Fall tour season is here..

Here I sit, all packed and ready to go..not wanting to go to bed bc its my last night in my house for a month, and going to bed means waking up and leaving. For all 12 years of touring, it hasnt ever been easy for me to leave for tour season. Especially when its for more than a week or 2. I remember back in the first couple years of touring, it was really emotional for me. Like that feeling you get when you leave for college, or your parents drive away and leave you somewhere new, or your first day of h.s. Nervous, a little anxiety, trying to be overly organized and ready, emotional but not really knowing why. Its not a new thing for me, and its a bit easier now, but not a piece of cake. When my heart is somewhere else, I really feel divided. I love people deeply. I want to be in their lives daily, somehow, communication if not in person..so you can see my career has stretched me. I've seen how God has changed me through this place of tension in my life. Its good for us to be uncomfortable sometimes right?

Almost always, the minute I get into the bus with the band, my nerves calm and I remember that this is where I've been called, and so its where I want to be. It doesnt make me not miss my husband every one of the 30 some days we're apart..it doesnt make me forget that I'm the friend who misses baby births and holidays and weddings. But it gives purpose to the things that arent easy.

So tomorrow we leave for the start of the Reinvention tour. Mostly on the west coast, and that's exciting. We have such a great time on the west coast when we go. Maybe we dont over-expose ourselves there, so people arent bored with us. :-) i'm hoping to see some friends I dont see often enough, and I want to really try to enjoy each day, each place, new people, my band and the bands on the tour.

The first 2 weeks of tour we have 6 shows a week. Not really my favorite way to tour. I like to have maybe 3 or 4 shows and a couple rest days for voice and peace of mind..i am not celine dion but I've started really having to know my voice and my limits and have no talking or less talking days when needed. This tour with this many shows, I'm a bit worried. My voice still is a little rough from this summer and a cold that took it away, so it feels a bit fragile. What I try to do is rest my voice as much as I can on show days..but still inevitable if its pretty tired after the show and we have 4 shows in a row coming up, I have to not go out to sign after the show. It really makes me feel awful people! I know that people wait in lines and want to meet us and connect with us, and we love that! I've tried the whole, I wont talk while i sign. Lets be honest, that wont work. If I'm there, I feel so rude not talking to each person at least a bit. So please know that we are so excited about this tour. We hope you come out. I would love your prayers for my voice to be strong and make it like a champ all tour. And if I dont come out for signing sometimes, know that I feel awful sitting in the bus all alone, not talking, being a hermit, hanging with my dog bc with dogs, no words are necessary.

By the way, this week I went and officially signed the deal for my solo worship album! We've been writing away and looking through songs I might cover. So exciting and so much fun doing this whole project with my husband, Nick. What a special thing for us to do together. The album releases next spring. We will start recording pretty soon after we both get back from tour this fall. Nick plays guitar for Stellar Kart for anyone who doesnt follow him, and if I didnt mention it before. Theyre really busy too, so at least no one is getting left at home. :-) how about another super/stellar tour?? That would be nice and convenient.

So here we come, west coast! It will be us, bread of stone, me in motion and manafest. Should be a great night! Hope to see you soon...

Vow of silence

So last week my voice decided that after a trip to Brazil right into radio week where I talked about 8 hours a day right into 2 shows...it would just say, Enough. So I came home and got to have almost 2 weeks home with nick. Amazing. But I had no voice. Score for my husband, right? Haha. We had cowrites set up every day, so I had to "attempt" to talk as little as possible while writing songs with people.

We met some really great people who we wrote with this week...and wrote some beautiful songs we're excited about. Its my first time I've really written worship, so its the new, weird thing for me but I've really loved it!

So doing the whole voice rest thing...well, I've had to rest my voice before and each time I feel like I end up learning something from the whole shutting up thing. This time around this is what clicked for me. Obviously my job depends on me having a voice. 4 other people depend on me having a voice, and a lot of people who buy tickets and a promoter who's spent money are affected by whether or not I can sing. Sometimes that pressure might be a bit much for me. And the truth is,I've had shows where I can barely talk by the end of it, but God manages to get me through and our fans are so sweet and forgiving of my manly vocals. Haha. So when my voice is hoarse and I'm trying to rest it, I'm sort of choosing my words wisely, you could say. Normally, I'm a talker. Communication is definitely a love language of mine...talking is how I connect and love people. So not to talk feels so weird for me. But when you know you should talk less, it makes you edit all the unimportant things you might think to say normally.

