I've been putting off writing this one, probably because I knew it would be near impossible to describe the event that was our album release concert for Ashmont Hill's sophmore album, "Your Masterpiece."
We definitely pulled out all of the stops on this one, or should I say our amazing record label Axiom Records did. We figured we should take advantage of what we were going to do and not only have a concert, but do a DVD and Audio recording as well, that way we can use the footage in many different ways. It's something that we always wished we could have done for the first album. The idea to do all 13 tracks was mostly because we love EVERY SINGLE song so much, we literally couldn't think of what song NOT to do. Also, we heard that Gungor did that at their recent release concert and we thought that was SUCH a cool idea! Not to mention that we pretty much LOVE Gungor.
So of course we used Jubilee our home church, we had the stage extended, took the band out of the pit and put them on the stage with us, a lighting company, a camera company, and 2 photographers. We got T-shirts and pictures done, and pretty much worked our tails off rehearsing and getting ready for this event. NO ONE did more work than Phil, so I must take some time to commend all of the hard work he does for us. The 4 of us are constantly having meetings and telling him to give us some of the million things he has to do, he's one of those people who doesn't often ask for help so we kind of have to make him :). But he does an AMAZING job and we love him... :)
We got the word out all over Boston and Massachusetts, had incredible people who put together street teams and made flyers. The stage was set, hair & makeup and wardrobe done, we all gathered with the musicians, Mom and Dad, and prayed for God to come, to move, to have his way in us and in what we were about to do.
And He did. The concert was an amazing success. The BEST part was that because we sold the CD in church 5 days before, SO MANY of the people knew every single song. Probably the best was "I Want to see You" when everyone in the place was jumping and crying out "I want to see you, I want to know you, your heart, your face, reveal to me, through all my days, show me your ways." The entire place jumped so much that we literally thought that the floor was going to cave in. Or "All to Bring You Glory" where in the end we all fell to our knees and sang "It's all for You"...over and over... God came in and made it a genuine worship experience that we will NEVER forget. I wish we could do it again! :)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Brooklyn Tabernacle...When in doubt, stick with Buddy...
Well, it begins again... New album, New band (well, we actually HAVE a band this time), New everything. We, Ashmont Hill are back out on the road promoting our brand new album just recently released on May 25th, 2010 entitled "Your Masterpiece," and we are just brimming with excitement for what God is going to do.
Let me start by introducing myself, I am Deborah, one of the four members of Ashmont Hill, a contemporary christian/gospel/worship group out of the Boston area. Pleased to meet you :) I am COMPLETELY NEW at this so PLEASE excuse me, I am no writer... We just thought this would be a fun way to share some of our amazing, incredible, and hilarious journeys with you, our "Ashmont-Hillites" :) I will be the main person writing these blogs-since I'm probably the person in the group who pretty much talks too much :)... But you will hear a bit from Phil, April and Wil at different times as well.
Well, let's get started...
Brooklyn Tabernacle, our first date since we finished our second album "Your Masterpiece," so our first time doing brand new material. We practiced like crazy for weeks and weeks, and as we walked off of the plane (yes, we took a plane the LONG 35-40 minute flight that it was from Boston, don't ask me why-probably because NONE of us wanted to drive 3 hours battling New York traffic) excited about doing a 45 minute set for our beloved Brooklyn Tab. It's been 2 years since we'd been there and we were very glad to be back.
Like what usually happens when we arrive in a new place, we check in at the hotel, and venture off STARVED trying to find something to eat. The nice woman at the front desk tells us what street to walk down, where all of the "good" restaurants are, and we all start walking-April with little Zee in the stroller... We pass tons of sketchy diners and Asian places including an Indian place that Wil and Phil were seriously considering, and I-though usually a HUGE lover of Indian- was not so sure about... Finally, April, tired of walking around with a hungry baby, settles on a diner that looks pretty clean. Jim our guitar player and Law our MD decide to stay with her. Phil, Buddy our bass player, Wil and I keep walking-hoping for the best. Out of nowhere, Buddy says in his Tupelo, MS accent, "Ima walk up this way, catch yall later" and this is where we should've said to ourselves, "When in doubt, stick with Buddy..." because he will ALWAYS, INEVITABLY, find the BEST place to eat. But instead we say, "Ok, catch ya later..." and decide on a swanky place that promised Phil fried chicken and macaroni & cheese (say those two things to Phil and he's ALL IN :)), and then tells him as soon as we sit down, that they in fact don't have either. The 3 of us are about to settle on some salads (which of course would've been the healthier choice) when Phil gets the most glorious phone call from none other than Buddy. All he says is 2 words, "Dallas BBQ" and we are out of our seats so fast, apologizing to the waitress-but not feeling too bad since we hadn't ordered anything yet.
