Hope International

My wife Michelle is in the midst of taking a course dealing with the micro-financing aspect of development work in developing countries. Michelle was born in the Amazon jungle of Peru, South America, and she ended up going back after college to work with Food For The Hungry in the same jungle village where she grew up.  She moved back to the states to marry me, but her heart still longs to be back on the field doing what she does best.  Currently, we're living in North Carolina, and actively wondering, waiting, and working toward a way that we can mesh music and art with cross-cultural development work.  The puzzle pieces are slowly getting put together. Recently my friend Nic Mclean took a trip to Haiti with Hope International and filmed the following short documentary about Hopes work there. Michelle and I are encouraged by it, and I hope you are too.

Jedidiah - Gabriel House

It's been a joy to work with, and collaborate with, the folks at Jedidiah.  Here's a touching piece documenting their trip to Mexico to spend time with the kids at Gabriel House.

Christmas at The Gabriel House from Jedidiah Clothing on Vimeo.

Seattle & Vancouver: Travels End

The last leg of our album release tour was spent out in the far northwestern lands of Seattle and Vancouver. It worked out that we were able to spend time with our family over Thanksgiving weekend in Seattle, and then proceed on up to Langley and Vancouver, BC for a few Christmas concerts and an intimate show on Granville Island (Thanks, Mike Wipf!). It was a joy to meet up with my good friend Trace Bundy and his wife Becca, as Trace and I shared the stage together each night of our northwestern tour. We endearingly call these short tours together "The Gunbarrels Tours" (Bundy + Garrels = Gunbarrels, see). Our last show together was at one of the most beautiful venues that I've ever had the privilege to play, The Triple Door in downtown Seattle. It was the perfect ending not only to our northwest tour, but to the months of traveling around the country that have collectively made up my album release tour for "Jacaranda" . That night, shared with so many friends and family at the Triple Door, will live on in my memory as one of the highlights of my musical career. Thanks to all of you who came out.

Playing at "The Spirit Of Christmas" festival in Langley, BC. Photo by Mike Rathjen

Sharing the stage with Trace at "Spirit of Christmas".

A quick snapshot before we travel on to Vancouver. From left to right: Becca Bundy, Michelle Garrels, Heron Garrels, Josh Garrels, Trace Bundy.

Trace and I scoping out the venue before our soundcheck.

Performing at "The Backstage Lounge" in Vancouver.

Photo by Michelle Garrels

Gorilla in the mist of Granville Island. Michelle calls this one "Urban Warrior", but I think it looks like I'm on a movie set...it was a surreal evening.

The show flier for our show at "The Triple Door". Designed by Trace Bundy and David Salinas.

Taking the stage at Triple Door.

As an encore on our final night, Trace and I performed "O Come O Come Emmanuel".

Merry Christmas everyone!

Pennsylvania Tour

A big thanks to all who hosted us and came out to the shows in Philadelphia, Lancaster, and Gratham, Pennsylvania! This rather short leg of our "northeast" tour was exciting, grueling, but really meaningful! We look forward to coming up to the Northeast again, but next time, we'll head all the way up to New Jersey and New York. Anyone up in Boston and Maine want to help me book a show? May as well go all the way, aye? Here are some photo highlights from the Pennsylvania tour.

Downing a cup of coffee while listening to opener Katie Becker at Senorita Burrita in Lancaster, PA.

An "up close and personal" set at Senorita Burrita.

We stayed in an old row home for a few nights in Philadelphia. Two of the guys living there were welders/artists who transformed the home, inside and out, with old scrap metal and extra bike parts. It felt like we were staying in the lost boys' tree house. It was rad.

Spending some time with our friends Jay Beck of "Psalters", and Aimee Wilson of "Porchfront Factorye" at the market in Philadelphia.

A thank you note drawn by Stephanie Beach during our show at Circle of Hope.

Art For Sale.

My sister and brother-in-law, Gala and Zack Bent, have just posted a body of work available for purchase on Etsy.com. All the drawings from my latest album "Jacaranda" were done by my sister Gala, and currently both Zack and Gala work as full time visual artists in Seattle, Washington. Their work is beautiful and rich, and I'd love for more people to get acquainted with them. Feel free to visit their store here , and get some of your Christmas shopping taken care of. You can even get your piece framed and delivered to your doorstep, all at the click of a mouse!

Drawing and Watercolor by Gala Bent

Photography by Zack Bent

www.zackandgalabent.com

Full Length Video of Jedidiah Florida Tour

Video by Russell Brownley

Florida/Jedidiah Tour

Me, my wife Michelle, and our daughter Heron just got back from a wild ten day tour in Florida!  We started in Flagler Beach at the Tommy Tant Memorial Surf Contest and then worked our way all the way down to the Florida Keys. We linked up with the Jedidiah crew and did shows in various surf shops linking visual art with music, activism, and surfing.  It was rad.  Here's some video and photos highlighting the trip.

Video by Russell Brownley.

The Tommy Tant Surf Contest at Flagler Beach, FL.

Performing with Braddigan at Flagler Beach.

Performing at Compound Surf Shop in Sarasota.

Mike Doyle and Cheyne Cottrell teamed up with us in Ft. Lauderdale.

 My ladies, Michelle and Heron, enjoying another evening with good friends.

Performing at Eikon in Ft. Lauderdale.

Russell Brownley filming a car interview while on the road.

Heron meets Sushi.

Playing on the Miami bay at Key Biscane.

Partick Maxcy painting wild octopi during my set in St. Augustine.

Kahana Kalama: surfer, tour manager, grill master.  Outdoor show at The Surf Station in St. Augustine.

Performing at The Goods Surf Shop in Melbourne.

Thanks for the shirt Buddy!

Video by Matt Katsolis