The Civil Wars: The musical Rock of Ages for your weary soul.

On Friday, March 25, 2011, seven friends and I loaded up two cars in Jackson, MS and drove 5 hours through the lush green Mississippi and Alabama countryside under a sunny blue sky.  Our destination was Waverly, Alabama the Standard Deluxe, a quaint outdoor venue surrounded by large oak trees featuring a cozy rustic stage.  Our mission was to hear the duo sent from above to bless the ears of us lowly humans with heavenly melodies and honest lyrical beauty.  The mission was a resounding success as The Civil Wars did not disappoint.

Joy Williams and John Paul White make up this 2 part moody folk duo.  It has been said, "I thought music was dead....thank God for you 2!", "AWESOME, BRILLIANT, UNIQUE AND COMPLETELY SPINE TINGLING", "it's like their voices were made for each other...", and "He looks like Johnny Depp!!!!"  All of these seem very accurate.  You will fall in love with them and long for connection to their muse.  Both Joy and John Paul are married but not to each other, yet they have amazing chemistry together on stage in terms of physical presence and interaction as well as of course vocally.  Their songs will sympathize with your soul and minister to your heart.


There was a very large crowd during this particular show I went to.  It was my first and hopefully not my last time to see them live.  According to a tweet by The Civil Wars there were approximately 1100 people at this small outdoor venue.  Since there were so many people, the audio quality was not sufficient for sound volume as it was initially hard to hear in the back.  I believe everyone pressed forward and moved or stood up where they could get a better listen.  Despite the challenges The Civil Wars easily remained absolutely phenomenal.  It made for an intimate and entertaining experience.  Furthermore we were under a very clear and beautiful starry night sky.  Most excitingly the entire crowd witnessed a falling/shooting star streak in the sky right above the stage during one of their songs.  It made for a magical show and feeling of grandeur during their performance.

Even two days later I feel the delight of a musical high.  Scroll down to this previous blog post I wrote about music being for everyone to watch a video of their song "Poison & Wine."  This song is probably their most popular song and rightfully so as it speaks to everyone through the simple yet elegant expression of the dichotomy of love.  As I am not a journalist, I am unable to adequately express how amazing this duo is.  You simply must listen to their music yourself and if at all possible GO to one of their shows.

If I am unable to meet Mrs. Williams and Mr. White so that I may thank them in person for their dedication and contribution as artists to the musical world, then here in the virtual world I will make known my gratitude for their music.  Thank You The Civil Wars! Please keep going.

Entertaining Videos

Enjoy these videos on YouTube.  Just thought I'd share a couple of videos that I like.  They all involve the "Good Neighbor Stuff" trio from YouTube.  If you have any suggestions for posts or something you'd like me to write on, just let me know.  Thanks!  Also check out my blog post, "Music Is For Everyone (except Daniel Reynolds)", on good music suggestions below this one! Here are the vids!

Music Is For Everyone (except Daniel Reynolds)

Are you like me?  Do you love music?  You probably do.  There are few people I know that don't enjoy some sort of music.  There is actually only one person I can think of that doesn't share an affinity for music like the rest of the world.  His name is Daniel Reynolds (DR).

I hold nothing against DR for not particularly having a great passion for music.  It is not that he hates music.  It just doesn't resonate with him in a way that it does others.  In fact I love Daniel Reynolds.  He is a man, imperfect like the rest of us.  I respect and admire him in ways that can only be achieved through being himself...that makes sense doesn't it?  I can have a great appreciation for a man who openly claims he doesn't have a particular affinity for music albeit the majority of mankind loves music in general and would think his stance odd.  Whether that is the case or not, music is not what ultimately is important in life.  If it were I would trust DR to love music. Does music rattle into existence without the will of man? -or- Does man make music? (And I don't mean the rhythms of nature, the "music" of the ocean waves, the chirping of a song bird, etc...though I enjoy these, don't get all hippie on me in this blog post...I'm talking about the kind of music I can download in mp3 format with guitar rifts, bass drum,--violin if you're like me--, and the melodies of the human voice.) In any manner it should be man that is important to music not the other way around. (Though I can imagine someone arguing the opposite, try to look through the lens of straightforwardness for now.)  I am privileged to call Daniel Reynolds my friend.  Music is not a determinant for friendship; of course it can play a part, but it is certainly not a necessity.  This is the end of my digression. 

