He’s produced most of my favorite CDs. And yours too. Ed Cash is my hero. Seriously. He should wear a cape. Ed Cash, if you ever Google yourself and read this, you seriously are my hero. And I was just kidding about the cape. Sort-of.

Maybe back to our regular programming tomorrow.

After the novelty of the evening wore off, I found myself disappointed and wasn’t sure why. Why had I been so excited about driving 2 + hours in the snow, hanging out on a college campus and watching a show I’ve already seen (Matt doesn’t have new music yet)? I had fun, I did enjoy the show, why in the world was I disappointed?

I had expectations, I suppose. I didn’t know what those expectations were until after I forced myself to figure them out, but I had expectations about how the evening was supposed to go, and they clearly weren’t met. I had made more out of Matt than he was; I expected a charming, fun-loving ball of energy who was eager to meet the gals who saved his tail.

Not that Matt wasn’t charming, but he certainly wasn’t what I had envisioned. I had somehow, in the mix of all that is Nashville-in-Upstate NY, elevated him to “everything you could ever want in a guy” standard. Not in a romantic, “marry me now” way, but in a “I have the best neighbor in the world” way. When Cassi and I finally met him, he was tired, sweaty and trying to figure out what time his flight for LA left in the morning. So we parted ways and Cass and I drove home.

I didn’t have much time to think about being disappointed on the way home because of the weather, but the next morning I was desperately trying to figure out why I was so melancholy. I had just lived out a tiny bit of fantasy, what could possibly be wrong with me? It wasn’t until I started talking to some coworkers that I realized what was going on in my brain.

Yes, Cassi and I had fun. We didn’t involve ourselves in any sinful activity and we had some great quality time in the car (except for when she yelled at the deer). I was disappointed  because we had spent all that time (mostly in the car) having fun and there was no eternal value. There’s nothing wrong with going to a concert and having fun, but I had somehow, subconsciously, elevated all the novelty of the evening to “kingdom of heaven” status and was sorely disappointed. Matt? He’s just another sinner saved by grace. Just another sweaty boy. Excellent musician though.

I don’t get this video though; let me know if you do. Dave Barnes is playing the drums at the end. See what I mean about the mafia?

So when I was given the opportunity to enter into that world while being here in Upstate NY, I was thrilled. However ridiculous and embarrassing it is, here what made the Matt Wertz concert so awesome to me:

1. When I called Amanda back (see Part 1) I had officially made my first phone call to Nashville.

2. Upon the end of our conversation with Amanda, she said “Ok, so I’m going to call Matt and tell him that you girls are coming in to save his tail.” She was going to tell one of my favorite musicians about us. By name.

3. We were given Matt’s tour manager’s cell phone number (super-nice guy). Also a Nashville area code.

4. Before the show started I was handed the set list, and asked to keep it quiet. I then came home and washed it with my jeans before I could take a picture. I took a picture anyway.

5. I was able to meet and serve part of the Nashville mafia by selling merchandise to college kids.

6. When we finished selling stuff and were cleaning up, the tour manager came up to Cassi and I and asked us if we wanted their spring rolls from dinner that they hadn’t eaten. Matt Wertz’s leftovers? Yes please. They served a great purpose in keeping my stomach from imploding on the long drive home.

7. Matt actually said to me, “hey, thanks so much for helping out.”

So before you think I’m completely ridiculous and immature, I would just ask that you wait to make your judgments until you read Part 3. But for now, here are some photos:

Thanks Cassi for taking all the photos!

In other Nashville news, Dave Barnes has a new album coming out with his new label on April 1st. Word on the street is that it’s going to be stellar. Even more awesome than that photo of those spring rolls above. In the name of all that is Nashville, I’ve been asked to help spread the news of a bargain. If you pre-0rder Dave’s new CD Me and You and the World, Razor & Tie will give you a deal. Deal number one or deal number two. I think the BFF and I are going to opt for door #1. I haven’t told her that yet. Surprise!

