Episode 404 - Sow and Tether - This Is The Day!

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Welcome back to Voices in My Head. As always, I'm your host, Rick Lee James. Rick Lee James, and I'm so glad that you're here with us for what I know is going to be another great conversation. My guest today on Voices in My Head is the rock band So and Tether. Now I have two of the members here today, not the entire band, but So and Tether exists to enrich and excite souls with the grace and truth of Christ through song. They are part of the worship teams at Redeemer Baptist Church and Getwell Road Church in the northwest Mississippi— Mississippi and Memphis, Tennessee areas, and they lead and write songs that speak the truth of the Gospel of Jesus to encourage and edify the church. They lead worship for conferences, retreats, and various other events as their schedules allow. Born out of Redeemer Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi, their desire for those they have the opportunity to minister to is the same as their desire for their own congregations. To sing songs with deep gospel roots that help people to see and glory in the risen Christ. Every opportunity to lead others is met with this calling, and they would love to partner with your church or organization in ministry. So today on the show, I have two members of the band So and Tether. I have Hunter Bobo. He is the lead vocalist and primary songwriter of So and Tether. He serves as worship pastor at Redeemer Baptist Church in Olive Branch, Mississippi. And I get to welcome back Stephen McNeil. Also, who is the bassist for So in Tether. He is a singer and songwriter, and we had him on the show last year for his album Centerpiece. I kind of like to call him the Tom Petty of Christian music. I just love the vibe that he brings. It's a real honor to have both of these guys here today. Before we get into their conversation, we're going to listen to their latest single called This Is the Day, and then right after, we're going to have a great discussion.

This is the day that the Lord has made. This is the day that the Lord has made. Oh, this is the day. That the Lord has made. Oh, this is the day that the Lord has made, and I will rejoice. I will rejoice. I will rejoice and be glad in it. I will rejoice. I will rejoice. I will rejoice and be glad in it. Oh, this is the day that the Lord has made. With every new day mercy rolls my way. I'm singing glory, praise be to his name. The Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, the end. Glory, praise be to his name. I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in it. In nowhere. I will rejoice, I will rejoice, I will rejoice and be glad in there. Here we go. I'm singing glory, praise be to his name. The Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, the end. Glory, praise be to his name. To his name. To his name. To his name.

And that was This Is the Day by my guests today from the band So and Tether, Hunter and Steven. Welcome to Voices in My Head. I'm so glad to have you here today.

Yes, sir, happy to be here.

Yeah, thanks, Rick.

Well, I want to start out today by saying, first of all, great song. I've been enjoying listening to it, and I'm really glad that you guys sent me over a copy of it, and it's It's really catchy, "This is the day," and it reminds me of kind of a song we used to sing, you know, back in Sunday school days, you know, when I was a kid, but a much more rocked up version of it for sure. And it really gets your toe tapping. It's one that, you know, one mark of a great song to me is one that makes me want to grab my guitar out and start playing along with, and it's definitely one of those songs for sure. But let me ask you as we start today, how are things going for you guys? I know You know, for us musicians, 2020 has been a difficult year, and 2021 going into it, in many ways it feels like the same year, just, you know, uh, just a different, uh, number at the end of it. So how's it going for you guys?

Um, well, you know, I, I tend to actually think that, um, each member of the band is, is, uh, so many different things. And not just necessarily like a part of this project. So I actually felt like 2020, at least for me, and, you know, I guess, you know, Stephen might have had a different take, but it was similar to many years for us. And I think that a lot of that is just because, you know, for us, we're dead set on being hard workers at our jobs and being good husbands, being good dads, being good leaders that are respected at different churches. And, you know, we get the opportunity to play out quite a bit. But, you know, we had some things that— quite a few things, rather, that did get canceled. But to be honest, you know, it just helped us to lean into the other areas of our lives that, you know, are just as important, I guess you'd say. What do you think, Stephen?

Yeah, I'd agree with that. You know, it was a time when kind of some of the plans we had fell through. So instead, we really— we focused a lot more on, on writing and arranging some new tunes.

Yeah.

And, um, uh, and I think that was a— it was a good creative outlet among all the other chaos that, you know, that life kind of threw at us.