Finally the reason for this blog post is to share some music with you that I have been enjoying lately.  So whether you are Daniel Reynolds or not, here is some good music!    :)

         Poison & Wine by The Civil Wars                                

Poison & Wine is a musical snapshot about the dichotomy of love - that while it can be the thing that destroys you, it can also be the very same thing that beckons and builds you. JP and I are both married have been for several years now - and we got to talking one day about what a tug and pull our individual relationships can be. The longer you know someone - and the longer you allow someone to know you - the more the light and shadows inside each person become more vivid. This song was our attempt at being as brutally honest about the dangerous and beautiful process of knowing and being known. (-Joy Williams, The Civil Wars)

                Forgot Love by Public Radio                               The Perfect Space by The Avett Brothers

   

               Fighter Pilot by Sanders Bohlke                                          For Emma by Bon Iver

   

I hope you enjoy these videos and this music.  I encourage you to check out these artists and some of their other songs.  These are simply video versions of some of their songs I was able to find.  I really enjoy some other songs by these artists that I did not post...i.e. "The Weight of Us" by Sanders Bohlke.  Also if you search for Sanders Bohlke on Vimeo you can find a "full set at music in the hall" featuring many of his songs; this video and these songs are done very well.  A fun fact is that Sanders Bohlke is a Mississippi musician, which I enjoy because I am a Mississippian.

Listen well,

DB

Merry Christmas

Christmas 2010...pa rum pum pum pummmmm!

Christmas is one of my favorite, if not most favorite, holidays.  It is a magical holiday.  The traditions of decorations, lights, delicious food and drink, family, gift-giving, stockings, trees, etc. are all things I greatly enjoy.  I also enjoy it because it is during the winter, and I love the winter season--winter clothes, cold weather, warm beverages.

I should probably say the greatest part of the holiday for me is the biblical Christmas story...which I guess it is.  Despite my disobedience sometimes, I do love Jesus.  I want to have the same enthusiasm for my faith and the gospel throughout the entire year.  I appreciate Christmas as a warm reminder and auxiliary connection to the first part of Luke 2, but I am apt to pursue God's kingdom at any prodding of the Holy Spirit despite the nearest holiday or season of the year; I am also privileged to do so at anytime.  However, I am not able to enjoy the frills of Christmas at anytime in the same fashion as they are presented and accepted during this merry season.

So...what's my point; I don't know, and I'm not sure I really care to fully clarify one.  Maybe I just love Christmas for all the things Christmas entails--in christianity's traditions of it and then some...maybe sometimes the "then some" especially.

Merry Christmas!

Life can suck.

It's tough. Tough it out.

Get over it. Get through it.

Handle it. Confront it.

It's confusing. Figure it out.

Life can suck.  Get use to it.

North to the Future

Footage from the 2009 Alaska season:

Snow Day

I should have been born mute.

I can never seem to accurately or appropriately translate the words of my heart into the words of my mouth.  It's when I feel I need or maybe just want to speak that there is a barrier between my heart and my mouth.  The problem, I guess, is that I sometimes speak anyway.  It seems talking gets me into situations I never would hope for as does not talking.  I am at an impasse.  I feel doomed in the world of personal conversation whether it should be small talk or meaningful.  I am socially inept in a world that calls me to be social and talkative.

I don't think I have learned or figured out Provers 17.  It seems simple, yet out of my grasp.  Frustrating.

Unrelated:  Fringe is a good show.

Y2K10

It's the year 2010.  Whatever.

It's long been past the time for you to aspire for something new, great, and exciting in your life.  Renew or reinvent your goals.  Reignite your passions.  I demand it.  Then let me know about it.

Also, as always you should check my other sites for new works, acts of boredom, videos of stupidity, etc.  Visit www.youtube.com/dgbarger and www.youtube.com/theminivandiaries or www.minivandiary.blogspot.com.  You can also look me up on facebook or twitter @dgbarger.  I'm awesome.  Sometimes.

seriously, check it out:


Later

Philippians 1:20

I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

Advancement

. . .
Are you moving forward?  Forward in what?  Forward in career, love, faith, beliefs, frienships, social status, wealth, happiness?  Which is most important?  What is "moving forward"?  Does continuing to "busy" yourself in these things count as moving forward? 

