November 9
About a month and a half ago I found out that some friends of ours band "Calls From Home" were calling it quits. It's something that happens a lot in music just because things change, people change, and nothing stays the same. Richie the lead singer of the band and I basically grew up together. He and I have played quite a bit of music together over the years (straight to the top) and I felt like if anyone would "make it" Richie would. I guess just because he and the other guys in Calls From Home were always so on fire for having a career in music. Richie and the guys always seemed so close to breaking through. They played every bigger Christian Music festival that there is. They were courted by 4 or 5 bigger Christian Labels and they constantly had bookings nationwide whether dates they booked on their own or by their booking agent. However, something didn't pan out. The bookings were still there, but the labels either didn't live up to the hype or they lost interest. So for me it was really sad when Richie told me that Calls From Home were calling it quits. I've known all those guys a long time and it blew my mind to think that Calls From Home were not going to "make it." It takes a lot of sacrifice to make it in music and sometimes the sacrifices may not be worth the cost. Or maybe it just wasn't meant to be, however, they still made some awesome music that moved people whether you've ever heard them or not, they rocked.
You can still check out Calls From Home @ www.purevolume.com/callsfromhome
8th Plague is currently working on the finishing touches of new material for our next recording. We'll be in studio in the next few months and look forward to spring and summer show dates. Thanks to Nathan P. Murphy's for finding Joey's guitar. We don't know what we'd do without you!
Later 8th Plague
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April 24
Well my friends its been a couple of weeks, but I just wanted to say a few things.
For starters, Joseph Gross our bassist has done a great job of learning our songs. Joseph and us (Joey,Andy and I) go back a long way, all the way to the Death Valley Driver (RIP) days, circa 2000, so theres a lot of connection there. At one time Andy, Joseph, and I were going to create our own public access show and we did actually get one episode filmed which starred
"Roosty the Rooster" and involved a make believe land of Christmas knick-knacks (sp). Alas, the show was cancelled when the one person we showed it to completely thought it would get me fired from the Public access station I worked at and make people think we were "unsavory people." None the less, Joseph has been a good addition. Now, don't get me wrong, Ross is someone that is unreplaceable, but they're just two different people, both equally super.
Where were you last year at this time? Were things good? Were things crappy? Send us some comments and tell us what was going on then. 8th Plague was working to put together a summer tour which ended up being a random string of shows on various weekends, but it did bring us the 1st annual 8th Plague float trip(I just did a 360!). Well, this summer we have a 2 week tour which is something we've been driven to make happen for a long time, and lucky for us God crossed our paths with the Extreme Tour. It's an unbelieveable ministry folks and it's really easy to bring to your town(www.theextremetour.com). So, the summer needs to ge here for a few reasons. Ross is getting married May 28th, I'm getting married June 10th, we tour June 24th-July 9th and Andy gets married July 22nd.. So it's a big summer for us and it's going to be exciting.
One last thing, I would register myself as more of a purevolume.com user. While Andy is more of a myspace.com user. With this said, let it be known that I in no way agree or stand behind the statements posted on the www.myspace.com/8thplaguemusic BLOG. Andy has been pushing for a long time to replace me with a drum machine and I cannot stand by and let him "phase me out" without a fight. So, today I am beginning the
"Replace Andy With The Predator Campaign" You see friends, with my plan you get:
Dreadlike hair, Random Screeches(no change there), and not only that you get unmatched survival skills. Send us comments and tell us what you think. RAWTP today! and enjoy a
Blue Icee JA
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April 12
A few days ago we participated in the Extreme Tour GMA showcase and it was freakin great.. It's just so cool how the Extreme Tour ministry works and how the people connected to it are so awesome. We played some of our newer stuff and we met some really cool bands. We got to see Eleventyseven and J-Remy who out of all the Extreme Tour bands, have had the most "success" in the past year (Eleventyseven got signed to Flicker Records, and J-Remy had a #1 song on Radio U and another online station). We also got to see our friends from Education of Monkeys (thanks for letting us stay at your place Brandon and Justin-thanks Dan for getting out of bed to show us the way to Brandon and Justin's apt.). We got to see Calls From Home and they seem to be doing well, much love. We met a lot of "Industry People" which is an interesting term in Christian Music but it fits. Things are definetely crazy GMA week in Nashville. The convention center left Joey and I feeling like we were very small potatoes, which I guess we are. It all comes down to the fact that we play music because we love it, and because we have fun playing it together and that maybe the music's message will reach someone in need. The Pillager held up, we survived, so did the Boggy Creek Monster and things are great-
Oh lay! JA
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February 25
Well, let me weigh in with the idea that indie band promotion has changed a great deal in the last say, 5 years. I went to a show on Feb. 18th that featured two of my favorites, Anberlin and Emery, along with a currently "Huge band" by the name of Hawthorne Heights. I saw this show in Tulsa at the historic Cain's ballroom(awesome venue, we've played in Tulsa just not at Cain's). None the less, I'm listening to Anberlin completely blow the crowd away with
"Time and Confusion" and I turn to Joey and Stephen and say, "Without Purevolume.com and Myspace.com these bands wouldn't be playing at this venue. Not only that, but thanks to these sites and the way the internet in general has shaped the promotion of music I might not even be at this show, or be an Anberlin, Emery, and Hawthorne Heights fan in the first place." With that said, it was an unreal show with a great turn out and well worth the 120 mile drive and my my how things have changed since the Garageband.com days or if you can remember Farmclub.com, yikes.
Anyway, we as a band are doing well from where I sit. Our newest demo is back from master and it's simply the best stuff we've ever done. The summer Extreme Tour stint is taking shape, and let me say, the Extreme Tour is so great and God works through that ministry in many ways. On a personal note, Ross(former bassist-the greatest 6th grade teacher ever) is getting married in May, I'm getting married in June-tentatively, and Andy is getting married in July, so all in all this is going to be a busy summer, but by far the most rewarding summer to date. Keep checking back for the new tracks, you won't be let down.
Much love and God Bless, Jack from 8th Plague
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view all 4 posts
karpenter's kids
You guys are good---keep rocking for JC!
posted Jul 02
ribbonsoflight
Woooowwwww.. You\'re good.=D
posted Jun 20
muscle_car_guy17
hey guys ur coming to my home town
posted May 10
redneckmusiclover
u guys are awesome...u know if u get the chance come to
St. Louis or O\'fallon i would totally go to see u guys
and i would bring a bunch of freinds...let me know if
ur ever up here! -shaggy-
posted May 03
yosemitesam91
Word... U totally rock my christian world!!!
posted Apr 13
thegreatfentoni
I luvs ya ya scerve bastards!
posted Feb 25
tanacea
You should check out this really cool free service. My
band is using it too. www.scriggleit.com
posted Feb 21
Modern day thorns
I love yalls music!!!!
posted Feb 09