Circleslide News

Circleslide '08 Tour/New Songs/In the studio

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:00:00 -0500

It’s that time again. Time when we pack up our gear, say goodbye to friends and family and hit that road. We’re so excited to be on tour this summer, even with gas prices being high…we’ve got some new songs to share…some new ideas for the show…and frankly, we miss you out there!

Summer is here…time to bring Circleslide to your town.

Check the tour section of the website to update yourself on where we’ll be.

Meanwhile, we have been working with Gabe Wilson, from ‘The Listening’…he’s been helping us with some demos of our new tunes…and we can’t wait to show ‘em to you.

We’ll be performing three for sure:

The Turning…a song dealing with social justice…and spiritual awakening

Immortal…a song that comes from God’s perspective on love in an ever-changing world

Follow You To Nowhere…a commitment to someone…even when circumstances look bleak.

This summer we’ll be making our way to the studio to hopefully begin the process that will be a new Circleslide record. So keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we make our way across the good ‘ol USA.

See you---

gabe

Larry Norman

Mon, 12 May 2008 19:50:00 -0500

Johnny Cash, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain…rebels who stood out because of their uncompromising brilliant defiance of what society told them could and couldn't be done…and whose voices, songs, and art still stand the test of time.

I'd like to add another name to that list…the incomparable, inimitable, the originator, the liberator…Larry Norman.

I grew up in South Texas, a child of a Spanish speaking Pastor and his lovely wife both in their twenties…who met in California during the height of the Jesus Movement. They didn't listen to the music that everyone else I knew listened to…they listened to something called 'Christian Music'. And it was a common thing for my dad to drive us around with Larry Norman blasting through the speakers.

As a teenager, after trying to distance myself from my parents music, I made a trip to California to visit my grandmother…where my aunt had a collection of larry norman's albums. I was 14, struggling with my identity…and as soon as the needle scratched the vinyl…I rediscovered a long lost friend, familiar songs that seemed to underpin a truth that I knew was out there…and I allowed myself to bask in that truth and in the truth giver that Larry seemed to be following.

His was cool but vulnerable voice, but it thundered out powerful condemnations to a society that favored the rich, the strong, and the beautiful….choosing the corrupt over the lost, the poor, and the helpless…in songs like 'the great American novel'…and 'The six o'clock news' he was like an outlaw prophet…modern day John the Baptist…finger pointed squarely in America's hypocritical face...but with all the tenderness of a jilted lover.

And that's what his songs were, love songs…love songs to his family, friends, to his brothers and sisters in the faith…to his heroes…to the lost world…but he saved his most deeply felt intimate devotion for his Savior…Jesus Christ. In songs like 'the outlaw' or 'one way' you can actually hear him carving out the path that other artists would later follow…the architect of Contemporary Christian Music…a pioneer whose contributions to the genre are sometimes regrettably and woefully underappreciated.

When I listen to his masterpiece, "I am servant"…I hear a prayer, a psalm that shatters me with its stupendous honesty…the confession of an imperfect and humble seeker…who seeks in the same skin, the same back alleys, the same streets, the same America that I've played in…that I've sinned in…it's like he's kneeling and crying in some great cathedral…and we're allowed to listen in…and join in the great secret of the universe.

The words have been retread a thousand times since then…and used for countless worship music that comes off as either sentimental, shallow, or worse…contrived…but you never felt that with Larry's songs.

That's why, for me, he stands out. It doesn't hurt that the actual music sounds fantastic…made before the digital age…pure rock and roll…grooving, rebellious, a mix of the rolling stones, beatles, and led zepplin…analog…funky…west coast…dangerous…un-sanctimonious…tube driven…booty shaking music with the heart of a saint.

Larry passed away on February 24th, 2008.

I never got to meet the man…or even see him in concert. I guess this blog is my way of saying goodbye…and thanking him for sharing his extraordinary gift with us…and for reintroducing me to 'The Outlaw' whose glory I'm sure Larry is basking in right now.

To learn more about Larry Norman visit his website:

http://www.larrynorman.com/

(this blog comes 4 months after Larry's death...I just needed some time to process these thoughts)

Circleslide in Scotland...sort of.

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 21:05:00 -0500

Circleslide will be on the radio in Scotland courtesy of revival fm on March 31st.
If you would be so kind as to tune in...and then email these fine people in the home of Travis and William Wallace...thanking them for their support of Circleslide you can do it all here:

www.revival.fm

Tune in and spread the word!

