Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I was a fan of MAE before I joined.


We have a new DVD up for pre-order. The DVD provides an in-depth look at Mae's first full length release Destination:Beautiful. Check out Jacob's blog for words inspired by the release and its significance to us. Also, go here to pre-order the DVD. It's worth it. I was not in the band when this CD was released, I joined them only road a few months later. I was fortunate enough to join the band in an infant state as far as their touring career was concerned. It's interesting that the songs on Destination:Beautiful were recorded over a fairly long period of time in relation to how fast the songs evolved while on the road. The creative process that unfolds in the studio is nothing like the creative process that unfolds and evolves on while on tour. Considering how amazing I feel Destination:Beautiful is, I consider myself lucky to be involved with these songs in any capacity, let alone the confidence the band has instilled in me to infuse myself into the evolution of these songs as they have continued to be performed over the last 5 years. When D:B was released, I had already been touring full time for 2 years or so, and I had been in a band for most of my high school and college life. When my old band got the chance to tour with MAE, the name had already been floating around and everyone was already regarding the band in a very promising manner. I remember the first time I ever saw them, it was the first day of the tour and we were in Columbus Ohio, at a venue called Migard Comics (I hope I spelled that right). I was impressed immediately, and at the point in my life, I already had my own developing way of identifying talent by very small, seemingly arbitrary characteristics. In the case of MAE, it was Jacob's drum groove which he played while the band set up to play, and then I was sold when I heard the All Deliberate Speed. The combination of Dave's appreciation of good music and his ability to absorb influence in a modest manner while still retaining his creative independence was not lost on me, because I see it misused so often. The band's naivety, the region of the country in which they formed and wrote their music, the influence of Mark, Rob, and Jacob, the life they live they had lived and the music they loved growing up, everything ended up being a lovely amalgamation of talent, desire, love and the blessing of a curious isolation from the storm of mediocrity that seemed to be slowly closing it's fist on a once creatively fresh music movement. I was a fan of Destination:Beautiful before I was a part of the band. Needless to say, I was very excited when I was given the opportunity to engage. I feel strange writing, what is turning out to be, a tribute to the band I've been a part of for the past 5 years. Although, it's important to remember why I wanted to be a part of MAE in the first place, and I'm proud to say that those characteristics which drew me to the band, and those characteristics that encouraged me to talk to Dave that night in Orlando and ask him to consider me for filling in after Matt left, those characteristics still drive what we do as a band. We've lived a whole lot in the last 5 years, and the fact that our philosophy on music has been constantly challenged and has constantly evolved, we have never made decisions based on anything other than what our hearts and collective minds led us to make. Regardless of the outcome, the motivations have been nothing but honest, and honesty in music is what I hold most valuable. Thank you for listening. You should buy the DVD, it is look back to the past as much as it is an exploration of the present, and a glimpse into the future of MAE.

"if ever I should seem to take for granted this lovely life that I have been handed, darling don't just stand there, come knock me around"

http://gomerch.com/PRE-ORDER/MaeDVD/

5 Comments:

Blogger billy said...

I value your insight as one who was not a part of MAE at the beginning but has still been an integral part of what MAE has become. Keep making music and doing what you love!

8:19 AM

 
Blogger ABrad45 said...

Loving the new Embers & Envelopes. Preordered twice (since I own so many copies of all your stuff.) Tour again soon, hmm?

Alex from NJ

9:02 AM

 
Blogger Melanie said...

One thing that is evident with MAE is that there has always been lots of heart. I think your passion shows through and is an integral part, as you have stated, to what Mae has become. Perhaps Destination: Beautiful is an apt title now and then.

Thanks for sharing.

--Melanie

12:54 PM

 
Blogger rachel said...

This makes me happy and excited about everything that can possibly happen in life.

10:14 PM

 
Blogger p@i said...

Loving the new Embers & Envelopes. Preordered twice (since I own so many copies of all your stuff.) Tour again soon, hmm?


fadly from Indonesia

9:06 AM

 

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