in which: I've been away because...

I've given up coffee. For now.

I'm obsessed with The Oh Hellos. Can't stop listening!

Applied for a trainer position at work ~ could be getting a promotion!!

Peanut & I are getting caught up in the show Downton Abbey. We flew through the first season in TWO days!

Book Club: we're reading With by Skye Jethani

Cleaning Lois' house after her recent move. She's off to Oklahoma at 83!

Peanut, Dori, Lisa & Me

I am

Olli

in which: i've a lumineer love

Nope... not a Turn It Up Tuesday. But I am digging these guys so much I can't help myself. Just bought the album (though I've been listening to them for months). Burning a copy for Ohana (my car) & I to jam out to on our travels. Do yourself a favor world... go have a listen. Your ears will thank you!

Also, thank you to babe for introducing me to them!

I am

Olli

Turn It Up Tuesday: Moonrise Kingdom Soundtrack

Peanut, myself & some friends of ours went and watched Wes Anderson's new flick tonight: Moonrise Kingdom. Definitely one of my new favorites of his... although The Life Aquatic will always up there. Too tired to write and too much to tell. Three things I can say... GOOD MOVIE. The music was quite, QUITE good (I'll be purchasing the soundtrack shortly). And I want a pair of binoculars.

I am

Olli

Turn It Up Tuesday: John Mark McMillan

 

John Mark McMillan. 

He and Jon Foreman are the two people responsible for stirring in me the desire to worship (musically), like no other. You may not know it, but the song David Crowder made famous, "How He Loves" was actually written and sung by John Mark. When I first head the story behind it,  I got goose bumps.

 Rattled my bones a bit. 

The song has sentimental meaning for him, who wrote it following the death of a dear friend who, during a church staff meeting, prayed out loud "If it would shake the youth of a nation, I will give my life today." McMillan was awakened in the middle of the same night by a phone call; the friend had been killed in a car crash. He wrote How He Loves the next morning as, "a celebration of a God who would want to hang with us...despite who we are".

God sees the heart. No matter the words your lips speak, the action you take to prove a point -He sees beneath. If you mean it, He'll hold you to it. It's an amazing thing. 

And scary.

David Crowder's version made me cry, but John Mark's version (where he actually chokes up at the end),

 made me believe.

~

I was jamming out to his album The Medicine on my way home from work today and was again, reminded, of the depth and width of the love of my Papa. JMM's version of How He Loves is on his album The Song Inside The Sounds Of Breaking Down. ALL his albums are impressive though, so I suggest you hit up Spotify or iTunes and have a listen.

 Beware though... 

his words were intended for change.

I am

Olli

*To enjoy more hits by John Mark McMillan, just click on the link below.

  http://thejohnmark.com/music

in which: we are SO going

I can hardly contain how psyched I am to go to this. Dave Matthews, Jack White, Wilco, Flaming Lips, Gogol Bordello, Young the Giant, Alabama Shakes, Dr. Dog, M. WARD!! SWITCHFOOT!! And the list will get longer my friends... oh yes. They just added the Chili Peppers a few days ago. Tickets (of course) of pricey, but we've never paid to get into anything like this before, and with so many of our favorites performing - how can we NOT go?? Worst case scenario is if we don't go, we can sell them later, because believe me... it's a matter of when they sell out, not if.

Now I just need to pray that M. Ward and Jon Foreman don't go on at the same time. That would kill me. And I don't know how I'm gonna leave w/o a couple T-shirts or posters. Lord... make a way!

I am

Olli 

Turn It Up Tuesday: Alabama Shakes

                                                                    Alabama Shakes

Almost went to see these guys in Austin on Saturday. But... thanks to Adele's twitter post announcing the concert, it quickly sold out. Oh poop. I've heard their being compared to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, Otis Redding... some good stuff. 
Recently, the Shakes have gained a lot of publicity which surprised my friends and I since they are relatively new to the scene. Their debut EP, Boys and Girls, won't even be hitting the streets until April 10th. Spotify doesn't  recognize them either, so for now, it's back to my ole buddies YouTube, Last.fm & ReverbNation. Or you can also visit their website, just click on the link underneath the picture above.

So I attempted to begin describing what they sound like to MY ears but it just didn't seem to do em justice. Then I ran across this article and this chick pretty much hit the nail on the head, so here you have it -

Unpacking the rapid and rightful rise of The Alabama Shakes: Buzz Cut

 

 I am

Olli

Turn It Up Tuesday: Gungor

Ghosts Upon The Earth

Gungor. Heard of em? 

My love showed me this blog by band leader, Michael Gungor, the other day. IT. IS. AMAZING. He's got some great points and even responds to occasional comments (defending or agreeing depending on the issue). In his most recent post "Zombies, Wine and Christian Music" he argues the honesty of the Christian music industry. For the moment, I haven't fully put together my thoughts and feelings on it, only that it was eye opening and I am tremendously grateful for the handful of authors and musicians who are boldly standing for truth today. I feel truly blessed to be a part of this generation and movement.

"We cannot keep You in a church, we cannot keep You in a bible, Lord it's just another idol... to box You in. They could not keep You in their walls, we cannot keep You in us either... for You are so much greater..."

Cannot Keep You by Gungor

 

I am

Olli