New Music Tuesday:House of Heroes

House of Heroes is coming out with a new album soon. Today we get to hear one of the new songs! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

(If you missed my interview with them – click here!)

House of Heroes “God Save The Foolish Kings” lyrics video from Gotee Records on Vimeo.

New Music Tuesday:House of Heroes

House of Heroes is coming out with a new album soon. Today we get to hear one of the new songs! Hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

(If you missed my interview with them – click here!)

House of Heroes “God Save The Foolish Kings” lyrics video from Gotee Records on Vimeo.

Music Tuesday Spotlight:House of Heroes

If you’ve taken a look around my blog it won’t take you long to figure out that I’m a huge House of Heroes fan. So imagine the excitement I’m feeling at this very moment…today I get to share with you an interview I did with Lead Singer/Guitarist, Tim of House of Heroes! I hope you enjoy this little behind the scenes look at a very talented guy in a very talented band! And don’t forget to check out their music using the links below.

Name: Tim Skipper (vox/guitar)

Band: House of Heroes

Genre: Rock

How/Why You Became a Musician: I wasn’t allowed to listen to rock music growing up, so in 6th grade the bad kid in my class made me a mix tape of ac/dc and pearl jam and I was hooked for life!!!  After that I talked my mom into getting me a guitar, met some great people, discovered MxPx and started playing music!

Is There a Purpose/Vision to your music? Explain: Of course!  If you’re creating art without trying to convey something, what’s the point?  We want to create music that is catchy and accessible but still has integrity and depth. For us, it’s an expression of deeper things that we can’t explain any other way.  It’s a chance to connect with something deeper.  We make music because we love each other and we found an outlet of expression that is communal and bigger than ourselves.  We also share a lot of the same beliefs and philosophies.  We try to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and we believe that He is the son of God and the way he lived his life (suffering with humanity and serving) is the best way to live.  Or try to live at least.  It’s hard

Best/Favorite Music-related Experience (doesn’t have to be related to your music): Getting to play with some of our favorite bands in the WORLD!!!  MxPx was the first band that we all really “fell in love” with.  We got to tour with them for a few weeks in 2005.  Surreal.  Also, Silverchair has made 3 of my favorite records of all time and we got to play 4 shows with them in 2007.  Never EVER thought we’d be able to do something like that!

What did you grow up listening to? Lots of classic rock.  I never realized how much it influenced me until recently.  The bands I really LOVED were MxPx, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, and Collective Soul.  These days I LOVE Queen, The Beatles, Muse, Tom Petty and Electric Light Orchestra.

Your music sounds like (ie: other bands/DJs people might like): I’d say we sound like a modern version of our favorite classic rock bands.  Like Foo Fighters meets Queen with a pretty heavy Muse and Beatles influence.

Links to your music/Contact you:

• www.myspace.com/houseofheroes
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/House-of-Heroes/53640357374?ref=ts
• twitter.com/houseofheroes
• Click here for more House of Heroes Music!

… just search us on Google

Anything else you want my readers to know: We’re about to go in and record a new album!  It’s slated to come out in June 2010 and it’s going to be your favorite record EVER!!!  Also, get into LOST if you aren’t already!!!  It is so dang good!!!

Oh the Memories…of Cornerstone 2009

So, it’s the much anticipated blog about my trip to Cornerstone. Maybe it’s not so anticipated but I’ve sure been anxious to write it. So much happened between the end of June and beginning of July that it’s actually been a real challenge to write this blog. So here we go…and I’m sure I’ll forget 50 things.

Top Moments on our trip:

• Seeing House of Heroes live again. Everytime I see them they get better and better. It touched me how genuine Tim said “thank you guys” after playing. I love when fans are truly appreciated and loved. And just a side note, Colin smiled the whole time. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a drummer smile so much. It’s so contagious.

• Seeing Bradley Hathaway upclose for his live set and then meeting him the day after.  What an amazingly true and humble guy. And soo talented.
• Discovering/visiting the Christmas Story house & museum in Cleveland, Ohio. What a surprisingly fun day.
• Talking to the guy at the Black and White Attire booth. I’m so excited to wear my new shirt. It’s such an amazing feeling knowing the company whos shirt you’re wearing and knowing the full story behind the design.
• Meeting the worship leaders of The Alive Band and getting to worship with them Saturday morning in the rain. I’ve listened to their cd 4 times already haha.
• Morning worship almost every day. It’s so exciting to be in a tent filled with the holy spirit and people craving a touch from God. Especially people from all different denominations and locations.
• Sitting around the campsite talking to my Cornerstone friends of old and new. Kairsie, Dave, Kevin, Fitzpatrick, Brooks, Tim, Joel, Adam, Dima, Jeremy, Alex, random band members of The Ember Days aannd I’m probably forgetting someone…sorry about that if I did.
• Spending hours and hours of quality time with Chris. We grow closer every year we go away. This year was even better than usual. I love you

• Watching Josh Garrels play and literally crying during his set. His music is so powerful.

