Nifty Noodles/ AAAAHstin
Austin Texas 8/31/08 I think…
Labor day weekend was the best airport experience I’ve had since 9/11! The original one! No body was in the airport! Except me! Austin was a last minute addition to my schedule. I got a call from Randy Phillips (of the CCM vocal group Phillips, Craig and Dean). He’s a full time preacher these days. Started a “Satellite church” three years ago called “Promise Land West “.

Upon listening to an old song of mine, he decided to see what I was up to. This is one of those “God Send” surprises. Timing was right and the blessing was heightened. Austin is one of the “hippest” towns I’ve been too in recent years. And the church services reflected a true sense of the real rather than the “surreal”. Typical church format but Randy’s words come out different and the spirit of honesty was screaming loud.

We did an “interview” style presentation along with the songs… nearly like what I’ve been presenting in my full concerts. There is a “resonance” about that approach. There is something about listening to a dialog that makes people lean in. It might be the wave of the future in church frankly. It reminded me of Rick Warren’s interview of the presidential candidates. In my case however, the questions were mostly about where I disappeared to. I wasn’t aware of that I had ever disappeared. But the perception has been in some circles that, perhaps, I’ve have been living with Elvis. It was bordering on uncomfortable as I searched the history of my divorce and the loss of my major label recording contract. Some of the truth lies in the natural forward progression of time.. “Old things” pass away and all things become new”. But truly I may have hastened my own demise in the accumulation of circumstances that I myself created.

I spoke of it rather candidly… more than I actually felt like I should. But it was well received. The good news was that Randy was speaking of restoration, so I’m hoping I look like an example of that. to be restored to an original condition. He used an example of a Corvette he’d read about. I might be the “other project” to point out. I’m told all the time about how “God is not finished with me… almost every week. There is a sense from others that I might have something greater to say as a result of personal hardship because of the change in attitude and delivery. I believe that too!... but I’m not sure it includes a return to a “success” I’ve had though! I have a different view of success these days. That includes enjoying one moment at a time!

Randy Phillips is a surprise reinforcement of ‘endorsement’. I do not have to regret my past nor wish to shut the door on it. The very weaknesses that humiliates me, God turns into a new story of redemption it seems and that story is more interesting to others than a story of the ‘perfect season’ … I guess no body can relate to that. I can’t figure out why we feel the pressure to look that good in the first place. Probably our own shame and guilt about failures.

At the end of two morning services you could see in the eyes of those in attendance upon talking individually, that there was a renewed hope, that their own failures might actually be understood and that there is still a way to weave those losses and failures into a blanket of wonderful colors!

What can I say… with “Still Dancin” coming to my garage, packaged, in a week. Life has not been “business as usual”. “every day is a new surprise”… and Promise Land West is at the top of the list.

O.K. so there’s that! Bryan D

Nifty Noodles/ Marion conversational concert!
Marion IL 8/23/08
Ken Anderson has been inviting artists in to Marion Illinois for 19 years. He runs KBVN Christian radio station across the street from the Civic Center he uses. It’s hard to imagine such a nice facility in a town smaller than Riverside, Ca. where we have nothing to compare it with.

Again and for only the fourth time… I presented my ‘conversational concert’ approach. It’s called the Road To Redemption. It’s a look at the process of living out real faith through personal failures. I use a local ‘leader’ at these events to share between songs with. Ralph Brandon is the man on stage with me in the picture. This man is a deeply loved pastor, psychologist…AND incredibly good comedian!

. I came out first and sang “no Words” and “Love Takes Time” as this was a kind of “homecoming” for me. So I threw in a really old tune! And launched into my scriptural insights and testimony. Then introduced Ralph. He asked for a few opening remark minutes… and I just let him roll on a monologue of personal self effacement that had the crowd rolling. What a wonderful man… and humble but very insightful and compassionate. It took nothing to show my interest in his conversations.

Haven’t been to Marionin a long time. But I remember everything about this town and what used to be a tiny little theater, now rebuilt after burning down .. (it wasn’t me). Marion concerts over the years have always been highlights in that they are so professionally done and so respectful of the general public. I have a picture of me somewhere packed away … lying on my back in the brick paved alley behind this theater. It was a one of a kind place to perform.

