I love being a dad.  It’s one of my favorite roles in life.  There’s almost a Gandalfian wizardry about it.  I have the privilege of creating magical moments with my children – ones that imprint lasting memories and ones that teach some of life’s core lessons.  Do my kids drive me crazy at times? Sure.  Do they wear me out to the point that I continue to watch an average TV show because the remote control is too far away to retrieve and change the channel or turn on my DVR?  Sometimes.  But at the end of the day, I love being a dad. I recently interviewed singer-songwriter John Waller – …

As I have conversations about some of the most thoughtful and inspiring music being made, the name Andrew Peterson keeps popping up as a frequent reference.  And it doesn’t shock me one bit.  Andrew is one of the most inspiring songwriters to my life personally.  But it does raise an interesting question: What kind of art and music inspire Andrew?  In my most recent interview with him, I asked Andrew to share about some of the music that he is drawn to.  I knew that he would typically reference his close circle of songwriting friends in Nashville (a.k.a the Square Peg Alliance), so I challenged him to think beyond that group.  …

While we normally focus on gourmet music made for adults, this week we’re giving our attention to the best in under-appreciated children’s music.  Randall Goodgame is the co-founder, alongside his good friend Andrew Peterson, of the Slugs & Bugs music ministry for kids.  What started as a side-project has now developed into a full-time ministry.  I recently caught up with Randall and we chatted about his passion for sharing children’s music.

 DT:  What is the mission in writing and performing Slugs and Bugs songs for children?
 RG:  For me the inspiration is the same as when Andrew and I first started writing these songs to put together the first record. We …

Two friends and I buzzed an apartment none of us had visited before. We were greeted with a smile and given enough space to climb the narrow stairs to our destination: the Jenny & Tyler house show. Upon entrance we surveyed the space. A cacophony of chairs indicated all of the apartment's seating had been crammed into a single room for the event, most of them facing the window nook which held the acoustic duo's instruments: a couple guitars, a mandolin, glockenspiel, and a suit case with... is that an air hole cut into it? Yep. That's gonna be the kick drum. I'm excited. We crammed in and made polite conversation …

A short while ago, I got to finally meet a guy who I’ve kept tabs on for over a decade.  Singer-songwriter John Waller has an interesting story to tell about his ups and downs in the music business.  Right now, these are exciting days for John. He has just released his 3rd solo album, and will soon be welcoming his 5th child into the family.  Here’s part of his conversation with me: DT:  Your band in the 90’s According to John had an acoustic rock sound.  Was it a bit ahead of its time? JW:  I don’t know . . . a lot of people said that and I think it’s …

Last December, I was first introduced to a new song Eric Peters had written called "Don't Hold Your Breath."  The story behind that song was posted here in January.  And watch out VH1...  this is the first professional music video of Eric's career:   Don't Hold Your Breath by Eric Peters from Patrick Gines on Vimeo.   The song was written for a short film When The Waters Rise.  The film's maker, Patrick Gines, has given UTR listeners permission to view the 8-minute film:WEBSITE:  http://vimeo.com/patrickgines/when-the-waters-risePASSWORD:  13bth2010  

I’ve been a fan of Christian radio for decades.  It’s been a tool God has used in my spiritual development.  It even shaped my vocational path.  However, I can no longer honestly say I love Christian radio.  In fact, at times I even loathe it.  What’s changed?  Is it the music biz? Is it the format rules? Is it just my own perspective that has grown?  Maybe all of the above? We recently invited some truly smart and honest music lovers to share any open comments they had for the Christian radio world (in general).  We had dozens of responses from all over North America!  I wish we had space to …

On April 16, 2011 Downhere and Rush of Fools came to a little church in Palos Hills, IL and put on an astounding show. Downhere was simply incredible. The four-piece band (bass player Glenn Lavender missed out due to the birth of his child that day, so Rush of Fools’ bass player filled in) was more than just a group of musicians sitting on stage and singing their songs. They talked to the audience. More than once I wished that church were like this concert. The two lead singers (Marc Martel and Jason Germain) traded off talking, but after the intermission, we mainly heard about Jason’s love for the poor in …

Have you ever traveled on an airplane without thinking the big “What if” question?  If you have, you are both much more trusting and confident than I am.  I’m not the type of person that thinks about death a lot.  In fact, I try to discipline myself to avoid thinking about death, maybe because it’s such an easy place to go, and rarely a healthy place to let our minds wander.  Yet in the last week, I flew 8 hours round-trip to L.A., and I can honestly tell you that I pondered “What if this was my final day on Earth?” no less than a dozen times.  Something about shooting through …

One of our most requested bands on Under The Radar is the recent Grammy nominee Gungor.  They are helping to pave a new path of artistic worship music that is delighting critics and music lovers.  In fact, the UTR critics panel named their Beautiful Things CD as one of the Top 11 Gourmet Albums of 2010.  I recently interviewed frontman Michael Gungor, and here’s part of our conversation: DT:  When did you first begin leading worship? MG:  Our first band was leading worship in the 2 and 3-year-old class. They didn’t have anybody to sing songs for them, so we’re like, “We’ll do it.” We were kids. We’d go in there …

