British Classic Cars- Austin-Healey 3000 MK III

Here is a short post about a small car:

To the casual car enthusiast, the name Austin-Healey may not mean anything.  Porsche, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston-Martin, Jaguar, Bentley, and Rolls-Royce are "household" names, if you will.  But to the petrolhead, there are few cars with more elegance and understated style than the Austin-Healey 3000 MK III.

The main reason why Austin-Healey is not as well known is because the "company" only produced cars for twenty years!  Austin-Healey was a joint venture between two car designers: Leonard Lord of the Austin division in the British Motor Company and Donald Healey.  Those guys just sound British!  They produced cars from 1952-1972 and the 3000 series cars are the most popular models that they produced.  The 3000 MK III is known as a "big" Healey model and the bodywork was constructed at Jensen Motors.  Donald Healey would later go to work for Jensen Motors and design another phenomenal car, the Jensen-Healey.  This car will be discussed later.  Now, back to the 3000 MK III.

The 3000 MK III was built from 1963-1967.  It was the most powerful of the 3000 models, producing 150 bhp.  The straight six took the MK III to a top speed of 115 mph and the 0-60 mph time is just under 10 seconds.  Now that may not seem very fast, but... well, actually it really isn't that quick.  However, the 3000 MK III isn't a car collector's dream today because of its speed.  It is the looks of this car that make it a winner.

Two MK III's side-by-side at Cars and Coffee in Irvine

It is a great two-seater roadster.  Last weekend, I actually had the opportunity to see one up close and personal.  It is smaller than a TR6, but it truly is a sight to behold.  It has the curves of a DB5 and the stance of Triumph TR3.  It balances the sports car edginess with the refined sensibility of a luxury car.  To sum up, it has the size of a sports car and the features of a hyper-luxury car.

To the classic car guy, there are few roadsters that garner as much attention as the 3000 MK III.  The corvette of the 60's was built for speed.  Yes, it is a good-looking car, but it's features cannot be compared to the features of the MK III.  The only car that comes to mind is the Jag E-type (discussed in the previous post).

An MK III ready to compete at the Monte Carlo Rally

 As with most sports cars, the 3000 MK III has a racing pedigree.  It certainly earned the title of sports car by competing in rally races and the 24 hour races at Le Mans.  It's racing history is largely overshadowed by another classic British car: the Mini.  Produced by BMC, the Mini surpassed the abilities of the BMC produced Austin-Healey.  And so, as happens in life, the beautiful Austin-Healey was replaced by a younger, faster, and smaller model.

In conclusion, this car is small and nice to look at for long periods of time.  It won't get you where you are going very quickly, but you would be hard-pressed to find a better looking car of that size.  I hope that you get the chance to see one up close.  It is another quintessentially British car that has somehow fallen through the cracks.  So if you ever find yourself looking at a tiny two-seater roadster and you are thinking, "wow, nice car," you might just be looking at an Austin-Healey.

British Classic Cars- Jaguar E-type

"The most beautiful car ever made."- Enzo Ferrari

Yes, you heard correctly... the founder of the Ferrari motor company described the Jaguar E-type as the most beautiful car ever made.  If you are a car person (or even if you are not) you have probably looked at a Ferrari and realized that you were looking at something incredible.  So for the founder of this Italian company to look at a British car and utter those words, the Jag must also be something incredible.

The Jaguar E-type (known as the XK-E in the States) was first seen in 1961.  As mentioned in my previous posts, the 1960's was a great decade for cars.  The stunning Aston Martin DB5 came from this decade and so did the TR-6.  In a similar way, the E-type is a lot like the Aston.  The bodies of both cars are streamlined and curvy, giving off a smooth and sultry vibe.  The E-type would make for the perfect Bond car.  That's exactly what the producers of the first Bond films thought as well.  However, Jaguar were selling so many E-types that they could not afford to let three cars go for use in the films.  In turn, Aston Martin jumped at the chance to promote their new DB5 and the rest is (as they say) history.

Now back to the Jag.  Here are some facts about the E-type:

- 3.8 litre V6 (in 1964, this was increased to 4.2 litre)
- The early models lacked syncromesh in the first gear (this was known as the Moss gearbox); this was changed when the switch was made to the 4.2 litre engine
- There were only a few true hardtops made and they are extremely hard to find today
- The most common setup was the roadster with a soft top
- Jaguar did make a 2+2 (two seats in front + two seats in the back), but the car is most commonly found as a roadster with just two seats
- Top speed= 149.1 mph
- 0-60 mph in 7.1 seconds

Jaguar E-type Speedster

The Jaguar E-type Series 1 was made from 1961-1968.  The Series 2 was made between 1969 and 1971.  Series 3 picked up where Series 2 left off and Jaguar stopped producing E-types in 1975.  The E-type did very well to last as long as it did.  Fourteen years is a long time and the body-style did not change during that time.  That is quite remarkable.  Think about what the Honda Civic looks like today compared to the Honda Civic of fourteen years ago.  Car design must change and adapt in order to accommodate public taste, but the E-type remained the same.  Jaguar kept the "most beautiful car ever built" unchanged in order to preserve the heritage.  Jaguar realized that you shouldn't fix something that isn't broken.  That is something that I wish other car companies would realize today (Subaru with their WRX, for instance).
 

A racing version of the E-type

Like all of the cars that I have written about (and will continue to write about), I love this car.  I love its "British-ness."  I love how it looks from all angles.  I love that it was almost a Bond car.  I love that the creator of the Ferrari motor company found the E-type to be the most beautiful car ever built.  This is huge.  Under Enzo Ferrari, the famous Italian motor company would go on to create: the Ferrari 275, the Ferrari Daytona, the Ferrari 308, and the F40 (just to name a few).  This guy obviously knew what makes a great car.  To this day, when one thinks of the term "sports car," Ferrari is usually the first name that comes to mind.  Now when you think of sports cars, you can think of the E-type.  When the E-type was built, the Ferrari Daytona was just a sketch and an idea.  It is also interesting to compare the E-type with some of the Ferrari's of the late 1960's and 1970's.  There are definitely some similarities.