Rather than giving you my take on the show… I’ll leave you here with an email from Ken Anderson himself on the way the concert was received!

“Still the 'talk of the town'. Just got a call indicating how much they thought of the event...I think the quote was it was so impressive because there was a sense of no one playing to the crowd...just a couple of people having a conversation on stage. I can't tell you all that people have said about the night, not enough room, not enough time but it was a terrific event for us. We have done many events (actually 110) in the 19 years we've been here and Saturday night ranks in the top 5 nights 'all-time'.

Your appearances here in Marion has been such a encouragement to our listeners and always such a pleasure to have the opportunity to hear some of the best music, and best voices, here in our little town. You have added to the Christian experience for us and I've have had so many people in the last couple days just 'beside themselves' with how thrilled they were to have been at this specific event. It could not have been better for us and I hope you can understand how grateful we are for the times you have shared here.

God Bless, Ken

Nifty Noodles/Second Base
Norfolk, VA 8/16/08
On Wednesday of last week I got a call from Streetlevel Artist Agency asking if I had anything goin “this weekend”. Matter of Fact it was the only weekend I wasn’t booked for the next month and a half. “They want the whole band” Vickie Decker said over the phone. That call sent me into a frenzy of phone calls in the next six hours to see if the band guys were available. Apparently another artist was unable to make the two dates in Virginia this weekend and they needed a replacement in a hurry.

Fort Lee and Fort Eustis are Army bases where they are having a series of “spiritual discipline” concerts. We would be replacing Fernando Ortega. I was able to muster up the whole band except for Phil Curry. He was replaced by our back up call, Roger Wood. All the band members had to find subs for other events but after a long day and the support of management, booking and travel… we were on our way out on red eye flights late Friday.

With two days notice it was a near miracle to find the perfect backline equipment for the whole band but that was done handily by a couple of Army Sergeants… Michael Duncan and Greg Chapman. We arrived in time to drive straight to the gig.. even had time to run through some songs we’ve never played from the new Still Dancin project. It was a “wing it” set that actually sounded as good as if we’d rehearsed I think!

We did freestyle versions of Papa Ain’t Gonna Quit and Don’t Leave Me In The Dark. They were instant hits too. Turn out was a little weak as they held the concert on the weekend…or maybe “Weak End”… I was hoping for more actual troops. But they’re moms and wives and kids were enthusiastic to our soul music. Met some Generals at the second show who came with their families. Major General Jim Chambers at Fort Eustis requested a photo opportunity before the concert which I gladly agreed to.

Turned out he’s followed my career for many years!

The sound system at both gigs was way above par…. Maybe the best we’ve ever had at a show. Especially in light of playing in a Cathedral like setting on base. Bottom line this was a God send for the NehoSoul Band as we release a new original song project. Now comes the time to prove ourselves for real. If this was any sign of the future… it’s in good hands! 8)….

There was a lot of after the show ‘hang time’ back at the hotel on base. It’s nearly like solitary confinement for a civilian. But I met a number of military personal from Mexico, Iraq, and the United Arab Emirates here for meetings and education from the U.S. military. After the concert I met the Enigma of all time in a “Scotch/Arab”… an Arabian looking man with a Scottish accent attending helicopter maintenance classes in the Southern United States. I guess you just can’t judge by outward appearances.

Any way I hope we find more opportunities for NehoSoul with the military. It was a good connection for us “Still Dancin” is the kind of encouragement the troops could use.

O.k. so there’s that. Bryan D

Nifty Noodles/First Time For everything
Front Office Riverside 8/12/08
By the end of next month I will have finished my second project as an executive producer. Which included a lot of first time works for me….I’m learning to set up accounts for on line sales as we plan to make purchase of product available on my own website. I’m also doing the paperwork for a “non profit” status for Radio Rehab which is more paperwork than buyin a house I think.