It was helpful too because like Stephen, Stephen and, uh, Josh are new to the project within like the last year or so. And I actually felt like us having that ample time to write and to be in the room together and, uh, and, and all that, I think sort solidified the 5 of us in some really helpful ways. Even just, I don't know, it's been kind of funny. Any time we get like 2 and a half minutes to talk as a band, it goes from like 0 to 100 in terms of like just substance of conversation. So all that was actually super helpful for us too. I think it kind of helped us all. It was really good to just kind of like be a band in the room writing stuff together and having to hash out stuff in that, in that way last year.

Well, good, I'm glad to hear that. And I am hearing that actually from a lot of people, that they're getting to focus on other things that weren't necessarily what they always had focused on before during this time. And it does sound like it gave you guys a time with some new members, a time to kind of solidify and play together and write together more. So that's That is a good thing. I'm really excited about that. I'd love to ask you both, because I know it's different when you're writing as sort of a single artist, as a singer-songwriter, versus writing and playing with a band. I'd love to know kind of what, as a band together, how you would describe your creative process, kind of what goes into it. Does one of you usually bring the songs in and you all kind of work on it together, or is it kind of finished when you come in and the band kind of adds some contributing parts, or just kind of what's the process usually like for you guys together?

Yeah, um, I, I, I, uh, I always want to have a variety of ways that we'll write a song together. I think that there is a bit of a bread and butter way that we would go about it, meaning, you know, I, uh, I am probably— I'm not nearly the player that everyone else in this band is, but I think that what I bring to the table with the band is, is the ability to, to write. So yeah, I definitely, me and a buddy of mine, we set aside some time just about as many weeks as we can to just get in the room and put down lyrics. But to be honest with you, almost always it's a very like conceptual song idea, like, hey, here's verses, here's choruses, here's a bridge, things like that. But I think that all the guys, all the guys have really seen that I am really bringing that song in and saying, whatever we need to do with it to make it the best it is from here, like, I don't care what we change. Let's just make it great. Most of the time, that's sort of the way that it would happen. Now, we've had different processes. This Is the Day was very different in its process. The other 4 songs we'll put out this year, they each had their kind of own thing, really. But most, I mean, a lot of the time, I would say 6 times out of 10, it's going to be, hey guys, here's, here's this song. What can we do with it? And a lot of times I just go with the opinion of what, of what they think, to be honest. I remember with the newest recordings we just did, I actually like just threw 2 songs out in the air and Stephen was the one that like so quickly made it obvious which one needed to be song number 5 that we went to record this year. He was like, no, that's the one we need to go record. And always, I mean, I listen to that stuff and I think we all take each other's opinions like really, really highly, I think. So yeah, I guess that would be it.

Yeah, Hunter's a really good— Hunter's a really good band leader. You know, it's, it's not so much, uh, Hunter and the Sewin' Tethers, you know, but he is, he, he's good at leading and kind of facilitating, and, you know, he'll bring in ideas like that. Um, but the cool thing about this band is everybody's pretty trusting, like you said. Yeah, because any, just about anybody in the band, um, and, and even good at the producing end of it. So everybody kind of is pretty trusting because Nobody's— everybody's got good judgment. Yeah, with as far as songwriting and production goes. And so it's, it's really fun to be in a room and work on songs like that because, you know, everybody has the same goal, and that's to make the song as great as it can be.

So yeah, that's terrific. Well, let me ask you, Stephen, because I know you're a great guitar player, and I've heard a lot of the great licks that you play, you know, over the years, but you're the bass player in this band. Yes. What's it like for you, and what's it kind of mean for you to get to kind of stretch your legs on a different instrument, so to speak? And just do some different things like that. I know it must be a different kind of fun and creativity for you.

It's super fun. Yeah. You know, playing bass is— it's a completely different perspective for the music than playing guitar. And you know, when I'm producing my own stuff, I'm kind of thinking about everything all at once and trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together. But like I said, in this band, the other guys are going to take care of their end of things and they're going to do their their parts really well. And so I've been able to kind of dig in and really, um, you know, get creative with, with the bass, uh, which is something I haven't been able to regularly do in a really long time. And, uh, so, you know, even as I'm listening to music, uh, you know, I'm listening in to, to all these, these, these music, music I've known my whole life. Yesterday I was listening to, uh, the James Taylor Greatest Hits, uh, you know, which is, which is kind of— it's a compilation, but it's a record in and of itself, I think. Um, but like all these songs I've been listening to my entire life, but like I've never really noticed the bass part, uh, as, as closely as I am now. And so it's been fun to kind of examine the songs from that end. And John Gaines, our drummer, is a really good drummer, and it's fun to play bass with a really good drummer.