In closing, I must say that I have not been fortunate to have personal experience with this car.  I have seen plenty on the road, but I have never been in one.  This is another one of those posts in which I sound like I know what I am talking about, but I really do not know.  However, I once had a vivid dream about this car. 
  
I am cruising down the PCH in a 1965 British racing green Jaguar E-type.  I look to my left and the sun is setting over the sparkling blue water.  The sky is a wash of orange, red, and purple and the water reflects its fiery brilliance.   The wind is blowing in my hair as I press on the accelerator and prepare for the shift into fourth gear.  Easing up off the accelerator, I engage the clutch and the syncromesh takes me into top gear.  I feel a surge of speed as I put my foot to the floor and the engine cranks out 5,000 RPM.  I reach 100 mph and continue to increase speed.  This is where this car belongs.  Top gear.  Top down.  The engine tone reaches an epic climax at 140 mph and I ease up on the accelerator.  I could go faster, by why spoil the view and the sunset.  The thin line that is my mouth eases into a smile.  I am free.  There is no school or work to worry about.  No deadlines or bills.  There is only peace.  I drive off into the sunset with the wind in my air and the seemingly endless highway ahead.

That's quite a vivid dream, especially considering that I have never been in one of these cars.  But that is exactly what a car like this can do.  Give a petrolhead a couple of glances at one of these and I guarantee that his/her imagination will take care of the rest.  Mine did.  I have never had a driving dream that was as real as this one.  But I think that it is fitting that the E-type would provide me with the most vivid of driving dreams.  After all, it is the "most beautiful car ever built."

Goodnight and "let's be careful out there."


           

How many great weekends am I allowed to have?

Since moving to California I have been blessed to experience many great weekends.  Before moving, I feared that weekends would be a constant reminder of how far away I live from the people that I love.  That has not been the case at all.  I have been blessed by a visit from my Mum and a visit from my Dad.  I have been visited twice by Julie and I have spent some time with my uncle as well.  I have kept busy by recording, jamming and hanging out with some really great friends.  It has made the adjustment so much easier.

On the weekend of November 11-14, Julie gave me the greatest gift of all by flying me home.  The weekend was perfect.  I arrived at DFW airport around 11:00 on Thursday night.  Julie picked me up and took me back to her house, so that we could hang out with her parents.  It felt great to be back in Texas.  On Friday, my Mum and Dad took the day off of work so that we could go down to Waco to see William.  It was awesome to have the entire family back together again!  We went to Vitek's so that I could get a Gut Pak and it was excellent.  Great barbecue is tough to find in California.  We spent the afternoon together on campus and then left before William had band rehearsal.  It also happened to be Sibling Day at Baylor.  How crazy is that?  They must have known that I was coming.

Friday night started at the McKee household.  Julie came over for dinner and then we went out for frozen yogurt.  Afterward, Julie and I chilled at her house for a while and she let me borrow a TCU jacket for the game on Saturday!

On Saturday, we went to the TCU v. SDSU game.  It was the last game to be played at the Amon G. Carter stadium as it is now (they are renovating in December).  I was able to attend the game because Julie's season ticket buddy couldn't go.  The game was actually pretty intense and a close call for TCU.  I really enjoyed being at the game with Julie and I am glad that I was able to go.  That evening, Julie cooked me dinner (I helped) and it was great!  We made margaritas and Mexican lasagna.  Julie is such a good chef.

 
On Sunday, I went to church and got the opportunity to lead worship.  At first, it was a little strange to be up on stage, but I settled right back in as if I had never left.  It was such a blessing to be able to take part in worship.  Sunday afternoon came and went too quickly.  Julie stayed for lunch and dinner (with a nap in between) and then she took me to the airport.

  
It was so wonderful to see my family and my church family again.  It was rejuvenating to be home.  I don't know if I will ever be able to thank Julie for bringing me home.  And it was very providential how everything fell into place.  I didn't have class/rehearsal on Friday, so I got to spend a long weekend at home.  It was Sibling Day at Baylor (something William didn't know about until the week before).  I was able to go to a TCU football game for free because Julie's friend was out of town.  I got to lead worship at my church because everyone was out of town on a youth retreat.

There are so many things that came together to give me one of the best weekends of my life.  I cannot thank Julie enough and I certainly cannot thank God enough for the wonderful time that I was able to spend with my family.

I would like to conclude this post with lyrics penned by the hymn-writer, John Newton.  I love the lyrics and the message to this hymn.  The Lord does provide for His followers.

Though troubles assail and dangers affright,
Though friends should all fail and foes all unite;
Yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,
The scripture assures us, the Lord will provide

The birds without barn or storehouse are fed,
From them let us learn to trust for our bread:
His saints, what is fitting, shall ne'er be denied,
So long as it's written, the Lord will provide

We may, like the ships, by tempest be tossed
On perilous deeps, but cannot be lost.
Though Satan enrages the wind and the tide,
The promise engages, the Lord will provide.

His call we obey, like Abram of old,
Not knowing our way, but faith makes us bold;
For though we are strangers we have a good Guide,
And trust in all dangers, the Lord will provide

When Satan appears to stop up our path,
And fill us with fears, we triumph by faith;
He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,
This heart-cheering promise, the Lord will provide

He tells us we're weak, our hope is in vain,
The good that we seek we ne'er shall obtain,
But when such suggestions our spirits have plied,
This answers all questions, the Lord will provide

No strength of our own, or goodness we claim,
Yet since we have known the Savior's great name;
In this our strong tower for safety we hide,
The Lord is our power, the Lord will provide

When life sinks apace and death is in view,
This word of his grace shall comfort us through:
No fearing or doubting with Christ on our side,
We hope to die shouting the Lord will provide

British Classic Cars- Mini

Everybody loves the Mini.  What's not to love?  It is small, efficient, sporty, seats four, and it has history.  It is probably one of the most recognizable cars in the world today.  The original Mini was built in England.  It is not to be confused with the MINI, which is now owned by the Germans (BMW).