Doesn’t the live concert experience almost always make you a bigger fan?  Such is the case with an artist I got to see live for the first time on April 1.  Matt Wertz is a singer-songwriter on the rise, evident that he nearly sold out Chicago’s House of Blues.  He’s been a road warrior for 11+ years and has 4 EPs, 2 live CDs, and 5 full length studio albums to his credit. Even though Matt has been a Christ-follower most of his life, Christian radio doesn’t quite know what to do with him.  Matt somewhat relishes the lack of labels, because he sees his music’s mission going well beyond the …

I have a growing awareness that a lot of musicians are tuning in to UTR, including some artists aspiring to have a full-time music career.  At times, these musician-listeners will contact me to introduce themselves.  Some of these brave souls actually send me their music.  The truly brave ones ask me for honest feedback.  There's been quite an upswing of these contacts over the last few months, and it's given me a chance to meet some great people.  It's also allowed me to develop a more discerning ear as I learn what just seems to "work."As more indie artists ask me for my honest impressions of their music, the more I …

It’s time to set my own plans aside as we asked our Under The Radar listeners what they would dream up for the program to make it even better over the next year.  We heard from hundreds of listeners, and the top response we got was something like, “Don’t change a thing. Keep doing what you’re doing.”  That is very encouraging and helpful to know that we are generally on the right track.  But I know there is always room for improvement, so I was eager to hear both the practical and crazy ideas dreamed up by our community. We grouped similar comments together, and here are the Top 4 ideas …

The National Religious Broadcasters annual convention is a gathering that is quite … unique.  You’ll see a lot of suits, a lot of grey hair, and a lot of movers and shakers in the Christian media world.  It’s a place where micro-subcultures meet other micro-subcultures over an over-priced meal at the Opryland Convention Center.  The overall perspective you’ll find at the convention is … uhm … dated.  You’ll find a lot about what WAS and IS and very little about what IS TO COME.  It’s not typically the place you come to hear progressive music that’s innovative and cutting-edge. Not so on February 27.  Last week, NRB attendees were invited to …

UTR is sponsoring a long weekend of concerts with one of our favorite songwriters, Randall Goodgame.  He's not only written and recorded 4 terrific CDs of gourmet music, but also 2 Slugs & Bugs children CDs, and has been a songwriter with/for Caedmon's Call, Jason Gray, Eric Peters, Andrew Peterson, and VeggieTales.  If you're in the Chicago area, we encourage you to try to make it to one of these events this weekend:   Friday, March 4 - 7:00pm  (Slugs & Bugs Concert)Faith Church (CRC) - 8383 West 171st St., Tinley Park ILFree Admission  -  (708) 532-8300Saturday, March 5 - 10:00am  (Slugs & Bugs Concert)Ethos/ Park Community Church - 1001 N. …

I had the privilege to sit down with Phil Wickham and talk about his music, inspiration, and ministry.  Here’s a glimpse of the conversation: DT: How did you first become interested in music? PW: Well, I grew up in a very musical and Christian home.  My parents both met in a band called Parable, back in the early 70s.  That was part of the beginning of that movement of Christian rock bands in the southern California area; I’ve grown up in that kind of history.  As long as I’ve been alive my parents have been worship leaders at churches, and so I grew up with that kind of example, of just …

We're only 2 months into 2011, but it's been a good musical start to the year in the world of Christian songwriters.  Kudos to Josh Wilson, Brandon Heath, Over The Rhine, Seth Jones, among others releasing some high-quality music in recent weeks.  In my humble opinion, one album really stands out as the leader of the "gourmet music" pack. This month, The Civil Wars released their first full-length album Barton Hollow.  The first thing I love about the album is that it defies categorization. It's a spoonful of country, folk, indie pop, and Americana all blending and weaving throughout the songs.  The next thing that stands out is the amazing (and …

The following is a news article published in the CRW Radio Advisor on 2/7/11.         FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE... REFRAME MEDIA HOSTS MAJOR CONCERT AT NRB 2011 ReFrame Media, producers of groundbreaking media programs Walk The Way, Under The Radar, ThinkChristian.net, and several others, is hosting a free concert for attendees of the largest gathering of Christian media professionals – the National Religious Broadcasters Convention.  NRB 2011 takes place February 26 through March 1 at the Opryland Resort in Nashville. On Sunday, February 27, ReFrame Media hosts their 4th annual VIP concert at the NRB Convention.  This year’s lineup includes Grammy-nominated Gungor, critically-acclaimed band Seabird, and the up-and-coming acoustic …

What do you think of when I say the words angry, thief, liar, addict, hypocrite, sad, narrow-minded, and impulsive?  Let those words simmer for a bit.  Not the most flattering of descriptors.  Who or what comes to mind as you re-read those words? Now, brace yourself.  This might be hard to believe.  I have been hurt by people.  There, I said it.  Crazy, isn’t it?  It’s true, I want to think the best of people – and over time they earn my trust – but without fail they are sure to let me down.  After I pound my fist for a day or three, I eventually dust myself off and begin …

Indie singer-songwriter Eric Peters talked to me last Fall about the new song he had just recorded called "Don't Hold Your Breath".  Upon first listen, I could tell this was a special song.  The lyrics have the trademark EP depth and poetic imagery, but the music is a departure from much of what Eric recorded on his latest album Chrome.  It has a driving power behind it, reminiscent of Vigilantes of Love or maybe classic Tom Petty. I was thrilled that Eric agreed for UTR to be the venue to world premiere this new song.I also asked Eric to share more about the story behind this brand new song.  A film …