The Birth of Blockade Runner

Those that have talked to me in the past few weeks know that I’ve been extremely busy.  Sadly, I’ve been too busy to update this blog.  That’s about to change in 3…2…1…GO!

For those who don’t know, I finally got a career-type job, teaching elementary music at a charter school out in Whiteville.  It’s a bit of a drive, but I couldn’t be happier with where I work.  The first few weeks of teaching have been incredible and I’m really blessed to not be one of the multitudes moving back in with parents out of necessity.  Finding a job not even a year after graduation has been a definite godsend and has allowed me to pursue my passion for music and worship in the city of Wilmington, which I love so dearly.

Does anyone remember how I wrote a post several months back about wanting to start some crazy kind of indie rock/pop/soul/worship band?  Well, this past week, I finally got off my duff and got the ball rolling.  It happened quite out of necessity too; I was offered a gig on Oct. 30, but I had no band to back me up.  I called my friends Robbie (guitar shredder), Kyrinn (unflappably cool bassist), and Ethan (monster drummer) to help me do some worship tunes and play through a few of my original songs.  We had our first practice on Saturday and in that, played through more than a couple worship tunes, agreed on a band name, AND recorded one of my originals as a band.  I was completely overwhelmed by my bandmates’ enthusiasm and ability.

I’m sure some are wondering why I started this, particularly because I’m so busy with other things such as Lifepoint (and all that goes with it), this new job, and another band I’m helping out right now.  I understand people’s concern and aside from the joke answer of me being a glutton for punishment, I really feel that Wilmington is about to experience a musical breakthrough.  I’m seeing a lot of cool bands get their start here:  Rio Bravo, Beta Radio, Luminosity, Sumerlin, The Stonewalls, they’re all great musicians and extremely wonderful people that really want to turn this town’s scene around and eventually move beyond it.  That’s exactly where my heart is too; I want to break through lines and barriers, which is part of the reason that I suggested the name Blockade Runner.  Another reason (aside from portraying the four of us as cool, Rhett Butler-type rogues), is that the name Blockade Runner is nearly synonymous with Wilmington and its history (good and bad).  Wilmington is our home, and I believe its my mission through Lifepoint and Blockade Runner to break through the barriers and get everyone singing about hope and restoration, because this city needs it.

I feel energized with this group, there’s a certain electricity that I get when I think about us playing at different venues, going through the rigors of recording, hopefully touring, and establishing relationships with other bands in the city and elsewhere as well as forming connections with people who really dig the music.  My feelings in a word?  Stoked.  I’m ready for this.

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~ by wesrose on September 22, 2010.