Give The Gift Of Music!

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CD, Christmas, Christmas Music, Christmas The Reason, Rhon Van Erman, RhonVanErman

Is it the weather? (This has been one of the best Novembers I can remember). Is it me? Or (fill in the blank)…? I’m not sure, maybe a combination of many things, but I know that Thanksgiving came up on me so fast that I just haven’t been able to get “in the Spirit” or “in the Holiday mood”, and now it’s here! So I thought to myself “I’ll get my Christmas EP – Christmas The Reason and pop it in the CD player”, (don’t laugh, I still like CDs, hey, I even love vinyl!). And there it came. The mood, the Spirit, which is why I recorded it in the first place. The contemplative place I like to be when Christmastime is upon us. Phew, that was close. I was beginning to think I’d grown numb to what should be one of the greatest times of the year. So as I reflect on it’s meaning again, I am thankful this Thanksgiving weekend for the gift of music and how it is transcendent to time, places, people, etc. That is awesome!

As we prepare ourselves for the day we call Christmas I want to encourage you to take some “you” time and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and how it affects you, and how you respond to it. It always puts things into perspective for me because all the hype, parties, and “I want’s” can cloud the truth pretty doggone quick!

So I am thankful this Thanksgiving as a listener and a writer/player. It’s the combination of just the right notes and memories that can give meaning and perspective to a time that means so much.

Happy Thanksgiving & Merry Christmas!

Rhon –

Visit this link to listen and purchase Christmas – The Reason  

What Would A Singing Angel Do To You?

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Angels, Capture Me Again, CD, CD Baby, Christmas, Christmas Music, Christmas The Reason, Facebook, Google+, Guitar, Guitar Solo, iTunes, Jazz, Music, Music Blog, Music Video, Reason, Rhon Van Erman

It’s here! A month of celebration and reflection upon one of the greatest events to happen in History. The tree, decorations, Church, family parties, shopping, going and going and…..numb….”I’ll be glad when this is over so I can”….

Ugh! What happened? Would an Angel walking in your downtown singing “Hark The Herald Angels Sing” put it all back into perspective? Would the general public even notice, or think “That’s one of those weird people who say Merry Christmas”.

I embarked upon the recording of a Christmas CD in 2013 in a bit of a scurry. However, once I got started, doing an all instrumental album (yes I still call them that) allowed the Spirit of the songs to come forward and let my soul breathe a bit. To ponder on “The Reason” for the celebration.

This is the first of five blog posts that will feature a video/song from the Christmas The Reason CD.  My main objective was to create a work of songs that would impart contemplation. One of the cool things with the type of video I’ve created, is that you can read this while listening. So you can push play on the video and scroll down and read. This will be an “inside the music” perspective of why I decided on these particular songs and what they mean to family, friends, fans, and myself.  What is my reaction and participation to this event? One of my favorite times to listen to this CD is late at night when everyone is asleep, close my eyes, and let the tension of the world calm down. Something we all can use a bit of.

I also hope that you will leave comments not only about the music, but your thoughts and experiences from this most wonderful time of the year. I have played thousands of songs and “gigs” in my life but the greatest and most fulfilling notes are the ones I offer to the One who gives the notes. Please share this with your friends, family, and others, so we may be better connected in this gift we call music.

Merry Christmas!

– Rhon  (email me at rockin@rhonvanerman.com)

“As Close As You Will Get”

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A/CRock, blink of an eye, CD, CD Baby, Facebook, Google+, Guitar, Guitar Solo, iTunes, Journey, Journey The Band, Music, Music Blog, Music Video, Revolution, Revolution The CD, Rhon Van Erman, RhonVanErmanBlog, ThisSideOfHeaven

Risks, you take them everyday. No risk, no reward. Some small, some take a lot of give. Those who give, get.

There comes a point in the heat of the moment that you have to take a chance. Deciding on a relationship, a dream to chase, a job change. Not a blind leap, but a leap of faith. When you don’t know the outcome and you wish you had a sign. But sometimes breathless, you have to choose. This could be it. Because, “this moment just might be, as close as you will get, this side of heaven.”

These are lyrics and thoughts taken from the writing of the song “This Side Of Heaven” from the Revolution CD. I hope that this song will be an inspiration to “live” your days and not wait until it’s too late. And in addition, to be able to say if it didn’t work out that you gave your all and have no regrets!

The lyrics to the entire song can be read from my website here – Lyrics to “This Side Of Heaven”

Thanks for reading. Blessings

Rhon

http://www.rhonvanreman.com

“She Cries Love” for #ThrowBackThursday

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A/CRock, Amazon, CD, CD Baby, Facebook, Google+, Guitar, Guitar Solo, iTunes, Journey, Journey The Band, Lovesongs, Music, Music Blog, Music Video, Rhon Van Erman, Rock, She Cries Love, Twitter, YouTube

Hard to believe I can use the song “She Cries Love” for a Throw Back Thursday feature but this song has been in release for 18 years next month, which I think puts it into the aforementioned category as well as makes me not feel 20 anymore!

