So we're still in the season of Epiphany. There's so much richness in this season. We celebrate the magi and their gifts. We celebrate Jesus' baptism. But it seems that all this is really about the audacious notion of incarnation. The Great Divine somehow fusing with humanity, leaving us with all the questions about where heaven starts and earth begins. Doesn't seem like a great assignment. Perhaps this song is a little shallow in its musings on such a fertile subject but sometimes the simplest notions are the most alluring. Here's a demo I tracked a few hours ago...
Here's a song from the perspective of one of those wise men. Those crazy star-gazers that were searching for the spark of the Divine. They sure enough found it--a surprising sight, probably. But that fits pretty good; they were fairly unexpected themselves. Light just doesn't know any boundaries. Now this is just a quick demo, but you'll get the idea.
Maybe this is bad etiquette, but I've posted some of the first run mixes in the Bootleg Radio. Sure there will be some changes, but the guys at LakeFever are doing some great work.
I just finished a song for our yearly Christmas presentation at church. You can download an acoustic version free over in the hymnal. I hope it conveys the light and dark of the season. When you really think about what that first Christmas day was like, save for that angel band it was pretty lack-luster. Giving birth ain't no cakewalk--especially without drugs. And an angel band sounds nice, but not quite so believable when it's coming from a shepherd. I mean, seriously, those guys could've been drunk. So you're back in your hometown stuck in your dad's college roommate's barn with some chickens, a donkey, and a gassy cow. And somehow, in the midst of all that mess, Mary finds something to treasure in her heart. Quite a lady that Mary.
This Christmas season has already had too many bumps in the road for me. I feel like I've been kicked out to the barn and things are smelling foul. I gotta tell you, it's hard to find much to treasure in my heart sometimes. But then there's Jake who'll smile at about anything right now. He even laughs when you wipe his butt. And Emma--she says "wub you too, Daee" when I leave her with a kiss. And of course Melissa who never ceases to give up on me. Damn. This place feels almost cozy. But, that doesn't mean it doesn't stink.
Light doesn't come on unless there's darkness. So in this season of lights, don't downplay the darkness--it's there. I guess that's the way it is for now--good and bad all wrapped up together. It takes a lot of faith and a dash of crazy to look for the good and to find treasures in stinky places. Merry Christmas.
The debut album from Aaron Austin and the Bootleg Preachers is almost finished! Now through December 1, preorder A Glorious Mess for $10 with free shipping. Plus, you'll get a free mp3 download of some demos, and a warm feeling for helping us get this cd printed. Prices will increase after December 1.
Thanks so much to everyone who has already helped with donations, if you've already made a donation, there is no need to preorder, your copy has been reserved.
I also have a few dates open for gigs in the coming weeks--churches, house concerts, youth groups, street corners. I'd be happy to come and play for free for the opportunity to do presales. Send me an email if you're interested.
You can order through Paypal by clicking the link below (you don't need a paypal account).
We're almost there! We only have background vocals left to finish. We also have $800$275 left to raise for mixing and mastering. We've already raised $2,225! Thanks so much to everyone who has helped us out already--we couldn't do this without you. Just a few more $50 donations and we've met our goal. Your donation will get you a CD before anyone else as well as some free unreleased tracks. You'll also have our eternal gratitude.
We know this is a terrible time to ask anyone for money. If you can't give $50, any amount will help. If you can't give money, that's no big deal. Thanks for supporting us with your thoughts and prayers.
You use the donate button below. Or, you can send your donation via snailmail. Just email for directions.
Thanks. Aaron.
A great big thank you to everybody who came out to sing in the choir last Saturday. We had a great time and came away with some great tracks. Just in case you're curious, here's a quick mix of the breakdown from Rise and Shine...
I am humbled at the response we've had to our plea for help. We need $2500 for mixing and mastering and we are halfway there in just over a week. Right on time too, because we need to pay half up front and the first songs are going out at the end of the week. Thank you so much to all who have helped us out. It means a lot for so many different people to help us out. This project has been in the works for years now. It's nice to see the light at the end of the tunnel. There's still plenty to do, but things are coming together nicely thanks to great friends who are playing for free and so many of you who have helped financially. I'm truly grateful.
Hello Everyone,
As you may or may not know, I've been recording an album for over a year now. The band and I have done all of the recording ourselves in basements and bedrooms and it sounds really good. We've lined up some great guys in Nashville to mix and master the project, but we need some help. $2,225 will cover the cost of mixing and mastering. Actually, we just need 50 people to give $50. To add to the thrill, we need at least half of the money by Feb 1st. This was a leap of faith on my part, and I believe it's going to work out. If you would would like to help and you have some funds available, we would be grateful for your donation. As a thank you, you will receive the cd before anyone else. You'll also receive immediate download of some free mp3 demos. You can donate through the paypal donate link to the left (you don't need a paypal account, just a credit card). Or you can donate with a check and the US Postal Service. Make sure to include a note with your address so we'll know where to ship the CD. If you can't swing $50, even $10 or $1 helps. And while we can't get you a CD for a dollar, you'll still get some free mp3s. And if you're feeling remarkably generous, we won't stop you from giving more than $50 either. I realize things are tight for a lot of folks right now, so if you can't send money, send us a note to let us know how you're doing. Thanks for your help in our endeavor to make good music.
Aaron
Aaron Austin
925 Revere Run Dr.
Lexington, KY 40509
