WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING
-Matt Redman
-Matt Redman

ACOUSTIC CHRISTMAS!
This Thursday Night
at
Franklin Mercantile
in downtown Franklin, TN!
7pm-9pm
Hey all, come on down to Franklin Mercantile this Thursday night. I’ll be joined by a few friends and we’ll be singing some of your favorite Christmas songs along with some originals (and then some)!
No Cover and you don’t have to make reservations, but it might not be a bad idea. The Merc has a great dinner special (Dinner for 2 for $45, which includes 2 entrees, bottle of wine and dessert). Half off all beer and wine…AND they serve Drew Brews coffee. Definitely one of the better beans in town!
7pm-9pm, 100 4th Avenue North, Downtown Franklin, TN 37064. 615-790-9730
www.franklinmercantile.com/
@MercDeli
www.anthonyskinner.com
Great News!! Anthony will be in Boulder, CO, Nov 18 & 19 for Resound Conference 2011! He is really looking forward to it and wholeheartedly supports the vision of Resound Conference, John Fitch and the whole crew at Vinelife Church.
Anthony will be joining others in leading worship as well as teaching principles from his new book “Worship Smartbook, Actionable Tips for Real World Worship“. He will have pre-releases of his new book available at the conference as well!
Date: November 18-19, 2011
Where: Vinelife Church in Boulder, Colorado
Cost: Register now for only $30
At the door – WHATEVER YOU CAN AFFORD!
Tickets at: http://www.resoundconference.com/conference-info
I thought I would take a recent experience in the studio as an opportunity to encourage other artists/musicians out there. I’ve had the privilege of working with/producing some great artist and worship leaders over the past few years. My current inspiration comes from my friend, Steve Clark. As we’ve approached each song, we’ve found it necessary to get “under the hood” so to speak to find the emotional head and heart space for each performance. Steve has blown me away by continually embracing every challenge, doing what he’s needed to do to get it right and do the best job he can do. I think Bono penned it like this, “I stoop so low, to reach so high”.
This line can be taken one of two ways, someone doing something underhanded to get ahead, or someone taking the path of humility, risking loosing a little bit of current honor in order to get to something great! For me the latter has a lot of appeal and I’ve found it necessary to embrace some portion of humility in order to find the greater moments in music. I’ve also found this philosophy/value to be consistent with great musicians. I’ve been privileged to work with some of the greatest musicians alive today. Many of these players are the band members, or the studio musicians, behind much of what you hear on top 40 radio and grammy winning records in the last 20 years. I’ve found these players to be humble, accessible and ready and willing to serve any way they can. It’s probably how they got where they are.
Learning to get past yourself (no matter how great you are) and finding the greatness in the music is the secret to finding that moment we are all looking for. You know… the one when that really-special-something happens and God walks into the room?
I’d say the bottom line is this: Cool is overrated, but great music isn’t. Don’t get trapped into wasting energy on trying so hard to be cool, or fronting some kind of attitude. Not only do you stand in danger of missing your moment, you might isolate yourself from the very greatness you desire to rub up against. Instead, find a song, guitar riff, a recording artist or worship leader you can serve/support and lose yourself in making the music great!
Anthony Skinner
http://anthonyskinner.com
What a great night! This past Monday night was Beatle night at Two Old Hippies in downtown Nashville. Pals Phil Keaggy, Gene Miller and Mike Pachelli took the stage for about 30 minutes with some stellar Beatles covers, I met 2OH co-owner Molly Bedell (super sweet, super cool!) and then I got to hear May Pang and Nancy Lee Andrews tell us stories of life back in the day with the Fab Four. It was actually really interesting hearing (John Lennon’s ex) May Pang, recount stories, inside info and 1st hand accounts regarding many of the things I’ve read over the years. She was with John during what many consider to be his most productive/creative period. Also, I have to say it was good to hear (despite many accounts), that John and Paul remained quite close and saw each other often long after the break up.
Definitely looking forward to heading up to NC and hanging with 2 of my new fav’s; Andy Squyres @ Riverlife Fellowship in Mooresville, NC, and Jackson Russell @ Covenant in Asheboro, NC on Oct 30, 2011! Both of these guys are incredibly gracious and humble as well as unbelievably talented!
Be sure and go to iTunes today and download Rita’s new project, THE PLAYLIST! Rita is one of our all time favorites and these worship tunes are really fresh…your gonna love ‘em! I’m happy to finally have some more of her music in my ipod!
Also, I was honored to get to work with Rita on one of the tracks. Be sure and check out our duet on the track “This Blood”! CLICK HERE FOR THE PLAYLIST ON iTUNES


My buddy Daniel Kinner posted this on facebook and I thought it was too good to not post. Too funny, but all too true!