Nifty noodles/Celebrate Freedom festival
6/30/02
Sunday Night Dublin, Ohio
The entire audience appeared to be on prozac! Tonight, I went high and low and I talked and I was funny. And the reaction stayed about the same. It was a crowd many of whom were not familiar with me at all. It always makes me feel like the "dancing bear". Lots of great little kids at this replacement for the regular Sunday night service. So I did the funny stuff, short people and no you won't yes I will. I shook hands and kissed babies. And everyone seemed JUuuuST FIiiiiiNE.... It was like an episode of the Twilight Zone. The pastor and staff were really down to earth though. The cookies were great back stage... I ate too many before the gig and lapsed into a sugar coma. The volunteers at the table were wonderful as well. I guess I'm just not used to normal folks.

One not so fine incident, As I finished, one woman approached me very upset. "I'm really disappointed in your presentation she said ... You didn't do any of the old songs" she listed off a few songs from the first two solo records. " I'm sorry, but I can't do everything" I told her. She was unsatisfied and refused to be comforted. I can't remember anyone being that "in my face" about the gig.... She probably forgot HER prozac this morning!

All in all it was the most Irish looking people I've seen since I left home. You know Dublin,Ohio is where the founder of "Wendy's Hamburgers" was from... So I have a special place in my heart for the folks here.

I'm Bryan d thanks for lettin me share.

Nifty noodles/Celebrate Freedom festival
6/29/02
Saturday afternoon ............ Dallas Texas
KLTY puts on a summer whing ding outdoors... About a hundred thousand folks come out for this. I played around 3:30 in the afternoon. There was a group of about two hundred folks at the front of the stage all dressed in orange t shirts... After I finished my 20 minutes I met them as they came around to the back. Turns out it was a youth group from a local church that had been in a bus accident on Monday as they were on their way to church camp. Four people were killed as I heard it. I met the parents of a 12 year old boy that was among the dead, Michael was their only son. I spent some time with these parents... It just ripped my heart out. To be in the presence of such grief. Never the less they were among their friends for support... It's good that you have people like these to help you through this I said... I will pray for you today. I came back to them later and gave them a quiet Prayers CD signed in memory of their son Michael. It changed the focus for me of the whole event. Believe me Christian Music has moved on so far away from me that I don't think i recognized three acts back in the green room. Once again I didn't recognize "Plus One" the big time boy band these days in CCM. I felt very old.

Bob Carlisle was supposed to follow me on the stage but he didn't make the show due to a jet ski accident. A collision on the water with his son Evan. He cracked some ribs and his shoulder is what I've heard. Never the less he didn't show at the Big Dallas gig. (I think he did it on purpose... Cause these gigs aren't fun to perform at) The crowd is a like a giant wall most of 'em are waiting for their favorite act to play.. And it's not you)

The best part of this gig was the personal conversations backstage. I spoke to the members of the band "Sonic Flood" who were very encouraging. They spoke with a passion for playing good music and serving the Lord. I talked with Michelle Toomes and her husband and crossed paths with John Tesh again.

The biggest challenge at a gig like this, talking with industry insiders is being honest AND optimistic about what I'm doing now. "I know it sounds trite sometimes" I said more than once... "But I just wanna do what God wants. Right now I'm blazing a new trail, speaking of my career "I ran out of paved road and I was falling asleep anyway."

Nifty noodles/"Celebrate" the weekend
6/28/02
Friday
The standard Celebrate Recovery program at Saddleback This feels like home to me... I know so many of the people here now after playing it for three years at least three times a year. I wanted the six song set to be fresh with a new perspective... It did, but not the way I planned it.. I had tech problems from the beginning.

I was forced out of my song plan... I begin to talk. Anywhere else I'd be headed for trouble talkin off the top of my head but not here. "I played a Sunday morning service last week and had a "discussion with some leaders that don't believe in twelve steps" I said "they believe in one step... Well I guess They weren't quite as far away from God as I was then!" I remarked. "some of us have had to make a process out of it to get on track". "and what's with the end of that Serenity prayer anyway"...quoting, "Trusting that God will make all things right if I surrender to his will, SO THAT I MAY BE REASONABLY HAPPY IN THIS LIFE"... "REASONABLY HAPPY?"... "I was kinda hopin for ecstatic!