Moral of my story..I could talk less in general. The truth is,most of us could. There is wisdom in being a good listener. In sometimes sitting back and watching the world around you, noticing things you might not if you were too busy talking. Thats my lesson from voice rest this week. If i always thought,what could i not say? Whats not that important? I might be better off. Or maybe i'd just lose my voice less. :-)

Here's to shutting up more often, friends! I'm off to bed and then another week home, with cowrites every day and then shows this weekend. Excited to get this worship album out to any of you interested...next spring! Night night..

Radio week..

This week we got back from a show in brazil..we unpacked, did laundry and repacked for a week of radio visits. Nick and I got to hang out for the day and have a sushi date for our kind of anniversary that was Tuesday and we knew we wouldnt be together. It was our 2 year anniversary, and so far we haven't been together for either. Definitely a tough day for me to not get to be with him. I guess those days when I'm trying to find a positive, I always think that I am so lucky to have married my best friend who I want to be with every day and can't wait to get home to.

So Monday night, Melissa, Matt, Dave and I left with Chris Hauser and Matt Ingle(our amazing radio guys) and set out on what would be over 2,000 miles of driving across the states and visiting radio stations. Tuesday we started in Indianapolis and visited Klove and Air1 then we parted ways and the boys took off with Matt and we set out with Chris. It was quite the week of meeting new people, answering questions about who I am, who we are as a band, what we believe and why we're a band. These weeks are so exhausting but at the same time, for me they are inspiring. To answer those questions reminds me of those things that really matter to me and to us as a ministry, and it stirs things up in me.

This week we got to hang out with radio rations who play us and believe in us and then there are stations that are AC and finding one of our songs that fits is harder to do even if they'd like to. The one thing that stands out to me from everyone we met is that they're all people who are doing something because they believe in what they do and they want to make a difference. It takes a lot of parts to make up a whole, and a station wouldnt work without music, bands would have a hard time selling albums and tickets for shows without radio..we all need each other and if we take the time to get to know each other and respect differences, we'll work like a fine oiled machine(I have no idea where I heard that phrase)..:-)

It turned out to be a great week! There're are DJs and radio teams out there working long and early hours who don't get paid much or at all and they are pretty much pastors in their cities, encouraging people who tune in, praying for them and walking through life with them. It was a good reminder that we're only a part of this industry..and I'm glad to be a part of it.


My hubby is in Holland with Stellar Kart right now..said they had an amazing show headlining mainstage last night. It's his first time there, and I'm excited to hear all about it!

We came to a town called Siren, WI for a show tonight, and then fly to Ohio tomorrow...then HOME! Can't wait.

Fall tour is starting soon! Hope you'll all try to find a show close enough to come out. See you soon!

Coming soon to a blog near you..

Summer Lovin'

The summer has come and is going just as quickly. Its been busy and full of airplanes, concerts, family time, sunshine and friends. I havent blogged in quite a while bc Nick and I have been sharing my laptop since his went Byebye, and he really needs it more than I do, so he usually takes it. It feels like so much has happened that one blog can't contain it. I might just have to catch you all up over the next few blogs. We're looking into an Ipad for me, instead of another laptop for him, so our problem will be solved, and blogging can happen again on a regular basis!!

It's been a hot summer, a busy summer and a happy few months for Nick and I. I've pretty much been gone every weekend for festivals. I love festivals. but they do wear. Me. Out. Hot, sweaty, sometimes no dressing room to get out of the heat(so changing for shows as a girl can get creative). But then there are the craaaazy crowds. People who are sunburnt, dehydrated, worn out and overstimulated by too many loud shows in one weekend..but they are willing to stand in the blazing hot sun(or lightning, thunder and rain) for bands they love and maybe only see once a year! And we have so much fun with our fans and friends...it's been a good summer of festivals.