Yeah.

Um, it's— so it's been a lot of fun. It's, it's, uh, a cool experience to be a part of this band and to play the bass.

So is it just the three of you, uh, in the band? Is it a trio?

No, there's 5 of us.

5 of us, okay. I just wanted to make sure. I haven't ever seen you play live before. Well, you have a great sound together, and I always think it's kind of a metaphor when great bands are playing together and when they really found out how to complement each other well in what you're doing. It always feels like in some way a metaphor for the kingdom of God, you know, because when you're out there doing it all by yourself, like you just said a few minutes ago, Stephen, I I get that where you're trying to find all the parts to play and figure out how to make the song work. But when everybody does their own part in a band, it really lets you do a little bit less and then sound like more, you know, together, which is a really great thing. I was talking with some friends a while back. It's been a few years ago now since that song hit so big with Justin Timberlake, you know, with Can't Stop the Feeling. And I was talking with some people about like when you really listen to like a song like that, there's not really that much going on with each instrument part. It sounds like tons going on, but like, right, the bass is doing kind of its one little thing, the drums are doing its one little thing, and— but it's all the pieces when they come together. And I feel like you guys, um, are doing some things like that too. You found the pocket to play in together in a way that complement each other so well in each track that I've been listening to. And I think that's always a fun thing, and I, I can tell that you guys are having fun, uh, doing it. So it's— it makes it fun for the listener too. Um, So let me ask you this question. You've, you've been, uh, playing differently, I know, I'm sure, over these last few days, and there's been probably fewer gigs. But one question I like to ask performers, and it doesn't have to just be 2020 or 2021, I just think this is a fun question. Um, I love getting into the question of like best gig, worst gig, you know, like, like, and you don't have to name specific places, but this is just a totally fun question to ask because they often bring the greatest stories about like, can you think of— for sometimes the worst gigs are the funnest stories actually to tell, honestly, because there's just so much more memorable. And it's up to you guys if you have one you could share, but I'd love to hear because every musician seems to have one of like, this was like my greatest moment, I love this place, and this was like, this was like the moment I never want to live again, but boy, what a great story. I just wonder if you have any of those to share today.

Yeah, I mean, I think the best thus far that we would both say is last January. We, we played a countywide youth conference, and as we're pulling up to do the gig, it's like, okay, This is a bull riding arena. That's what it was. Dirt floor. Dirt floor. But like they opened this, you know, huge bay door and like the stage setup and all of that. You would have thought that like Stapleton was coming to play in this, you know, bull riding arena. And, and then all of a sudden, you know, we get into session 1 and there's what, like 900 kids there?

Yeah.

And like, it was, I don't know, some people, I like, I like this about the guys in this project. I think that some people sort of, there's, there's different folks and the way that they approach situations when a lot more people show up. And I think that some people like, it's, it's a very like nervous thing. However, like me and John at least have talked about it a few times, like it, I feel like it does the opposite. To a lot of us. Like, it makes me just like want to play the songs we're going to play to absolute perfection and just like enjoy every second of it. And, and I don't know, it definitely, it makes me want to just turn up. I don't know. I think that, I think that, you know, you don't get a lot of opportunities like that. And man, that was a, that was a cool Well, yes, it was a lot of fun. And then I think the pastor that weekend, during his, during his sermon, may have made an extremely inappropriate Snoop Dogg reference. Oh my, yeah. So it was like, yeah, it's fun though.

That's probably since I've been in the band, that's the loudest we've ever— yeah, it was this giant place and it was like full, like you know, at the stage was like a— like something you'd see at a music festival. It was huge.

Yeah.

And, um, and so it was fun to play bass in a— in a— with the sound system. Yeah, there's so much low end because, like, after the worship set, all of the dirt from the floor would have been, like, shaken up, and there was, like, clouds of dust.

Yeah, it wasn't a fog machine. It was literally— it was dirt. That was awesome. That was I'd have to think of— I'd have to think about a worst situation. I think any time, which we don't even say yes to it anymore, any time, you know, like people used to like doing— what was it called? It was like an all-night, all-nighter type of thing.

