The 20th Year Reunion Concert (We've No Less Days...)

Those passing through here may have noticed the various Narrow Road albums, concerts and videos posted on the right sidebar.  Some may have also noticed the newest installment at the top:  The band's 20th Year Reunion concert - in its entirety - from 2012 (also posted below for a better view).

As of this note, it's hard to believe four years have passed since the reunion, much less twenty-four years since the band originated.  Many talented musicians performed in Narrow Road over the years, and many wonderful friends were made along the way.

As I contemplate the video: watching friends performing on stage, remembering our musical journey together and recalling friends in the audience that night, I'm also reminded of a lyric from the old hymn, "Amazing Grace":

"When we've been there ten-thousand years, bright shining as the sun, we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun."

Time sure does fly quickly by.  A verse of scripture also comes to mind: "But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." 

- 2 Peter 3:8 

No matter how much we cherish something or someone, nothing in this world is everlasting.  I'm thankful that this realm is not the end; I'm thankful Jesus my Redeemer is returning one day to take me home (John 14: 2 & 3), where life is everlasting.

Till that day, may we store up our heart's treasures in heaven (Matthew 6: 19 - 21), where "we've no less days to sing God's praise than when we've first begun."

As iron sharpens iron,

           - K -

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Playing to an Empty Lot with a Packed House (in the Snow)

I'm thinking the year was 1993:  Our newly minted five-piece band, Narrow Road, would play anywhere the doors were opened to us, which soon led us to a quaint coffeehouse called Ketchum's.  At that time, Ketchum's was located among a small strip of shops near the intersection of Oak and Harkrider streets in Conway, AR.  

I can't recall the month; what I distinctly remember is the patches of snow remaining on the ground in the parking lot... And our band having to set up outside the front door at Ketchum's, facing said parking lot.  There simply wasn't enough interior room for our amps, instruments and driving rock sound.

The people came, and we played to a packed house - sort of:  It was cold enough outside that our guitarists began to lose feeling in their fingertips.  I could see my breath as I sang in the frigid air.  The house was packed, alright:  Our supporters were inside the warm coffeehouse, watching us through side-view windows, playing to an empty lot.  

It was a bit strange, singing to vacant cars on that lot, knowing that the occupants were inside watching us.  Soon, I began to hold microphone in hand, walk through the band and into the coffeehouse, sing a few bars to the people, then walk back outside with the band.  It was surreal... and cold.  Very cold.  I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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- K - 

Dishing It Out with David Fox

It was great to sit and reminisce with my old friend, and longstanding Narrow Road drummer, David Fox.  Among a host of topics, Dave and I conversed about: his musical influences, the story behind his joining the band, crazy band experiences, as well as his current endeavors.

Parts 1 - 4 are up and running on YouTube.  Following is Part 1:
 

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- K -

Lost in Translation (or How to Scare Your Audience)

In the early days of the band, '93 - '94, we customarily kicked off and closed out each gig with a set of full-throttle rockers.  Somewhere in the middle, we'd trade out the electric guitars for the acoustics and perform an intimate "unplugged" set.

One of Narrow Road's favorite venues, back in the day, was the Methodist Student Union at the University of Central Arkansas:  We were welcomed back multiple times; they were very warm and receptive, and we established genuine friendships there with many.

It was at this venue where we found ourselves, playing to a packed house, in the middle of our acoustic set.  The opening chords to our thought provoking song, "Behind Prism Bars," permeated the atmosphere.

"Behind Prism Bars," 1993 Studio Version

All was calm and quiet:  The crowd had settled in and were seated, listening intently to the melodic music.  There is a line in the song which says, "Thank God, The Lord even loves Gentiles..."  Sung live, the song was typically delivered as in the studio version heard above.  

Being the lead vocalist and the band's primary songwriter, the meaning behind each song stirred a lot of passion within me.  I often tried to convey a message or bring a point home.

So there I was, singing this soft, lilting song, when an inexplicable notion occurred intending to drive the point home.  I sang, "Thank GOD The Lord even loves Gentiles..." with a soft delivery, though when I sang "God," I shouted His Name into the microphone.

The crowd that was listening in thought, seated and soothed, instantly reared back in fright at what had just occurred.  Their eyes were as wide as saucers; they were startled and shaken.  I didn't bring the point home to them; I drove the point through them.

No disrespect was meant to the Name above all names.  That was certainly not my intent.  I was young, and my passion often got the better of me back then.  One would be hard pressed to forget that experience; I only hope the song's meaning wasn't lost on anyone.

Would I have delivered the song differently if I found myself back at the Methodist Student Union in 1993?  Yes.  I can't help but smile a little and shake my head, however, when thinking back on this... Another crazy band story.

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- K -

Whiplash: Heavy Metal Accident

One of my favorite Road stories involves a young minister back in 1993:  Jeremy was a ministerial student at the college four-fifths of the band members attended.  One of Narrow Road's first gigs as a complete band was at a church called Needs Creek - at that time stuck smack-dab in the middle of nowhere within a tiny country town.

We were stoked to play and the place was packed.  It truly was amazing how many teens came out of the woodwork that evening.  With it being one of our first "official" gigs as a full band, and being that the crowd was just as happy to be there as we were, the adrenaline surged through us much the same as the electricity did through the amps.