Unlike any car that I will write about in this series of posts, I have actually taken a ride in a Mini.  And not a new, updated version.  I have ridden in a Mini Mark V and a Mark VI.  From personal experience, I can say that these are brilliant little cars.  Yes, the ride can be a bit bumpy due to the stiff suspension.  And yes, when taking corners at speed you go up on two wheels, but none of this matters.  This car is a masterpiece that will be forever remembered as something that the British actually got right.  This car will be forever copied, but it will never be matched.  The Mini is in a class of its own.

The Mini was developed in a time of fuel rationing in the UK.  Auto-makers were looking for a small, economy car that could beat the rising cost of fuel.  The original team (from the British Motor Company) that designed the Mini sought to do the impossible.  Make a small car that could accommodate four passengers and all of their luggage.  Oh, and the car can only be 10 feet long!  Six feet of the car's length was marked off for the passengers.  That leaves 4 feet for storage space, an engine, four wheels and tires, a gearbox, cooling system, radiator etc...  The designers had to be incredibly creative when putting the Mini together.  The engine was mounted transversely (meaning that the crankshaft axis is perpendicular to the long axis of the vehicle).  To accommodate the engine placement, the Mini became a front-wheel drive car.  These designers made history and set a standard when they built the Mini.  To this day, most front-wheel drive cars have a transverse engine!  The radiator was mounted on the left side of the car.  The Mini also had sliding windows, that allowed for additional storage space in the doors.  The boot lid hinge was on the bottom, so that the car could be driven with the boot open.

To make a long story short, the designers created the Mini and released it to the press in April of 1959.  The ad campaign was truly genius and I highly recommend looking it up after reading this!  The Mini went on the sell incredibly well in the UK, US, and several other countries.  It became a serious competitor to the Volkswagen Beetle.

Now, onto the more interesting stuff:  the Mini's racing heritage!  The original Mini had a 848 cc engine that kicked out 30 bhp.  That is not very powerful at all.  The Mini's low power combined with the fact that it is a front-wheel drive car made racing the Mini difficult.  However, John Cooper (the Mini Cooper is named after him) saw the racing potential in this little car.  The Mini Cooper was created and it generated 50 bhp.  Another model was created and it was dubbed the "Mini Cooper S."  This car had a bigger engine (1,071 cc, a decent motorcycle engine) and other models were built with even larger engines.  The Mini Cooper S was now ready for competitive racing.

The Mini was certainly a "David among Goliaths."  Initially, it didn't look like Mini had anything to offer motor-sport.  What place does an economy car have in the world's biggest races?  The Mini Cooper S earned serious credibility by winning the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964, 1965, and 1967.  In 1966, three Mini's actually took the top three places, but they were disqualified after it was ruled that the Mini's had illegal headlamps.  The Mini continued to place well in Rally events and circuit races all over the world.  It was noted that the Mini's success was due in part to its size and ability to take corners at great speed.  The Mini performed well in all types of weather and on any terrain.  It could be easily modified or equipped for the changes in weather.

Along with a racing heritage, the Mini holds a firm place in popular culture as well.  Anybody who enjoys a good car chase should watch the original Italian Job.  No, Mark Wahlberg is not in the original film, but the original Mini is and it is amazing to see it drive down staircases.  Similar stunt-work can be seen in the Bourne Identity.  The Mini has definitely had its fair share of air time.  In addition to all of the film success, the Mini has received the following awards:

   "Car of the Century" (Autocar magazine 1995), "Number One Classic Car of All Time" (Classic & Sports Car magazine 1996) and "European Car of the Century" in a worldwide Internet poll run by the prestigious Global Automotive Elections Foundation in 1999. The Mini managed second place (behind the Model T Ford) for "Global Car of the Century" in that same poll (taken from the Wikipedia article on the "Mini").
 
Well, with all of those awards, I would say that the Mini was a success.  Sadly, some of the magic has worn off because Mini is now MINI and it is owned by BMW.  Still, the car looks brilliant and you can't erase its excellent history.

At the beginning of this post, I mentioned that I have ridden in an original BMC Mini before.  It belonged to my grandmother.  I have many fond memories of being driven around the English countryside; my brother and I being thrown around in the back, as the Mini would take corners and go up on two wheels.  I can definitely picture this car kitted out with racing stripes and Rally tires, hurtling around bends and turns in the road.  I can see a smile on the driver's face as he contemplates the fact that he is in the world's smallest racing car.  I can picture all of this because I got a small taste of it on the country roads of England.  But you see, therein lies the car's true genius.  The Mini can take care of a family just as easily as it can hurtle around the world's greatest racing tracks.  It can be your daily driver or the weekend track car.  It can tackle anything that you throw its way.  It is truly ironic that the "Car of the Century" is named Mini.  But that is the British for you, the understatement of the century is also the car of the century.

Goodnight.

British Classic Cars- Aston Martin DB5

Coolest.  Car.  Ever.

The post could probably end there because I can't think of a cooler and more important car in history.  The DB5 has everything that a man could want in a car.  It has style, soul, and it is beautiful.  Again, like the TR6, this car isn't super fast, but speed isn't everything.

Ask any fan of James Bond what his/her favourite Bond car is and the answer should be unanimous.  The DB5 has been featured in more Bond films than any other car.  The DB5's breakthrough role occurred in the classic Bond film Goldfinger.  In that film, the DB5 is loaded with gadgets including: machine guns, rear window shields, an ejector seat, oil slick emitter, and bulletproof glass.  After the film's release, the DB5 drove its way into motoring history and to this day, it is one of the most recognizable cars in the world.  When I look at one, I see the epitome of cool.  I think of my grandfather (the world's biggest Bond fan) and how he introduced this amazing machine to me at a very young age.  I think about how this car looks amazing from all angles.  Ultimately, I think about the fact that this car is British.  The DB5 possesses all of the traits of a classic car.