I finally sang my new favorite song " Jesus Loves me Anyway" and some people were weeping by the first chorus... If you're in recovery, I imagine you're more aware of the love you haven't gotten over your lifetime. I couldn't find the chords on the bridge of the song and I had to laugh out loud cause the words at that point are "no matter how I fail". The greatest thing about being in a recovery meeting is no body is pretending to be fine. They are not surprised by your honesty or horrified either. It feels good to be understood, even when you don't understand.

Nifty noodles/on the air or in the air
6/28/02
Eagle Rock, CA
I have been pursuing the idea of a radio show based on the encouragement I have received working with men in a Christian recovery group. I'm calling it "Road To Redemption". I was so excited that I could come up with an idea of any kind. Suddenly I had all these great marketing ideas to promote the show. God is leading I think. Anyway I went to "Studio Rowe" in Eagle Rock. My sound man's "underground sound station". And we begin to put music together that we would use on the show. After those decisions I began to tape introductions to the show and discovered huge holes in my thought process. What I have here is a great idea without proper substance. I haven't done my homework. This of course is all new to me and I'm not sure how much to script and how much to "wing". I think I'll need to write twice as much stuff as I'll actually use and then wing the mistakes.

Pray for the effort if you don't mind... I'm still tryuing to figure this out.

Thanks for lettin me share bryan d

Nifty noodles/Radio Road
6/22/02
Sat. Riverside CA
This week I was in Hollywood at the request of a writer producer who does tracks for new R&B groups. He wanted me to help him write a song for a Christian artist. We didn't get much done... Why because we got bogged down in what constituted a Christian song. His frustration was clear. He claimed Christianity but clearly his focus was on writing a hit. I kept saying " I'm not sure I can help you coming from that perspective" I've never written a hit. I have written my convictions or lack there of.. And they have become hit songs in Christian circles. The more I listened to his unhappiness in the music scene and the frustration of chasing the hot new trend and finding something pleasing to everybodyd, the more I wanted to be a farmer.

I'm in a meloncholy mood too and I could write something for him I think if he knew for sure what he wanted. What I didn't see in him was "peace" that passes all understanding. (Like I know much of that in my own life?) But I have been learning to trust God with everything that I can't control. And I'm seeing God open doors especially when I have the attitude of service to others... And to a higher calling than "what's in it for me?"

Anyway you might want to know about an open door that I just walked through after that. I've been given a chance to do a one hour radio show on a local station in my hometown. It's KSGN 89.7 . I'm gonna call the show "The Road To Redemption". Finally a chance to be on The Road without leaving home! Redemption is a story that I never tire of. The goal is to draw the local community of churches together through local radio and to offer a Saturday night show to those in need of redemption in their own lives by sharing songs and commentary that follows the guidelines of Celebrate Recovery... A Christian recovery ministry that I have been involved with for the last three years. They use the 12 steps and their Biblical comparisons to walk people through addictive behaviors of all kinds and just general dysfuntions that we find ourselves in when we don't trust God.

I plan to make a coin similar to an AA chip that says "don't give up" and "U R redeemable anytime anywhere" on one side and the name of the radio show on the other side. I'll distribute them to the many recovery groups in the area as a way of advertising the show but also a way of bringing those groups together and supporting the outreaches beyond church doors.

How did I get the show time?..... I asked for it.

Thanks for lettin me share.... Bryan d

Nifty noodles/Go Dad
6/15/02
Fathers day
Cards from my sons were the kind I'd pick out. My oldest's read. "dad, you have made me what I am today.... My God, how can you sleep at night."

His younger brother gave me this... "I'm glad, Dad, I got your good looks!...especially since you were done with 'em "

I'm so proud of 'em. They have been a real surprise in my life. After all this time of havin 'em around too... Who would have known they'd eventually bring joy and laughter into my life. (they're passing through the teen age years... One is 16 the other just turned 20)

Sure they were cute in the early years before they could talk... Or should I say talk back!

Parenting children is clearly an example of the Christian life. A walk of faith where you daily work at doing the right things without any hint of a good outcome and then suddenly, when you least expect it you see the benefits!!