I need real, raw advancement.  I'm over the stereotypical definitions of advancement in career, love, faith, etc. that is hammered into my mind from every medium of communication and influence in this world in order to stay "forward-thinking."
, , ,

Anxious to Go

Once again I find myself staying up late.  It is ridiculous.  It is possible my insomnia is a result of the fact that I am anxious to have my impending road trip under way.  

I am about to embark an approximately 2 month road trip with two of my friends that I worked with in Alaska.  Matt Baker & Matt Thomas.  Fine individuals.  We will journey through these United States from coast to coast.

We will attempt to keep people informed of the journey through a series of video posts.

Follow us at:  The Minivan Diaries.

Click on the link above.  The Minivan Diaries will be epic...maybe.  

-BOOM TOWN

Fairbanks the Beautiful

Warm greetings to all readers. You have found your way to my blog; whether guided or stumbled upon, the misfortune is the same.

I will now commence detailing the events of my most recent day at this particular point in time.

The day was Sunday, September 6, 2009. The location was the Best Value Inn (BVI) in Fairbanks, Alaska. I slept until 11:00 a.m. I awoke and arose out from under my scratchy questionably-clean comforter in room 469. The room is located at the end of a hall; the hall is adorned with sprinkler piping along the ceiling used for extinguishing fires and various stains along the dark carpet including but not limited to crushed hand soap, carbonated beverages, and gum. I took a shower in which the water pressure was sufficient to moisten the germs on my skin but not fully remove them. After toweling off from my shower, I put on my jeans and my North Pole, Alaska t-shirt which proudly displays a montage of Alaskan wildlife on the front. I gathered a few belongings and proceeded to exit my room and walk down the dingy hallway in which the very air made me feel as if I were adding to the filth on my person that my moistening-session failed to eradicate. I rode the elevator down to the first floor relieved that this certain elevator didn’t choose to have its cable snap on my particular ride. I then exited the BVI and found myself in a bright blue sunshiny day.
Under the blue sky, I turned on my I-pod and listened to some Charlie Hall on my pleasant stroll to the Westmark in downtown Fairbanks. Upon arrival to the Westmark, I did approximately 3 hours of work in the office behind the back parking lot of the Westmark. I gathered highway journals, printed welcome letters, and did a few other collecting of materials used to supply guests with adequate information about their upcoming land tour being as it may that I will be their Tour Director for the next 7 days all the way to Seward. I am a Tour Director for a tour 20 for 35 guests, each of whom have the privilege of touring with Dr. Handsome, aka David Barger, through their Alaskan Adventure. In the office I made a few calls to Hotel Alyeska and looked up some amenities offered at their hotel since that is one of the stops we would be making and one that I haven’t frequented this summer.
After the work was done for the day, I walked into the lobby of the Westmark and sat down for a few minutes to relax with a short piano-playing session; it went well; the music was beautiful; I felt relaxed. Realizing that I have had nothing to eat or drink all day, I allowed my hunger to lead me to the adjacent restaurant where I spoke some Bulgarian with the hostesses and servers before ordering a smoked salmon caesar salad, a cup of clam chowder, and a root beer to go. I then caught a ride in the Escorted Tour Operations (ETO) supervisor’s minivan, that may again break down at any moment, with an ETO supervisor and two other tour directors back to the BVI. I headed directly to 469 again by way of the ridiculously safe and quick elevator through the fresh scented aesthetically pleasing hallway to my illustriously comforting room. I hungrily consumed every morsel of food that was in my to-go box.
After my delicious meal, I headed down to another tour director’s room and listened to him gripe (rightly so) about his tour. Finally the late evening was upon me, and it was time to accompany a few other tour directors to the new movie Inglorious Basterds. We again departed the BVI, embarked the supervisor’s fine driving machine, and traveled safely to the nearest theater that offered us single movie ticket prices that were worth 3 different meals at any choice of fast food restaurants. After waiting 8 minutes in the concessions line I placed my 10 second order and successfully received my 72 ounce Cherry Coke. I found my way into the theater and seated myself in a prime position amongst the stadium seating; the theater was lit by dim wall lights that allowed me to be able to see where I could sit but not actually whether my chair was clean or dirty. I remained alert for the entire 2 and ½ hours of the movie enjoying its style and interesting humor while at the same time acknowledging the fact that it was gruesome in many aspects.
After the movie we had one more short ride back to the BVI, and a quick trip up to the fourth floor. I then wrapped up my evening by searching for a “hot-spot” in order to obtain wireless internet on my computer so I could email my time card to the appropriate supervisors. I then chronicled the above events of my day as if I were a poor unpracticed scribe.