Aston Martin built the DB5 on the basic body frame of the DB4.  Both cars share similar lines and curves, but the true difference is underneath the bonnet (hood).  The DB5 has a four litre straight six that produces 282 bhp.  This engine propels the DB5 to a top speed of 142 mph and it's 0-60 mph time is 7.1 seconds!  That's pretty quick for a car made in 1963.  Starting in mid-1964, Aston Martin improved the DB5 model by introducing a full synchromesh  ZF 5-speed gearbox.  This made shifting gears seamless and in turn, the car became easier to drive.  However, nearly 50 years later it is hard to find a DB5 in pristine condition.  In fact it is hard to find one period.  They only made 886 of the standard model and most are in the hands of collectors that will not part with their piece of history.  And who could blame them?!?  I would never sell a car as gorgeous as a DB5, unless something serious was going on in my life.

As mentioned before, I think that this car is the coolest car ever built.  It's so simple and in its simplicity lies its beauty.  There are no air-bags or other safety features.  It doesn't have traction control or an e-differential.  In the 1960's, when you bought a DB5, the only thing extra that the car came with was a fire extinguisher.  Alas, none of this matters because this car is more about how it makes you feel.  I have never personally driven one, but I can only imagine what it is like.  From the imposing, yet refined front grille, past the enlarged hood-scoop, all the way back to the rear-lights, this car is achingly beautiful.  Many have described this car has embodying beauty, style, and soul.  I really think that if any man could choose a car that he would aspire to be (if one were to turn into a car), then he would like to think of himself as a DB5.  This car fits in everywhere.  Outside of a pub.  At a massive movie premiere or awards show.  On a long and winding mountain road.  On a small country lane in the south of England.  On a coastal highway.

I love this car.  And I don't think that I should ruin the whole thing by writing more.  I will conclude with a few closing thoughts.  This is my favorite car for many reasons, but most importantly it will always remind me of my grandfather.  We do not get to spend much time together because it is so expensive to fly back to Northern Ireland and they can't come out here anymore because the long travel is too risky.  In past years, they have spent every third Christmas with the McKee family in Texas.  This year would be their turn to come to America, but it is not going to happen.  That is mostly why I have been thinking about this car lately.  I would love nothing more than to go back to Northern Ireland for a visit.  I have this crazy dream that someday I will give Nanny and Gaga (my names for my grandparents) a ride in my DB5.  I think that my grandfather would love that!

So for me, this car is as good as it gets.  It is fast, looks amazing, and will always hold sentimental value to me.  Oh, and it's British.

      

 

British Classic Cars- Triumph TR6

Top Gear's James May has been quoted as saying that "the Triumph TR6 is the blokiest bloke's car ever built."  I could not agree more.  Now, I have never driven a TR6, but after studying Triumph's racing pedigree and considering what else was going on in the motoring world during the late 60's, this car truly does stand out above the rest.
 

Here is a brief history.  Triumph is an English motoring company that has produced many motorcycles and cars that have gone on to become classics.  The TR line was Triumph's response to the American Corvette, the German Porsche 911 etc...  The predecessors to the TR6 were designed by Italians.  The TR6 was designed by a German.  Italian sportscars of the time include the Lamborghini Miura and the Ferrari Daytona.  These cars are beautiful and they are still regarded to this day as some of the prettiest cars ever built.  I can truly appreciate that, but at the same time, I want a man's car.  This is where the TR6 comes into play.    In a time period where the sportscars were curvy and vivacious (the TR5 has some excellent curves, by the way), the TR6 dared to be a boxy roadster (it came with a hardtop that could transform the car into a coupe).  I love that the TR6 defied convention.  It also became the best selling of Triumph's TR line up until the TR7 was released.

What about the engine and performance figures?  The six-cylinder, fuel-injected engine in the UK version of the TR6 can reach speeds of 120 mph at 150 bhp.  The version released in the US was slightly less powerful because the engine was carbureted and it only produced 104 bhp.  The UK version was re-tuned in 1973 to produce 124 bhp.  This is said to have made the TR6 easier to drive by improving the handling.  The TR6 can go 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds.  By today's standard, this car is not incredibly fast, but when it was released in 1969, this road-legal roadster was one of the quickest cars in its class.  I have heard that in the US, TR6 owners were laughed at because they had bought an inferior car to the American-made Corvette.  I do love the Corvette from the late 60's (Stingray), but it does have several strikes against it.  It has a 300 hp V8 that makes the car heavier and thirstier for petrol (gasoline).  The handling is not that great as well.  To be honest, I think that it boils down to the fact that the US market were not sent any fuel-injected TR6's.  America had to deal with the 104 hp carbureted engine.  I would be upset too, but I would probably still have the TR6 (it just looks better).


The TR6 could be easily modified into a circuit racer and in the early 70's, the TR6 performed very well on the race track.  The windscreen was often removed to reduce weight and improve aerodynamics.  The TR6 was also given a boost of power through modifications to the engine.  The TR6 also made a name for itself as a dragster and GT touring car.  When Triumph sets out to make a sportscar, they make that car as versatile as possible!  Triumph's rich racing heritage was certainly preserved by the TR6 through the late 60's and early 70's.


In traditional, British sportscar style, the TR6 is a two-seater roadster.  This makes the TR6 slightly impractical and it is by no means a family car.  However, it does provide plenty of storage room in the boot (trunk) which is due in part to the extended body-line (an improvement over the other TR models).  The interior is not cluttered and this serves as a reminder that you are in a driving machine, not a spaceship.  The wooden construction on the dashboard is sturdy and "gives an air of quality."  I believe that all of these facts point to the conclusion that the TR6 is the perfect road-trip car.



I think that this car is brilliant and I love everything about it.  It is quintessentially British.  Many may disagree with me, but I believe that it is not only one of the best British cars ever made, but it is one of the best pre-1980 cars ever built.  The TR6 is considered highly collectible to this day and it has really stood the test of time.  Maybe someday, I will have the great fortune to drive one or perhaps even own one!

A modified TR6 in British Racing Green!