A lock-in.

Oh, sure, lock-in.

That's what they called it. Any time I ever did one of those, it's 12:30 at night and I'm like, why? Why did we say yes?

Why did we say yes to this? This is the— I know.

No, no, that's always the worst. And I remember one in particular, the guy's like sermon points were how the gospel is like a bologna sandwich. And, and yeah, I checked out pretty fast that night because it was 1 a.m. and I'm listening to a guy describe a bologna sandwich. Yeah, blockends are always the worst for me.

Oh man.

Yeah. Yeah.

That's terrific. There, there, well, there are some, some awesome, like, bad gig stories. And the ones I always, you know, refer to in my own personal life, it's not that they're like just terrible gigs, but, you know, when you're playing like solo gigs, especially at a coffee house or something, and they set you up in a small room and they have that machine that always does the— I don't know, I guess it's blowing out like foam or something. And you're like in the middle of the song and it's like, you know, things like that. Things like that are always fun. I think my favorite artist story I've ever heard of a bad venue was Andrew Peterson, who drove just a really long distance, and he took Andy Gillighorn with him. I think it was like a 4-hour trip through the mountains or something, and he got there, and apparently the pastor had just done zero promoting of the concert at all when he got there. And there ended up being like 4 people that showed up. And he was like Andrew Peterson the radio guy at this point. And the pastor had just done no promotion whatsoever. And he said when they got there, the 5 people that were there, 3 of which were the pastor's family, he said, "Well, why don't you guys just come up here on the stage and we'll just sit and share some songs and stories." And 2 of them wouldn't come. And they were like, "No!" They started yelling back at him. And then they ended up getting mad and leaving, I guess, the 2 people, because they wouldn't come up on the platform. And so there are just some wonderful stories of bad gigs out there that I always love to hear. But yeah, lock-ins have to be up there for sure. So, well, let me ask you a little more serious question. I love those kind just for the levity that they bring to situations too. But I know that bands tend to have sort of a story and a message that they like to share with people who listen to them. And I wonder if you, you kind of had an overarching message of your band that you wanted to just share with listeners, like, this is the heart of who we are, and could kind of make it a message that was concise, just not in song form, but just to say, hey, this is what we exist to do, this is why we're here. What would you say to those who listen to you?

Um, actually, I don't know.

I'd love to know how you would interpret that. Yeah, talking to Stephen, the only reason why I say that is because like I know what I've thought, you know, the band is here to do because obviously since the inception I sort of put all— I sort of got the ball rolling. But since Stephen has been somewhat new to it, it makes me wonder how you've interpreted that.

Well, the thing that I think Hunter and I find common ground on and really all the guys in the band is the gospel is central to our lives, right? Like Jesus has saved us and is making us new day by day, and so we want— and being all of us are involved in ministry at our individual churches and and involved in the music at our churches, and so I think that it's important for us that the music that we sing in our churches, or we play together as a band, that the music we sing really reflect the difference that the gospel has made in our lives and the difference that it is making as the Lord sanctifies us, and so the songs that we sing really are important because there's a lot of songs out there that I think think maybe are well-intentioned but don't really reflect the truth of the gospel very well, or the truth of the Christian life, you know, and growing in that. And, um, so I think that something that's really passionate— that we're all really passionate about is writing and singing songs that matter and that we can hang on to, you know. Like, whenever Hunter brings a song to the band, it's almost always something that, like, I could, if I was gonna sing it on my own personally, like, uh, it's something that I could like hang on to, like on a dark day, on a hard day, like, okay, this is true. What I'm singing right here is true. It's true of God, and it's true what he's doing in me. And, um, that, that's really important to us, to, to, to write music and play music that matters.

And I'm sure we fall, fall short of the mark sometimes.

Yeah.

But, um, but that's our goal. And, and, you know, sometimes that's going to sound kind of like a more intimate kind of folky thing. And sometimes it's gonna be a fun loud rocker like "This Is the Day" is, but I think overarching, we want to sing songs that are true and that matter and that are things we can hang on to in day-to-day life.

Yeah, I remember being at a conference and hearing Keith Getty talk a lot about your church needing to sing deathbed songs and And, um, you know, my, my, my wife's grandfather passed away about 2 and a half, 3 weeks ago, something like that. And it even hit me, you know, uh, in the last days that he had, like, I, I, I wonder what he's singing.

