|
ApologetiX Update: New CD & Upcoming Concerts
Tue., Sep. 12. 2000 2:28am EDT
Dear ApologetiX friends:
J. Jackson, lead singer for ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) here.
Boy, have we been busy lately! We just got back from two concerts in Colorado (and we drove the whole way to the top of Pike's Peak while we were there!) this past weekend. The week before that we were in South Dakota with Go Fish and Solomon's Wish. Meanwhile, we're in the midst of recording our fifth CD.
THE NEW CD: WHAT'S ON IT
We'll be giving you increasing amounts of information about the new CD in upcoming e-mails, but for now, I can tell you this: The new title is "Spoofernatural," a parody of two chart-topping albums from the past couple years ("Supernatural" by DC Talk and "Supernatural" by Santana). The CD contains 19 parodies. Like "Biblical Graffiti," it's a mix of parodies of classic rock and songs from the past year or so. There's plenty of variety for everybody -- 50's, 60's, 70's, and a LOT of '80's, which is our main focus on this CD. However, there's plenty of new stuff, too -- and I just know that you classic rockers will like THOSE songs, too! HINT: If you come to see us "live" in the weeks to come, you're going to hear selections from the new CD, because we always start playing them in concert before we release them on CD.
THE RECORDING PROCESS: CURRENT STATUS
Fred has the drums done on all but one of the 19 songs, and Keith is getting ready to lay down his bass parts. I'm just overjoyed to finally have all the lyrics done. Karl is the one who has the hardest task in the recording process, because he not only has to do the guitar parts; he has to supervise and coach and record all the rest of us and make us sound our best. Furthermore, Karl did all the artwork and design for the CD booklet on our latest project. And believe it or not, that part is all done and already at the printer! But that's why he gets paid the big bucks. (Someday we hope to allow him to exchange the Monopoly money we give him for real U.S. currency!)
WHEN IS THE NEW CD COMING OUT?
The CD is slated for release on Tuesday, November
21. Our current plan is to make it available only to stores for the first week or two, because we want to encourage people to buy it in the stores, for two main reasons:
1. We want the stores to realize how many of you are out there (If your store doesn't stock us, ask them to order it), and
2. If all of our fans buy the CD when it is released there is a chance that we will hit the national album sales charts, because when you purchase a CD at a Christian bookstore, that sale is recorded and sent to the record-keeping publications that chart records. "Biblical Graffiti" has sold thousands and thousands of copies, but that was over the past nine months. If we sell a large amount in the first week of the CD's release, it will definitely draw the attention of DJs, concert promoters, stores and others in CCM music and the music industry in general.
NOT FOR FAME OR FOR THE MONEY
Why is this important? Because we want to be famous? Nah! We're already a lot more famous than we ever thought we'd be. However, if "Spoofernatural" does hit the charts, it will draw more attention to ApologetiX, even though we are an independent band that is not on a major label. Why would that be good? Well, it would open up the doors for more concerts and more CDs and getting the message in our music into the hands of more people ... both Christians and non-Christians. If we were just promoting some artsy message or political agenda, this could get "old" really fast. You try singing "Stairway to Heaven" every night for a couple years *YAWN* but when you're talking about the "Narrow Way to Heaven," that's different. We know that we have a life-changing message, and we know we're singing about the truth. Of course, we don't think we're better than any of the other Christian artists out there ... but we do know that we have a unique role in the Body of Christ. Our music is specifically designed to reach certain types of people, and we want to get it into their hands. But many of them have to find out about us first. First and foremost, God is in charge of that. But we're also trying to do "everything our hand finds to do" with all of our might (Ecclesiastes 9:10), because we really believe that God is leading us in this area.
STORES
More and more stores are stocking ApologetiX every week. At last count, there were close to 400 stores in 44 states (We just got one in Alaska) plus Australia, Canada and South Africa stocking our CDs, and we add more stores every single week. We try to keep that list updated on www.apologetix.com, and it's listed by state, so you can see which stores in your area stock ApologetiX CDs. Also, virtually every store in America can order ApologetiX CDs for you, because we are available through two of the largest distributors, Riverside and Ingram Spring Arbor. If your local store tells you they don't have us in stock, you can ask them to order our CDs through those distributors. I guarantee you that they'll know who Riverside and Ingram Spring Arbor are. We are also available to consumers through the Christian Book Distributors (CBD) catalog.
TESTING 1-2-3
I know that many of you signed up for our e-mail list in the past months and have been wondering what's going on. Well, we had almost 2000 e-mail addresses to add, and it wasn't an easy process, especially with the hectic pace of things lately. However, we are finally caught up, so we are now sending out this e-mail, not just to keep you informed but also to make sure you WANT to be on this e-mailing list. If not, please e-mail us and we will take you off immediately. We also need to make sure you aren't on this list more than once -- we don't want to flood you with two or three copies of the same e-mail -- so please e-mail us if you receive more than one copy, O.K.? And if, perish the thought, you receive three or more copies, please let us know how many you received!
UPCOMING CONCERTS
We're actually playing near home in the Pittsburgh, Pa., area this weekend (It sure beats driving 20 hours) -- two concerts (Friday in Millvale, Pa., and Sunday in Export, Pa.) -- so you local friends are encouraged to attend. I am including the info for all of our concerts over the next month (New Jersey, Kentucky, Michigan, Wisconsin) or so in this e-mail, although you can always check our tour schedule at www.apologetix.com. If you see a concert coming to a place near you, and you need directions, please contact the contact person listed with the concert and/or go to www.mapblast.com and type in your start point and final destination. We use that program all the time, and it gives you step-by-step directions plus estimated mileage and travel time.
Fri., Sept. 15 at 7 p.m.
Street Festival
223 North Avenue
Millvale, PA
Contact: Pastor Ken Johnson 412-486-3536 (N) 412-821-0904 (D)
Sun., Sept. 17 at 5 p.m.
Emmanuel Reformed United Church of Christ (Hill's Church)
3618 Hills Church Road
Export PA
Contact: Carol Shafer cshafer@alltel.net
Sat., Sept. 23 at 7 p.m.
Abundant Life Christian Fellowship
200 Main St.
Trenton, NJ
Contact: DeWayne Wright, Youth Pastor 609-585-7100 ALCF2000@aol.com
Sat., Sept. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Chatauqua Park (community outreach) Sponsored by Macedonia Baptist Church Ownesboro, KY
Contact: Ward Bigler 270-686-8616
Sat., Oct. 14 at 7 p.m.
Frauenthal Center (Sponsored by Dalton Baptist Church)
425 W. Western Ave.
Muskegon MI 49440
Contact: Kyle Segar 231-766-2008 Kseg24@email.msn.com
Sat., Oct. 21 (Two Shows)
6:30-8:00 p.m. 8:45-10:15 p.m.
Cup O' Joy Coffee House
232 South Broadway
Green Bay, WI
Contact: Jan Oettinger Cup Phone (open hours only): 920-435-3269
Jan's phone: 920-437-6694 jocoj@aol.com www.cupojoy.com
Well, we hope to see you all soon! Stay tuned for more information about upcoming concerts and the new CD! Please pray for us for the completion of our new CD, and that it would be pleasing to the ears and to the hearts (and most of all to God). Please also pray for our friend, Stealth, who recently had heart problems. He and his wife (Mrs. Stealth, of course) are dear friends of ours. He looks like he's doing better lately, but I'm sure they (alias Barry and Michelle Irwin) would appreciate your prayers.
Apologetically,
J.
-- J. Jackson ApologetiX (That Christian Parody Band) www.apologetix.com j@apologetix.com
Ecclesiastes 9:10a
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might ..."
|
