Seattle and Portland-area concerts summary

Here's the place I played tonight, the Fremont Abbey Arts Center in Seattle. One of the coolest venues I've seen lately!

What 24 hours I've had! A quick recap:

Last night (seems like a month ago) I was near Portland, across the river in Camas, WA. Thanks to all my local pals, as well as the new listeners who came out. Lots of kids in the audience. I took some audience questions, and did a lot of catching up with friends. I'm trying to remember what I played....I'm a bit mentally fried. One of the highlights was the last tune: we did a South African folk song and we passed around percussion instruments and everybody rocked out on shakers and bells and stuff. Oh...and a 9 year old in the audience requested "Angels We Have Heard on High," the classic Christmas carol, so we sang it.

After that gig I got some fuel for the car and for my stomach, and I hit the road with intentions of making it to Seattle. I got too sleepy to continue the drive, so I stopped in Chehalis, WA at the RelaxInn. It was RelaxIng.

Got up this morning early, and got back on I-5 Northbound. Drove through downtown Seattle and arrived in Everett, WA in time to play music for my friend Kari's one-year-anniversary celebration of her call as a Pastor there. It was a Sunday morning church service unlike any that I've ever played....special guest musicians from Micronesia, and from Pakistan. Some truly amazing music...tabla drums, harmonium, and very energetic singing. I got to play the Heartland Liturgy, as well as my new fave hymns from the ELW including "How Small Our Span of Life" and "Each Winter As The Year Grows Older."

This afternoon I hit some cool Seattle record stores and found a few gems (Kerry Livgren, and the Nashpop Nashville Power Pop compilation).

And tonight was the Fremont Abbey. Sean Bendickson was the opening act, and his soulful vocals and skilled guitar playing were a welcome addition to the evening. I had an attentive audience of emerging-church folks, all grownups, allowing me the freedom to play some of my more challenging material including the rarely-played "Closed Out," as well as the debut live performance of "Imperfection." I also unearthed some songs that I haven't done in a while including "Minneapolis" and "Bright Funeral."

I'll be at Trinity Lutheran College tomorrow morning and across the Sound in Poulsbo tomorrow night. This has been a wonderful trip so far, but I'm starting to miss my sweetie and those two cute kids at home.