Yeah.

As, as he's leaving this world and going to be with the Lord. Um, I hope desperately that we You know, and all that sounds sort of morbid, but it's sort of just reinforcing what Stephen just said. I hope that everything that we are singing is completely true of the Lord, um, and is, uh, it's, it's thought-provoking too, uh, and, and that doesn't necessarily mean that every song that we write needs to be heady either. Or that it needs to, you know, just be unbelievably intellectual.

This is the—

like, the song This Is the Day is not necessarily intellectual. It's just like— so I wrote the, we exist to enrich and excite. And I think that both of those words do a pretty good job of what we're attempting to do. Enriching people's lives with the songs that we write because it is grounded foundationally in the Word of God. That doesn't necessarily mean that it has to be a theological juggernaut song all the time, but it does need to enrich people's lives. People need to know that this is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Comes out of the Psalms. But I want it to excite their soul, and that might, that might mean a happy, you know, bright day or a dark, sad day. Your soul can be excited for the Lord. You know, we can find joy in a heavy day or a light day, and I want us to do a good job of writing songs that examine the full counsel of God and and our songs from the first second to the very end of the song. I don't want you to ever feel like we took our foot off the gas because we wrote a bridge that we were just trying to get through. Yeah, I think that every aspect of the song is going to matter. So yeah, yeah, yeah, those are the songs that make the biggest difference to us, you know, like that other people write are songs like that.

So I think we aspire to that.

And I think we've kind of doubled back on this idea that like, if we don't like our songs, then we're not going to play them well. And why should we expect other people to like it?

Yeah.

And I think that a lot of people get, get sort of trapped into that because they think that they're trying— like they're writing for someone else. And I think, you know, all these, all these songs that we're writing are birthed out of a local church context. So it's a place we really care about. So I think the hopefully you're hearing in the crafting of songs that they're also songs that we really care about.

So yeah, and I'm glad to hear that too. There's a couple of different things that come to my mind as I hear you talking about that, and, you know, writing songs that you really love and record and what a difference it makes. And it does happen sometimes that bands are sometimes almost forced to, especially on like a record company write or play songs that they don't really love. And, you know, I remember talking a while back with Andrew Usenga, and he used to play with Caveman's Call, and he said they, you know, the record label made them do a worship album because it was real trendy at the time. Everybody had to do a worship album. It was, I think, the late '90s, early 2000s. And he said that it wasn't that we were opposed to worship, he said, just wasn't what we were doing. As a band, you know. We had kind of a different thing we were doing. And so they ended up doing this album, and it ended up being like their biggest album yet. Like, and so then the record company was like, you got to do part 2, you know. And, and he said, and we just hated it. He said, it wasn't because we were opposed to any of it, but he said, on some level, we were kind of miserable because it just wasn't where we were, you know, as, as a band. It felt like they were trying to commercialize something that really should be intimate and something that we, you know, we like worship, but it just wasn't who we were. So I really appreciate what you're saying there too about like just being true to yourself as artists and making the music that you're really, I guess, that you would be called to make, you know. And I think that does make a difference. And I also want to say something in defense of songs like This Is the Day too. A lot of people do have an idea that that Christian music, it only can be a song like a Keith and Kristin Getty song or something. And I love writing hymns too, and it's not that I don't love those deep, big songs with 6 verses or something like that. But I often think too what one of my theological mentors, William Willimon, said one time. He talked about when he was preaching in a black church one Sunday, and he said they got up and sang, and it was only 2 or 3 songs, but they sang for about an hour, and the songs were a lot of repeat. And in some ways it was songs kind of like "This Is the Day," where it would be one phrase that they would sing over several times. And he asked the pastor after church, he said, "Why do you guys sing this way so much?" And he said, "I had a cup of coffee and I really needed to get off the platform a couple times during the service." And the pastor had a great answer. He said, "Our people come in our particular context to worship from some really difficult situations in life, and it's hard for them to sense the kingdom of God among them. And so we almost have to come into this place and get it into their head that they've entered into a new space and a new realm and remind them that the kingdom of God reigns here. And I really think of a song like "This Is the Day" as a song like that, like Like, it's a song that is really getting in your face and reminding you of this new reality. Like, guess what? Things look bleak. Guess what? Like, last week we had this horrible day at the Capitol, you know, at the time of recording this. Um, that's still one of the— people are just still shocked and angry and upset over, and, and they're not thinking like the kingdom of God is present among us, you know. And yet it is. And you come in with the song like, this is the day And it really is almost this like Kingdom of God rebellion song, you know, like, like we're going to make this statement in the midst of all this darkness and chaos that guess what? This is still the day the Lord has made. So I really love it. If I, if I can give any encouragement on, on a song like that and just, I think the importance of songs like that, that we need to have, we need to have songs like that just as much as we need songs that are like these deep theological treatises. For sure, and I think they're good. Well, you know, we're getting close to the time that I have available for the day, but I did have just a couple more questions I wanted to ask you guys, and I appreciate you spending some time with me today. I wonder, and both of you or one of you can answer this, I'd love to know just what is some of the best advice that you have been given? Hmm.

