I really should be working on my paper (A New Stance: Switchfoot Examined) since the final draft is due tonight but I seem to have a mental block. The paper is written and I don’t exactly know what more to say. Or, rather I don’t know how to say what I want to say. I want to touch on Switchfoot’s video podcasts but I don’t know how to draw it in to the paper. Hmm…Well, the paper will work without the podcast. It just might get turned in without it.

I could have easily spent $6000 tonight if I had been given the chance. Haha, yup my brother and I went to the Guitar Center in Harrisburg tonight. Whilst Mike perused the percussion section for a new cymbal (which he purchased – a new 20″ Sabian B8 ride) I got acquainted with the Vox amps. I ran a Gibson SG through a vintage’esqe Vox Custom Classic AC30CC2 30w 2×12 Tube Amp and was pleasantly suprised to find a very rich, earthy tone. The amp was low on effects but that made me even more happy. I am learning that the best effects are offboard pedals, not onboard effects. The amp seemed to be a musical workhorse and I was very impressed with it. The price tag was very large though…Above $1000. <sigh>

I also played with a Roland Juno-G Synthesizer and had fun with the ginourmous amount of samples that were loaded onto the synth! I found one that was perfect for a song I’m working on but alas, the Juno-G is very expensive. $1000 expensive…

I’m happy though! God has blessed me with instruments that work and sound just perfect for where I am now in my life! I’m especially thankful for my band and all the work they have been putting into the demo. Keep dreaming Mike!

Well, my paperastination is over. Goodnight all!

-Ben

Hello!

I just got back from the World View + reunion this weekend! Good times, awesome people, and some lots of pasta! Lots, and lots of pasta!

The band did a kicking job this weekend and I’m very proud of them! Ya rocked guys! We actually added a few guest performers to our ranks this weekend.

• Mike Taylor – Bass and amaazing hair!
• Amber Dennis – Backup and Rescue vocals
• Mark Schmoyer – Crazy electric guitar!
• Dan I-don’t-know-your-last-name – Loud guitar!
• Grace Schmoyer – Backup vocals (To cover up my big mouth’s loud sounds.

Mike loved the sound of his drums in the church’s sanctuary. I can’t say I quite enjoyed the bounce back I was getting but maybe with the proper speaker system we could have conquered more of that. We jury rigged our system + the church’s system to come up with the ULTIMATE WORSHIP SYSTEM. T’was de’ bomb. Haha.

Since Mike T. joined us on the bass guitar Jeremy moved to the acoustic guitar and I took up Jeremy’s electric. The combo actually worked pretty well and I think we might use that in the future if we can. The future looks pretty bright but so far away…

It’s been pretty hard getting back into real life (see previous Hard Time post) but I think I’m making the adjustment a little better than the last time. It’s a little weird thinking that in a year I might not be living in this house with my parents. I love my family to death but I am really looking forward to having my own place! All except for the bills that come with that. Haha!

I’m going to get going for today. Have a good day everybody!

Yours,

Ben

PS. Thanks to Kasey Edsall for the photos of this weekend!

Yes!! I think Runaway is finally nearing the end! It originally started in the key of A, then got cut down to G about a month ago and two days ago was tuned down to the key of F. It’s finally inside my vocal range and God blessed me today with an appropiate joyful ending to an otherwise dismal song. Mike banged in a heavy metal drum track (not yet recorded) that matches the song’s mood exactly! Jeremy is still yet to get his hands into this song but we shall get into it next band practice. Drink honey-water first kids! Haha!

As a band, we don’t exactly know as to what genre(s) we are labeled.  Runaway is a hardcore almost screamo-emo song but I want it to be understandable. We work hard on our acoustic songs as well. I try to write a wide variety. Our songs are written about life for the most part. You can section life into different parts or walks but it’s all still life when you get back to the root.

Back to life! Seeya’ll!

-Ben

Wow, tonight’s band practice left my fingers sore! I knew I shouldn’t have played the bass that hard or fast…Haha! It was an awesome jam session even though we didn’t get much in the way of business done. Huzzah for jamming! Jamin came tonight and I would like to personally holla out to a brotha! Yo yo jizzle! Keep it tight man!

I’ve been growing a lot lately. At least, I hope I can say I’ve been growing. This school year feels very different from the others. I think it’s partially due to the way my life is being lived and the fact that most of my classes are outside of the house. I miss some of my friends that went away to college and/or moved on in life. Life is funny. Friends are still friends but they move on. Why does that happen? Why can’t we all hang out forever?

