A Look Back: Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway

In 2003, I won an all-expense-paid trip for two to New York City via a drawing I entered in a Nashville Off Broadway Shoes store.  Included in the package were two tickets to see the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie on Broadway.  On Oct. 4, my sister Lindsay and I were treated to a stunning 8 p.m. performance in the Marquis Theatre.  The show was absolutely flawless, and featured Designing Women darling Delta Burke and Sutton Foster's fantastic Tony Award-winning performance.

A Look Back: The Vibe Tribe

I joined dc Talk's fan club, the Vibe Tribe, in the early 90s.  My membership afforded me the opportunity, among other things, to meet the trio at concerts.

dcT signed my Vibe Tribe lanyard (above) the first time I met them, in Indianapolis, Ind. on Mar. 7, 1993.

A Look Back: Meeting Jennifer Knapp

Although I've seen folk/rock singer/songwriter Jennifer Knapp in concert at least six times, if memory serves me, I have met her at least three times.  I believe she signed the Kansas CD booklet (above) when I first met her in 1999 with my two sisters in Grand Rapids, Mich.  Years later, after I interviewed her in a Nashville coffee shop for Out & About Nashville, I witnessed Knapp perform -- and read -- at her book release event on Oct. 11, 2014 at Vanderbilt University, where she signed her memoir, Facing the Music (below).

A Look Back: Jacob's Trouble in Concert

I saw retro rock band Jacob's Trouble live at least three times.  In addition to AtlantaFest '93, I witnessed the quartet play Taylor University in Upland, Ind. in the early 90s (where they autographed the glossy above, if I recall correctly) and a stripped-down set in a church basement somewhere in Indiana on Nov. 14, 1993.

Two Trumpeters Walk into a Happy Hour

I continue to relish the opportunity to enjoy jazz pianist Beegie Adair's Happy Hour with Beegie specials on her YouTube channel, which she hosts along with vocalist Monica Ramey (top left).  I recently watched parts one and two of their sessions with jazz trumpeters Marvin Stamm (bottom left) and George Tidwell (bottom right).

A Look Back: ZOEgirl

I was assigned a feature story on pop/rock trio ZOEgirl for Release magazine's October/November 2003 issue.  While the publication folded (for the second time) before the scheduled article was printed, I still have all the elements of my interview with the ladies -- audio tape, notes, press kit and copy -- filed away in my office closet.

A Look Back: Meeting Dale Baker (of Sixpence None the Richer) for the Fourth Time

I met the original Sixpence None the Richer drummer, Dale Baker, four times.  The fourth time, captured above, was on Jan. 15, 1999 at Hope College in Holland, Mich., when I reviewed the band's concert for The Holland Sentinel.  Baker and I were sporting our best dc Talk poses for the occasion.

A Look Back: Hal Sparks (of ZERO 1) Article

I interviewed actor/comedian/musician Hal Sparks for Out & About Nashville magazine's November 2014 issue.  Best known for his television roles, Sparks is the founder and frontman of hard rock band ZERO 1, whose debut album was produced by dUg Pinnick of King’s X.

A Look Back: Meeting dc Talk (the First Two Times)

As a member of dc Talk's early fan club, the Vibe Tribe, I was thrilled to meet the trio in person twice -- first on Mar. 7, 1993 at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Ind. (above), when they opened for Michael W. Smith, and later as a headliner, very likely on Apr. 23, 1994 at Allen County Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne, Ind. (below).

A Look Back: Yellow Second Article

I interviewed power pop band Yellow Second for HM magazine's May/June 2005 issue.

A Look Back: Watashi Wa Album Review

I reviewed pop/rock band Watashi Wa's album The Love of Life for Seven Ball magazine's July/August 2003 issue.

A Look Back: Meeting Jennifer Knapp for the First Time

Years before I reviewed her albums for Seven Ball and HM magazines -- and years before I interviewed her for Out & About Nashville magazine -- I first met singer/songwriter Jennifer Knapp (third from left) with my two sisters in Grand Rapids, Mich., if memory serves me, very likely at Baker Book House in 1999.

A Look Back: Tinman Jones Album Review

I reviewed rock band Tinman Jones' album Poetic for Seven Ball magazine's July/August 2003 issue.

A Look Back: Colourblind in Concert

I saw urban/pop/soul group Colourblind, featuring Eddie James, in concert at Holland First Assembly of God in Holland, Mich. in 2001 or early 2002.

A Look Back: Tait Album Review

I reviewed rock band Tait's album Lose This Life for Seven Ball magazine's November/December 2003 issue.

A Look Back: Meeting Michael Sweet

I met Stryper frontman Michael Sweet (center) at Rocketown in Nashville, Tenn. sometime between 2002 and 2006; likely either on Nov. 6, 2003 or Nov. 5, 2005, when Stryper headlined the venue.