That success pastorally is faithfulness and not the amount of people that might walk in the door, or yeah, I mean, even from a musical standpoint, the amount of records that you sell, or, you know, the amount of quote-unquote impact that you have and things like that. I think all those things are fleeting and there's time and place and sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don't, but in the midst of all that I think that, you know, I'm definitely having to hang on to that bit of advice even, you know, even today, you know, I mean because everything from a local church context has been wildly different. We were just talking about it before we got on on here with you that, you know, the, like, our own local churches, they look so much different today than if you had talked to me in February of 2020 what it would look like. And it doesn't necessarily mean it's bad, it's just it's hard because it's different. And, you know, I am—

I—

the Lord has just called me to be faithful, right? And, uh, I think that, that whenever sort of sorrowful emotions might come up at how things are going over the course of the last year, or, you know, just difficulty or ways that my brain wants to break in half over the fact that, you know, just so much is so difficult right now. I think that just remembering to be faithful kind of, you know, makes your rest easy. You know, and makes me feel that something is accomplishable for the Lord that day.

Yeah, you know, that's great, great advice. And yeah, Stephen, do you have anything to add to that?

You know, I, I, you know, I don't have a different thing, but I'll echo what he said, that, um, it's easy to feel overwhelmed with the world or even with your own life, you feel like you have so many things to do or whatever, like if it's things you feel like you need to accomplish or problems that need to be solved and when you look at your life, but being faithful with what you have one thing at a time. I heard, I think it was a pastor, an old pastor of mine said this, I don't really remember who to attribute this to, but But basically, what is the next right thing to do? And to be faithful with that, you know? And so, you know, right now we're potty training. I have 3-year-old twins and we're potty training them. And so it's like, and it's been difficult. And so, you know, it's like sometimes I feel like I'm wasting my time for sitting, you know, sitting 15 or 20 minutes in the bathroom with my son trying to trying to get him to go, and it's like, well, okay, it is frustrating and it is hard in that moment, but like that's the thing to be faithful for, for that moment, and you know later on, you know, I teach guitar and drums and stuff like that, and so, you know, when I'm at work, like, well, I need to be faithful in teaching this kid right here. This kid's having a problem, you know, playing the C chord, so I need to help him play that well. That's what I need to be faithful with in that moment, and so moment by moment, moment. Yeah, you know, being faithful with what the Lord gives you, it helps clear the air and clear some of the anxiety, I think, about the bigness of the problems in the world or the bigness and the problems in your life. Moment by moment, being faithful, I think, is a good way to look at it.

You know, I love that both of you said this, and I chuckled a little bit to myself because I remember those potty training days. My son just turned 8 about a week ago, so it's It's, I mean, it's not been too terribly long. It's been a few years since we went through that, but man, I feel for you because I remember those days and just thinking, is this ever going to be over? But I love what both of you said about faithfulness. And honestly, I wasn't even thinking about this next question I'm about to ask you guys, and maybe you haven't seen this and that's okay. But both of you said something that reminded me of what is actually a theme in this new film that Disney just put out on the Disney+ app, which is very much a musical film called Soul.

Oh yeah.

Have you guys seen that by any chance?

Yeah, I've seen it.

It's on my to-do list. I haven't seen it yet.