Circleslide in New Hampshire and NYC

Fri, 14 Mar 2008 01:25:00 -0500

We've been playing in New Hampshire...and on our day off we drove to New York City to see the sights and be in the audience for Friday's Late Show with David Letterman.
We have some shaky, grainy footage to show you over on myspace...hope you like it.

I also found some old rehearsal tapes of us way back in 2004...and 'up to the sky' seemed to fit 'spirit-wise' with what i've been writing lately...so i put it up for you to listen to. It's very poor quality...but it's raw, and honest, and I think it gives you a sense of what we were 'reaching' for when we wrote it.

hope you enjoy that too, over on myspace...it's not available on an album (for obvious reasons)...but it's still fun to listen to.

see you soon...debbie is booking...and our schedule should start filling up...look for us in your town.

peace,

gabe

'Above the Noise'...and SoCal

Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:00:00 -0600

Well, we just got back from sunny rainy southern California. What, a great fun time we had recording on the Sunrise Church Worship Project “Go Light Your World”. We got to meet Mark, our driver, who is an underwater filmmaker and whose work you probably see on the discovery channel, national geographic channel not to mention the Big Screen. I was impressed with his scuba gear, I must say!

Jonathan had never eaten at In and Out…so we took care of that as soon as we landed.

It rained the whole time we were out there, so rare for L.A…so much for escaping ‘bad weather’. Snowing here in nashville when we got back…sigh.

We performed the third day song, ‘you are so good to me’ (or the waterdeep song, if you really want to know)…and I’ve played that thing a million times…but leave it to me to blow the opening chords on the day of filming and recording. Producer Tom Brooks was gracious and patient, and they let me do the song over at the end of the show…asking the audience to stick around. (At least I wasn’t the only one…they re-did about 5 songs…But still…you fly in ‘Circleslide’ you expect US to be able to do it in one take, right? Sigh.)

Not only that…but my zipper was down for the next day’s concert…I don’t think anyone noticed but me…but in the 8 years I’ve been performing on stage…that was a FIRST. I’ve fallen, missed lyrics, lost my voice, broken strings with no back up guitar, began songs I had no idea how they went (Maggie may—Rod Stewart), played harmonica with a bad cold…snot bubbles anyone?...gross, I know, I know…but never, ever, EVAR came onstage with my zipper down. I think it happened when I was putting on my in ear monitors through the back of my shirt and then tucked said shirt back into my pants.
Sigh.

Aaron Tosti from Hawk Nelson sat in on drums for this one…he is one cool and funny guy! He filled in for Tyler Oban who is out on the road with our dear friend, and Centricity label mate Jamie Jamgochian…who has a brand new album out this week!
It’s called ‘Above The Noise’…Go here to check it out!

jaime jamgochian 'above the noise' CD

Jamie has that rare gift of being a phenomenal musician with the heart of a humble true worship leader…with the ability to write songs that inspire you to dig in deeper to your relationship with God. She’s like a younger Twila Paris and Keith Green with a sincere, fun personality that comes across in everything she does.

We get Tyler back next week for our trip up to New Hampshire…I’m sure he’ll have some stories to tell about life on the road with Jamie…maybe some that involve his zipper being down on stage…but I doubt it.

(the pic is of Aaron Tosti and I enjoying some coffee in my Conan O'brien and Beatles Revolver Mugs...come over to the house and i'll pour you a cup in an interesting mug...that's the motto i live by)

Concert in SoCal

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 07:40:00 -0600

During our tour with the boys from 'Salvador' we performed at the very cool Sunrise Church in Rialto, California.

Last year we helped out with worship and on February 23rd we'll be helping out with their live worship recording and dvd.

Worship Pastor, Gregory Hooper has put together some phenomenal players and singers, and it's a huge honor to join them as they capture their unique and inspiring worship on CD and DVD.

Then on Sunday night, February 24th we'll be performing our original tunes...So come on out!

We're going to enjoy the beautiful weather, a nice change of pace to the cruel cold here in nashville.

Click on the following link to visit the church website and to send an email invite to your friends.

www.sunrisechurch.org

Congratulations Tim and Maria

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:35:00 -0600

This past Saturday, Tim, long time bass player and co-founder of Circleslide married his sweetheart Maria-Jose in Honduras and we couldn’t be happier for him. The beautiful wedding marked a beginning for my brother and an end to his time in Circleslide. He and Maria are moving to San Antonio to start a new life and pursue other interests.

