simple.

minnesota in the winter can sometimes be a really sucky place.
this year we have had stupid cold temperatures (like the most negative degree temperatures in over 30 years, we're talking 40+ nights of sub-zero temps). and on the days it did warm up above zero we got piles of snow.

WE CANNOT CATCH A BREAK.

all of that being said, not too many tours come through here in the winter. no one wants to get stuck in a snowstorm or have their van battery freeze and not be able to get it started or they just don't want to haul all their gear in and out in the frigid air. i don't blame them at all.

so my concert experiences this winter have been minimal.

however, a tour just came through on an almost balmy (i think it was like 5 degrees?) night and it was another reminder of why i long to be in that world. if i go without going to a concert long enough i can almost forget that i love it so much...then i step into a dark, crowded club and the show is incredible and i don't know how i can ever forget that feeling.

it was the 'simple' tour featuring andrew ripp with opening act judah & the lion. there was also a local opener, the frontman from hope country (sometimes he comes to my church and i'm not ashamed to admit that i openly stare at him because he's really handsome). there were tons of reasons i could list why the show was fantastic but one reason i found it so inspiring is that these guys are Christians in bands that aren't being shoved into the genre of Christian music. they maybe didn't do an alter call from the stage but they were so genuine in what they did say.

examples:

judah & the lion sang a new song they had just written and the lyrics talked about being rich but not having money. after the song the frontman said they were rich because they had hope and joy and they got to be in that club on that night. beautifully put. (for some reason it won't let me put a video in here but you should probably give this song a listen even though it's not the song i'm talking about.)

andrew ripp literally said, "i know it's saturday night but i'm going to take you to church" and went on to sing 'you will find me,' so overt (without being cheesy) in it's lyrics.

i love that there are musicians of faith in the industry making quality music (like brings-tears-to-your-eyes good) that aren't afraid to get sweaty and bring some truth into a dingy bar.

warms my heart in this ungodly-cold weather. 

xo