worshipsource.com

Hey... many of you may have seen that I've been regularly posting a 'weekend services' blog -- a setlist, a run-down of how things went, and maybe some spiritual fodder to go along with...

Well, I'm still doing that, but the long-awaited site worshipsource.com is finally up, and I've moved those particular weekly entries to the 'blog' section on my worshipsource site!

Worshipsource is a very cool site, though still in its infancy, so I hope you check it out. Three of my songs are posted up there, all with multi-page chord charts with capo keys (when applicable) and chord diagrams, and a fourth with charts but no audio. Also, the blog that I just mentioned will be up there weekly as well. Stop by and check it out... www.worshipsource.com/markroach

day twelve and out...

Great night to close out a great tour... I ran out of CD's which is good--and also a bummer. We took a group picture of all the guys in Building 429, Aaron Shust and his band, Meredith, myself and the crew... check it out.

The highlight of the night definitely did end up being the pranks... here's a run down:

Meredith went on first. She was nervous through her whole 3-song set, but nothing happened--until she headed off stage and one of the guys from Building poured water on her from the catwalk above the stage... nice.

So I head on, and I'm playing through my set just wondering what's coming. My biggest fears were realized when I heard Jason Roy talking in my in-ear monitors. The first time was between song 2 and 3, and he was just trying to freak me out, so he said "ok, you got the stuff... sweet, let's go get him." Then, as if that wasn't enough to throw my concentration, he actually starts playing puppeteer. Immediately after song 3, Jason speaks again... "Mark, do exactly as I say... put your right hand in the air and don't make a sound." So, fearing consequences--the catwalk was directly over me--I took one step forward, raised my right hand as the applause tailed off and then, after a short pause, began speaking. Now, while I'm speaking, I'm hearing gut-level laughter at my obedience along with one last comment, "nicely done, Mark"... all while I'm trying to talk to the crowd. Yeah, I have no idea what I said, but I give kudos to Jason--well done.

Next was Building 429... they have a section of their show where they play "Sing Like the Saved" and invite kids from the audience up on stage to dance. Well, Meredith had taken Aaron's hat (the bass player) the day before, from bus and she--wearing said hat--and Scottie (Aaron Shust's guitarist) came running on stage with, yep, silly string... made a mess and danced around a bit... more good stuff. The bass player was wearing a 'backup' hat, and I think everyone had a different hat on by the time they were off stage.

Lastly, during one of Aaron's songs, the guys from Building (yeah... they were involved in just about every prank) ran on stage with various and sundry hats they found backstage, and started pulling hats off of Aaron and switching them around, adding hats to people without hats, and generally causing mayhem... it was actually very funny--sounds just like the Meredith trick, but it was to the next level or two... meanwhile, I was hiding behind a small facade wall behind and to the right of the drummer, waiting for some silence. As soon as the song ended, I waited for the most opportune moment and blew an airhorn at him. Kind of inside joke for Josh--he and the bassist Duffy both heard it and had a laugh...

Like I said, good night, good tour... I absolutely can't wait to hug my wife and son in a matter of hours. I'm finally getting used to the road, and I simultaneously want nothing more than the various and sundry blessings and burdens that await me at home. In the words of Michael Bublé:

I've had my run, baby I'm done... and I wanna go home.

With eyes welling up as I type those words, and bitter-sweet goodbyes filling the next few hours, I'm signing off for now... thanks for coming alongside me on the road via the amazing phenomenon of the blog.

Many blessings...

Mark


[phil 4.8]

day eleven...

one of our biggest crowds yet at around 1000, Niwot, CO proved to be an awesome penultimate gig... oops, I just used a big word for no reason, didn't I? Ok, I went ahead and made it clickable. Anyway, I've been asking folks just before the last song to come by my table, tell me their stories, you know? Wow... it's been really awesome to hear people's hearts after these shows.

On a complete different note, I'm looking forward to an interesting last show--apparently, tour tradition includes some during-set pranking on the last show. Now, Aaron's band doesn't seem interested as this was such a short little tour, but Building and the crew don't seem so bothered by the brevity. Apparently, tour pranks past have included baby powder all over the snare drum (you can imagine what happens the first time the drummer hits it), taping down the kick drum beater, detuning guitar strings, even silly string attacks and other artists dancing on the stage--uninvited, of course--in a Spiderman costume. My set seems a bit serious for these types of pranks, but we'll see... I'll certainly keep you posted if someone thinks of something.