Enter stage right: massive snowstorm.

Now winter and I are normally best buds, but not recently. That’s a post for another day. I told Cassi (an old roommate/new neighbor) early Tuesday afternoon that I was 99% sure we weren’t going. Syracuse was already getting snow, and it was just supposed to get worse through the evening. Cass was great about it; I was 50% sad, 50% glad that I no longer had to bail out on bible study. Three hours later I get an email from Wertz’s management asking if I would be willing to help sell merchandise at the show. Ex-squeeze me? Baking powder? I never thought I’d be saying this but, praise the Lord for Facebook.

My response: Amanda, It’s a dream come true – turned nightmare. I’d love to help you out in any way possible, but with the storm coming in I’m afraid I can’t make it to the show. I live 2 hours away and refuse to drive my tiny car in “heavy snow.” It really does break my heart to tell you no, and to even put it in writing that I can’t make it. I’ve always tried to catch a Wertz-show in my travels to Philly and was so excited that he was coming this far north.

My second response a mere 30 minutes later: Scratch that. I’m in. My friend Cassi can help too. We’re leaving now, so if the weather’s not too bad, we’ll be there well before the show. Can you call me when you get this? Thanks!

I had talked to Cassi, we talked to our respective bosses and decided to leave work early to beat the snow.

Enter stage left: Ridiculously random road trip.

So we made it to Syracuse in enough time to park and eat a quick dinner. Then we ran the merch table for Matt Wertz with two other lovely ladies, shook hands, kissed babies (just kidding about that one) and drove home.

Ah… the drive home… Words cannot express how silly we were when we decided to drive in a snowstorm. Just in case the weather was too bad I had called a friend in the area to see if we could stay with her, but when we left the show it wasn’t snowing. We decided to brave it and drive home. It was the right decision when we saw the weather the next morning but it still was pretty rough. Even though we didn’t see a single flake fall to the ground, the roads were still ridiculous. Depending on what county you were driving through they ranged from bad to really really bad.

At one point in time there was a deer on the side of the road and when I slowed down I lost control of the car (don’t worry Mama, I know now how to handle these situations). I said to Cassi, “Cass, I don’t have control of the car, and I sure don’t have control of that deer.” She responded, “Go away, deer,” in her “leave me alone, I’m grumpy” voice. It was pretty funny. Especially at 2:30am.

So we made it home safe, deer free, at 2:45 am. Would I do it again? Nope. Was the trip worth it? You’ll have to wait for Part 2 and Part 3 for the answer.

Amy and I talked about one of our favorite musicians for only just a minute, but that got me thinking about some of my other favorites and how I’ve been doing a poor job of keeping up with them. So, I just got on John Mayer’s website and found out that he’s got a “new” single out that I absolutely adore. I say “new” because it’s been out since November. How in the world did I miss this?!

When I was in college, I was studying to go into the music industry. Sound engineering was what I was focusing on, so I spent a TON of time keeping up to date with what the music industry was up to. Now that I barely think about ProTools, EQ and XLR cables I also don’t keep up with the industry. This is where I find myself tonight, frustrated that I’ve missed out on two plus months of a good track. What else have I missed? There’s talk of Coldplay coming out with something new soon? Dave Barnes finally signed with a label? Has the sky magically turned yellow?

When I first moved up here, my knowledge of the music industry impressed some people; especially a boy whom I fancied (see?). The longer I’ve lived up here, the more and more out of touch I’ve become with not just the music industry, but pop culture in general. I’ve come to realize that putting value on this type of knowledge is folly. It’s like putting value in a hand full of dirt. While dirt may have some value in some aspect, if you compare it to a diamond or the finest gold, it has no worth. While I have lost the knowledge of my culture over the past two years, I have gained knowledge from the Word. Knowledge that only the Holy Spirit can open my eyes up to. Knowledge that has eternal value.

It’s fun that the Lord decided to use John Mayer to humble me this evening. To remind me that my treasure should be in heaven.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (ESV)