Unhindered Blog

Okay, I take total responsibility for this. It has been almost a MONTH since our last blog update (Thanks to Johanna for the reminder ;-). Honestly, not alot of interesting things are going on right now. Obviously today was Turkey day for us here in the states so all of the band guys and myself got to spend some great time with the fams. Which brings me to another thought… So, my twenty-fourth birthday is now officially one day away and a strange paradigm shift seems to be occurring. I feel like once you break into your mid-twenties you should be at least sort of grown up. I guess on the outside I sort of am but in my head, not a thing has progressed since age 12. I still feel like the same kid that hung with his buddy Steve and caused entirely too much ruckus around the neighborhood… I just look cooler now! HA! I was a dweeb! Well today rolled around and up until this year holidays have worked different. All of my family lives here in Atlanta but nonetheless, I would go “home” for the holidays. Social life would shut down for a while and for the few days surrounding Thanksgiving or Christmas, I would go home and sleep at my parents’ place and wake up for the holiday. But this year I’ve become a holiday “grown-up.” I woke up this morning, drove to my parents’ house with the necessary “things to bring” in hand, and walked in just like we used to do at my grandparents. Then again, I guess this is just part of life. Eventually your grandparents start passing away, and your parents become the grandparents, and then you become the parents, and your kids become you. So get ready… growing up time is closer around the corner than you might think!

Hope everyone’s holiday was awesome! Feel free to make a little post here about anything special that comes to mind… including the ROCKIN leftovers taking over the fridge right now!!!

Alright, time for another funky contest!  HERE ARE THE RULES!

1. You must write a poem or rap of some sort.  It has to be funky.  It can be about whatev.  In the past people wrote about us…its funny.  I do encourage it.  BUT, if you wanna write about Cocoa Puffs, please do so.

2. You can only submit one entry!

3. It can be as long as you want.

4. Keep it mind we will be rapping it, so, dont say anything, we wouldnt say.

5. The 19th of November is the deadline!  We will pick one at that point and start making our video for you!

6. Dont forget to put your name and city you are from…so we can acknowledge you!

Alright shawties, LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!  Happy rhyming!!!

-The Funk Master (JR)

Ps. IF YOU MISSED THE LAST ONE…. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9DPulNLD7U

Okay, we are in need here. On the last blog several people expressed alot of interest in having a chat room (among other things). While we LOVE that you guys are connecting on this thing, unfortunately we’re not able to offer anything like that at this point. However, we will certainly log it in our brains as a suggestion for the new website scheduled to be released with the record… now to the good news…

Since we don’t have a chat room and it seems that many of you have questions for the band, we’re dedicating this blog post to you guys asking us questions for one week. I promise to answer anything you guys come up with until next Saturday the 25th. I can’t promise that I or any other member of the band will be able to answer everything, but we will definitely do our best for you guys.

That said… ask away…

pat: hi

bloggers: hey pat

Pat: it’s so good to see you! how are things?

bloggers: great! We are really excited about the new cd!

Pat: Really? Im not. The new cd sounds like Elton John and Cher had a baby…. and then that baby grew up and married Shania Twain…and then they had a baby and named it unhindered.

Bloggers: Really? thats kind of a bummer. Wait a second…are we talking “old school” Cher or “do you believe in life after love Cher?

Pat: “do you believe in life after love” Cher.

Bloggers: Thats too bad…

Pat: yea…

***awkward silence***

Pat: Well all of you are looking great!

Bloggers: Thanks! Your hair…it’s..it’s looking very…mullet-ish.

***awkward silence***

Pat: thanks…

***awkward silence***

—————————————

Sorry about that. It just started to bug me that I could not have a real conversation with the unhindered blogging community! It has been a great start to the fall tour. We’ve been playing some new songs, getting little sleep, and eating at the Popeyes in terminal “B” in the atlanta airport. Any Popeyes fans in the house??Anytime you fly through atlanta, you HAVE to eat at this particular Popeyes! The atmosphere is great. Not to mention the delicious spicy chicken biscuits…Sooooo good! It has become an unhindered pre-flight ritual…on second thought, don’t eat there. That would mean a longer line for us. Anyways, hope to everyone soon. 

p.s. Are there any particular topics you would like to see discussed on this blog in the future?

So when I was in third grade I had an epiphany… I am terrible at baseball. I’m terrible at most sports as a matter of fact but that doesn’t stop me from using their terminology in blog titles now does it? DOES IT?? I have no idea what that had to do with anything… Well, the record is mixed. As of today, the stamp is put on it and this sucker is ready for mastering. I would love to tell you what mastering is but I don’t wanna type it so here’s a link… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastering

Oh and here’s a little vid we made up in Nashville this morning for you kiddos…

Blogs….Blogs….Good for the heart…the more you read ‘em, the more you fart… the more you fart, the better you feel…so lift your leg, and let ‘em squeal!!  Okay, Okay…enough with all the childish stuff….(I do love beans and I do love blogs!!).  