This song was released in November of 1996 and is from my first CD that is self-titled. This was back in the ages when we were using what is called ADAT, a tape based digital format for recording, that was “cutting edge” for it’s time and the CD was still in it’s infancy. My, my, how far we’ve come in such a short time! As far as the throw back goes, back then there were only huge, rest on your shoulder types of video cameras. Or at least, a hand held 8 mm cam that was a bit awkward to negotiate. So for this #TBT I’m using the CD cover pic as a static image and letting the song play in the back round of the video to give it that “older” vibe, and besides, I just didn’t have the gear or budget it would’ve taken 18 years ago to make a video like the award winning “Revolution” video done in 2013. The cool thing with new technologies is that I will be able to upload all the songs to YouTube from this CD so you can listen to the songs in their entirety! If you have a YouTube account please add them to your playlist. And if you haven’t purchased them, all the songs are available on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, and at http://www.rhonvanerman.com

“She Cries Love” was written in third person about falling in love and doing everything you can to make it happen, keep it happening, and not getting your heart broken along the way. The focus is a from a woman’s perspective, but as we well know, it takes two to tango and make it work. So this song can relate to either gender. My main writing influence for this song musically is the band Journey. Their sound is something I naturally gravitate to.

Sit back on your Thursday and watch, listen, and reminisce. And if you have this CD (record), or saw me perform it live, leave me a comment and share your memory!

– Rhon

“The Vacuum That Sucks”

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A/CRock, CD, Guitar, Guitar Solo, Lovesongs, Music, MusicBlog, Recording, Revolution, Revolution The CD, Rhon Van Erman, RhonVanErman, RhonVanErmanBlog, RhonVanErmanRevolution, Songwriting, Studio, Videoing

Hmm, quite a title eh? The only vacuum that sucks and does a great job is my sweeper. It does a great job of making the carpet look and feel so nice and I like that. However there is another vacuum that can suck the life right out of you, being or thinking you are an island. I will refer to the saying “No man is an island”. When I was a kid I had no idea what my teacher was talking about but as I started to work with others in sports, rock & roll bands, etc, it all became very clear, even the greatest of my talents need the inclusion of others to really make them shine. The other saying that has gotten a lot of shout lately is “There is no I in the word Team”. Yea, there may be some great things someone can accomplish on their own but they really miss out on the entire experience of life when they don’t involve others and will never achieve their best potential. Besides, sharing the victory with others is a richer experience compared to patting yourself on the back. That makes your arm hurt just reaching around to try it anyway!
I am dedicating this blogpost to all those that have helped me with the pre and post production of the Revolution CD. For most of you that read this these people are total strangers, and at one time, some of these people were total strangers to me as well. And there you go, the vacuum. If I didn’t talk with others, ask questions, involve myself with them to be the best I could be, I never would have met some of these vibrant people. So I’ll just settle for the only vacuum I need, and that’s the one that sucks dirt, not the breath of life I receive from others.
I’ve also included in this post a picture of The Telly Award that was given for my video “The making of She’s Everything I Need”. This was produced by Cabin14films and recorded at Studio D. Always good to be recognized for your work! Now I give
my deepest gratitude and thanks to –

My Father in Heaven, my Wife & Son, my parents, Lynn Graber at the Recording House, Andy Symons (formerly at The Lodge Recording Studio), Darrell Powell at Studio D, Jared Powell & Garrett Matney at Cabin14films, Randy Melson (Bass), Dane Clark(Drums), I miss playing with you guys more often but it’s great being able to pick up where we leave off, Phil Maxwell (Back Round Vocals), the wonderful people at Disc Makers and CD Baby & Greg Chupp. I would also like to thank my Wife for the perfectly packed cooler with my lunch and treats to sustain me for my drive to the studio and the hugs from you and our son that got me there and back! And you, my fans, you give fuel to the fire on this journey. When I complete a song one of the things I can’t wait to do is share it with you. I am blessed and grateful 🙂

Rhon –

Revolution – The Song

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A/CRock, CD, lyric line, Music, MusicBlog, Revolution, RhonVanErman, Songwriting, Studio

Deep, to the core of your soul kind of passion that fuels the fire of your dreams. An embrace that has not yet been felt.
Finding your soulmate. Not the same experience for everyone, and for some can be a road of highs and lows that almost make you lose hope. But it’s still there. A spinning in your soul that looks for that momentous change that is a “Revolution”.
When the music and lyrics to this song came I didn’t have a particular person in mind but I felt it had to be written because someone, even just one person, needed to hear it and know there is hope. This song was written with a tuning on the guitar that matched the intensity of the music which helped the lyric come alive.
Verse 1 –
She had the hope inside, since she was a child
What was in her heart was always sacred
She gave it all away, just to be betrayed
With empty promises that always faded…
Can, she, hold on ’till

Hook –
She will find out, that what lies in her heart is not illusion
She will find out, that what burns deep inside, is a Revolution

The connection of Spirit and body is where all this connects. The journey to find your other half is often not what you would expect. And a lot of the time it ends up being better and different than you could’ve imagined. It’s the time searching that is very difficult. But the searching gets you ready for when it does happen. If this song is for you, enjoy each step and breathe deep, because you only get one at a time.

Blessings,
Rhon

Red Light-itis

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CD, Recording, Videoing

Here, let me stick this in your face, oh maybe two feet away, start videoing you and then you can record your best guitar take ever! No pressure, c’mon Man, kill it!
Well, it’s been awhile since I’ve had that scenario, “Red Light-itis”. When the little red light comes on and you have to have an out of body experience to record your best take. All went well yesterday recording “When The Lightning Crashes In” acoustic guitar parts, as a matter of fact I got them both in one pass, so I guess the place I went in my out of body experience must’ve been pretty cool. Of this I am thankful! There you have it, one of the many adventures in recording my CD. The attached picture is Barrett of Cabin 14 Films setting up for my video. I will be posting that vid as soon as editing is done. Onward and upward!