I've been a dad for twenty years, but I've only recently stepped out of my own adolescence. In the case of being a Dad it's more what I am to them than what I've done. Without any accomplishment at all they still have an identity with me.. For better or worse... And I have an impact simply by being here. Sure I can make things better sometimes by my actions. But it's who I am regardless of what I do that really hits me.

It's a permanence of position that gives me the confidence to keep working at my life. I can't be replaced in this position ever!

I'd like to thank God for the position of Dad. He's given me something too that I can't help but be grateful for.

Here's to my sons Brandon, and Devin Alan, in whom I am well pleased!

I'm bryan d ....Thanks for lettin me share

Nifty noodles/Hitting the Adam's Mark
6/14/02
Friday......... Memphis, TN
Memphis is a way cool town when it comes to variety in music. Maybe the best kept secret in the country. Every radio station has it's own vibe; bluegrass, blues, funk, soul. I heard an add for a concert by the "bus city backsliders"! the name alone made we wanna go. The were playin with Teddy and the Vancouvers. But I'm here for a Bryan and the bobble head band show. It's a private corporate gig. Brought to you by: Shelby systems software company. Makes computer software for churches. They're having a national seminar here at the Adam's Mark Hotel.

It was eight hundred tech heads that looked mostly like the church lady! I.. Was hittin on all cylinders if I do say so. "I'm glad to finally meet the true spiritually mature folks in the faith" I opened "If you guys work with computers you know how close you can come to losing your salvation"

The first thirty minutes were fun songs and smart-alec commentary. But as soon as I went mellow and serious the dinner crowd joined my reality, welcoming an honest address of the reason we follow Christ.

I ended early only because the sound system was wired funny and was fading in and out. Better to leave in a good mood I thought. The band in the hotel was just kickin in when we finished anyway and we hung out with some of the conference faithful and listened to everything from James Brown to Patsy Kline.

Still I'd rather sing than tap my foot to somebody else's stuff.

I'm bryan d thanks for lettin me share.

Nifty noodles/Retreat
6/11/02
Whispering Pines, N.C.
Two houses from the corner of Belhaven and Raven Glass is my folks house. Situated among the legions of pine trees, it is more like a retreat than a residence.

It is noticeably quiet to my ears as I arrived exhausted and jet lagged from Jacksonville, Florida. I'm a day late for the big party, but not everyone has left town yet. My sister, Danette, and one of her daughters are here and my two blood brothers, Don and Brad are here as well. (There are several foster brothers around). Don's family is here and an aunt and uncle from California are just leaving. It feels like Florida with that same heat and soft white sand. The difference here is the rust colored pine needle thatch that covers the ground to six inches in places.

I am stupid with fatigue. My manners are missing and I sit motionless on the back deck among the bird feeders. I'm trying to follow the conversation, as born of attention deficit as my own conversations are. The older I get the more I realize that I am a reincarnation of my parents. They are retired now but clearly they could not define that if their lives depended on it!

It is the typical Duncan homeland assembly... A rare meeting these days as the clan is scattered to the four corners of America. But we are honoring my folks fiftieth wedding anniversary. For me it is an interesting time of reflection as well. I make long treks into the back yard wilderness walking for an hour at a time through the forest and around the lake.

I needed a walk too after the hour and a half 'slide show' of the family during the sixties....boy, the hairstyles I have survived! One memorable picture of me comes to mind, I'm wearing skin tight bell bottoms and a pink satin shirt with puffy sleeves, granny glasses and one of those early soul train pimp hats... Oh and lets not forget the half boots with side zippers.

All this to say times are always changing. I can't keep up either. Man, I look back at my childhood pictures and it was like another lifetime. It's good to keep in mind just how temporary everything in life is... Except for the people you go through life with. I'm surprised how easy it was to recognize people in pictures even when they were babies. I don't always see the people I've known the longest. But I'll always know them. As I was walking through the trees alone later I was reminded of a little card I read. It was pinned to the wall above a minister friends desk... "only people matter"! Something I believe but don't act on very much...Thats what retreats are good for. The reminding of what matters. Too bad God has to pull some of us out of our careers for a while to make the point clear.

