I’ve been feeling the need lately to make just a slight diversion from the usual ‘guitar for worship’ stuff and highlight those on my blogroll. I’ve just been stoked by how many honestly ‘good people’ frequent this site; so I think it’s time to give them linkage. However, I also get that if you’re new to this blog, a post on my blogroll isn’t exactly what you’re looking for. So I’m posting a fuzz shootout right above this. And if you want to be linked from here, but you’re not listed, just comment here with your blog or site and I’ll put you up!
A Passionate Apathy–this is Andy Lumsden’s site. He’s a pedal builder, bassist, and guitarist. One of the best musicians you’ll meet, and also one of the most humble musicians you’ll meet. Those two normally don’t go together. Check out some of his pedal builds here: http://apassionateapathy.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/first-guitar-pedal-from-scratch/A Small Corner–Kevin McIntosh’s site. He’s our lead sound tech, Director of Sound, media minister, I’m not really quite sure. Our church changes titles every week. But he’s one of the most gifted sound guys I’ve ever met, and he actually listens to music……like Phil Wickham and Stavesacre and stuff, so he knows what we’re looking for in a mix. And he’s a musician, too. Kind of the best sound tech ever, and a really close friend. He needs to update his blog, though……;) Here’s his postings: http://www.asmallcorner.com/Analog Ambience–Tim Pinckard’s piece of the web. Tim’s one of my all time favorite bass players. He and I have played together for so long, we can feel where each other is going. Not to mention, he plays like a mix between Adam Clayton and Guy Berryman……which makes me happy. Tim’s been one of my closest friends for years. Go check out his blog and let him know that the world is waiting to here what he has to say. Awesome post here: http://analogambience.blogspot.com/2008/03/bass-confessional.htmlBehind The Mixer–a new ‘internet friend’. That sounds weird. But this is Chris, and he’s a guitarist and a sound tech, and this site is absolutely packed full of really, really good stuff and guitar, sound, and creating worship experiences in general. Just check out the whole site: http://www.behindthemixer.com/Better Than Blank–Alex McLean lives here. He’s the Executive Pastor at my home church. Really good at what he does, and he’s also a very talented media guru and worship leader. And a really good drummer, too, which is odd……it’s a weird skill for your executive pastor to have. But he rocks at it! He’s also a really good friend and has one of the best blogs on the net as far as up to date and reality-based articles and discussions involving the modern church. Great post here: http://betterthanblank.org/generosity-part-3-ukraine-adoption-story/Billy Chia–another worship leader I met on the web. Very, very insightful and uplifting posts, and he’s got some good gear, too! His latest entry: http://billychia.com/2008/11/09/youth-in-love-with-jesus/Blogsology–Jeff is one of the wisest people I’ve met. All his posts and comments are just plain always right. He’s got killer amps, and awesome as well as funny posts; just a good blog to hang out at. His latest: http://blogsology.wordpress.com/2008/11/06/meditation-on-gods-goodness/Broken Headstock–Philip’s blog. Philip has some great resources for guitar in a worship environment, and has really, really good tone. That is all you ever need know. Sweet tone here: http://brokenheadstock.com/?p=225Chris Stout–Chris is the media director at my home church. One of the smartest guys I know in that area, a very close friend, and also a very gifted sound tech. He’d also give you the shirt off his back if you asked him; a really, really nice guy. His blog is great reading for those of you interested in the aesthetic side of worship–screens, lights, sound, cameras, recording, webcasts, you name it. You can really learn a lot over there. Check out all his posts: http://thestoutsonline.com/
Consuming Worship–another ‘web worship leader contact’ from whom I’ve learned a lot. Very, very informative and enjoyable site for worship leaders. His latest post: http://www.consumingworship.org/2008/11/16/worship-confessional-november-16-2008/Dan Byron–yep. Another worship leader. Dan posts the absolute best and funniest videos, and he has awesome gear!! Really humble guy, too. Funny video post here: http://www.danbyron.com/blog/2008/11/07/javallelujah/Electric Community–this is Mike’s blog. A kindred spirit. Mike and I seem to agree on everything, and his blog continuously flies the flag of minimalist guitar-playing, anti-solos, and the good of the music as a whole. So, ya, needless to say, I’m over at his blog a lot. Incredible gear and a minimalistic approach? Doesn’t get much better than that. This blog will honestly make you a better guitarist. Rad post here: http://electriccom.blogspot.com/2008/11/mikes-heirarchy-of-music.htmlEric Beeman–Eric is the worship pastor at one of my home churches’ sister churches. He has been a mentor and a friend for many, many years and I’ve learned more stuff from him than I can remember…wait… Anyway, he’s a very gifted worship leader, and has one the best voices you’ll hear. His blog is fantastic for nuts and bolts, get-it-done-today, real time worship leading. Awesome post here: http://ericbeeman.blogspot.com/2008/11/chris-tomlin-does-it-again.htmlErin Wible–Erin’s one of the guitar players at a church here is in town. He’s one of those guys who’s too humble to even say he plays guitar half the time, and then his tone and chops show up everyone in the room. I love reading his blog, as he’s a gifted writer, too. And he loves Rush: http://waltermoose.blogspot.com/2008/10/rush-far-cry-from-upcoming-live-dvd.htmlFeedback is a Joyful Noise–the musings of Jason Bast, one of the legendary worship guitarists in the Temecula Valley. ;) He can cop more tone, sounds, and feel out of a guitar rig than I’ve ever seen. He knows his rig backwards and forwards, and somehow he gets tone out of his hands that I have yet to see anyone else get. An incredible guitar player, who also really understands worship music. He also has a love affair with John Mayer, which is reason