Dear JAMfans, as of June 25th, we have been scaling northern passages and abiding by northern laws, rules and regulations in order to function as a band (now 6 members) to glorify the Father God and make some sweet music. We set out on the 8 hour van ride (God bless fireworks and BB guns), and drove into the dusk hours to Bushnell Illinois. We camped around our new friends This Love These Hands, Fenris Wolf, and the Almighty Sophia (all hail). After many consecutive failed attempts at pitching Fort JAM, Jason suggested we trust the Lord to put the tent together. Needless to say, the tent flew into the air and with a small strike of lightning was placed right where we had originally intended it to be set, along with a working refrigerator, microwave, furnace, and fireplace. We had a cozy and wonderful week meeting new bands, seeing lots of carbon copies of other bands, and spending time ogling quasi-celebrities from the safe shelter of merch tents and generator stages. JAMBand played 4 times through the course of the week. 2 dead 6 injured, 12 still MIA. By the end of the week, Sophia and A Plea For Purging had already basically owned the Cornerstone festival and were beginning to bring a full frontal assault on crappy Christian metal. Hallelujiah. We departed Cornerstone at 1100 hours on Saturday morning after watching mewithoutYou the previous night. We said goodbye to all of our friends and headed to Dan's parents' house in Bay Village, Ohio.

Upon entering the house, the hospitality was already more than evident. Our supper was laid out in front of us along with many beds to sleep in and more food and table games than we could physically handle. We spent the first day getting used to the idea of sleeping indoors and making use of the wonderful invention "the shower".

After learning what the local Chipotle meant when they said "Big fat burritos that take forever to eat", we began passing out flyers for our local show in Bay Village. We went to the lake, which is incidentally not the Atlantic Ocean, despite our best efforts to convince the locals otherwise. We passed out some flyers and made some acquaintances along the way. As it turns out, the show was already quite advertised across the city and we expected a decent audience.

Sophia soon arrived and we all had to make room for the 6 of them in the house. We went to Cedar Point the next day and rode so many roller coasters that some of us lost control of our bowels. The details aren't important, nor are they pleasant. We came back and fell asleep, as is the nature of tired young men.

All in all we had a wonderful trip and the show was absolutely magical. There was a lot of pain and a lot of breaking equipment. There was also a lot of talking about Jesus and there was a lot of bonding among the four of our bands. I personally feel as if I have changed a great deal on this trip and that I have grown quite a bit, too. A couple of thank yous:

-Mrs. McLaughlin (for putting up with all of our crap and always feeding us and playing wonderful piano for us).
-Sophia (Keith, Ben, Bennett, Steve, Ryan, and Dan), for being real awesome and funny and really cool guys and treating us like equals even though HM magazine called them "the band to look out for next year" (they might kill me for writing that)
-TLTH (Chad, Alex, William, and Cory) Even though I had never met these guys before this trip, I think I have had a real connection in some way with all of them and I really really really like their music a whole lot.
-Fenris Wolf (Josiah, Ian, Josh, and RJ) C'MERE TA ME BOY!
-Shadowfax the Van, for never breaking down and always being spacious yet cozy.
-Moon Traveler Bottle Rockets (the only source of entertainment in a hot van)
-Andrew, Mark, and Charlotte from Cedar Point for completely exaggerating how good the wooden roller coaster was.
-Obviously anyone who came to see us on a generator or at the Anchor stage, anyone who came out to the Fallout in Ohio, anyone who gave us food or money while we were on this trip, because we very much appreciate your beautiful mercy and hospitality.
-Most of all I have a Father in Heaven who has been watching us since we left my house in our van and since before we were conceived and before time began. To Him I give all glory and praise and I beg of his Mercy for we are sinners and He is perfect. Thank you, I'm sorry.

We love you and stay tuned for new recordings and new shows!

Spencer
Jesus and Me Band