Monthly Archives: November 2009

All Biscuits and Gravy

Don’t know when my life changed exactly but this weekend was a fine example of a reversal of fortune. All my gigs were in the morning. It used to be that Friday and Saturday night went into the early morning but they started at night at least.

Saturday I had a blessed little biker blessing event to sing at. Sponsored by my own Black Sheep chapter. It was a bike blessing and they served a Biscuits  and Gravy breakfast. I was drinking the cravy from a bowl after my presentation. It was that good.

I got the idea to bring my bike hauler and use it for a little stage. It was a perfect set up for a parking lot concert. My friend Derek Hughes set up a tight little p.a. system to and I parked a sweet Harley in front of the stage for effect.

Bikers are a flighty lot and I expected em to be rolling out quickly but as I played my most uptempo material, and added three Christmas blues tunes they mostly hung around til the very end.

I sold more NehoSoul Christmas CD’s than HOGWASH books which was a surprise.

What can I say this gig was all gravy for this old biscuit. I left thinking about bringin my own stage set up all the time and just playin in parking lots. At least there’s no line at the door!.

Sunday Morning I played the tiniest little church in Montclair “Church In The Oaks”. Inside was the most intimate of church settings. Felt like a glorified attic! with carpet and vaulted ceiling. It was remarkably comfortable. So sound proof that they needed little in the way of P.A.

This was a “partnering with pastors” service. Done in a conversation with the local pastor. It went so well conversationally that I only played five songs.

There has been a flow in my “content” on stage as a direct result of personal hardship that I can only attribute it to Divine design. The message is built around Psalm 119:71 “the sufferings you sent, were good for me”… I had a new story example for every song this morning. I included my feelings about my son leaving a Christmas card for me last year. and when I sang: “I would like to say.. just before I leave you”…. from “I love you with my life”. there were tears all around.

The moment was so powerful that I had to end with this song and let that moment linger. The whole message was about seeing difficult people as the ‘God sends’ that they are. Because usually its the same people close to you that bring you joy if you persevere.

I was done by noon. Driving home I thought about the things I’ve tried to make happen vs the things God surprised me with. and I can see that He is plowing a different field with me. One I have continually overlooked in my search for something “bigger”.

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The Christmas Card Story

It was a wonderful Christmas despite the noticeably fewer gifts all around last year. My sons were over on Christmas night. Devin particularly is entertaining all by himself but I was aware with a call before he came over that he was embarrassed about not having any money to purchase gifts. It was to the point he was reluctant to join us in the opening of presents.

We’d cleaned up all the discarded wrapping and were wrapping up the evening. Devin was the last to leave. We walked him out to his car and said our goodbyes. When my wife and I came back in, I noticed an envelope lying on the floor beside the tree. Thinking I’d missed some trash I was headed to the waste paper basket when I realized it had been unopened.

There was no name on it. Inside it simply read: TO: Dad, Thanks for being so awesome. you’re such a talented person and I’m proud to say I’m your son. Sorry I didn’t have any real presents this year, …I may pick you up stuff once I get covered! I love you and thanks for everything.

He went on to write personal letters to my wife and her daughters pointing out simple thoughts and feelings about each of them. But he didn’t want to be there when we opened it probably thinking it would be dismissed as a “nice” gesture.

I wasn’t prepared for the wave of emotion that swept over me in that moment. Suddenly everything about Christmas changed. I never thought I could have such strong feelings for my kids and the gift they are all by themselves. Especially when they suddenly shine through the heart like that. It was just pure sincerity that topped all the gifts I don’t remember now.

Just words! ? unpoetical, nothing clever or humorous even…. just heart felt! And I have never seen him the same since. This Christmas I think I’ll just share my heartfelt words too. You can’t put a price on what sticks in your heart.

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Stryping The House

Monday night looked more like a Saturday night at Disneyland. House of Blues was packed, standing room only for the 25th anniversary of Christian Metal Band “Stryper”. I made the 40 minute trip down. Not because I needed a douse of way back then. I’d never seen a Stryper show in their heyday as it was also my own. I too played every week and musically we weren’t likely to find ourselves on the same stage ever.

But in the last six years I’ve met each of the band members in other situations. Tim Gaines even playin with the NehoSoul Band. Oz Fox lives in So. Cal. and Michael Sweet shared the stage with me as a presenter at the Dove Awards a few years ago. Robert has given me an in-depth conversation about the “art of visual time keeping”.

Last night there were no pot bellied, balding Rock Stars on stage though. It was like a new and improved version of Stryper. They came off strong, energetic and delivered a blistering set of their highlight metal meyhem, including an accurate cover of “Peace of Mind” by Boston.
The twin guitar leads we’re unbelievably precise. I knew that Oz Fox could play but Michael Sweet too had fantastic musical delivery. Together they were two hammers on a white hot blade. And I begin to realize that these guys we’re reveling in what they were born to do. They were cooking with no cobwebs in the kitchen!

I sat there thinking “these guys are gonna do this for 16 weeks on the road..nearing their 50′S !!!??? I was proud to know em all. And to have been a contemporary in Christian Music too, twenty five years ago.

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My "Community Services".

Two gigs this weekend and still home on sunday! I like it. I got to take my wife to the private Birthday party for a 50 year old fan of my music. Interesting too his name was Kieth Green!

it was a costume party and all the dead musicians were there! I felt a little uncomfortable coming dressed as “Myself”. it was also being held in a senior citizen’s facility!

Chris Henson put the party on and went out of his way to make this outrageous. And by nine oclock I was on a private date with my wife in Laguna Hills.

Saturday night came to early by five thirty it’s dark already this time of year. If one is going to the “Road House Biker Church” one must pull up on a motorcycle! at least that is my take.

I had to dawn full riding leather for this one. the ride home was in 53 degree weather! not cold for some of ya.. but real close to when I trade a bike in for a cage!.

Road House is an awesome little saloon feel meets little country church meets old fashioned tent revival. original wooden pews, swinging doors, and all fresh cut wood interior.. I think a saw dust floor what have taken me back to my early childhood.

It was great to get back to what I do best. after this week I might have forgotten that I actually do ‘community service” for free all the time! and I am more passionate about it now.

O.k. So ‘moving on’… bryan d

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Candy Bash on a Flatbed

It was Halloween weekend and my head was missing. I forgot my cell phone battery charger, lost the keys to my bike, had to park it in the sanctuary overnight cause I couldn’t lock it up. Forgot to bring the phone number to hook up with the CMA crew who met me at the Grapevine to ride the final two hours up the 99 north.

Eight bikers showed up to ride in. I had a great time with them. Made the four hour trip a lot shorter. Thanks to George Esparza.

Played on a flatbed outdoors for a candy bash. Came on after a really good progressive metal band. Guitar player and drummer were spectacular. Guitarist did a Joe Satrianni piece that was impressive.

It was candy night of course and I was full of  it! Humor went over well too.

Sunday came an hour late but everyone was at church on time for a change. I brought an hour of the service. Ken Rasmussen might have trusted me too much!

Great and humble folks at Valley Life, and that sanctuary was the perfect music hall.

I ran into two hundred HOG members at the grapevine coming home and discovered that several had already read the HOGWASH book cover to cover!

Jezebel was in a great mood ridin home in the pale moonlight.

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