So, what’s been on my mind lately?  Change.  Change can be sad, change can be exciting, change can hurt, change can make you stronger. I feel like there are some changes taking place in my life right now that God is orchestrating but that I am taking some time to adjust to.  Does anyone out there have any changes you are experiencing???  One of my personal changes occurred two weeks ago as Pat and I began attending a one year ministry school out of Bethel Church in Atlanta. I believe this change is going to help me understand more of who God is and what he is desiring to do in the Earth today (in two weeks, I have already seen God move in some powerful ways…I will tell you more in the months to come!).  Another change going on is the end to an amazing summer tour, the start of a new Acquire the Fire tour, and the completion of final touches on our new record.  We have put our heart and soul into this record, and we are very excited for all of you out there to hear some of the new tunes (we will be adding a bunch of new tunes to the setlist for the upcoming Tour!).  Stay in touch….you gotta love it!!

-Ben

What’s up guys? As promised, the other boys have been doing their share of blogging. In case you haven’t put it together yet, this past week was our vacation week… our time to get away from Atlanta and do things that are NOT Unhindered related. Pat was in Costa Rica, JR in Boston, Jay in London, Ben in Nashville, Ashley in DC (I think??), and I went to NYC. For me, it’s a town I know my way around pretty well and love spending time in. It’s also a place I’ve been several times and am able to sort of disappear in for a while. Would love to go into more detail but I am tired. What are some killer vacation spots you guys have been to or hope to check out?

Great Question!!! Well I have been overseas in London dealing with some very important business(world peace, hunger, value of the indian rupee) with some very important folks(Her Majesty the Queen, Gordon Brown, Elton John, Austin Powers) but i have taken some time off today to be a tourist and ran into a good friend of Unhindered’s and guitar player extraordinaire Alex Nifong.  Here are a few shots for you’ll to see

Writing you from Buckingham Palace

Sir Jay, Earl of Decatur

Vacation shawties!!!We have a week off so everyone in the band is kinda doin their own thing.  Some are flying up north, some are overseas, and some are chillin at their moms house (gettin some of that home cookin!).  I know some of yall are thinkin…”dude you guys travel for a living…you dont need a vacation!”  well, you ARE WRONG!  kidding.  You are probably right.  Tomato, tomato. (first “tomato” said with strong “A”…second “tomato said with a….weak “A”…????  i think i messed that up.  anyways… ie potato, potato!)  Im just gonna stop the thought above….it was very confusing and im not sure if anyone is gonna understand it.  I probably wont be aloud to write blogs after this one. Lets see, what can i blog about…how bout pets?!So, growing up, I had like 5 dogs.  The most we had at one time were 3.  (sorry, this is not a ‘math word problem’).  The first two dogs we had were Chow Chows.  Cool dogs.  Really aggressive though.  In fact…one bit me.  The other bit my sister.  Needless to say…both have been shut down!  (mess with the best, you die with the rest.)  So we decided to get nicer dogs…we got 2 pugs and 1 golden retriever!  LOOOOVED EM!  As a matter of fact, my mom still has the dogs.  So when I get to visit my mom, I get to see the dogs!  LOVE IT!  But!!  I think when I get my own dog…Id probably like to get a bull dog.  Or like a great dane!  I know those are two totally different dogs…but…whatev.  ps- for all you cat lovers!  God Bless you.  I cant stand em.  I sorta have reason…I might be allergic.  Maybe.  Well, on the real, I dont like cats because they have claws and like to fight.  A cat with no claws is okay with me!  But i know some peeps are weird about pulling out their cats claws.  ANYWAYS!!!  Im done here!  TELL UNHINDERED ABOUT YOUR PETS…LIKES AND DISLIKES!!! Word homies. 

Hey all you Bloggolians out there! As the summer is quickly coming to a close, it has become clear how close we are to the new CD! We have decided on a release in early January ‘09! I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning…BUT: instead of getting the new High School Musical DVD, it’s a record. And instead of Santa delivering it…It is some overweight UPS guy sporting a rat tail and a pair of shorts that are way to short for him. All this talk about Christmas is bringing out that Christmas cheer deep inside. I need to go get my santa hat on!Be right back…Ok. Im Back.While I’m on this rant, I would argue that the greatest gift you can give to someone on Christmas day (excluding: gift certificates, hugs, and cards) is…(drum role please)…Socks! You always need them. Can’t ever get enough socks! Any thoughts/disagreements/questions/concerns?Anyways, we are all pumped about this new season that is approaching and hope to see everyone soon!