Week two has been full of shows, rain, snow, and finally sun. Last weekend started with our return to Aurora Free Church in Niagara, Wisconsin. We've been there several times so it feels like home with lots of friends and supporters. Our show was featured in the Florence Mining News and the Iron Mountain-Kingsford Daily news among Mad Chad's Chainsaw Show and Reverend Raven's performance for Raptor Rehab.
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| "Reverend Raptor to perform for Raptor Rehab" |
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| "Mad Chad Taylor at UW-Marinette" |
My Dad and step-mom Nancy kindly give up there home in the woods when Emily and I are in town. We reconnected with Doe, Buck and the whole gang in the back yard. Spring has not yet come this far north.
We also got to film a trial run for a potential Spark & Echo video project.
From there we head to Madison, WI, for a Sunday morning of music at the Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel. The church and community is lovely, with adventuresome programming and a warm home for music and the arts. We were honored that Madison street performing legend Art Paul was at our show. I forget how much I love Madison: I can't imagine a more beautiful setting for a capitol. The lakes are beautiful and the capitol building is tall and majestic (9 inches shorter than the US capitol I believe).
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| Parking spot under the Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel "Reserved for Dora." Dora is amazing at 104. |
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| I hope to live up to the awesomeness of this photo. Drawn by a supercool fan in La Crosse. |
Tuesday-Thursday was a fun return to Lawrence University, our alma mater, with a concert, talk on arts entrepreneurship, visits to classes and lunch discussions with students. The visit was supported by LCF, the InterVarsity chapter, and kind Lawrence faculty and friends. It's been 6 years since we've been back and we were blown away by the beautiful new buildings and love the new emphasis on arts entrepreneurship led by the conservatory dean Brian Pertl. We were thankful to be welcomed back.
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| Pics by Brian Pertl |
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| The birth place of our love! Emily and I started dating while neighbors at Lawrence U.'s Exec House 10 years ago! |
The next day was a quick drive to St. Luke's in Little Chute, WI. St. Luke's really knows how throw a party (see cake) and host a band. We love staying at the Country Inn & Suites because their bed pillows are clouds and the pool has a slide. They are also next to Tom's Drive-In's (#cheesecurds). At the show we met Mike from Out of the Drawer percussion. Check out their great drum gear here.
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| The After Party. |
A day off at my mom's in Sturgeon Bay was a blast, including getting acquainted with her three new alpacas Rue, Dulcinella and Morgan. Alpacas are aliens.
This weekend was spent at Beautiful Savior in Green Bay. It was great to be back on Packerland Drive (Go Pack), particularly around NFL day. The folks there are awesome and make a mean cinnamon roll. Our favorite quote of the tour comes from Pastor Jon while our promo image was up on the screen:
"Nobody told Emily they were taking this picture" -Pastor Jon Meyer
After the shows it was family time deluxe: Parents, grandparents, siblings, and eleven nieces and nephews were all together at my brother's place in wooded Hobart. My sister, her husband and their seven kids were in town with their touring ministry (Travel Bags, Stephen Bautista Music).
The star, however, was Linda, our bug and mascot. She had a busy time entertaining and thoroughly enjoyed her new apartment, hand-crafted by a niece-led construction crew.
A day in the Life of Linda.
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| She's always been a very spiritual bug. |
Sad to be almost done with our time in Wisconsin but looking forward to heading East soon...but first, at Whitefish Bay Methodist Church tonight and Trinity Waupaca on Wednesday.
See all the show info at www.SparkandEchoBand.com/shows
Connect at
If you missed them at the show, pick up the CDs here:
