I was commissioned to record this track, iirc, for St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Edgartown, MA, for Holy Week during the Great Pandemic of 2020. I had to make a video for it, and the whole thing was a unique challenge do develop some new audio-video skills in the whole pandemic-era scheme of things. The video is here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGsUz1RlYvc
In 2022, after playing River Rock Festival in Maine, the recording was picked up by a few Christian radio stations. It always amazes me how things work -- you never know when a song will have a second life.
I especially had fun playing slide guitar and drums on this one, both are rare.
Also, PS, in the single artwork that's me singing on the porch of the Community Baptist Church in Aquinnah, MA, where I've been the preacher since Sept. 2020. The pic was taken in the winter of 2020/2021 -- the town halls throughout Martha's Vineyard and all of Massachusetts state gov't was hardcore about shutting down live music even through the spring of 2021, and I was -- shall we say -- hardcore too, but in the polar opposite direction. I did everything possible to keep live music going in my community, including holding outdoor concerts at our church even through the cold winter months. Hence being all bundled up in the pics.
This recording captured a lot of joy. There is nothing like singing hymns in church, full-throated and loud, or all mumbly because you're tired and shy. I didn't grow up with the experience so I find it endlessly charming and mysterious and beautiful. So enjoy, sing along, sing alone, be blessed and stay blessed etc, LOVE YA!
released August 29, 2022
Sean McMahon - everything!