Matt Conner is a freelance writer and music journalist. As the founding pastor of The Mercy House, he led a church community for more than six years in intense community development across racial and socio-economic lines. As a writer, he’s interviewed thousands of musicians for multiple print and web-based publications. Matt Conner is a freelance writer and music journalist. As the founding pastor of The Mercy House, he led a church community for more than six years in intense community development across racial and socio-economic lines. As a writer, he’s interviewed thousands of musicians for multiple print and web-based publications. Coming into a Clearing
This is the wrong day to feel this way.
It’s 9/11, and even without the memory of such a horrific strategy, Mother Nature is declaring war in a number of places. Read More ›
Andy Osenga on his new instrumental project, After Lake
Andrew Osenga is spinning some new creative plates these days, from a new career focus on helping young, developing artists find their footing to a new online songwriting course to his instrumental project After Lake (iTunes). Read More ›
Review: The Founder
The Founder is a good film. From the story of Ray Kroc’s invention of fast food, to the acting (Michael Keaton, Laura Dern, and Nick Offerman), The Founder is an enjoyable ride that reveals Kroc’s rise to the top of the most American of empires. But hours after the credits rolled, I realized why I felt so empty after watching it. Read More ›
Meet John Tibbs
I was raised to believe Bruce Springsteen was, indeed, The Boss. Vivid memories remain from my childhood with the windows rolled down in our old Ford LTD and Bruce’s “Glory Days” or “My Hometown” or “Born in the U.S.A.” blaring Read More ›
The Demands of the Mountain
If you’re geographically challenged, you might not realize just how majestic the mountains are in southern Indiana. Every year or so, I grew up riding across the state to a small town called Paoli, packed in a 15-passenger van with other Read More ›
The Defenseless Child
A recent discussion among friends was really more of a lament. Christmas feels odd this year, we said.
That’s not really true. “Odd” is the wrong word. Maybe “sorrowful” or at least some reflection of the idea that it doesn’t feel, well, Christmas-y. Whatever that means. Read More ›
Jill Phillips Reflects on Her New Hymns Project: Lead Me Home
I think I speak for most of us here at the Rabbit Room when I say that Jill Phillips’ songs have provided hope and healing at several key moments over the years. Ever since I heard the refrain of Read More ›
We Need to Talk
I’m somewhat familiar with the feeling, but I’ve never made the decision.
There was a period in my mid-twenties when I felt completely undone. I’d hit rock bottom all on my Read More ›
Josh Garrels’ newest single, “Hiding Place”
If you were among those paying attention to Josh Garrels’ rotation of free goodies on NoiseTrade, then you likely downloaded the one-year anniversary edition of his most recent album, Home. Available for a limited time, this particular edition of Home included a brand new single, “Hiding Place,” that was never previously released. Read More ›
An Introduction to Michael Logen
I’ve been meaning to introduce you to a new singer-songwriter for some time, so I’m glad to finally get the time to officially do so. Reader, meet Michael Logen. Read More ›
The Beauty of Found Objects: Eric Peters’s Thesis
An artist can be identified in part by the materials with which he or she chooses to work. Eric Peters’ work has revolved around a fascination for found objects for quite some time, Read More ›
Two songs from Switchfoot’s new album
Switchfoot made the big announcement on Thursday that their 10th album (10!), Where The Light Shines Through, will release on July 8th via Vanguard Records. You can now hear two new songs Read More ›