It makes sense that usually the BEST thing about being on tour is the FOOD. All of the different places, GOOD and BAD become the scenarios of our most hilarious moments and stimulating conversations. Ah, Dallas BBQ-it was heaven... Rice and Beans, Corn on the Cob, Ribs, and these things they call Sticky Wings that had a sauce that was completely intoxicating :)... heaven...
The next day, the concert was so great. The church just got a new youth pastor, GREAT guy, and he was having a service to revamp the youth ministry... All the kids were up standing right in front of the stage which is always the BEST because we get to see their faces and hear them sing along...
I have to admit I was a bit nervous as I walked out onto the stage. I don't usually get nervous anymore, not because I'm super confident, but because no matter what, whatever He wants to do, we are going to get out of the way, and let him do. The thing I NEVER get used to-and never WANT to for that matter-is the way God moves in such an amazing way. How His presence comes in and does something SO miraculous in our hearts and minds that we can never get enough of Him.
Brand new album, brand new road, a whole different ball game, and all we can do is stretch out our arms and wait for Him to move, because we are NOTHING without Him. "How much more can I tell of who You are, when jealously You sought me out and WON my HEART, and now BY LOVE REDEEMED, I tell my story, All to Bring You Glory..." To make His name famous, to bring Him Glory...it's the ONLY reason we do... what we do...
Catch yall later guys...
Let me start by introducing myself, I am Deborah, one of the four members of Ashmont Hill, a contemporary christian/gospel/worship group out of the Boston area. Pleased to meet you :) I am COMPLETELY NEW at this so PLEASE excuse me, I am no writer... We just thought this would be a fun way to share some of our amazing, incredible, and hilarious journeys with you, our "Ashmont-Hillites" :) I will be the main person writing these blogs-since I'm probably the person in the group who pretty much talks too much :)... But you will hear a bit from Phil, April and Wil at different times as well.
Well, let's get started...
Brooklyn Tabernacle, our first date since we finished our second album "Your Masterpiece," so our first time doing brand new material. We practiced like crazy for weeks and weeks, and as we walked off of the plane (yes, we took a plane the LONG 35-40 minute flight that it was from Boston, don't ask me why-probably because NONE of us wanted to drive 3 hours battling New York traffic) excited about doing a 45 minute set for our beloved Brooklyn Tab. It's been 2 years since we'd been there and we were very glad to be back.
Like what usually happens when we arrive in a new place, we check in at the hotel, and venture off STARVED trying to find something to eat. The nice woman at the front desk tells us what street to walk down, where all of the "good" restaurants are, and we all start walking-April with little Zee in the stroller... We pass tons of sketchy diners and Asian places including an Indian place that Wil and Phil were seriously considering, and I-though usually a HUGE lover of Indian- was not so sure about... Finally, April, tired of walking around with a hungry baby, settles on a diner that looks pretty clean. Jim our guitar player and Law our MD decide to stay with her. Phil, Buddy our bass player, Wil and I keep walking-hoping for the best. Out of nowhere, Buddy says in his Tupelo, MS accent, "Ima walk up this way, catch yall later" and this is where we should've said to ourselves, "When in doubt, stick with Buddy..." because he will ALWAYS, INEVITABLY, find the BEST place to eat. But instead we say, "Ok, catch ya later..." and decide on a swanky place that promised Phil fried chicken and macaroni & cheese (say those two things to Phil and he's ALL IN :)), and then tells him as soon as we sit down, that they in fact don't have either. The 3 of us are about to settle on some salads (which of course would've been the healthier choice) when Phil gets the most glorious phone call from none other than Buddy. All he says is 2 words, "Dallas BBQ" and we are out of our seats so fast, apologizing to the waitress-but not feeling too bad since we hadn't ordered anything yet.
It makes sense that usually the BEST thing about being on tour is the FOOD. All of the different places, GOOD and BAD become the scenarios of our most hilarious moments and stimulating conversations. Ah, Dallas BBQ-it was heaven... Rice and Beans, Corn on the Cob, Ribs, and these things they call Sticky Wings that had a sauce that was completely intoxicating :)... heaven...
The next day, the concert was so great. The church just got a new youth pastor, GREAT guy, and he was having a service to revamp the youth ministry... All the kids were up standing right in front of the stage which is always the BEST because we get to see their faces and hear them sing along...
I have to admit I was a bit nervous as I walked out onto the stage. I don't usually get nervous anymore, not because I'm super confident, but because no matter what, whatever He wants to do, we are going to get out of the way, and let him do. The thing I NEVER get used to-and never WANT to for that matter-is the way God moves in such an amazing way. How His presence comes in and does something SO miraculous in our hearts and minds that we can never get enough of Him.
Brand new album, brand new road, a whole different ball game, and all we can do is stretch out our arms and wait for Him to move, because we are NOTHING without Him. "How much more can I tell of who You are, when jealously You sought me out and WON my HEART, and now BY LOVE REDEEMED, I tell my story, All to Bring You Glory..." To make His name famous, to bring Him Glory...it's the ONLY reason we do... what we do...
Catch yall later guys...
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