 

Mid-term Update

I really do need to get better at writing in my blog!  I have been quite busy these last couple of weeks and it has really prevented me from all forms of creative writing.  Thankfully, I just completed a big mid-term this afternoon for my Research class and I now feel comfortable spending some time on my blog again.

Classes are going well and the workload has increased since the beginning of the semester, but there is nothing wrong with that.  Ensembles (both sax quartet and wind ensemble) are going well.  Last Friday, the USC Wind Ensemble played for the inauguration of the new USC president.  At one point, we played for 45 minutes without stopping!

In addition to all of my coursework, I have taken on two teaching jobs.  I have been hired by Takelessons (a music company which connects students with local area certified teachers).  I have also accepted a teaching position through the Thornton Outreach Program.  Each week, I teach two guitar students and I play piano for an Elementary School Choir.  Both jobs help to pay the bills and keep my life busier than ever, but it is all fun!

I haven't been recording much with Grayson lately.  This is due to our very busy schedules.  We have scheduled a recording session this weekend, so I should hopefully be able to get more accomplished on the EP.  Church has also been really great.  I have been attending a weekly bible study downtown and everyone in the group seems to be enjoying our time together.  This past weekend, I went on the Pacific Crossroads Church retreat to Forest Home in the San Bernadino Mountains.  It was a great time to meet new people and reflect on God's creation.  I didn't get cell phone reception all weekend!

Three weeks ago, my Mum came for a visit which was wonderful.  She made a lot of amazing food for me including Jamaican stir-fry with pineapple/mango salsa, banana pancakes, and other great things that I don't get the chance to eat very often.  We spent most of Saturday in Malibu and the weather was perfect.  It made me realize how much I miss my family.

On that note, I should point out that two weeks ago, Julie came to visit (for full details on our weekend together, see below).  While she was here, she gave me my birthday/Christmas present which is to come home to Dallas for Nov. 11-14!!!!  I am really excited and I cannot wait to see everyone again.

That is pretty much all that has been going on lately.  I am about to start a series of blog posts on a passion of mine: British classic cars.  This will be something fun for me to do in my free time (when I am not practicing, teaching, studying, doing chores etc...).  It will be a pleasant change to do something completely un-related to music.  I really enjoy what I do, but every once in a while, you need a break!

Thank you again for reading!

Jack Johnson and Another Great Weekend

Julie came to visit this weekend!  It was her second time to visit me in Los Angeles.  She flew in Thursday night around 9:30.

Friday night we went to see Jack Johnson at the Hollywood Bowl.  It was amazing!!  The venue is built into the side of a mountain and it is an outdoor venue.  The sun had set by the time that the opening acts had started, but we managed to take some great pictures anyway.  Zee Avi and G. Love opened for him.  It cooled way down and I now understand why people bring blankets to concerts here.

Jack Johnson finally took the stage around nine and he played for 2 hours straight.  I am pretty sure that he played all of his biggest songs.  It was unreal to hear him live.  He didn't miss a note and he sounded just like he does on the record.  I really admire that because in this day and age, ProTools and other software can turn anybody into a star singer.  It is always refreshing for me to hear genuine talent.

 

I am a fairly new Jack Johnson fan.  I have listened to his stuff for years, but I never really got into it.  It wasn't until this summer that Jack Johnson really captured my interest.  I worked an office job over the summer and even though it was only part-time, the work days were quite monotonous.  I just sat at a desk for hours at a time and scanned large documents into a computer.  While at work, I was allowed to listen to my iPhone, so I started listening to Pandora Radio.  I started a John Mayer channel because I have always liked his music.  As I was listening to the John Mayer channel, Jack Johnson's music starts popping up as a "similar artist."  After listening to several songs, I realized the true genius of his music.  His music can brighten anybody's day and make the mundane seem okay.  I began listening to his music for hours on end and I found that I never got tired of it.  I started listening to his music when I wasn't at work as well and that's when I realized that I seriously did enjoy his music.

When I heard that he was coming to the Hollywood Bowl, I thought that it would be an amazing chance to see him live, check out the amazing venue, and (best of all) give Julie her birthday present.  Julie and I had a great time at the concert.  The entire vibe was awesome and there were people of all ages in attendance.  It was cool to drift away from the big, angry city of Los Angeles and go to a deserted island somewhere in the Pacific Ocean.  That's the power of Jack Johnson's music.  It took me a long time to realize this, but I am definitely making up for lost time!  Bring on the next Jack Johnson show!

On Saturday, Julie and I continued the tropical-themed weekend by spending the afternoon at the beach.  It was so peaceful and the beach was not crowded at all.  After the beach, I made Julie dinner (chicken stir-fry in a Hawaiian marinade served with coconut Basmati rice).  It turned out really well!  On Sunday, I took Julie to my church, which was meeting for the first time in a new location.  After church, we ate lunch and watched some football that was on t.v.  Julie's flight was at 5:20, so I dropped her off at the airport and then came back to the apartment.

It was a great weekend that went by too fast, but I really enjoyed it!  I am looking forward to a church retreat next weekend and upcoming recording sessions with Grayson.

Thank you for reading.  God Bless.

Studio Session Tomorrow

I really need to write in this more often!

This post is going to be really short.  I am going into the studio again tomorrow.  The first couple of sessions have been very methodical and the focus was on planning the EP and fine-tuning the songs.  Grayson and I also experimented with some recording ideas/techniques.  Tomorrow's session should be very productive.  We have specific goals and we should hopefully get some really decent recordings out of it.

I have created a Facebook page to promote the music and keep everyone posted on what is going on.  Please feel free to check that page out, as it will contain up to date information about recordings, gigs, and the upcoming EP.

I am really excited about the music and I hope that you will enjoy listening to it.  Thank you for embarking on this journey with me.

God Bless

Top Gear- The Best Show on Television!

Unfortunately, I cannot watch it on a regular basis.  It is a British show that airs on BBC America, but I cannot get this channel in LA without spending a ton of money.  I watch it as much as I can on Hulu and Youtube.  Recently, a friend gifted me the 15th season on DVD which is awesome!  14 more seasons to go and I will own the entire collection...