Last weekend we played Creation West which has moved to the Seattle area now..always a beautiful place and a good time. I get to see some of my favorite people who live on the other side of the country at least every summer, so that's a bonus. My best friend, Kory, just had her first baby boy, Tollan. I got to spend a day with them and meet my lil god-nephew. Such a special time in their lives and I loved getting to see the look of love only a new parent can know with their very own baby. The day before Creation we played a show in Oregon..I was reminded of how much I love Oregon! Great show too.

Everyone meet Tollan. I heart him.



Our friends Laura and Tiffiny





Then we flew over to Houston and went to see the great people at KSBJ there. Such a cool station and theyre following a cool new vision they have to make a station that's what youth want to hear, even if it means losing the adult crowd and support. The show that night was at the Houston Boardwalk. Beautiful place! We thought we might get rained out or the crowd might be small bc it was raining all day. But showtime came, it was cleared up just enough and the people showed up. It was one of those special shows we'll remember bc the crowd was so gracious, so into the show and a part of it just like we like. They were intense(and it was hot, believe me) and with us til the very end. We signed for a long time and met so many great people! Thank you, Houston, for being a favorite show of our summer season. A mom in the autograph line told us that she had a daughter who died last year and they played one of our songs at the funeral. I know for them, being at the show was such a mix of emotions. Those moments remind me that God is gracious and good and He comforts each one of us in a special way bc He knows us and loves us so intimately. We belong to such a passionate, loving and giving God.

This week I got back home and got to spend a couple of days with Nick, my parents, niece and nephew and sis. It was Mom's birthday Thursday, and I was so happy we got to have time with her. That's the best gift we can give people. The memories we make with people we love are permanent, and stuff we can give is so temporary. My niece, Amanda and nephew, Josiah are really growing up so fast! Crazy when you remember the diaper, baby phase and now we can have God conversations and talk about what they'll do after H.S. someday and grown-up things. My nephew goes into h.s. this year. It brings back so many memories for me of my h.s. years...some awesome, some scarry, some tough. But I'm proud of who he is. He is confident and knows what he believes. And I'm hoping our albums can be a little help getting him through the tough. =)

Family times




I actually had this weekend home. I forget how weird and rare that can be, and when I'm home and Nick's gone, I find myself having no clue what to do with myself. I spent time with my girlfriend, Pixie, today. Her name is Laura, Pixie is what I think when I see her and so it became her nickname..And I'm just about to leave to go see "Inception" with Melissa. I've heard so much about how good it is. I hope I'm not disappointed.

Hope you're all doing well! Thanks so much for reading or following me. Stay tuned for more updates soon on my worship album. It's moving along. We've been writing every day we can that we're both home, and just Thursday wrote one of our favorites yet. So exciting seeing these songs unfold and envisioning people worshipping in their church or their car or wherever they might be with headphones, to something we were a part of. I've always known I would write a worship album, but now it's so real. We're talking dates for the photo shoot and artwork and album title. Crazy. Next year, people...I'll keep you posted on all of it here.

That's all for tonight. Much love.

T

Humility, good perspective and a ghetto van

Last weekend we drove(in the van, thank you)to Atlanta and played Atlantafest...we were the opening band wed night and the only band...had quite the nice crowd despite the intense heat and the sky looking a bit sketchy. Fun show, until about 4 songs from the end, we were pulled offstage because apparently there was lightning surrounding the stage, I just hadnt noticed, I guess. Sadly we didn't get to play the last 4 songs in the set, which happen to be the top singles we've had and the ones that most people know, and ironically enough, the last song would've been Stand In the Rain. haha, It happens. Ask me how funny it is when we pull up to festivals in our ghetto old van and park it in the spot where they thought we'd park our bus next to all the other buses. Pretty amazing moments. I need to write a book.