A Look Back: Switchfoot, Third Day, and Waterdeep in Concert

I saw alternative pop/rock band Switchfoot (for the first time) likely in 1999 or 2000, perhaps opening for Delirious? at a church or performance hall somewhere in Michigan, rock band Third Day (also for the first time) likely in '96 or '97, perhaps at a church in Grand Rapids, Mich., and folk/rock band Waterdeep likely as an opening act for a headliner at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. around '99.  Without ticket stubs -- or a stellar memory -- it's difficult to pinpoint exactly when and where these events took place.

A Look Back: Superchic[k] Album Review

I reviewed pop/rock band Superchic[k]'s album Regeneration for Seven Ball magazine's November/December 2003 issue.

A Look Back: Rita Springer Article

I interviewed pop/worship singer/songwriter Rita Springer for CCM Magazine's Worship NOW! special section in 2005.

A Look Back: Something Like Silas Album Review

I reviewed alternative rock band Something Like Silas' album Divine Invitation for Seven Ball magazine's July/August 2004 issue.

A Look Back: The Sleepwalkers

I interviewed artist Joel Schoon Tanis for The Holland Sentinel when I covered The Lewis Event in a piece that was published on Jan. 9, 1999.  Tanis not only fronted rock band The Voice, but also The Sleepwalkers.  Notably, members of pop/rock band Sixpence None the Richer contributed to The Sleepwalkers' EP, Seven Days Smiling.

A Look Back: Smash-Ups Article

I covered the Smash-Ups album for Seven Ball magazine's July/August 2003 issue.

A Look Back: Skillet Article

I interviewed hard rock band Skillet for Seven Ball magazine's November/December 2003 issue.

A Look Back: Sixpence None the Richer in Concert

I've seen pop/rock band Sixpence None the Richer in concert approximately nine times.  I've detailed each of those shows in various posts over the years.

The first three images above, Sixpence autographs on This Beautiful Mess and Tickets for a Prayer Wheel artwork, were signed at the first two concerts I witnessed, at Sunshine Community Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., in what was referred to as the old youth group room at the time.

The last image, autographs on the self-titled booklet, was most likely signed at the show at a church somewhere in Michigan with opener Sarah Masen; if not, at Hope College in Holland Mich. during The Lewis Event.  All four of those performances occurred between the mid and late 1990s.

A Look Back: Sixpence None the Richer Concert Review

I reviewed a Sixpence None the Richer concert for The Holland Sentinel in a piece that was published on Jan. 21, 1999.  The show was held at Hope College in Holland, Mich. on Jan. 15, 1999, and featured openers Sarah Masen and paisley dAve.

A Look Back: Silers Bald Article

I interviewed modern folk/rock band Silers Bald for Seven Ball magazine's September/October 2003 issue.

A Look Back: Seven Day Jesus & Spooky Tuesday in Concert

I saw rock band Seven Day Jesus in concert at least twice in the mid/late 90s.  One of the shows took place at the former Youth for Christ facility in Holland, Mich.  I also saw alterna-folk-pop band Spooky Tuesday during that time frame, likely at ResLife Church in Grandville, Mich. in the old youth group hall.

A Look Back: The Rocket Summer

I interviewed pop/rock (one-man) band The Rocket Summer for HM magazine's July/August 2005 issue. I also recall seeing him play live at Rocketown in Nashville, Tenn. that year, although I have no log of the actual date.

A Look Back: Multi-Artist Events

I witnessed the rock opera !Hero live in concert in 2004 (see above).  The show's soundtrack featured a slew of artists, including Michael Tait (dc Talk, Tait, Newsboys), Mark Stuart (Audio Adrenaline), Rebecca St. James, Paul Wright, John Cooper (Skillet), T-Bone, and GRITS, among many others.  I am not certain, however, if the touring cast was comprised of precisely the same artists as the recording cast.

I also attended a mini festival of sorts in 2003 (see below), featuring Jars of Clay, Chris Rice, Sixpence None the Richer, and tobyMac.

Both events took place in Nashville, Tenn.

A Look Back: The Lewis Event Article

I covered The Lewis Event for The Holland Sentinel in a piece that was published on Jan. 9, 1999.  The event, named for author C.S. Lewis, was a four-day program that explored how spirituality relates to the fine arts in today's society, and included concerts by singer/songwriters Fernando Ortega and David Wilcox, as well as pop/rock band Sixpence None the Richer.

Point of Personal Privilege: My second band, MR. levi, was invited to participate in the program and played Hope College's Kletz coffeehouse during the four-day event.

A Look Back: Jennifer Knapp Record Review

I reviewed folk/rock singer/songwriter Jennifer Knapp's album Set Me Free for an Out & About Nashville piece that was published on Oct. 14, 2014.