I have been a petrolhead (gearhead for those in the States) since I was born.  I could name every single car on our street at the age of one.  I have read books and done countless school reports on cars.  In 4th grade, I actually did a report on the mechanics of the internal combustion engine.  I read two books on F1 cars and engine mechanics at the age of nine!  I am still very much obsessed with cars and car culture.  Cars embody independence and freedom and many created today are engineering marvels (Bugatti Veyron SuperSport to name one).

Top Gear is a show that celebrates cars and man's obsession with all things car-related.  Each show contains road tests, challenges, news segments, and interviews with celebrities.  The show is a massive success in England and there is a loyal following here in the USA.  There have been several spin-offs as a result of the original Top Gear's success.  It is truly brilliant television!

The three hosts are: Jeremy Clarkson, James May and Richard Hammond.  Each of these car enthusiasts blend humour and information into a truly entertaining hour-long program.  Some of my favorite episodes are the ones featuring really long challenges or long film segments.  For instance, the three presenters each selected a supercar and tried to figure out which one was the best.  The Ford GT, Pagani Zonda, and the Ferrari F430 were the three chosen cars.  They all drove through France and ended the journey on the Millau Viaduct (a massive suspension bridge in southern France).  The film takes up a majority of the episode and the editing/cinematography is brilliant.

Other episodes pit the presenters against each other in crazy challenges.  In one challenge, they had to buy a supercar for less than 10,000 pounds and compete in a series of tests and challenges.  In another epsiode, the presenters had to cross the salt flats in Botswana in three old beat-up cars.  I could go on an on, but it is really something that must be watched in order to get the full experience.  Each episode is truly entertaining.

As I mentioned before, Top Gear is not only entertaining, but educational.  Most episodes feature one of the presenters (usually Clarkson) testing a car.  The report contains information on the cars's engine, 0-60 mph time, interior/exterior design, the car's handling etc... The road tests conclude with the Stig (more about him later) driving the cars around the test track.  This time is then recorded and placed on a leader-board that tracks the all-time best results for each car.  The opinions of the Top Gear presenters way heavy on many car manufacturers.  Many car companies have taken their comments to heart and improved their cars (Aston-Martin and Maserati to name a few).  Top Gear has tested pretty every major sports-car.

When they have celebrities on the show, Jeremy Clarkson (the founder of Top Gear) usually spends about 5 minutes talking cars and interviewing.  Then he announces that the real reason they came on Top Gear was to take a "reasonably priced car" around the Top Gear test track.  Each celebrity gets the time of their lap put on a leader-board.  A competition ensues as each new celebrity comes on the show.  Simon Cowell had the best lap on record, but I believe that Jay Kay (from Jamiroquoi) now holds the lead.

In addition to all of this, Top Gear has created a "fictional" character of epic proportions.  The Stig is Top Gear's 4th presenter.  He never speaks and is only used to drive the cars around the test track.  There have been two Stigs.  The original Stig was "killed" in season 3 when he drove a car off of the air-craft carrier, HMS Invincible.  The second Stig wore white and there has actually been a lot of controversy lately about his identity.  The Stig's identity is supposed to remain unknown and the audience has never seen the Stig without his trademark helmet and jumpsuit.  However, the identity of the most recent Stig has been made known and it has raised all kinds of trouble at the BBC.  Regardless, the Stig is incredibly famous and he certainly has a "cult" following!

In conclusion , the point of this post is to share my love of cars and Top Gear.  I could talk all day about both subjects, but I am afraid that this post has been long enough.  I hope that this has encouraged you to watch some of the short clips on Youtube or maybe even an entire episode.  It is highly entertaining and my favorite show of all time.

Weekend Recording Sessions

Grayson and I had two recording sessions this weekend.  We laid down acoustic guitar tracks to three songs and laid down "scratch" vocals for those three songs.  We also used the weekend to brainstorm the song selection for the EP and the general direction of the album.  We also used our time to discuss vocal/instrumental arrangements for the songs on the EP.

I have ten songs that are pretty much ready to go.  Some of them need a little bit of work and there is one that I am currently re-writing.  We have settled on five songs for the EP.  Here is the track list for the EP:

1.  California Sunset
2.  Live in Now and Today
3.  I'll See You
4.  Love as a Desert
5.  Come Tomorrow

I am not 100% sure of the order, but this will work for now.  I might consider putting up some of the lyrics to these songs, but I haven't decided on that yet.

After deciding which songs we wanted to focus on, Grayson and I began working on the actual sound of the songs.  Currently the album has an overall mellow vibe, similar in style to Jack Johnson and early Coldplay material.  The first two tracks fit this description.  However, I cannot escape my rock n' roll roots and it comes across in the third track from the EP.  "I'll See You" is a song about the "working man" living in an impossible economic depression and its sound is heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen and the Foo Fighters.  "Love as a Desert" is a slow, bluesy tune that is very nearly a ballad.  I wrote this song about two weeks ago and I feel that it will bring a nice contrast to the album. 

"Come Tomorrow" is an interesting song.  Out of all of the songs that I have written in the past year, this is the one that I have spent the most time on.  It has been through several re-writes, but this song has been a labor of love.  This song is about a journey and about taking hold of the future.  It starts soft, but builds into a fully orchestrated rock tune until finally coming back down again for the end.  I really wanted this song to showcase my love for music of the 60's (especially the Beatles).

I hope that has given you guys an idea of what is to come.  Initially, I wanted to put a deadline on the release of the EP.  I would love for it to be out in early October, but I have decided to detach myself from a specific date.  The EP will be done when it is done.  I really want to put some time and effort into it, so that it is worthwhile.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, and support.  I hope to have some solid scratch recordings available (either on Facebook, Myspace, or another website) in the near future.

I am really looking forward to this and I hope that you are too.  Please stay tuned for more updates.

God Bless 

Psalm 86

For my daily devotional, I will usually work through a devotional guide or pick a book of the Bible and just start studying from the beginning.  Occasionally, I like to just open my Bible and let the "Living Word" guide my devotional.  Sometimes, the verses speak to me right away, and other times the words take time to process.  Last night's attempt at this hit me immediately.