It's interesting that both of you are saying that because it's really not like a movie that even pretends to have a Christian view of the afterlife or anything like that. But I do feel like the overall message of the film though has a lot to do with being faithful with the little things and in the moment. And when you even mentioned helping a person play that C chord, you know, this kid— and because there actually are some, some moments in, in the film that are kind of about that, like, because the main character is kind of overlooking the, the beauty of the moment of what it means to teach someone, you know, and, and not to overlook that for like, I just need to be on a big stage somewhere. And so I honestly, I appreciate what, what both of you have said, and it's kind of interesting that even in the culture where it's not necessarily in a Christian-themed film, that even seems to be something that's being felt right now, you know, that we need, and maybe in this moment more than ever. Well, I want to make all the listeners aware of your website at sewandtether.com, and I'm going to make sure we have all the links up at Voices in My Head Podcast and voicesinmyhead.substack.com is another place that I'm also putting the podcast out on right now. But we'll make sure and have all those links up there and much more about your band so people can find out more about you on here. But it has been really great to sit and talk with you guys, and we opened the show with your song This Is the Day, and we're going to close the show out today with the song called Still Waters that you released last year. And this has just been a really great time for me to get to sit and visit with both of you today, and I really appreciate you taking some time, and I look forward to hearing more great music as it comes out from both of you in the future. Is there anything else before we close our time together just that you would like people listening today to know, any information that you wanted to share with them? Sure.

Well, I mean, first, you know, I want to make sure, make sure, make sure that we extend as much gratitude to you as possible. You know, the opportunity for somebody to just sort of stick their neck out for us and, and, you know, give us a chance to discuss our own music and give us a chance to talk about what we care about a lot. Just really, really actually means a ton. And We appreciate you very much for giving us that opportunity and, and yeah, giving people the chance to listen to our songs. I just never want that to get by us. We're extremely thankful. We will be— well, This Is the Day was the first song that we put out in this, in this calendar year. There will be 4 others at least that will come out in this calendar year. That's just sort of the way we've been doing things. We just keep releasing kind of one single at a time. So there will be 4 more between now and through the summer. So yeah, we'll, we'll do all we can to try to promote the releases of the next songs that will be coming out.

And if you're listening, Rick Lee James has a new music video that you should go check out, right? That came out Friday, is that right?

Yeah, just this past Friday. Yeah. Well, thank you so much. Thanks for that plug. I appreciate it.

Yeah.

Always feels weird to plug my own stuff, so thank you. No, hey guys, seriously, it's, it's been a real pleasure, and I thank you for letting me have the opportunity to share your music. It's been great. Um, so we're gonna, as I said before, we're gonna close out the show today with the song Still Waters, and this is by my guest So and Tether. And as I say to my guests each week, uh, Hunter Bovo, Stephen McNeil of So and Tether, thank you for being some of the voices in my ahead this week.

Thank you, Rick. Thank you.

Good Shepherd, he knows his own just as the Father knows the Son. His own in him abideth. In darkest pain or brightest hope, no fear of evil can take hold as long as he is guiding. He slays the wolf, expels the thief. His rod and staff, they comfort me. He's protecting and providing. He leads me aside still. Still waters restores my soul. Leads me down, leads me through the valley, through the unknown way led by his sovereign hand. The sheep had gone astray, all have turned to their own ways, chasing down pleasures. But he left behind the 99, found me, gave me abundant life. Now I'll dwell with him forever. My God who laid his own life down, bore my cross to grant me his crown, eternally my treasure. He leads me beside still waters, restores my soul, leads me, there leads me through the valley, through the unknown river. I am sorry. Now every gain I have is lost compared to knowing Christ my God, my Savior and Defender. Now every gain I have is lost compared to knowing Christ He's my God, my Savior and Defender. He leads me beside still waters, restores my soul, leads me down, leads me through the valley to the unknown, to the unknown. He leads me beside still waters, restores my soul, leads me down, leads me through the valley to the unknown.

Thank you for joining me here this week on Voices in My Head. I hope you'll visit me on my website at rickleejames.com where you can find out more about me, get my music on vinyl and CD, follow my blog, and even schedule me for a concert or speaking engagement. Or better yet, even a book signing in your neighborhood. You can find all that and more at rickleejames.com. Also, it would mean a great deal to me if you could write a review of this podcast on iTunes. The more positive reviews that we receive, the more visible this podcast will be online. And now for the benediction. May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. God bless you, and thank you for listening to Voices in My Head.