Tim says, “I'm very grateful for the opportunities, and accomplishments I was able to participate in as a result of my 7 year run with Circleslide. But mostly I'm grateful for the friendships, and amazing people I met...I look forward to seeing you all again and bringing you with me in some way into the next chapter. I take with me these relationships, as well as some great music. Best wishes to Gabe and the new players, and here's to a future of endless possibilities...”

As for those new players, many of you have already seen the new guys in the lineup out on the road including, Jonathan De Anda on guitar and Eric Vickers on bass, and in the upcoming weeks they will be introduced properly…in the meantime I’ve uploaded some photos from the wedding in the photo gallery and over at myspace. Hope you enjoy them.
You can be sure that Tim will be missed, his energy, his passion, his fun personality were and always will be an intergral part to the Circleslide story…but he’ll always be family, and that means we’re sure to see him down the road…and the songs and fun will always be right there with us. Thanks Tim…for everything.

More news will be coming soon.

to view a photoblog of the wedding go here: tim and maria's wedding 1

and here: tim and maria's wedding 2

Happy New Year!

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 22:35:00 -0600

Enjoy it everybody...and remember...You can DO it!

Merry Christmas

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 04:30:00 -0600

We hope you're enjoying the holidays!

Merry Christmas from all of us in the Circleslide family to you and yours.

read the new blog...it's new and fresh.

--gabe

Pick Up Your Circleslide Merch!

Tue, 18 Dec 2007 22:20:00 -0600

Some of you have noticed that you haven't been able to find Circleslide merchandise. Due to some errors in the backend of the store, not all of their merch is in the same store.

To make it easier, please follow the links below to find Circleslide merch:

Click here to purchase Circleslide cds.

Click here to purchase other Circleslide merch.

Sorry for all of the confusion, and thanks for your patience as we sort out this problem!

Centricity Records

Our Friends In Colorado

Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:10:00 -0600

Hey everybody, you've probably already heard the sad news yesterday about the tragic shootings that happened in Colorado this weekend. One of the events happened at the YWAM center in Arvada, a place that we, as a band, have stayed at, and have friends that work there. We just wanted to let them know we love them and that we're praying for them...here's a message from YWAM international.

Dear YWAM family worldwide,

As some of you are already aware, the YWAM Denver (Arvada) Colorado center experienced a tragedy of great proportions in the early hours of Sunday morning, December 9, as two YWAM Denver staff members died at the hands of a lone gunman who entered one of their campus buildings. Two other staff members are currently at a local Denver hospital; one of them is in critical but stable condition. The four had just finished serving at a Christmas Banquet for YWAM staff and students. They were simply doing what they did so well: serve. Please pray for Peter and Linda Warren as they lead their staff of 127 through this tragedy, for staff and students, and the families of the staff who died and were injured.

http://www.ywam.org

December Update

Mon, 3 Dec 2007 02:55:00 -0600

Christmas is fast approaching. We are all gearing up for the new year...writing songs...hitting the studio. So you may not see us on the road. But we are cooking up something good for you in '08.

Meanwhile, if you need your circleslide fix you can do that with a copy of 'Bethlehem Skyline', a christmas album featuring our fellow Centricity artists Jamie Jamgochian, Downhere, Jason Gray, and Daniel Kirkley.

There's the chance that we'll have a song on the new Party Of Five season three dvd. Very exciting. AND...There's a new blog up by yours truly.

Hope you enjoyed all your turkey...and staying warm and cozy and safe during the holidays. More updates are coming soon...stay tuned.

gabe

Circleslide in New Mexico

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:45:00 -0500

Hey all, we're currently on tour in New Mexico...enjoying every second of it.

we've hit Roswell and said 'hey' to the aliens, went underground in carlsbad caverns, and visited the miraculous staircase at loretto chapel in santa fe...even managing to fit in some concerts here and there. (check the tour schedule)

We even got to spend some time with our friends over at Musicians For Missions.

These are some of the most incredibly gifted and dedicated people we've come across in a long time, and their school is something so many of you need to hear about.

Check out their website...watch the video about it on our myspace page.

Gabe's got a new journal entry...if you haven't been reading you need to get started.

thanks again for stopping by.

Circleslide Headling Living Out Loud Festival sponsored by Power FM

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 11:55:00 -0500

If you live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area then you need to head over to myspace.com/lollivingoutloud so you can attend Living Out Loud...where yours truly will be headlining. There will be plenty of great artists including Super Nova Remnant and the event is being sponsored by 89.7 Power FM. It's happening on September 29th at 5 pm.

We'll be playing tunes from Uncommon Days as well as some of the new songs from 'above the stratosphere'...be sure to be there and invite your grandma and all her friends!

see you there!

headin' to El Paso

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 01:15:00 -0500

because we needed our texas fix before the summer ends...we're going back to El Paso to be a part of Harvest Christian Center's Back to School bash.

If you're into joining us in a weekend of worship before school starts up again, then you need to be at Canutillo High School

this Friday, Saturday and Sunday...at 6pm.

See you there!

gabe

Mark Your Calendars: August 6th

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 12:05:00 -0500

Whew! Back from Camp Berea in New Hampshire...loads of fun...but no internet access! Sorry if we've been out of the loop...but wer'e back...and with the announcement that 'Above The Stratosphere' will be available on August 6th, 2007!

As we said before, we're excited to offer you some new music...especially as we head into the studio to record some brand new tunes...exciting stuff.

thanks to everyone up in New Hampshire for the great fun...we loved the carpet ball, the breakfast for dinner night, the tubing, the dodgeball championships, the frappes, and the friendship.

see you in March!

New Music..."Above The Stratosphere"

Mon, 2 Jul 2007 01:10:00 -0500

When we recorded 'Uncommon Days' we had a 'host' of songs that we thought deserved their place on the album...but we just finally had to say 'no' to. But some of these songs were actually our favorites...little gems, almost like the 'director's cut' that you see on a dvd...missing scenes. Well, we decided to give you the opportunity to hear these 'missing' songs.

We're calling it 'Above the Stratosphere'...a borrowed line from a borrowed song 'circle slide'...the 'Choir' track that we named ourselves after. We also have originals like 'little bird', 'wichita', 'next best thing', and for those who wanted that more 'electric' version of 'morning star' that you hear when we play live...it's also here.

It will be a 'digital' release...and you'll be able to get it over at the Centricity Records Store in the very near future....so start telling your friends...it can be a great addition for your iphones people!

more great news coming soon! Stay tuned.

Miami and Expolit

Tue, 22 May 2007 22:50:00 -0500

Hola! We just got back from a great little trip to Miami, where we were a part of Expolit '07, a mega huge Latin American Conference...and for those of you who were there...we loved every second of it!

We got to brush up on our spanish...even doing whole interviews without any english (maybe an um or two)...and our concert was broadcast to over 56 countries...not bad, eh?

And we meant it when we said we'd love to come to Venezuela, Ecuador, Nicaragua...and yes, Mexico...anywhere we get invited. What are you waiting for? I'm watching CNN in spanish...can't wait.

Check out the new pics...and head over to myspace for a cheesy video from the hotel lobby.

peace

On Tour with Downhere...opening for Glenn Kaiser!

Mon, 2 Apr 2007 00:00:00 -0500

Two big news items for Circleslide fans.

One: We're going on Tour with our favorite Canadian band, Downhere who just won a Juno award! (canadian grammy) Check our tour schedue for updates. We'll be hitting Oklahoma, Texas and Alabama just to name a few. And we'll be sharing the stage with a brand new Centricity artist, Jason Gray....click his name to listen to this excellent singer/songwriter...we're definitely fans. This tour will be taking us back home to San Antonio...so hey, hometown peeps...we need you to show up strong!

Second huge piece of news: If you've been to one of our shows you've probably heard us bust into the blues song that's the hidden track at the end of 'Uncommon Days'. (In the Light of the Morning Star)

That's always been our little tribute to the legendary 'Glenn Kaiser', who founded the Rez band as well as Jesus People USA in Chicago. We grew up loving this man's music, especially the blues collection he put together with Darrell Mansfield. We'll on May 5th, in Greensboro NC...thanks to CafeJAM...we'll be opening up for Glenn Kaiser, one of our heroes. Kinda cool. We'll update you as that approaches.

Ok, that's the news...and we are outta here.

Circleslide on CrossRock TV

Fri, 9 Mar 2007 02:45:00 -0600

While in San Diego we were excited to team up with Vivian and the cool people at CrossRock TV who interviewed the band and let us do some devotional type podcasts.

Soon you should be able to stream this interview on your Verizon with VCast as well as other cell providers and streaming media outlets. Kinda cool, eh?

You can find out more about crossrock by going here...aha...see...they even have gravity playing as their song at the moment. We love these people!