• Meeting and then watching Everfound. This young band WILL be going very far if they stay close to God. They led great, genuine worship and carry a very powerful message. Please don’t turn into the Christian Jonas Brothers (haha, inside joke.)

• The music seminars with Ryot Entertainment and Traa from P.O.D. They really helped Chris and I get a focus for his next project and re-directed our vision. Then getting to talk to Traa for a while just topped it off. The future is looking SO good and exciting.
• Sneaking away to the Imaginarium to watch part of Lars and the Real Girl. Watching a movie under a tent while it’s raining was very romantic
• Learning common word mix-ups between the US and England and New Zealand. The world we live in is pretty funny sometimes.
• Sitting in the press tent listening to Grandfather Rock talk about Becky and the DCBoys haha. We learned a lot from him.
• Sitting outside with my blanket reading my bible and hearing from God. Man there is nothing like it. Then the humor of DJ Dima and I trying to light a candle for 20 minutes. Then joined by other boys. Insert a “how many people does it take” joke here.
• The fact that Tim was the only person to grab my camera and take a picture with me. It meant a lot to me – I spent the whole week taking pictures of them lol.
• Joel buying me tea when I didn’t feel good. The smallest thing really meant a lot to Chris and I. Thanks buddy!!
• Taking pictures of people doing what they love to do. I’m looking forward to sharing with everyone soon.
• And I saved the best memory for last…learning the meaning of grace. The entire week I felt God showing me, teaching me and demonstrating to me what the meaning of God’s grace is. It was everywhere and I cried every time I saw it. The true knowledge that we are who we are because of God’s grace is so overwhelming that there really are no words to describe it. I’m so amazed by the wonder and awe that our creator is.

Well..I know I have more memories to share but I’m a bit spent. If I feel the need to share more I will. Photos are on my facebook. If you aren’t my facebook friend then just send me an email or comment and I’ll send you some photos

HOH Meets The Beatles!

Today is a very exciting day for myself and all other House of Heroes fans. Today, June 9, 2009, House of Heroes released their Beatles Cover EP. 3 cover songs for $2 on itunes. Can’t really beat that. And they’re great covers. Check it out on itunes or click the cover for more House of Heroes music! Can’t wait to see them (for the 3rd time) in 3 weeks at Cornerstone!!!

A Surprising Saturday

Saturday was interesting. Paul and Angie, our friends from Ohio who recently moved to our area, were supposed to come over. They didn’t. I was supposed to enjoy a full set of the highly anticipated House of Heroes concert. We caught the last 2 songs. I was supposed to not enjoy Relient K live. But I did. It was a strange day. I was supposed to get all gitty and talk to House of Heroes once I saw them hanging out in the merch area ready to talk, but I didn’t. It was a strange day.

It’s always weird realizing that you aren’t the person you used to be. The old me would sulk all day that our friends didn’t come over. The new me sulked for a while because of the pain I knew my other half was feeling. 2 become 1 comes alive. The old me would get pissed that we missed the reason we came to the concert and left early. The current me sucked it up, smiled, and had a good time anyway…and realized that Relient K is amazingly more talented than the radio will ever let them be and their lyrics are much more powerful when sung right in front of you with the emotions the song was probably written with. The old me would be jumping up and down during the concert, getting as close to the stage as possible. The new me enjoyed being behind all of those girls and watching them be the girl I used to be. The old me would flip out at the chance to chat up her favorite band and get as many pictures as possible. The new me realized that my favorite band averages the same age as I am and they’re just some cool guys from Ohio. The new me had nothing to say, especially missing their set.

The old me would be sitting at work frantically trying to finish everything that needs to get done as quick as possible. The new me took some time out of a crazy day to sip her coffee, listen to some great worship music and write a blog.

Conclusion? Finding out who you are now is as easy as looking back at who you were and seeing how much you’ve changed. Enjoying the new you is what will bring happiness into your life and help you to not live in the past.

“It’s funny how you find you enjoy your life when you’re happy to be alive” – Relient K