The preceding string of details entails the excitement of my local day in Fairbanks. I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did today.

I bid thee farewell.

mind games

hello.

my name is david.

i have the ability to read people's minds (in person of course) with 30% accuracy.

i have also been trying to teleport...no luck yet.


i feel i could type anything in this blog, even things about murder, theft, embezzlement..you know..."law-breaking"... and it wouldn't matter because i am 95% sure that no one (including the government & "law-enforcers") reads it or at least no more than 2 people come across it a month and those unfortunate 2 would be very unimportant people. (if you are one of the 2 right now, then i'm sorry.)

i am also currently working on dropping the habit of sleeping...i don't think i need it.

goodbye.

Sunday

MY SUNDAY

Woke up: 9:15am

Church start time: 9:30am

My location: Clinton

Church location: Jackson

Time it took to get ready: 3 minutes

Errands to run before heading to church: Get gas. Pick up Lane.

Time leaving Clinton after completed errands: 9:29am

Arrival time to church: 9:44am

Lunch: Wing Stop

Lunchmates: Chase Howell, Ben Horton, Lane Beasley, Brandon Foster, Dea Dixon

Activity after lunch: Basketball

Duration of activity: 1.5 hours

After activity: Shower

After shower: Dinner at Jade Buffet with Lane

After dinner: Printing and posting fliers around campus for Intramural Ping Pong

After posting fliers: Some NBA All-Star game

After game's end: Homework

After homework: Movie

Snack during movie: Peanuts

After movie: Gmail, MCmail, Facebook, Blog

After internet: bed?...

MY SUNDAY IS OVER

ninja still

guess who's back? me, to the blogging world...i don't get around to this blogging thing very much...i am convinced that I have a blog to infrequently make posts only to check them much later probably being the only one to have read it (pathetic knowing the fact that i'm the writer) to confirm my status as a loser....yeah..........i'm awesome.

so.....hey DB...you rule..hang in there bro...your life isn't totally terrible ;)

-peace, love, & adventure

...

I'm back. from Alaska. It.was.awesome.
...so tiring.so stressful. so chaotic. so fun.
...too many experiences and subjects to write about.

I'm back in graduate school for hopefully my last year--I'll have my MBA in May '09 -- if i can survive 3 grad classes per semester (gross) on top of running intramurals as the graduate assistant IM director.

I'm homeless. I have no place to live in Clinton. And I need to be in Clinton pretty much every day of the week.

I've got other problems with the heart and mind too.

Suffice to say I need help.

Sometimes I feel a lack of direction or guidance in my life. I always desire clarity from the Lord, but can't seem to find it. I sometimes feel like I can't find the right groove to continually honor and glorify God.

In spite of the above... I know God loves me. I love Him. I do my best to obey and live according to the spirit (not of the flesh)... but it still seems I am missing something or not doing something exactly correct... whatever.. I'm sure my thinking/typing is even flawed.
*****
Thank You, Lord, for even being the God over my uncertainty. Give me peace and knowledge of your will and the strength to accept it and live it out.
*****
(It's so hot & humid in MS -- back in the good old south.)

Skagway, AK

I'm in Skagway, AK...wondering if anyone reads my blog. I'm lame. Bye.

Bored

I'm bored in Alaska. Believe it. I'm sitting in Anchorage until my next tour on June 6. Bummer. I'm ready to go out on tour NOW! And I want to parallel someone cool---someone that knows what they are doing so they can help me out.

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

Crazy Alaska

So I'm in Alaska. I had two full weeks of intense crazy awesome training all over the Yukon and Alaska. Then I trained for a couple days in Homer --bald eagles everywhere. Then I went on my first tour from Skagway to Whitehorse to Dawson City to Tok to Fairbanks to Denali to Anchorage. I just finished my first tour and have a few days until I start my next tour. It is crazy awesome. I love it so far and I especially love the people/other tour directors.

There is no way I could have lasted without the strength of the Lord these past few weeks. He has been so in control of my circumstances and protected me since I have been here. It is a challenging environment that tests not only your obedience to the Lord but many aspects of life. I seek much strength and wisdom from the Lord--I need it in order to live in accordance with His will; there is no way I can please Him without it.

Praise God for He is good.