For all you keyboard freaks out there….this is day one of “Jim’s gear.” We will need multipledays on this one…..simply because he has a lot of junk up on that riser. Enjoy!

This is Jim’s Hammond B3 organ which is played through a 122 leslie that stil has all original drivers. The organ has an effects channel insert that is tube based. The tubes are12ax7’s, He also delays this sound through a Line 6 Delay pedal that you may also see on a guitar pedal board. On top of the organ is a Roland V-Synth with a built in touch pad (similar to a Kaos pad) so he can assign different effects to sounds.

-wes

Well folks, we are back on the road today in Hoffman Estates, IL and are starting a three day run that will take us to Wisconsin and Iowa. I should be excited about getting back out there serving and helping to make it easy for the guys to lead the Body in worship…..but sometimes its hard. Especially on a weekend when you know your family is off of work and sitting at home wishing you were there to hang with them. You miss home and miss the community of people that are around you. Sometimes you also miss important events at home, like your best friend getting married tomorrow. But, we know why we do this and we know that we have been called to be apart of something bigger than us. Realizing that makes it easier to go back out on the road.

Please pray for us crew and our families at home. Pray that the Lord speaks thru the band and changes lives at these three shows this weekend.

wes

Happy GREATEST DAY OF THE YEAR to you all!Yes, today is better than the first day of Spring, or better than the first bit of snow we may get each winter. Maybe even better than Christmas morning……..maybe. Opening Day for Major League baseball is upon us people. The great game is here!

If your senses are in tune…..if you pay close attention, you may just be able to hear the crack of the bat, the ball hitting the mit, or the smell of fresh grass, or hot dogs with relish. What a day……what a day. The cathedrals that are baseball parks are open and ready for business.

Everyone’s team is undefeated. Everyone’s team is in first place, if only for a day. The uniforms are clean, the hats are new and need breaking in…….even mine. (see pic) No matter how bad your team was last year or may be in a couple of months, all is right at this moment. This is a great day!

So put on your favorite hat, open the windows and enjoy the Spring weather, grab a glass of iced tea and kick back on the couch……..ITS BASEBALL TIME IN AMERICA. Can it be a more perfect day? A submit to you that it cannot be.

GO RANGERS!

wes

Joel is giving out weekly per diem and they got me good with a “shocker” pen Jim got at a gag gift store…….Jim by far is the biggest prankster in MercyMe.

I hope I didnt hurt Joel when I hit him…..that stinkin’ hurt though.

wes

After dealing with a lot of boredom on the road to this point, and observing our band having so much fun with their blog, we (the MM crew) have decided to take matters into our own hands. Thats right, we have decided to introduce ourselves to the world and let you all in on who were are, and more importantly….what we do.

We have heard chatter and have seen other video documentaries on bands, concerts and the road from the perspective of those who set it up, make it work, and take it down every day….the crew.

Some of you might already be saying…”who cares!?” Well, we asked ourselves if people would actually be interested in those of us that are “behind the scenes” and not actully on the stage. We decided that there has to be people interested in the inner workings of this organization….surley……right? right!

We serve MM on a daily basis and have the pleasure of traveling with them every time they get on a bus. We all basically live together and see each other as much as our own families…….so, pretty much we are a family.

So….without furthur ado ….start checking in on us and see what we see….. the band from our perspective…. which could include, but is not limited to:

-Their gear: guitars, drums, keys, etc.
-what we have to do with them.
-Audio/Video: MM always has some form of video at their shows.
-Secrets about the band!
-Bus life for us and them.
-Life in general….we all have families at home too that always need and appreciate prayer.
-Dancing videos???? maybe…..we all danced in the “TA-DA’s” video on the band blog…..we like to have fun too!

We are:Ryan Slaughter: Lighting / Video director
Marlon Woods: Merchandise Manager
Bobby George: Monitor Engineer
Wes Amick: Production/Stage Manager
Danny Smith: Bus Driver
Joel Bench: Tour/Road Manager, Road Pastor

Talk to you all soon!

-Wes