We drove about 6 hours after the show into Kentucky and had a hotel room for about 2 hours before we had to check-out. It wasnt the nicest hotel(or should I say motel)we've stayed at, so not being there long didnt make me sad apart from the lack of sleep. This is what being in a band living on a budget looks like, friends. The truth is, we had years we were making more and when the economy wasn't falling apart, and we didnt always spend it wisely. I see bands taking out multiple buses and flying home when they have a couple days off, and you know what I think? First, that $300 you just spent on that flight is right out of your own pocket and every time you decide to splurge on the nicer hotel or more rooms to be more comfy or first class seats, that's a vacation you could've spent with family, its money that could be in a savings account that could put a kid through college or sponsor a child for a whole year...well, you get my point. And second, everything unravels eventually. Esp in this career, if you're doing well, save what you make for the time which could be soon when people suddenly don't think you're as cool, don't buy as many albums, don't race to your shows and don't treat you like royalty.

Do I sound jaded? Honestly I don't feel jaded, I just feel like someone who's been working in a career for 11 years and seen plenty of success, amazing times, and seen the album I'm still proud of not do well. It happens. It's perspective, I think, not jadism...haha, I'm sure that's not a word but I like it. It's a Trishism.

While I'm off the topic....the other day we got to a show and saw the promoter, who we've worked with quite a bit. After our last tour we sent out thank-yous to all the promoters who brought us into their towns. We each wrote a little something inside. When we first saw the promoters, they thanked us for the card and said that in 12 years, it was the first thank-you note they'd ever received. We do feel like these people work so hard, take a gamble to bring us into their towns, pray for these events, and then sometimes we get to the show and dread being social, hide out in our buses or at our hotels til the last minute, treat the volunteers like they should be happy to wait on us bc of who we are..The truth is, if we're really doing this with the right hearts, we should walk out of the bus ready to meet new people, to reach out to someone who's in need and expect God to use us that day. I'm preaching to myself here too. I have hide-out days, guys. I think it's tough to find balance between giving until you lose your voice and emotionally can't handle another smile and not giving at all and just letting people serve you and even expecting it. I don't tell the story to say we're amazing people every day. I'm still just amazed and saddened that ours was the first card they've ever received.

So, Thursday we played Icthus. Very hot, but beautiful day in Kentucky. Our parents got to come out, and we got to see some great friends. The crowds at Icthus are always super energetic and sweet but we particularly liked this years. Really fun show and none of us passed out. =) A friend of mine from H.S. got to play the festival too, which was cool. His name is Brent Reed. Such a great, talented guy and I'm happy to see things moving forward for him. I also got to meet Dave Ramsey, Mr. financial guy. He wasnt actually all that friendly but I get being busy and tired and wanting to just eat and not be social all day long. He's helping a lot of people stop the mentality of living on credit cards and get DEBT FREE!! haha. It's a good thing.

After the show we made the roadtrip back to Nashville with our parents...they came to visit for a couple nights for Fathers Day weekend. It's such a cool thing to be friends with your parents, to enjoy them, to have adult conversation and be able to make silly jokes and have fun together. I love my parents. I love sharing what I do with them, because I know how proud they are of us, and I know I am who I am because of the 18+ years they raised and nurtured and loved and worried and didnt sleep and learned to let go and know I was ready to go...and I imagine that's one of the toughest moments for a parent. I look forward to them being an amazing grandma and grandpa to our kids someday..and after Fathers Day, in honor of them I say to myself and all of us. Don't wait for one Hallmark holiday a year to tell the people you love and treasure who they are to you. We all need to hear those words. We need to be needed. We all want to know we are valued by others and that our life matters. So let's not hold back our emotions and words because sometimes it's scarry to be vulnerable. Let tears flow if they need to, apologize, say I love you, hug someone longer...because all we have is today. It's a gift. It's not worth it to hold grudges and to be stubborn and to refuse the smallest 2 words that can heal so many huge wounds.

