“Chrome” and the New Recession

Posted in: Site News — Eric at 8:49 am on Thursday, March 26, 2009 

Residing in newborn-baby land for the past month, shy of any alertness or creativity, I am indeed still alive, though my communication has been equivalent to nil. This winter/spring calendar has hands-down been the bleakest I have ever known as far as getting and securing work/shows/income. In some ways for us, it’s not much different than any other month of any other year. We live in a recession each and every month, never really knowing where the next paycheck is going to come from. But church budgets are way down, and since that is where I play the vast majority of my shows, we have noticed a definite slowdown in our little cottage economy. Sweating bullets. But the flipside to all this is that I’ve been home a LOT to help (as much as a male possibly can) my wife in the transition from one to two kids. As a breadwinning male, I have found myself in the middle of a workweek playing with Ellis in the backyard sandbox or fixing peanut butter sandwiches fighting not only the noonday demon of acedia, but the very distinct and cruel head voice saying to me, “So here you are, you lazy sack. You can’t even provide for your family, you worthless loser of a phony artist.” Such are my days of late. Low self-esteem is a plague riddled with guilt.

Ben has been wrapping up a couple of other projects before we make the final push to finish my ghost of an album. I’ve officially titled the project, “Chrome“, which I will explain in a later post. The release date, obviously, won’t be anytime in March, and April is looking mighty doubtful. I’m still hopeful for a May release, but this train is, and has been, a slow one, so by now I should know better than to make any promises when it comes to these sort of things. What I can give you is a sneak peek at the album cover (or something close)….

chromecover.jpg

9 Comments »

Comment by Joe

March 26, 2009 @ 11:50 am

Dude, I know exactly how you feel. It’s definitely been a tough year on the ol’ self esteem. If we could just all merge into one all powerful musician (much like a guitar playing voltron) we might be able to get enough shows! Looking forward to the new record, can’t wait to hear what you have up your sleeve! Take care and we’ll keep y’all in prayer.

Comment by Allison

March 26, 2009 @ 10:57 pm

Thanks for the peek at the album cover. That just makes me say “Yay!”

As a new mom to two myself, I just have to say that you just DON’T KNOW how much Danielle must appreciate you being around right now, slow income or not. I would KILL to have Gaines around more often during the day. Okay, so I wouldn’t really kill anyone, but maybe just borrow some limbs? It’d be nice to have extra hands. Or a go-go Gadget arm. Or two!

Praying your tour dates will pick up (we’re trying!)… we all NEED your music right now. Everyone does. Art should flourish in tough times..it’s one of the things that helps make sense of this crazy, beautiful mess.

Comment by david

March 27, 2009 @ 11:47 pm

eric,

this is meant to be encouragement. i just gave a talk and part of it dealt with Phil 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” the word for “vain conceit” can be translated “self-esteem” (Thayer). the phrase “consider better” can be translated “esteem others”. So we are instructed to not have self-esteem, but other-esteem. You, brother, as you serve your family are living this… stay the course.

i know this doesn’t help pay the bills (i will try to ask around here for shows), but press on.

and even if you don’t esteem yourself, I esteem you and I know Our Father esteems you.

aloha

Comment by ashley storey

March 28, 2009 @ 3:57 am

we can so relate. we are still trying to get out of the parents’ basement, and with a newborn ourselves, it is kind of hard. i didn’t vote and honestly didn’t care to this election, but if obama’s plan works, i will be grateful.

also, on a side note, bj has recently introduced me to “miracle of forgetting”. i had never heard the album before, but he occasionally will play a song from it on his guitar, so when i finally heard the album, i found myself singing along to all the songs! i have to tell you, it quickly became one of my favorite indie records. it has such a great, earthy and roots tone to it. (wow, i sound like i shop @ whole foods). it is definitely on my top 5 indie records.. up there with griffin house and matt nathanson. so thank you for continuing to make music.

- ashley

Comment by Janna Barber

March 30, 2009 @ 10:03 am

So, I just learned a new word: acedia. I even looked up the definition on dictionary.com. It’s a good one, very appropriate for that noonday feeling. I am sorry for the voices and esteem, friend, but am grateful for when they lead you to create songs and phrases that make me feel less alone. And the Barber van is definitely excited about getting some new “chrome.”

Comment by Jud

March 31, 2009 @ 10:54 am

Perhaps you could get this album sponsored by Google . . .

Comment by Eric

March 31, 2009 @ 5:13 pm

jud, i don’t get it.

Comment by Pete

March 31, 2009 @ 11:59 pm

Love the artwork.

Comment by Jud

April 8, 2009 @ 7:24 am

Google “google chrome” . . .

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