OVERHANG

OVERHANG played at Pullman CRC this past Sunday. We worked up a rock'n'roll version of "God Himself is With Us" (page 244 in your grey Psalter hymnals), the classic gospel song "Sow Good Seeds", U2's "Love Rescue Me" and an offertory "Peace Like a River" medley with harmonica and horn section. It was a blast and very well received. The tone was grand and worshipful. We were very glad for the opportunity. A bunch of kids came up afterword to get our autographs and talk about how cool harmonicas are. We signed their bulletins and told them to "stay in school", "don't do drugs" and "vote or die"--three very important messages for all young people today. Which brings us to the VMA's on Mtv last Sunday night. Always inspiring. Bad music awards shows are always good fuel for aspiring young artists. These birth pains will give way to better days.

In other news...


-- we burned a copy of what may be one of the last of our own mixes before we send it off finally to get re- mixed. Since we lost two months worth of work, we were set back a bit, which proved to be a good thing for the music. Joel is getting much faster at finding the right sound for this album.


--we got our first noise complaint from neighbors last Saturday. Apparently, their dishes were rattling in their house.


--the newest issue of HM magazine that features OVERHANG as a "pick of the litter" is supposed to be out now, but we couldn't find the most recent issue at Borders yesterday. If you find it, let us know.


--to follow up on previous blogs, we were not selected as "the next big thing" in the Chicago-area 94.7 The Zone contest. But, judging from the winners, that's a good thing.

Posted by Grant Elgersma at 2:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In an effort to be a band that does regular live performances, we've been sending out our promo packs to venues, making follow-up phone calls, emails...and we have not received any gigs at all for our efforts. So now we're looking for a booking agent or visionary manager who has connections that can get us where we want to be.

I guess we're learning what it's like to be a business. You have to spend money to make money. We have a great music video idea for "Arrived" and an award-winning film director friend of ours who's willing and able to do it, but we need to find the money first. Ink and paper, burnable cd's (we gave away 1,500 at Cornerstone) and labels cost alot when you're making so many promo packs. And there's still food and rent. A few of the members of the band have resorted to doing those research tests you find on the internet because they pay really well...if you're willing to take experimental drugs or fill out long surveys about your beard-trimming habits.

The business side of being a band is very uninspiring. So lets focus on the big idea. Recently, we sent a letter to U2 in the far-off chance that they would read it--and with the hope that they would decide to ask us to tour with them next year. We reproduce it here because it captures who we are and what we are trying to do. You might be able to tell that we studied several of Bono's speeches to get the right tone for the letter. Besides, it's very Bonoesque to believe you're good enough to open for the greatest band of the last 20 years. So, without further adage...

Why Cornerstone Festival?s New Band Contest Winner OVERHANG should open for U2 on the next American tour:

??if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.? Luke 19:40

There?s no stopping the Spirit of rock?n?roll. When the Pharisees tried to stop Jesus? followers from singing in Luke?s account of The Triumphal Entry, Jesus warned them--If you silence the crowd?s music, you?ll end up singing a much sadder song, a tragic version of Psalm 137 that ends with Jerusalem?s destruction. It?s much better to sing along with the Spirit than to have your children dashed against the rocks.

When it comes to the Kingdom of God, singing the right song for the right moment is not just a sign of good taste. It?s a matter of life and death. Which is why we have decided to enter the high-stakes profession of ?rock?n?roll band?. Since U2 have proven to be the biggest gamblers and most faithful leaders in rock music, we believe our musical service to others would benefit from touring with an experienced band that can help us connect with more people.

Yes, we are among the many bands that are inspired by U2. But while many bands have merely adopted U2?s cinematic sound as their own, we have always been drawn to U2?s big ambition and soulfulness. Taking ?OVERHANG? as our name, we bring the over-the-top, pillar-of-fire-by-night spirit of the Bible to our own time and place. Having grown up in circles where God was squeezed into sentimental hymn books and individualistic praise and worship songs, we were drawn to the roaring voice of rock?n?roll, the uncertain movement and ?can?t get no satisfaction? longing that we found there. Rock?n?roll shows fearlessness in the face of apocalypse. It is an eternal desire for greater things.

Motivated by this desire, OVERHANG has developed its own unique sound?music so full it seems to spill out of itself as if there isn?t enough room for it all in the space of one song?but yet, there it is, all at once. OVERHANG?s music will remind you of the old spirit that can be found again and again in new rock?n?roll, from its gospel roots to Johnny Cash, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground, Led Zeppelin, Talking Heads, The Pixies, Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Rage Against the Machine. Though the band?s sound cannot be likened specifically to any of these influences, it?s the newness that identifies OVERHANG?s music as part of that enduring rock?n?roll spirit.

If you take the time to look through these materials and listen to OVERHANG?s demo, I?m sure you will find the band?s big ideas and marching arena-rock sound a good fit for U2?s upcoming American tour.

Sincerely,

OVERHANG

Posted by Grant Elgersma at 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

There is life after Cornerstone. We put so much of ourselves into The Cornerstone Festival performance that we were shocked to find life (and more hard work) on the other side. I must admit that the *cino blog was low on the list of priorities. Just because there was nothing new added to the blog does not mean that nothing happened. Far from it! Here is a list of highlights from the last few weeks.

--Dan spray-painted really big promotional signs on bed-sheets to hang up at Cornerstone, accidentally leaving a really big "OVERHANG--New Band Contest Winner" sign painted on the neighbor's wooden fence.

--The band finally finished all the immigration paperwork for their H1-B Visa petition. OVERHANG is now a Limited Liability Company seeking to hire a Canadian immigrant composer.

--OVERHANG worked with an engineer and friend of Billy Corgan at Gravity Studios for a mix of "Arrived".

--Matt got bit by the neighbor's dog, went home for an unrelated vacation and came back to play a pair of shows with the band in Michigan.

--A pre-Cornerstone tour in Arkansas was successful and relaxing. Everywhere we went, people were nice and appreciative. And some people even danced.

I'll try to keep on top of this blog thing more now. We've just organasized ourselves so that we don't let stuff like this slip past our attention. Be sure to look for us in the next issue of Hard Magazine. We're featured in the "Pick of the Litter" section. And we will also be in Spotlight magazine, though I don't know where you'll be able to find it. And we're waiting to see if we got into the "The Next Big Thing" contest here in Chicago. We'll know at 5pm today. Thanks for all your support. Later.

Posted by Grant Elgersma at 2:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)