Mark Hansen Music - LDS Rock Music - Free Downloads

Mark Hansen Music - LDS Rock Music - Free Downloads
Get the new CD, "The Third Time" HERE




WARNING: Listening to this music doesn't require parental approval. It's a bit of clean rebellion. It keeps your outlook up and your hope alive. It's got strong drums and screaming guitars. It pumps you up and drives your life. It's a hunger for exploration. It chooses the right and returns with honor. It's music you don't have to confess to your bishop.

It's not your parents' "Saturday’s Warrior".

It's "A Joyful Noise"

Sunday, June 27, 2004

Yesterday was a very, very, very long musical day. My semi-annual showcase.

It started at around ten loading the last of Morey's gear into his van and driving it to my ward house. We started loading in and setting up. Schlepping gear is always tedious and back-breaking, but it makes for a great show.

So, we schlepped and hookedup and plugged in and tested and tweaked and set up chairs and tables and worked right up to show time at 7 that evening.

The show itself was great, even though the audience was sparse. The ones that were there were way into the music and the show, singing along, clapping along, and just getting into it. They stayed through the whole show, too. I'd guess there were about 20 there, and about half of those were youth.

A couple of high spots:

John N was there to play the trumpet to "Toy Soldiers" live, instead of just the recording, and that made a very special moment. I was down below, off the stage when he makes his musical entrance, so I could hear him, but not see him. Then, at the end, I backed off to one side and looked up and Morey had him backlit with blue and a little amber, and it was GORGEOUS! the way those lights sparkled up his trumpet was amazing. And his tone was rich and pure...

It was cool, also, to look over at Zack Newman, John's son, and see him singing along on almost every song. He'd just gotten the priesthood, so I dedicated "He's Out There" to him.

Sherri came out and did "Take a Stand" and "Sunshine". She was way nervous, but did a great job. As I was listening to her and watching her in front of the audience, I was at the same time amazed by her voice, and very proud of the songs and the productions we had all put together as a team.

At the end, the kids scored up a bunch of Pass-it-On CD's, and we packed up. We had a lot of people help so, it didn't take as long as it has in the past.

I do wish that more kids had been there, but I felt like it was one of my best performances ever, and the ones that were there were into it and having fun. Who knows? Maybe a song or two touched them...

Saturday, June 19, 2004

It's been a crazy musical week. That's too sure!

After working with LaDena and Renee on Wednesday, then John and I worked as usual on Thursday. Morey came over, and brought a small acoustic drum kit. It's been years since I've miked a kit. So, I dug out my mixer and mics and we went at it.

Two overheads (my nice condensors), a 57 on the snare/hat, and another dynamic on the kick and we're good to go. He's playing with brushes on a soft jazz tune, so it's not like we have to close mic each tom. It's really a pretty simple setup, but it sounded GREAT.

So, we cut the drums on "Desert Flower". Nice brush work from Morey.

Then John and Sherry showed up as we were finishing. We have a lot to do to get ready for the showcase, so we put down some harmony vocals on "Sunshine" and burned her copies of all the songs she's doing.

Then last night was the Pearl awards. None of the people I was pulling for won. :-( Oh, well. It's still a lot of fun to be there!

MRKH

Thursday, June 17, 2004

LaDena and her sister are always a lot of fun to work with. They came over tonight (LaDena's in town from Nevada) and we worked on "Crack of the Wind", one of hers. It's a cool tune. We worked a lot of the bugs out of it and cut a guitar track. Fun!

Thursday, June 10, 2004

OK, tonight was a great night. We got a LOT done on "Desert Flower", a song John Newman's been writing. It's a sort of light Jazz instrumental.

We started off with John playing a short piano solo for the bridge, and then he had me play a clean guitar solo. I was really nervous, because I don't do jazz very well. I just don't have the experience in it. But it came off pretty well. At least John was pleased!

Then I did some rhythm guitar. Lots of 7th chords, which I can do, but I'm not used to some of the voicings, so it was again really tricky. But it worked.

And finally the bass.

And all during that time, John's young son Zack was running the mouse. He looked like he was having fun, and he picked up Cubase pretty quickly.

But the best part of the night was having John cut the trumpet lead. Wow. What a rich tone! This boy's goooooooood!

Wednesday, June 09, 2004

I haven't really been working much more on the new songs. I have, however, been practicing a lot for my showcase. I've been practicing the songs as I drive to and from work. The morning is the most difficult, because I'm on my way at, like, 8:00, and that's not good singing time! But I keep working at it.

I'm pretty excited by the setlist. Let's see if I can remember it:

1 - A Joyful Noise/Rockshow
2 - Here in Me
3 - Primary Rocks
4 - Toy Soldiers
5 - He's Out There

Then Sherri will do two songs:

6 - Take a Stand
7 - Sunshine

Then I come back with

8 - Pharisee
9 - The Taker
10 - The Sun Shone Through the Windows
11 - Thank You
12 - Sometimes My Life
13 - I Hear the Voices Singing


It'll be a fun time. I'm sure!

Monday, June 07, 2004

A pretty frustrating day, yesterday. I was teaching my sunday school class, and I thought it would be fun for us to do a saturday barbecue for the class. So, I invite everyone (I'd cleared this with my wife before hand) and we started talking about dates.

In the process of the discussion, I found out that there's a ward party scheduled the same night as my showcase! When I booked that I specifically asked everyone (who all had ward calendars) if there was anything on for that night. Nope. All clear.

So, I'm not sure what to do about it. Jodi suggested I do it in September when the kids are back in school. I'm tempted to go ahead with it, because there are two other wards we're inviting.

Rrrrrrr...

The gospel's still true, it's just sometimes frustrating with the people, that's all...

So, I spent some time cooling off and working on "I Will Sing This Prayer". It's turning out a lot more up-tempo than I thought it would.

Tuesday, June 01, 2004

This was a busy weekend, to be sure. Sunday night, Morey came over and we played with hooking up his new drum pad to my computer. I configured a new drum map for it, so we can use it to make drum tracks, now. That'll be fun.

Later that night, I stayed up (it was an insomniac sorta night) and recorded vocals on "Thank You". I doubt if any of it's keepable, but it sure felt good to be working on tunes again. It's always tough when Jakie's in the hospital.

Then, Monday morning (Memorial Day), Matt Whitney from the LDSM list came over and we imported one of his tunes, and added some drums. Then I cut a few guitar tracks, including a lead part. It's a great tune, kinda Broadway-ish, with a lot of Jim Steinman/Meatloaf thrown in.

We're trying to get it all put together for the LDStyles V CD. We'll just have to see...

MRKH

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