CHRISTIAN MUSIC NEWS UPDATE 11/25/11
by Terry DeBoer
You can hear Terry’s updates on the radio at 4:20 p.m. EST Fridays on www.jq99.com (99.3FM)
Some headlines: (details below)
1. Five Iron Frenzy Returns
2. Chonda Pierce on movie gig
3. Francesa Battistelli video
4. Carman hospitalized
5. Matthew West meets a new friend
6. Another Christmas song
7. Life Transitions
8. Awards wrap
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1. FIVE IRON BACK OUT OF THE BAG
After an eight year hiatus the post-ska/ska-core band Five Iron Frenzy is coming back out of the golf bag.
The faith-based band with a prominent horn section announced a “kickstarter” fund raising project for a new CD on Nov. 22, and within 12 hours raised more than $70,000 (far past the original goal of $30,000) toward production, promotion and initial touring costs.
“If the past is any indication of the future, we may all be in for a very wild ride,” posted trombonist Dennis Culp on the band’s kickstarter project page (www.kickstarter.com/projects/fiveironfrenzy).
The band has already released a new single (“It Was A Dark and Stormy Night”), and said their complete album wouldn’t be issued until 2013, although it’s possible the band might play some festival dates next year.
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Mark Schultz's cat found a nice place to hunker down for a nap - until Mark wanted to put his guitar away.
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2. CHONDA PIERCE BACK ON TV!
Comedienne Chonda Pierce has a role in the upcoming made-for-TV movie “12 Wishes of Christmas, which airs at 9 p.m. (EST) Nov. 27 on the ION-TV network. It stars Elisa Donovan and Fred Willard. Pierce has had a number of roles recently in Hollywood-based film projects.
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3. LOVE IN THE USA
The new video for “This Is The Stuff” by Francesca Battistelli was premiered by USAtoday.com recently. Here is the link to the combination animated and live action video: http://smarturl.it/thisisthestuff
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4. MUSIC ARTIST INJURED IN CAR CRASH
Singer-songwriter Carman (Licciardello) was a passenger in a car that collided with a truck last weekend near a concert venue in Houston, Tex.
He was scheduled to perform that evening and attempted to go on, but collapsed and was taken to a local hospital. Tests reportedly showed no broken bones, but some internal injuries would require surgery. He returned home to the Nashville area for surgery later in the week, where they diagnosed some stomach related distress.
Get the latest at his Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/CarmanLicciardello?sk=wall
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5. WEST MEETS CANDIDATE
When singer Mattnew West was on the “Fox and Friends” show earlier this week, he met Republican presidential candidate Michelle Bachman. West said he was inspired to learn that Bachman and her husband have been foster parents to more than two dozen children.
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6. KATHY TROCCOLI LANDS MAINSTREAM SONG
“Missing You This Christmas” is the ballad that Kathy performs with the help of pop-pianist Jim Brickman. The song, co-written by Troccoli, was released to inspirational and mainstream radio stations in time for the Christmas season. You can see a video of the song at http://www.youtube.com/kathytroccoli.
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7. LIFE TRANSITIONS
Singer-songwriter Warren Barfield and his wife welcomed a new daughter, Ada Beth Barfield born Wed. Nov. 23.
Ada Beth Barfield
“Big brother and dad are flying high,” tweeted Warren.
Barfield has been touring earlier this year with comedienne Chonda Pierce.
For more info check www.warrenbarfield.com.
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8. CATCHING UP ON AWARDS
In case you missed it, Casting Crowns won an American Music Award last weekend in the contemporary inspirational category. Also nominated were Third Day and TobyMac. It was the sixth nomination for Casting Crowns, and their second win.
Winning the award for top new artist was the band Hot Chell Rae, which features Phil Keaggy’s song Ian and Paul Overstreet’s son Nash.
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Thanks for reading! If you have a comment or news tip, reply below.
See Terry’s newspaper articles at http://connect.mlive.com/user/tdeboer/index.html
You can also read him at www.westmichiganchristian.com
