Saturday, September 22, 2007

The Crystal Cathedral Rocks

Well here's another experience I never could have foreseen a year ago - in fact even a week ago I never saw this coming! I got a phone call at about 4:40pm last Sunday afternoon from Kyle Bonenburger who is the Worship Leader with the contemporary worship band C3 at the Crystal Cathedral. They were about to play for the Traditional service at 6:30pm in the Crystal Cathedral and had just found out their guitar player wasn't going to make it. Kyle on a long shot called Grant Norsworthy in Nashville to ask him if he might know anyone in Orange County who could do a fill in at the last minute and Grant gave him my number. (Grant plays Bass with SONICFLOOd, and previously with Paul Colman Trio. I used to play in bands with Grant in Melbourne years ago.)

So... I got ready as soon as possible and got Ali and Daniel and Bryce to come too. We had about 20 minutes to soundcheck and rehearse so it was very rushed. This would have to be one of the worst rooms for rock'n'roll in the world! Just look at the pictures and you'll see why. It sounded like soup. Anyway, it was fun, and it happens to be the first church in Orange County that I've played at since coming to the US. Not a bad "first gig"!
The Crystal Cathedral with the Visitor's Center at the right.
From the inside of the Cathedral if you look up to your right you will see this. (You'll see a mirror image if you look up to your left.) It's pretty impressive!
This is the Pipe Organ. It's pretty impressive too.
Can you believe it? That's me playing in front of the massive organ pipes and next to the golden piano.
Just in case you couldn't believe it, here's a closer one! Even a golden piano must sit quietly in the presence of a blue guitar. Haha!

Thanks to Bryce for taking these shots for me.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Mate- have not been on blog for a few weeks, and I am completely blown away!! You are a complete legend, and I am so proud of you seizing the moments that have been thrown at you, and certainly rising to the challenge...

the b00f™ said...

where'd they put the drummer? Is there a hole under the organ or do they keep him away from the pipes so the drool doesn't clog them?

Anonymous said...

Mate.... reckon it would've sounded more like bangers and mash in there. But you still look cool and with it...and miss that blue guitar.