Hey Friends! Since we wrote last, the fireworks of a New Year have dissipated to raindrops and the promising seeds of a new season are being planted. Soon, the sun of spring will warm our shoulders again!
Raindrops to Rivers
The month of March marks one year since we met with Jon to chat about the ins and outs of a musical vision that would become "The Wicks". It's been our theme through the year to "Light Up The Dark" - to share good news with folks who need some, bind up broken hearts and bring comfort through a few sweet melodies. At times this theme has seemed daunting. Each bit of "good" seems to be just "a drop in a bucket."
But over the year, we've learned to remind ourselves about drops in buckets: they add up. After a time, those buckets fill up and overflow. And that overflow becomes a stream and streams feed into rivers - and rivers change things. We've seen signs of "overflow" play out in different ways the last few months and it's been so encouraging! So friends, THANK YOU for praying for us! Please continue to, and we will pray for you, too! Let's not grow weary in "doing good," no matter how small each drop of "good" may seem.
Leavenworth to L.A. in Three Paragraphs & 30 Days
In December, we had the pleasure of spreading Christmas cheer in the Bavarian Village of Leavenworth! Twenty-three Christmas shows later, we're ready to go again in 2013!
The New Year brought a few changes. Our 2nd guitar player and good friend, Josh Baumann, made some exciting life decisions that would carry him to St. Louis. His heart to help kept him here from July-December to help get our live music off the ground, and for that we are so, so grateful.
Meanwhile in January, Brian Blair of Cashmere was making a New Year's resolution of his own to focus more on music - a big supernatural "viola" on that one! We've had a lot of fun getting to know Brian and work his unique musical strengths and big heart into our live shows. It's a good thing it worked out this way, cause come February, we were on the road again: Spokane, WA to Greenough, MT; Greenough, MT to Los Angeles, CA, all within the first two weeks.
"Excellent" Words of Wisdom
In L.A., we had the chance to chat with songwriter and new friend, David Hodges. David writes with musicians you've either downloaded to your iTunes playlist, voted for on American Idol, or heard on the radio.
One day as we walked for coffee, David shared with us about the day his first band, "Evanescence," was discovered. He and two friends had been writing music for a couple years. When they were finally satisfied with their songs, they recorded, and though they didn't know what "mastering a CD" meant, from what they'd read, that would be the next step.
The man they hired to master their CD told to come back in two hours. In that time, a manager for another band went to use the restroom. Walking past as David's songs were playing, he stopped in to listen. Two days later David and his friends were signed and today it's hard to find a 20-30something who hasn't heard Amy Lee belt "Bring Me to Life."
"The moral of this story," David said, is "I believe everyone who invests time in their art will have their 'two minutes' to be heard. The question is, will your art be ready for that two minutes? Had our music not been something that caught the manager's attention, it would have been just another trip to the restroom for him…and we would never know."
Whatever we create, create it with a standard of excellence. Duly Noted.
Back to Basics
Two days before Christmas, we got a call from mom telling us we needed to head to the hospital - dad had a heart attack and would require emergency heart surgery through the night. Shocking. In late January, Jon got a call from his mom telling him he needed to head to the hospital - his brother was fighting for his life. Before the sun rose again, Jon quite suddenly lost his brother. Clock stopping.
These, as well as the loss of Grandpa in the fall, will naturally influence the content of our next album. Dealing with the questions of Ecclesiastes: "What really matters and what really does not?" Themes of Love. Time. Finding joy in work, in play, and in the rain. Fighting for your Life. Our album will celebrate life and life well lived. It's shaping' up to be a good'er!
We're so grateful for you and look forward to seeing you at a show real soon. 'Til then, stay warm and keep those lamps burnin' bright!
-The Wicks | 
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