At any rate, we're heading to Wichita, closer and closer to home. I'll miss the daily blogging, but I'll likely return to a couple times per week once I'm home. Keep in touch for one more tour post, tomorrow night...

Many blessings...

day ten...

... yesterday was awesome. Albuquerque, NM. I'd never been there, but I'd sure love to go back. Incredible people--not a big crowd, but a very responsive one--I've never run into more people with unique and beautiful names in my life! I'd try to recall (and spell) them for you, but I'd surely butcher one or all of them.

I'm attaching a simple picture taken with my phone from the parking lot of the church... quite a horizon--cooler in person, obviously.

Last night was the 2nd night of shows that were in cities where the radio is playing 'You Are' right now. The most humbling facet of those nights is hearing the stories--one woman divulged that she was home getting ready in the morning the first time she ever heard 'You Are' on the radio and she said her hands went up right then and there... wow. Another woman was encouraged by 'As Long As I Have You' and shared with me that she's the mother of a special-needs child of 8 years... she humbly and sweetly asked for continued prayers saying 'God knows our names... a generic prayer for us would be appreciated.' Yet another, moved by the song 'The Least I Can Do' shared that God saved her daughter's life at a young age--she apparently had cancer, and this mother added that miracle in her own heart to the list of things our Creator has done for us. "The Least I Can Do is worship Him" she commented...

Wow... speechless I head into the final weekend, first Niwot, CO then Wichita, KS. I guess I've all but given away my setlist secret in this post, but that's ok. Two shows left, then I get to see and hold my beautiful wife and son again...

Keep in touch... I'll keep you posted.

day nine...

... so I'm trying to keep up with this blog, but some days are more difficult than others. Not much to say today other than this: I'm having a great time, missing my family like crazy, learning to deal with the road while anxious to sleep in my own bed. I love playing my songs for 600-800 new people every night, but relish the idea of leading worship on my familiar home church platform in just over a week. I'm feeling (and greatly appreciating) all of the prayers, and I meet new people every night who need prayers as well. I'll be keeping an eye on the score of the Blues game tonight, and I'll be home before I know it...

Keep in touch, I'll keep you posted...

day eight...

Ok, so two things:

First of all, I made the lamest error possible as a Worship Artist tonight on stage... when thanking the crowd for coming to the show I boldly exclaimed, "Thanks for being here this evening, thanks for worshiping me--" AAAAHH! I stopped, laughed, and made sure it was clear that they should never do that--"thanks for worshiping WITH me..." Practically unrecoverable, and I got plenty of flack for it all night while signing CD's. So I take away an object lesson from that, because any artist who claims that they've been up on that platform and not desired--even taken--glory solely for themselves is, in my opinion, struggling with honesty issues. Was my comment Freudian? I sure hope not. But if it helped me realize even for a moment how disastrous an evening of worship can be when I don't make everything all about God, it was worth the embarrassment! :)

Ok, second... I had another opportunity to talk with someone tonight that reminded me why I do what I do. A young woman--probably early 20's--approached me early in the evening, after my set, but before the concert was over. She thanked me for being there, told me that she 'felt' something tonight that she hadn't felt in a long time. "Wow... that's great. What brought you here tonight?" I asked. She shared with me that she had been at a recovery meeting on Monday and someone happened to have an extra ticket--a stranger at that. As we continued to talk, I realized that this was someone who did not frequent Christian concerts... and found out through our conversation that she didn't frequent church, either. Toward the end of the conversation, I felt an awkward pause and saw in her eyes--something... I'm not sure what. I asked her if I could pray for her. The honesty that followed impressed and astounded me... "I don't think I'd be very comfortable with that..." she said. "You know, what? I'll pray for you all by myself tonight... how does that sound?" I asked. Again, her response floored me... "sure. Can I give you some prayer requests?" This young lady burned a few requests on my heart tonight and you can bet I'll be praying fervently for her before I close my eyes tonight. I can only hope that a journey toward salvation started in her heart tonight, and that God will find a way to communicate to her how much he desires a relationship with her.