The first page that I opened to contained Psalm 86 in its entirety.  If you haven't read Psalm 86 lately or ever, I strongly recommend reading it.  I love Psalms very much for many reasons.  The psalms speak of the true Christian life.  Psalm 86 contains the words of David.   David struggled greatly with sin and fell into many of the pitfalls that we all fall into as Christians.  Psalm 86 contains a prayer to God, pleading with God to spare him from the "band of ruthless men." 

Whenever I read anything in Psalms written by David specifically, I picture him singing and playing his lyre.  The Bible tells us that David's playing pleased King Saul and the Lord protected David on many occasions.  David was the worship leader of his day and I can only imagine how beautiful his words/music sounded.

Lately, I have entered into several discussions with others about the trials that face Christians.  One of the biggest struggles of living the Christian life is dealing with those that ridicule us for living in the way that we do.  I have not faced persecution like many brothers and sisters in the Middle East or Asia have faced, but I have been ridiculed in other ways for being a Christian.  Living in Los Angeles has already exposed me to the issues facing Christianity in this day and age.  The pastor at my church has just started a sermon series that addresses the issues that skeptics have about Christianity.

We live in an increasingly individualistic society.  Giving yourself completely to Jesus is not choosing an easy life.  Jesus tells his disciples to deny everything and follow.  We must be willing to give every earthly thing away in order to gain Christ.  This is a daily struggle for me.  It becomes even harder to follow God when the world tells me that I am crazy to place my entire life in His hands.  This is where Psalm 86 comes into play.

If you ever find yourself in a low place or in a time of struggle, read Psalm 86.  It is amazing.  I have decided to include the psalm in the hopes that you will find encouragement.  This is the ESV version and I especially love the title that the editor gives this psalm: "Great is Your Steadfast Love."

Great Is Your Steadfast Love

A Prayer of David.

 Psalm 86

1 Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.
3 Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
4 Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
5 For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
6 Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
7 In the day of my trouble I call upon you,
for you answer me.

8 There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
9 All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
10 For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, O Lord,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

14 O God, insolent men have risen up against me;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life,
and they do not set you before them.
15 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
16 Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.
17 Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate me may see and be put to shame
because you, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.

I am not going to offer my commentary on this (because I am not a pastor), but these words really spoke to me last night.  It was exactly what I needed to hear.  God spoke to me through this psalm of David.  The world seeks our lives daily and Satan would love to tempt us to despair.  But God comforts us and helps us and He will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear.  Even David (a beloved son of God) faced many trials, but through everything he prayed that he could be more like God.  Even when David faced death, he trusted in the steadfast love of the Father.  He knew that his soul had been delivered from the grave.  Whenever the world is trying to bring us down, we need to pray like David.  The struggles of this life are only temporary, but Heaven is eternal. 

Day 1 of the Recording Process

I do apologize for taking this long to write another post.  Unfortunately, nothing major has happened in the last week.

However, I have now started the process of recording my own material!  Yesterday afternoon, I began laying down guitar parts for my upcoming EP.  I am really excited to get the ball rolling on these songs.  I am working with a good friend of mine from high school, Grayson Palmer.  He is helping me by recording the material and providing input on the vocal melodies/arrangements of the songs.  He is very talented and I am really happy that he has decided to work with me.

The songs have been written within the last year.  They represent the culmination of my earliest attempts at songwriting.  I have written about 50 ideas within the last year and the songs for this EP represent the best of what I have written so far.

My plan is to have a Myspace page up and running soon with preliminary cuts of the songs.  I will try to keep everyone updated on how the recording process is going.  Hopefully, we can have the EP finished by October, so that I can start gigging because I miss playing live very much!

I will post links to the songs as soon as I have it all set up.

Thank you for reading.

God Bless.

Great Weekend!

I had a really awesome weekend.  It started on Friday night with a great jam session at the home of the Director of Worship at PCC.  I met most of the worship musicians and I spent an evening playing original worship/Christian music written by the people that I was playing with.  It was a great evening of fellowship and music-making.

After the jam session, I went straight to the airport to pick up Julie.  She arrived around 9:30 PST which is 11:30 in Texas, so we got an early night on Friday.

Saturday morning started in Hollywood where we went to Grauman's Chinese Theater.  We also managed to see the Kodak Theatre and Julie actually got a really great picture of the Hollywood sign!  We saw all of the famous footprints and hand prints in front of the theater.

Kodak Theatre

                    

Grauman's Chinese Theater

After Hollywood, I took Julie to Rodeo Drive.  There were a ton of amazing cars driving around Beverly Hills.  We went into several of the stores (mainly to laugh at the outrageous prices).  Julie actually bought something at Coach!

Yes, that is a Rolls Royce!!










After Rodeo Drive, we went back to my apartment to get ready for the evening.  Saturday night, we went to Santa Monica and ate at P.F Changs.  We had to wait about half an hour, but the food was great as usual and that made the wait worth while.  After dinner, we walked along the 3rd Street Promenade.  After looking at the stores and checking out a really nice view of the pier, we decided to actually walk down to the beach.  We walked all the way to the end of the pier and looked at the ocean.  Being a Saturday, the pier was very crowded.  We took some pictures in front of the Ferris wheel.

After the pier, we went back to the apartment because it was pretty late.  Sunday morning came very quickly and I decided to take Julie to USC.  I showed her all of the buildings that I frequent during the school week.  After an abbreviated campus tour, we visited my uncle who lives about 20 minutes away!  We spent an hour just talking and sitting by the pool.  The weather was perfect and the sun was shining.

Unfortunately, the end of the weekend was approaching rapidly.  After taking Julie back to my apartment, we only had time to eat quickly and get ready to leave for the airport.  After dropping Julie off, I tried to stay busy.  I went to the evening church service and I met some more great people.  The sermon was exactly what I needed to hear!

It was a terrific weekend, but it went by so fast.  I am really glad that I got to show Julie Los Angeles and I can't wait for the next visit!  Now I have to get back to work.