I’m finishing up my first ever production work for Comedian Chonda Pierce. She asked me to write and produce a theme song for her upcoming tour and DVD release called “this ain’t prettyville” . I spend countless hours writing a “Stand up comic” style song that came out fantastic. And It’s dawned on me that I have turned a corner in my career. I’m finding a new enthusiasm for producing things for someone else. I’ve turned this work down for some 20 years because I felt it would be distracting to my purpose. But as I try new things… I wonder… “what took me so long”? I want to post the lyrics eventually to This Ain’t Prettyville. They are good and I had the humorous lyric help from Chonda and her writer friend Emily Sutherland. I have to wait still for copyrights to clear here. But I think it’s great and I will post them on my website eventually for fun.

I have been paid for my first ever article for a magazine this month as well… another first. I’ve written articles voluntarily for some time. But finally the article I submitted for Christian Musician magazine was accepted. “How to Avoid Irritating Your Band Mates”… sounded good enough to print to editor Bruce Adolph. And he asked for another article this week…. And so I just finished “Too Hip For The House” (surviving the dud audience).

I rode my motorcycle out to Saint George Utah to play a concert last weekend at Harvest Christian Church. Took six biker friends with me too from the Riverside Black Sheep chapter. Man it beats goin to the airport by a long shot. We met up in Las Vegas with eleven bikers from the Utah Black Sheep chapter and rode the last two hours to St. George together. Seventeen bikes can stretch down almost a mile of blacktop and we had a few people taking pictures as they passed us on the highway.

This is becoming a regular thing for me too. Riding my motorcycle to gigs… and they are getting further away from my neighborhood. St. George is the new longest ride. About nine hours one way. Next month, September 13th I’m goin to Prescott Arizona! For a concert at the Heights church as part of their Celebrate Recovery Program. I plan to meet some of the Arizona Black Sheep at the state border!.

My life has changed dramatically after all these years but I’m actually seeing a good pattern here in searching out new ways to follow my heart and passion. Economics have changed the way we do things from concerts to travel. It has been a little scarry but sometimes the changes create a new reality to appreciate.

Still working on the distribution deal for Still Dancin’ and getting packaging financed. I hope to have product by September at least for my live concerts. Getting ready for the first NehoSoul Band date since the record was finished.. Moscow, Idaho is comin up Sept. 7th. We were hoping for some rehearsal time in the same room but getting the band together from three states is nearly impossible. We’re looking as of today at a possible date in New York. We’d be replacing another artist that couldn’t make the festival. Anyway we’re moving forward in a lot of directions lately.

o.k. so there’s that…. Bryan D

Nifty Noodles/
Front Office… 8/4/08
I’ve spent most of July working on the details of packaging and credits for the “Still Dancin” project… I’m really proud of this effort. That said… I know this is a different project once again for me… yea it still sounds like somethin I would do…but the focus might not be expected. I’m surprised at how it raises eyebrows when you write songs about on going relationships with others. Suddenly as a Christian you are ‘suspected’ of defecting perhaps. “why aren’t you singing about God in every song?” is what I’ve heard from some.

Bottom line? I think it is the relationships we have with other people that show our most desperate need for a savior frankly…it’s true for me anyway…I tend to turn to God when I can’t fix things in my relationships with others… I need the patience and the assurance that only God and his scriptures give me! Reminds me of Hebrews where it says “don’t grow weary in well doing”… “for in due season you will reap if you don’t faint”… Saw “Shawshank Redemption” movie over the weekend. First time in maybe five years… one of my favorites but I was reintroduced to “andy dufrain’s” persistence in getting a prison library fund… wrote a letter a day for six years! …. I was inspired to keep doin what I can.

This record is risky! Absolutely… and again… I cannot present what is predictable knowing that I would be more successful if I just followed the current trends. These eleven songs are where I am now… in a relationship with God, I’ve lost the need to repeat myself in a ‘sermon to the choir”… Honestly I’m getting “Schooled” in every direction as of late. I’m amazed at the illusions I refuse to give up. The music industry has changed so thoroughly since the start of this project, I feel like I’m starting all over again.

Still not sure where download sales will be available and packaging is still weeks from completion I think…. But man.. it’s a goooooood record… right now I listen to “Papa Ain’t Gonna Quit” all day… it’s my new theme song for survival!.

Keep coming back! Bryan D

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