Time to act on what I believe.

I'm Bryan d Thanks for lettin me share.

Nifty noodles/Three Shows in One
6/09/02
Jacksonville, Fl
I slept through my 3:15 a.m. Wake up call. The alarm went off for forty minutes before I even heard it. The flight to Florida was out of LAX an hour and a half drive from my house normally (with traffic). But this was Saturday and no traffic. I was doing 90 mph. Got there in 59 minutes. Had to park in the "hundred dollar lot" to make the flight. If I'd missed the flight I would have missed the gig in Jacksonville.

I agreed to let local musicians join me on a few songs on this gig. So I opened with the loop stuff off of "LTIWH" and other track tunes. Took a break after an hour and returned to do an "unplugged" set of ballads, just me and the piano. Then I made it look like I was picking people at random out of the audience to play the final songs, but they had rehearsed the stuff before I got there. Drums, bass, keyboards, guitar, and a girl on vocals. They were all excellent musicians. We opened the final presentation with Blue Skies, It Gets Better, After This Day Is Gone... All like we were working out the parts on stage...It was fun... So fun that I launched into a blues groove and made up lyrics like I've done recently... Left the stage like the show was over as the band kept playin the groove. Then we finished with an encore of "Maybe I'm Amazed".

Made for the most surprising presentation I've done in some time. Florida is so muggy though that I almost passed out trying to suck the oxygen out of the moisture in the air.

Struggled with the first half of the show. Tracks didn't sound good. I felt "thick" and those negative self thoughts were all over me. "Its like playin through the pain".

I read yesterday in a book called the Healing Path that our focus for what we are passionate about is developed through our painful experiences. Hardship and tragedy in our lives is the "potting soil" for spiritual growth. We don't accomplish much when we're comfortable the author says in so many words. I should be accomplishing some great things soon then.

I'm also learning the difference between "clarity" from God about direction in life... And just trusting him. He prefers my trust and I am angry because he doesn't fill me in on the details of where I am going. "IF I told you the plan" God says to me... "You'd go off and try to do it yourself!"

Like Moses after he learned that God wanted him to deliver the Children of Israel... First he went off half cocked... Succeeded in killing one Egyptian by himself and then tried to cover up the mistake.

I guess I'll just trust God....and leave the Egyptians alone.

I'm bryan d ...Thanks for lettin me Share

Nifty noodles/Revival Time
6/01/02
Saturday. Denver, Colo
Woke up in a panic at 4:30 a.m. Why... Because usually I wake up on a travel day knowing exactly where I am and what I have to do. But I've been home for so many weeks that it didn't dawn on me immediately that I was leaving town. Sure I was packed and ready to go but I woke up disoriented. I usually don't arrive at that point till later in the day!

We came out early to rehearse with Rev. Leon but that fell through so we're just hangin out in the beauty of Denver with nothin much to do. The Soiled Dove is a 450 seat venue in downtown Denver. I'm anxious to play.

Sunday morning, did a little Church hopping. Sang a few songs as a drop in. Helped to promote the show. Promoter Rob Marshall was trusting of me to handle his Harley Davidson around noon for an hour or so. It's a sweet Heritage soft tail he calls lovingly... "Sweaty Betty".

At seven fifteen I opened the show at the Soiled Dove. I must say I didn't warm up to the crowd. I wasn't sure who I was talking to. Sang way too hard. And finished after just fifty minutes. Focus was lost. I was out of breath from the thin air at a mile high.

Spent a few depressing minutes outside trying to get over myself. Rev Leon and the Revival had an black and white sixties look about 'em. An eight piece band. Musically, a cross between B-52's and Talking Heads. They were big on enthusiasm and their gig was fun to watch.

I joined em after an hour and we ran some ragged versions of old spirituals: I'll Fly Away,Farther Along, I Saw The Light, and Amazing Grace. The songs were played on the front edge and the phrasing was different than the way I sung em in my childhood. Rev Leon sings in the lowest of keys and I had trouble finding a good range. Still it came off great. the crowd was into it.

Denver has some great summer night weather right now. I found a good attitude after the gig even though I was disappointed in my presentation.

Thanks for lettin me share bryan d

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