Stars…they’re a sign of an ingenious creator…so huge and bright yet small and humble to us down here on earth. Why do we miss out on these things, people? Why don’t we ever notice these things before we fall into apathy and misdirection?

Love…I don’t understand it. Same with grace and mercy. I can’t seem to get my brain around how they work. My logical brain doesn’t make sense of un-logical love. I’m very happy that we have love though. I’m doubly thankful that grace and mercy exist! Without those three I would be a miserable wretch.

Well, I must say goodnight to yet another late night entry. Goodnight everyone out there on the internet and in your homes/dorms! Sleep tight and enjoy the stars!

-Ben

Well my dear readers, a lot has been happening in my life recently! Life is constantly changing but in the past few weeks it has been a constant blur of new feelings, emotions, and experiences! I’ll try to take a minute and describe how I’ve been, just for you.

Home Life – I’ve had a lot of anger at my parents and I’ve been trying hard to see them as real, human beings with problems that aren’t perfect. I broke the front door’s glass window last week because I was mad. Not a good thing. The ironic thing is that I broke the 2nd door’s glass six or seven years ago trying to “golf” in the front yard. Didn’t work out too well…Haha!

Music Life – My band, noredtape got to open up for Elyon’s Fire at the Chatroom coffeehouse last Friday night! I had a blast and I think the crowd generally enjoyed us. I was suprised that the general consences was that Runaway stole the night with it’s simple (very simple!) chord structure and body-contorting breakdown! I had so much fun with that breakdown! Haha! I’ve always wanted to break out on the stage and that’s exactly what I got to do! Thank you Lord!

On a minor note, I got the recording back from Josh and we sound pretty bad. My voice sounds like a dead raccoon being swung against a barn door…Yeah, it was pretty bad. Haha! I can either stop singing and let that get to me, or get voice lessons and work hard at improving. I’m going to try to improve. That’s my goal.

Personal Life – Well, that’s personal! Actually, I’ve had so much happen I can’t even think it through enough to type it down. Haha!

Well, I’m going to get going so I can give a certain young woman a call before I go to bed. Goodnight and God bless!

In Christ,

Ben

Mike, Jamin, and I performed at The Chatroom Coffee House Open Mic Night under the band name, “Sophisticated” two weeks ago. It was fun and I learned a little about stage handling and performing.

In other news – I shall be going into the studio tomorrow night to (hopefully) record a song or two. I believe Jamin and Mike shall be coming with me and I hope they will not be bored. Recording can sometimes be a very lengthy and drawn-out process of meticulous precision. (That means that the artist is very picky!)

I am currently listening to Gavotte en Rondeau by Bach performed on the classical guitar. I like classical guitar and would someday like to explore that region of the guitar. It has a very technical acoustic feel that sounds like it would take quite a while to master.

I hope everyone is doing well! I just started school today and am already quite overwhelmed by the large amount of work that is in hand for me this school year. I wish ye all well and may God bless you and your kin!

In Christ,
Ben

Eternal Praise

© 2006 by Ben Rothermel

Let His name be praised,

forever on high,

May He hear our cries,

Lifting up to the sky

As we praise Him,

as we lift His name on high,

Till the end of all days, when the sky fades away,

we will praise Him

Oh Lord come now and fill us,

Let Your love reign supreme,

We wish to know Your peace,

and to sing forever more!

As we praise You,

as we lift Your name on high,

Till the end of all days, when sky fades away,

we will praise You

Yes! Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes! WV+ was de bomb with music and everything! I can't even start to imagine how well the music turned out. It was all due to God's amazing providence. Thank You Lord! 

The whole YHSA graduation and the following parties went well as far as I could see. I had a  great time hanging out with friends, eating great food, and swimming. I'm very happy to see so many of my friends graduate and a bit sad at the same time because they are graduating. Many of them are going to be going away to college in the fall and I feel I shall never see them again. 'Tis a sad thought.

Yesterday I went to the Poppin' Fresh Recording Studio and recorded "A Midnights Prayer". It went excellent for a first song recorded ever in my humble opinion. It has Josh Poppas on drums, Jamin Neff on the bass, and myself on the acoustic guitar with vocals. I shall post a link for it soon. 

Have a good day everyone! Mine looks like it shall be very busy with many things going on. Semper Fi and keep the faith!

In Christ,

Ben