Let's call her Susan... can you all keep Susan in your prayers tonight? I guarantee it, she could use 'em... seriously, before you forget, can you say a prayer for her? God knows her real name, along with every hurt she feels and need she has, and something--something--happened in her tonight. Thanks in advance, and praise God...

day six...

Bend, OR - another great church--amazingly cool people, great hospitality, fun concert, right? But tonight, at least for me, the highlight had to have been 'Crazy Tony'... I'd love to say that he heard my music and I somehow was able to change his life with the divine truths contained in the songs that God has giv---yeah, the truth is, God's been working on this guy for a long time and two weeks ago, he gave his life to Christ. wow... if you've forgotten what it's like to be in the presence of an on-fire, brand-new, loving-life-and-his-newfound-salvation believer, meet 'Crazy Tony'...

He comes by my nickname for him easily enough. After feeling like he really wasn't going to be able to pony up $15 for a ticket to the show, someone asked him if he'd like to setup. During setup, someone asked him to be a stagehand. After those two events transpired, Tony was found running around and jumping up and down backstage like we were U2 or something. A signed CD from Building, one from me, some mangled drumsticks that he took around with a Sharpie to everyone backstage he could find--those all excited him to his core, but it was all within the framework of the most exciting thing of all... his recent decision to follow Christ. Amidst the stories of his chest full of tattoos made in prison with guitar strings, the motor of a walkman and soot from candlewax for ink... stories of following his wife to OR after she walked out of a material-filled life with an alcoholic husband who never abused, but somehow always ignored his family... stories of a man who was sent to prison for one, but served five... this man made an impact on me.

He's back with his kids--a stay at home dad, after leaving his 6-figure salary and checking into a rehab. Mom works at Home Depot, and Tony says he's never been poorer, and he's never been happier. This man, draped in the robes of newfound salvation, is primed to begin changing lives of people that I could never even get to look at me, much less listen to one of my songs... The body of Christ is a beautiful thing, my friends, and Crazy Tony is now a proud member! This is why I do what I do... watching what God can do in His people is an amazing, inspiring thing.

random pics from the road...

Jason Roy (Building 429), Me, Meredith, Aaron in Bend, OR

me sound-checking in Tualatin (Portland), OR

Scottie (Guitar), Meredith and me on the bus...

Duffy (Bass), Sara (Aaron's wife), and Josh (Drums) on the bus...

tune therapy

Ok, so I thought I was done posting for the day, but as the first 'day off' of the tour draws to a close, I've found myself sitting calmly on the bus with my in-ear-monitors in my ears reading some blogs and listening to Glen Phillips on my iPod... his voice and songs are like a rare late night conversation with old friend. I miss my family so much it hurts--even after only 5 days on the road--so I wheel over to Michael Buble's 'Home' for some therapy. I listen to 'The Scientist' once or twice to remind myself just how deep a person can dive into a 4-minute song, maybe check out my brother's 'Head High' just for a dose of what I might call high art in rock music--the instrumental outro of that tune is three times as long as the lyric and I could write paragraphs about what I think its saying...

Anyway, music's great, isn't it? nothing else like it. Take some time this week... get a few recordings that push your buttons and join me in some tune therapy.

day four (& five)...

ok, so the Tualatin (Portland, OR) show was last night... I know I sound like a broken record, but it was a great time. I've included a pic to the right there. From l to r, that's Aaron, Jason Roy (Building), Meredith, Josh, Scottie, Duffy (Aaron's band) and myself. I've gotten the opportunity to sit in and watch the entire sets of both Building 429 & Aaron the past few nights and they've been really compelling. As usual though, the coolest part of last night came behind the scenes...

After the concert was over, a woman came up to me just to say 'thank you'... as she began to speak, her eyes quickly welled up with tears. She shared with me the impact the artists had made on her simply by being 'real'. I think the simple act of walking out to our merch tables afterward and chatting with people communicated a raw authenticity to her that she didn't expect. As we go from city to city, that seems to be a recurring theme that hits my heart. It amazes me the apparent perception--or I may even say fear--that some people have of artists' personalities on the way into these concerts. The legend of the green m&m's seems pervasive--almost accepted--even in Christian circles, and when those stereotypes fall, a sense of relief seems to ensue.