enough in and of itself to visit his blog: http://www.mesaspeedlab.blogspot.com/Fred McKinnon–talented ‘web contact’ worship leader. Great, great resource for worship leaders, as not only is he talented, but he writes very, very well. His latest Entry: http://www.fredmckinnon.com/myblog/2008/11/16/sunday-setlist-17/Greg Loesch (compulsiveguile)–this guy has an amazing site for all things tech. Go check it out, because you;re sure to learn something. A really nice guy, and very intelligent. Cool post here: http://greg-loesch.com/blog/google-android-iphone-poor-toil/Jon Harrelson–one of the media guys at our church. He’s been stage director, media intern, sound tech, you name it. Jon has a great heart, loves the Lord, and his blog is one of the realest on the net. Cool tech post here: http://harrelsononline.wordpress.com/2008/10/20/live-sets-on-palladia/Lakeshore Vineyard Worship Team–yep, the title says it all. This is a blog for that particular worship team, but I’ve learned a ton from it. Great posts! Great post here: http://lakeshorevineyardworshipteam.blogspot.com/2008/10/laughterrepeating-choruses.htmlLes Paul Player Doctor–this is Larry’s blog. (No, not Larry Mullen Jr…that would be just a little too awesome.) Larry is an extremely gifted guitar player, and has some of the best and most informative gear review posts on the internet. His blog is also a huge advocate of striving to make the overall music sound good, not just your instrument. He’s got great gear, loves Analogman, and has a great writing style. Here’s his latest review: http://lespaulplayerdoctor.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/the-superfantastic-awesome-terrific-zendrive/Mike Dalton–Mike is the bass player and band director at a church here in the Temecula Valley. Mike just might be the nicest guy you’ll meet in your whole life. He’s also an amazing bass player who I wish was at my church. ;) His blog has some of the most thought-provoking posts on the web, as well as some of the funniest. Awesome post by Mike: http://mikedaltonbass.blogspot.com/2008/11/adventures-of-bass-player-returns.htmlMy Worship Revolution–Bobby’s site. Bobby’s a worship leader in the central coast of California. He’s very talented, and has great posts, usually pulling worship away from being just songs in church, and more towards reaching and touching the community’s lives. His latest post: http://www.myworshiprevolution.com/bobbym/2008/11/oh-how-he-loves-us.htmlNikao–this is Vince, the Media Pastor at one of my church’s other sister churches. It is impossible to hang out with this guy and not have a good time. He has this vibe of just saying and doing everything in a slightly different manner, that gives him some sort of extra insight into life or something. Anyway, his blog will probably be the most enjoyable time you’ll spend all day. His sense of humour as well as his wisdom are both impeccable. Killer post here: http://www.nikao.ws/2008/11/12/level-the-playing-field/Pamparo in Toronto–Rhoy’s blog is killer. He’s this really humble guy who ends up writing fantastic Biblical dissertations, and laying down some really sweet guitar tracks. He’s got great tone, great gear, and one of the nicest guys I’ve had the pleasure of talking with. Here’s some sweet tone: http://odnalor.org/wp/2008/10/06/d-dorian-jam.htmlRenovate–Peter is cool. He’s one of the few people I’ve ever met who manages to marry wisdom with tact. He’s able to impart knowledge and understanding to you without being condescending. Just one of the wisest people I’ve met, and a good friend. His blog will make you think……and you’ll like it. :) Check out this post: http://thecentrolife.org/2008/08/20/much-needed-reminder/Rich Kirkpatrick–very, very talented worship leader at another church here in town. Awesome guy, and extremely passionate. His blog opens up some of the best worship discussions I’ve run across. Here’s a great post on sacrifice in worship: http://richkirkpatrick.com/rich_kirkpatricks_weblog/2008/11/worship-mythbusters-the-myth-of-a-painless-offering-of-worship-part-3.htmlSound In Life–this is my church’s sound site, which our lead sound tech, Kevin, set up. We’ve ben neglecting it a bit lately, but Kevin did a stellar job setting it up all professionally. We need to start using it again! Here’s a funny post Kevin put up: http://soundinlife.com/2008/06/29/countdown-song-blues/The Resistance–James is a crazy talented vocalist who leads worship in Virginia, and who guest leads at my church every once in a while. Great guy with a great heart, and his posts are hard-hitting and passionate. Here’s his latest post, and it’s a good one: http://www.resistembrace.com/?p=25The Tone Guru–this guy has some of the best gear I’ve seen. Great tone, really humble, and his site is just full of guitar playing and worship leading resources and articles. Check it out to become better at your craft. Here’s a post about some of his sweet gear: http://www.thetoneguru.com/2008/07/26/title-unknown/Travis Tingley–perhaps the best guitarist I’ve ever met. He’s the worship leader at one of my church’s sister churches, but he’s also toured as a lead guitarist with The Kry and other bands such as that. He’s able to mix skill and speed with tastefulness and tone, maybe even a la John Mayer. And a really, really cool guy, too. Needs to start blogging again! ;) Here’s a haunting but fantastic post from him: http://travistingley.wordpress.com/2008/01/22/thoughts-on-our-human-responsibility/Worship City–another ‘web worship leader’ association. This guy has killer gear, and great writing skills, too. Posts of all kinds on his blog…you can lose an afternoon. :) All fantastic viewpoints; again, a lot of wisdom. Check out his post on love: http://worshipcity.wordpress.com/2008/11/12/write-love-on-your-arms/Worship Guitar Guy–one of the most respected worship guitar bloggers around. His posts range from beginning to expert as far as guitar goes. And he knows a lot! But he’s also able to communicate it really, really well. Make sure to hone your skills, both technically and mentally, by visiting this blog. Here’s a post from him on worship chords: http://gerryleslie.com/?p=200Thanks, everyone!
Splendid.
Karl.
Guitar for Worship 