Congratulations Joia!

Oddwalk Friend Joia Farmer (wife of Brad, as in Brad and Gene of Apex Ministries) has co-written with Matt Miller the 2009 NCYC Theme Song!  Their version of Christ Reigns is featured in the 2009 NCYC promo video, posted here (sorry, we can't embed it).

Way to go!

Orin's "Christ Reigns" - Score Available

Here's a pdf of the lead-sheet score to Orin's "Christ Reigns" submission to the NCYC 2009 Theme Song Contest.  That's all, please carry on.

Christ Reigns everywhere, it seems

Here's another one, submitted by the 2007 winners, Nick Cardilino and David C. Smith.  Hear it at David's myspace page.

A More Different "Christ Reigns" - Let the Smack-Talking Begin!

Via the blog, a few posts down, we received a note from a composer of another entry into the NCYC 2009 Theme Song contest.  You can listen to Greg's entry here - it has a nice, Irish-ish melody and thoughtful lyrics.  Visit his blog here or his main site here.

Coincidentally, Greg has written some music and a chapter of a book waiting to be published by...  GIA, the same folks we worked with for our latest CD and the forthcoming songbooks and octavos.

A reminder that you can listen to our entry, "Christ Regins" on the pOddcast, available in the gcast window in the blog sidebar, or over at our main site.

And since Greg extended a similar invitation (in good humor, certainly) to his readers, let us make this offer to ours: 

So now, our dear readers, you can judge for yourselves who should win this contest: us, or our new internet friend Greg (or presumably the many other dozens of entries...).  May the best man (or woman, right Joia?) win! (Feel free to inundate our competitor’s blog with smack talk comments.)

pOddcast Two-fer!

Today on the pOddcast - not just one, but two new entries: different versions of the same song, "Christ Reigns," written by Orin.  If you think you've heard that phrase somewhere before, you're quite right.  Among lots and lots of scripture passages, it is also the theme of the 2009 National Catholic Youth Conference, and Oddwalk is again submitting a song in the theme song competition.  The first one you'll hear is the fast, anthem-esque version.  Then, the second one is a sample of the more prayerful slower version.  Both borrow a familiar phrase from Handel's "hallelujah Chorus."  Helping us on vocals is Orin's friend and coworker, Megan Higgins.  Take a listen, and enjoy (hopefully)!

As always, find the pOddcast in the gcast window of the blog sidebar, or at the main site.

Keytar Paradise - Update!

Well!  Mari, who created the keytar rap for us at NCYC forwarded to us the lyrics!  Watch the video again, and this time, sing along!  (Unfortunately, the video starts about half-way through...)



The Keytar Gangsta Rap
(to Gangsta's Paradise)

As I walk Port Dis 'covry
And I look at the booths
I find Oddwalk Ministries
And realize they're very smooth

They play the keytar
And even sing
You know you love keytar
It's the coolest thing!!

Been spendin' most our lives
Livin' in a keytar paradise
It's all fun and worship time
Livin' in a keytar paradise


Enjoy!! and God bless!!!
~Mari

Rock the Rock

Leaving the Comedy Club at NCYC a week ago, a young person threw a shirt at Shannon.  Orin was racing ahead and Shannon was in a hurry too as we had another concert appearance to get to right away.

Anyway, when we examined the shirt later, we discovered it had a picture of St. Peter on the front posing with a keytar!  Saturday was Keytar Appreciation Day after all!  The back has the LifeTeen logo and the parish of St. Peter's in Hoover Alabama printed on it.

The shirt is most awesome.

Thanks to whoever threw this shirt at us in celebration of Keytar Appreciation Day, especially all the young folks in Hoover, AL!

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE!

Oddwalk sent a thank you message to the folks in St. Peters and heard back from their Youth Minister almost immediately.  Her message, like the shirt, is also most awseome!

Orin -

glad you are enjoying the shirt...the teens were really excited when they saw the keytar come out b/c we're probably the only youth group in the world that has a shirt featuring one! our youth group motto is "rock the rock"...and, from that idea we developed the idea that st. peter is The Rock and that he ROCKS! so, he ended up with a keytar b/c he holds the "keys" to heaven and the keys that rock heaven is obviously a keytar!

i'll pass on the message about your blog...the teens will be THRILLED!! thanks for all you do...keep it up!

peace.

Rebecca S. Rosko
LifeTeen Youth Minister
St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church

More NCYC 2007 Pics

More pictures from Columbus, OH - Thanks to Erin C and family!

The display for Oddwalk's new CD at the GIA booth

Orin tries to convince folks that keytars are cool.

The Oddwalk booth set up for a festive Keytar Appreciation Day

Noah forgot his spandex, but still rocked the keytar

The proud winner of the air keytar (also pictured: a shirt made just for the day)

Memories of NCYC 2007

Just before leaving, Orin got to visit his Ford Escort one last time and reclaim the license plates.

Orin's new car achieved 1,000 miles just before arriving in Columbus, OH.

The proud buyer of Walk Away Different CD #1! Oddwalk got to see the CD in person for the first time at NCYC.

GIA exec Michael Cymbala at the GIA booth just across from Oddwalk's. We have another picture we promised we wouldn't publish. Let's just say Michael was exploring his vocation options. Also, note the large Oddwalk CD hanging in the back.

Another GIA friend, Andrew at the booth.

Several participants posed for some pictures with the Oddwalk Keytar!

Best hairstyles of the conference!

Oddwalk friend Will from Omaha helps celebrate Keytar Appreciation Day




Another young lady even wrote us a rap for Keytar Appreciation Day, we think titled "Keytar Paradise" - Thanks!

If we get anymore pictures, video, etc. from NCYC 2007 and Keytar Appreciation Day, we'll be sure to let you all know! Check back here!

Keytar Appreciation Day 2007!!

Well, it's Keytar Appreciation Day 2007 - the first one ever! Oddwalk has been gearing up for it by giving away lots of stickers and fliers, and signing people up to win an inflatable keytar at our booth. Today, we have two big performances at NCYC, both featuring one of our Oddwalk keytars.

What are your doing to celebrate (we're looking at you, Marianne) - post it in the comments below! Happy Keytar Appreciation Day everyone!

PS - One way to celebrate would be to visit our new page, keytarsuperstar.com!

Oddwalk at NCYC

The Oddwalk caravan successfully arrived at NCYC in Columbus, OH earlier tonight. It was a long day - Orin got a chance to say goodbye to his beloved Ford Escort and watched his new Mazda 3 clear 1,000 miles (pictures of both to follow) among other things.

We'll have more updates as the days go by, but for now, we're tired, so we'll sign off. Stay tuned for more pictures, maybe some video, and all the excitement of NCYC 2007, especially Saturday, Keytar Appreciation Day!