At the end of the day, it makes me more and more aware of the words our church throws around on a daily basis--authentic, transparent, real (Kelley, if you're reading this, I know you're loving it.) It's so important... it's so important. I got the opportunity to pray with the woman I spoke about earlier, and that entire situation--tiny as it was--left a small, though indelible, mark on me.

Today we had the day off... no show tonight. Tomorrow we hit Bend, OR before heading to Fresno. Keep in touch, and I'll keep you posted.

day three...

today was Spokane, WA. The venue was called 'The Service Station'--a coffee house & concert venue all wrapped up in one... the room was great, the people were great, and the worship was great. I pray that God was pleased with what happened in Spokane tonight.

You know, it's funny... the first few days of this tour have been tough for me in some ways. I stand up there in front of hundreds every night singing about Psalm 23 and at times I have to look in the mirror and ask myself if I really trust God the way I want to believe I trust God. We all fight this, don't we? Over and over we find ourselves caught in cyclical patterns of doubt, pride, sometimes just spiritual apathy... and even when we begin trying to pray our way out of it, we realize that we're not trusting fully--fully--the kind of trust God deserves (and then some.)

It's not that we don't believe what we're saying when we sing worship songs or pray, it's just that there's more to it than that... belief doesn't require sacrifice, humility, surrender of control--but trust does. It's opens us up as vulnerable beings and is inherently risky. I don't know about you, but I need to learn to worship more sacrificially, putting actions with my words instead of thoughts alone. Can we really act like worship is all about God and not make a concerted effort to parallel that with our lives being all about God? Our decisions? Our very livelihood?

Yeah, I'm working on it... I may never get all the way there, but I hope I'll never stop trying.

day two...

Ok, so I'm quickly getting used to my short-term home (see picture) and the way things are rolling on this tour. We're pretty well under a set schedule of driving/sleeping after midnight, showing up at the next day's venue sometime by early morning. The crew gets up before Aaron, Building, Meredith and myself and the bands... they load up the whole sound system, merch tables, etc. and we stroll into the venue for lunch. Showers are strange, 'cause they're usually mid-day, either at the venue or a quick run to a nearby hotel. We sound check, get ready, grab some dinner, and in and around that we just wait--that's when I'm checking e-mail and trying to grab a little quality phone time with my little man, Conner, at home.

I mentioned in-ear monitors in my first post of the tour--glorified earbud headphones that are molded to the inside of my ears. They're great for hearing yourself, but they kind of exclude the noise of the outside world, so it's harder to hear the congregation sing, etc. Most people are using 'ears' these days, so I've felt like a regular amateur the past few days--but I'm quickly adapting, and I'm confident I'll return to St. Louis wishing I could use them all the time...

Hope you all are doing well... I definitely took your advice on the set list--those of you who voted! Thanks for the input, and hope many of you are able to come out and see a show. Building, Aaron and his band, and Meredith are all awesome, so it's been a great couple nights so far...

We'll catch up later... day three is upon us.

first day...

Well, first day's behind us... had a great show here in Redmond. Learning to deal with in-ear monitors, soaking in tour-bus etiquette... right now, I'm incredibly tired, so I'm going to bed. I'll keep you all posted.

Mark

November 3 & 4, 2007

Worship Setlist:

Beautiful One (Tim Hughes)
May the Words of My Mouth (Tim Hughes)
Amazing (John Newton, John P. Rees, Mark Roach)

I Stand Amazed (Charles Hutchison Gabriel)
Holy Is The Lord (Chris Tomlin)


Hey all... long weekend for us at MSC--the services on Saturday and Sunday were followed by a baptism service Sunday night @6pm. All I can say is... that's why we do what do... what an awesome thing to witness all of those professions of faith.

Well, I'm off tomorrow a.m. to Washington--first night of the tour with Aaron Shust and Building 429. Meredith Andrews (new Word artist, I believe) will be there, too. If we're in your city, drop by and worship with us, and say 'hey'... regardless, watch the blog, 'cause I'm gonna try to keep you all posted throughout the tour.

Many blessings!

Mark



[phil 4.8]