 Running on faith and pure adrenaline:

Narrow Road @ Needs Creek Church, 1993

We were a far cry from a heavy metal band, though we had plenty of full-throttle rockers in our set (and, yes, one could "headbang" to them as witnessed in the vid above).

The concert went off without a hitch:  We came; they saw; we all conquered the night!  Being in a rock band, we were used to moving around a bit while performing, doing "windmills" while playing guitar or even "headbanging" to a tune.  It was second nature to us.

So the following morning after the gig, I walked inside the college cafeteria and caught sight of my minister-friend, Jeremy.  I noticed he didn't look one-hundred-percent.  In fact, his hobbling along and hunched over back, coupled with his five-foot-five frame, made him resemble that of an elderly, arthritic man.

"Hey, Jeremy, how's it going?" I inquired.

He could scarcely move; his body was stiff as a board.  "Oh, not so good!" He exclaimed while holding onto his neck.

"Why?  What happened?  Are you okay?"  I was actually worried a bit about whatever condition he was in.

"I was at your concert last night...  It was my first time to headbang..." He replied.   

I was perplexed.  "First time to headbang?  You mean first time headbanging at one of our concerts?"

"No, ever... It was my first time to ever headbang.  I can barely move my neck!"

I really felt bad for him now as well as partially responsible for his traumatic state.  "I'm so sorry, Jeremy... I feel horrible!"

"Don't!" He interrupted.  "I had the time of my life!"  And in spite of his decrepit state, he grinned.

I couldn't help but smile as well, thinking about this young minister headbanging... Having the time of his life!

Amen.

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- K - 

An Author, A Tuxedo and Sunny D

At one point during the band's early years ('93 - '94), I found myself eating lunch at Pizza Inn with a youth minister from a Little Rock, AR church.  He wanted to meet and get to know a little more about our band, Narrow Road: Our genre, our vision for ministry, etc...  The conversation went well as best as I can remember; we got the gig.  

Gig day came, and four-fifths of the band, along with our faithful road crew, began setting up for the performance.  I had asked Steve - a friend and ministry student at the college I attended - to announce us at gig time.  "No problem," he said.

Gig time came, along with our missing band member, arriving just in the nick of time.  Jason had just shown up from a mandatory choir recital at our college, and with no time to spare, he was still in his tux!

The lights dimmed, and our friend, Steve, walked out to introduce us.  He called us out, one by one, as we walked to our respective instruments on the stage.  Keep in mind, Steve was a ministry student.  Finally, he introduced our drummer, Adrian.

"And on drums, Mister A-A-Adri-i-i-a-a-a-n-n-n Rogeeerrrsss!"

The applause resounded as Adrian walked out, though Adrian looked extremely perplexed.  The only problem with Steve's dynamic introduction:  Adrian's last name was James.  Adrian Rogers was an author of ministerial books that Steve was fond of.

Nevertheless, the show must go on and it did:  "Adrian Rogers" pounded those drums, and guitar chords blared through the amps.  It must have been mind-boggling to the senses: hearing blaring rock being cranked out while watching our tuxedo-adorned guitarist!

For some odd reason, I had taken up with a big jug of Sunny Delight earlier while setting up.  "Sunny D" is a citrus beverage, and I was nursing on that jug right before gig time.  Now on stage, belting out songs, my throat began to feel a little irritated.  

As the songs rocked on, my pipes felt increasingly raw.  By the last few songs (mercifully, we had arrived near the end), my throat was on fire!  The "Sunny D" did not pair well with singing, and I was now sounding like an elderly man with a bad case of laryngitis!

An "author" pounding the drums... A shredding guitarist in a tuxedo... An elderly voice heaving out vocals... Just another day in the life for our humble little band.  More to come...

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- K -

 

Passionfruit Espresso, Anyone?

So there we were, circa '93 - '94: a young band looking to take our respective girlfriends out for a nice night on the town.  One band member, Adrian, knew of this nice indy coffeehouse in a neighboring city.  So off we went, and he couldn't have picked a more perfect spot.  The coffeehouse was quaint; its interior bathed in the dim glow of candlelight and atmosphere.

The waitress, dressed to the nines, handed us our menus then directed us to a vast flavor shot selection available for cappuccinos and espressos.  Each of us browsed the menu with an air of sophistication, hoping to impress our lady-friends.  Our waitress returned, walking around our table as we placed our orders.

"I'll have a passionfruit espresso," piped up Greg - The inimitable Greg Reddin that I blogged about in an earlier post.

Taking our orders, the waitress sashayed behind the counter then disappeared.  Perhaps five minutes lapsed before the waitress returned.

"Listen," she exclaimed to Greg, "We've been discussing this in the back, and we don't really think this is something you'll want."

Each of us looked at the other, perplexed.

They take their coffee seriously here...  Did they huddle up... Have a quick conference in the back... The dilemma of the passionfruit espresso?  They were the consummate professionals, after all...

And we were a rock band.

Gently pounding the table with his fist for emphasis, Greg never balked.  "Nope, I want a passionfruit espresso!" he solemnly stated.

"Very good, Sir!" the waitress replied before disappearing again. 

She returned again in short order, our orders now being placed before us.  As we sipped and supped, all eyes were on Greg.  We were curious about this passionfruit espresso.

Would Greg wince at first sip?  Was it soon to spew forth from his lips?

Greg didn't even bat an eye, though I swear his pinky stood out straight as he sipped passionfruit espresso from his tiny cup. 

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Greg Reddin, 2012

- K -