Google just got a little creepier.  Has anyone seen Google Street View yet?  I’m a little weirded out by it, but at the same time completely fascinated.  This is a view from Downtown Nashville.  

Can you find your house?

Tonight Kristin ”&” I are headed to downtown Nashville to watch Derek “&” Sandra play some music.  See how clever that was there?  I used the “&” symbol like they did for their album.  They were clever first, but it’s fun that I got to join in the cleverness this morning.  

Anyway.  So, Sandra ”&” Derek are playing tonight for the first time together promoting this record.**  What I am excited about is going to a show to watch, going there with my amazing wife, “&” relaxing for a couple hours.  Not to mention, I am excited to hear Derek’s new stuff, “&” excited for Kristin to see Sandra.

What’s your plans for tonight?

**Don’t quote me on that.  I may have made it up.

It’s not that I have a ton to do in Nashville this week. It’s more that the people I am with have a ton to do and I am watching them do it. I got to Downtown around 3:00 yesterday and was basically running around and “hanging out” until about 1:00 in the morning. It really is fun to continually be bumping into people that I haven’t seen in a long time and that happened all day yesterday.

I was able to meet two “blog friends”, and talk to them a while even though our conversations seemed to get interrupted every five minutes. First I ran into Hannah and talked with her a bit about her new job prospects here in Music City.  She’s on to something good and has a lot to talk about over at her blog. Then a little while later at MercyMe’s sound check I was able to sit down with Dale for a little while.  Dale works in radio and I always have a hard time following what those guys do.  They seem like they are always busy and always working, but Dale is doing great documenting the week over at his blog so make sure you stop in and say hey to him.

Today I head back up there to catch Phil play a showcase and then hopefully see a little bit of the Third Day / Switchfoot show.  Most likely there will be more running around, but I’m having a good time seeing everyone.  I will try to get some pictures today.  I was lazy yesterday.

On a work related note, MercyMe has a hot new blog layout, so check that out.  They are also documenting this week like crazy, so there will more coming from them.  Also, Natalie is now on Twitter so make sure to follow her there.  She hasn’t updated it yet, but I am going to try to meet up with her today to get her going on that.  I am also occasionally updating my Twitter so you can check that out there.  I think that’s it for now.  Talk to you soon.

Okay, here’s the deal. I don’t know everyone in the Christian Music Industry. Not by a long shot. There are tons of people I have never met, and tons of people that I may never meet, but I wanted to try something this week. Pretty much everyone in the industry is here this week and I may or may not bump into a few of them.

So what I want t know from you is, if you could ask one Christian artist one question what would it be? Comment the artist and the question in the comments and I will try to track down that artist and ask your question. Who knows, it could be fun.

What do you think?

Last night Kristin and I took the boys to Jackson, TN to say hey to the MercyMe guys and try doing some internet-y things in a place with no internet.  It didn’t really work.  The show ended about eleven and then we had about a two and a half hour drive back.  The boys were asleep before we left the parking lot and Kristin and I have always traveled better with snacks.  We stopped and got some SunChips and Gatorade.  I picked strawberry.  

Now, I’ve had a lot of Gatorade in my day, and I’ve never really paid much attention to a “favorite flavor”, but last night it occurred to me that I don’t think there are different flavors of Gatorade. I think they are all the same flavor, just with bright colors. Honestly I don’t know if I have ever tasted a difference. I mean, seriously. Anyone out there really have a favorite Gatorade flavor? Can anyone tell a difference? Then Gatorade got really creative and decided to go with the clear Gatorade flavors which, consistent with the rest, all taste the same, only now the only difference is the bright label, rather than the bright liquid. Genius.

This week is picking up and I don’t even know my entire schedule. All I know is there are plenty of things going on and I have to be at a handful of them. Hopefully by the end of the day I will have a decent idea as to what I am doing. And hopefully I will have something more interesting than Gatorade to talk about.

This week is a busy time here in Nashville. Everyone that lives here can attest to that. It’s GMA week and even if you don’t have anything you have to do, everyone from the industry is here doing things they have to do, and it’s like a big reunion.

So far I have managed to keep my calendar pretty open but I know that it will fill up fast. Yesterday I had a great lunch (meeting) with Spence about blogging and social networking and all that.  I love talking with people that “get it” and I don’t look like a crazy person when I am talking about blogging.  Today is pretty free, but I have a lot of things to get done before the weekend.  Then tomorrow, I will be headed to Chattanooga to hang out with these guys and their crew and answer a few questions.  These guys will be there too so I’m excited about that.  Then on Saturday I will head to Jackson, TN where these guys and these guys are playing a show together, so that will be fun.  Stay tuned because I heard that there might be some MercyMeTV stuff going on that day.  Sunday I have a meeting with one of those mass text messaging companies to talk about… well… mass text messaging, and Monday there are a few different options of things that might happen.  That will start the week, and from there I’m sure it will get busier.

 I know a few people have contacted me who are coming to town for GMA Week, but if you are in town let me know on my contact page. Maybe if we get enough people here we can do a blogging dinner get-together type thing. You know a big group of us.  

 Have a great morning.

I forgot to tell you about our Jackass moment last night.  Steven from The Myriad and I “tased” ourselves.  That’s right, with a 650,000 volt taser.  

One of the guys in Eisley picked it up at a surplus store and we thought it was a good idea to try it out.  Steven had done it earlier in the day and convinced me that it wasn’t that bad, by doing it again on the back of his calf. After a good ten minutes or so of talking me into it, I gave it a shot. I mean how bad can it really be? It’s only 650,000 Volts of electricity shooting into your body, right? Plus there’s nothing more funny than a bunch of thirty year old guys standing in an alley in downtown Nashville tasering themselves.

So check another thing off the list of things I have never done. I can’t say I’ve never “tased” myself again. What a moment. Oh yeah, and guess what? It freaking hurt. You can check out Steven’s encounter here.  Good times.

So let’s hear it. Have you ever “tased” yourself?

The last time I saw these guys was at the end of the tour that will forever be the standard on which all other tours will be compared.  The Myriad  are a week in on a tour with another band called Eisley and came to town last night.  It was awesome to see them again.  It had been too long since we hung out.

They played a great show, then we got to hang out and Daley and I were able to grab some pizza with them afterward. From what I can tell they are still doing great from the MTV Breakout Band thing, and having a great time on the road. Their album comes out in May, and we got to take a look at it last night. Magical creatures are awesome. I will let you know when that comes out.

They are on tour now, so check the schedule and go say hi for me. It’s a great show.

And sometimes they look like this.

I like these better.

Go here at 2:00 PM, and hear the same song over and over.