Tomorrow we have a meeting and then I'm writing for my worship album. I welcome your prayers for this album that I've always known would happen. I pray for creativity and inspiration from God. I feel small and humble in knowing how to worship and what we should always say...but I'm so encouraged by where it's going and excited to release it for all of you someday soon!!!

goodnight all--hope you're well wherever you are

(happy face) trish

Little Engine That Could

It has been a whirlwind last few weeks! I've been without my laptop travelling, because it just takes up too much space and adds too much weight in carry-ons, and believe me, airlines are so Nazi about weight and size and blah blah blah. Esp travelling overseas, it gets tricky. Each one has their own rules and you just never know. Anyway, this blog is my attempt to catch up with you! Like old friends, we're sitting down with coffee and cookies and we're chatting about way too much time gone by with no bloggy blog from Tricia. Here we go---

My bestest friend in the whole world lives in Seattle, and we don't get to see each other a lot. She's quite pregnant and I hadn't even gotten to see her little baby bump yet, so her sweet hubby flew me out there a couple of weeks back, and I got to spend a few days with them. So exciting! They were putting the finishing touches on the nursery and sifting through piles of gifts from showers. Kory and I are pretty silly together. She can make me laugh like no other person in the world. It was such a special, refreshing time to have with her the last time before she becomes a Momma. Can't wait to meet Tolin very soon!! Here we are being us together...



Last week we were in Europe. We flew into Vienna first to catch our breath and try to handle jetlag in a beautiful city and before crazy schedule set in. Vienna is lovely. Small enough not to feel threating, sweet people, yummy little cafes, stroooooong coffee. Literally my eyes popped open a bit more with each sip. It was rainy and cool, and we were all fighting the urge to just sleep for 2 days straight. If you've never experienced that kind of jetlag, well, I'd say good for you. It's brutal. It was 7 hours ahead of Nashville time, and that's not easy to adjust to. We explored and rested and then headed to a new spot for us, the country of Slovakia. We played in Trnava. Adorable city, great people, amazing crowd that night that filled this little town square. You couldnt feel much more European than the vibe. People watched from the streets, from the little cafes and pub near the stage, so much fun! Early flight the next day to Sweden...

We played in Uppsala, Sweden. We played at Word of Life church, one of the biggest churches in Europe. The staff and esp the youth pastor and his wife were such welcoming people. We would love to go back, and stay at their retreat even for a bit of a vacation. It was a beautiful part of Sweden and we met such sweet fans that night after the show.

Our friend, Josefine, came to see us. We met her years ago because she is the lady in charge of one of the biggest festivals in Sweden and she's booked us a couple of times, and we just love her! So good to see friends all the way across the world, and know that with the internet, keeping in touch isnt so tough. Here's Josefine with Melissa and I after the show playing in the dressing room.



Next we flew(always bright and early)to Switzerland to play a show we played last year too, and were excited to be asked back to! It was in Frauenfeld and it's called Springtime Festival. Beautiful part of the country, and such a nice time of year to go! We played with Hawk Nelson and Switchfoot that night to end the Europe tiny tour. Not sure if I've ever mentioned here, that I love Switchfoot? I can call them friends, but I'm still a fan of their music and their hearts. Their show never gets boring. They were on our first tour with us, back in the day. Festival Con Dios. haha, good and awful memories are accompanied with that tour.

The next day we had a day to explore Switzerland with such a sweet guide willing to show us around, so we drove to Lucerne. Considered to be one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, and it definitely won my heart! I would love to go back and take my hubby someday. Perfect tourist day to end the trip, and be ready for home.




So, that just about catches me up. We are jumping into summer festivals as we speak. We had one last night in Pennsylvania, that was a huge crowd and so much fun. We played with Building 429(amazing guys) and Natalie Grant(and new friend, but I instantly like her.) This week we leave Wed, drive down to Atlantafest and then drive up to Kentucky for Icthus. Little fact, Icthus was THE first Christian music festival. I didnt know that til recently. Lots of history, and lots of good bands play and frolic in the mud there every year. haha. As of lately, when I think of our band, the first thing that comes to mind is, the little engine that could. That just about sums us up, I think! We just keep chugging along as long as all of you keep coming out to shows and buying the albums, we'll be here. =)

My worship album is underway. We are writing and doing demos of all the songs we write in this phase, and are really excited allready about where it's going. Stay in touch and I'll keep you posted on how it's going and release date when it's announced and all!!

I am going to make a late dinner for myself now, while some random Harrison Ford movie plays in the background(I'm a sucker for him since Indiana Jones). Goodnight all, and here's to a great week this week!

-T