Julie is in LA for the weekend!

Julie just arrived about 2 hours ago!  It is our 6 year anniversary.  I can't believe that it has been that long, but the time has just flown by.  It blows my mind that 6 years ago we were juniors in high school.

I am excited to show her what I have been up to these past couple of weeks.  Hopefully she can get a really good feel for this great city.  I am sure that my next post will include pictures of our weekend together.

Coldplay

I bought my first Coldplay record in 2005 (X&Y).  I wasn't really a fan at that point, but I wanted to check it out.  I was mildly impressed and I spun the disc a few times.  I didn't really listen to anymore Coldplay until my Freshman year of college.  While working in Aeropostale (not the best place to work, but certainly not the worst), I heard the song "Shiver" off of the "Parachutes" record.  I really liked the song, so I picked up the album.  I began to listen to the entire record all the way through.  I became obsessed.  I could not believe that so much beautiful music was on one album.  I went out and bought "A Rush of Blood to the Head" soon after and fell in love with that album as well.

I could not believe that one band was writing all of this amazing stuff.  I guess it really resonated with me.  I listened to Coldplay all of the time and it began to influence my songwriting.  I began to study how Chris Martin wrote lyrics and how Jonny Buckland got all of those amazing guitar sounds.  Their sound combines U2 with Radiohead and Jeff Buckley.  Some of their most recent stuff is definitely reminiscent of the Beatles.

I waited with patience for their next studio album and they delivered big time.  There next album came out in the summer of 2008.  I remember hearing "Violet Hill" and "Viva La Vida" on the radio for the first time.  Once again, I found myself feeling blown away by the true beauty of their music.  I decided that I wanted to see them when they came into town promoting the new album.  I ended up seeing them twice and I was nearly in tears both times.  Seeing my "musical heroes" play their music reminded me of what I want to do.  In November of 2008, they released an EP entitled "Prospekt's March," which has some amazing stuff on it as well.

Coldplay is my favorite band of all time.  I am sure that millions of others feel the same way, but I don't mind sharing them with the rest of the world.  Their music has left a huge imprint on me.  They continue to get better and better as they grow and mature as musicians.

On a side note, after reading their biography, I found out that they are not only incredible musicians, but great people as well.  Coldplay is a band that cares about a lot of social issues.  They are heavily involved with Oxfam and they work hard to make this planet a better place to live.

I aspire to one day form a band like Coldplay.  I don't need to be as famous, I just want to touch people's lives in the same way that Coldplay touched my life.  They provide another inspiration when I need help following my dreams.

I truly do LOVE every single thing that Coldplay writes, but here are a few of my favorite songs: Shiver, Everything's Not Lost, In My Place, Clocks, Green Eyes, Amsterdam, Swallowed in the Sea, Lovers in Japan, Strawberry Swing, Glass of Water, Prospekt's March, and The Goldrush.

The Alchemist

One of my favorite books is The Alchemist.  For years, my mum told me to read this book.  She said that I would really love it.  I kindly took her advice, but I decided not to read it.  I don't know why, but obviously it was not the right time.  Up until a year ago, my life had been relatively easy.  God had laid out everything for me and I was really comfortable and happy with where I was.  However, as mentioned in my previous post, I felt "drawn" to LA.   I could not ignore this calling and I felt like God really began to point me in the direction of Los Angeles.  This was unsettling to me because it meant that I would have to leave my home, loved ones, and friends for a new place.  I began to question God's plan for me.  LA always seemed like such a great idea when I was laying in my bed at the age of 15, dreaming of pursuing a career in music.  Now that a huge change in my life was imminent, I began to panic.  

It was during this time that my close friend and band mate told me to read this book.  He said that it would really help me during this period of uncertainty in my life.  Well, I read The Alchemist during my semester as a student teacher.  I have never felt so inspired.  This book speaks so much truth and really offers insight into what it means to follow your dreams.  The main character, Santiago, is a shepherd who makes a decent living doing the same thing everyday.  His life is predictable and he is content with that.  One night he dreams about hidden treasure in the Egyptian pyramids.  The rest of the story is about his pursuit of that treasure and what it means to discover what God has in store for a person.  Santiago meets many challenges along the way, but he grows so much because of the journey.  He becomes a better person because he is in pursuit of his "Personal Legend."

I don't want to spoil the story, but it is well worth reading.  This book is for anyone who is uncertain about their future (which based on the state of the economy, seems to be a lot of people).  The Alchemist reminded me that God has a plan for everybody.  All we have to do, as followers, is to follow God.  He will make our path straight.  Once I yielded to Him, I felt true peace in my decision to move away.

For the longest time, I thought about staying in Texas and becoming a band director, but I realized that I would be letting go of my dreams if I did this.

 
"Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place."

"All people who are happy have God within them."

"Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You've got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense."

"Forget about the future, and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loves his children."

Why LA?

Well, I have finally decided to try out this blog thing.  I think that it will be good to write down my experiences as this move is a really big step for me.

Why LA?

I have wrestled with this question for a very long time.  For as long as I have wanted to be a musician, I have felt "drawn" to LA.  Maybe it's the cliche thing for an "aspiring rockstar" to dream of coming to LA seeking fame and fortune.  There really ARE people that come here to do that, but I know that this is not the reason I am here.  I am doing the most "anti-rock n' roll" thing possible by pursuing higher education (a Master's degree in Music from USC).  When I decided that music was what I wanted to do, I just realized that LA was the place for me.  It was quite simple.  I just knew that I had to go to LA.

I truly do believe that God is calling me here.  When the time came to make my decision, God closed many doors and made my path very clear.  I leaned on Him then and I will continue to lean on Him as I try to make a life out here. 

I have already met some very amazing people.  The church here is fantastic and I hope to share my musical gifts on the praise and worship team.  I am starting to write songs all of the time and I will use this blog to promote new music/lyrics as I write.

I am not sure what God has in store for me, but whatever it is, I know that His plan is perfect.  His love will never fail.