Chumsongs
Jesus desires us to be "fishers of men" -- to make Him known in ways that make it easier for Him to capture and fill their hearts. Ordinary "fishers" like us -- who aren't too greatly skilled or too wildly charismatic -- can still cast a hook and line and scatter some "chum" on the water, can't we? "Chum" made up of our own raw emotions, fears, failures, and love for Christ? Anyhow, that's what Chumsongs is meant to do.
Tell me about your history? How did you get where you are now?
The core of Chumsongs -- which is not as much a "band" as a recording project -- consists of members of the worship team of Covenant Church in Arlington, Massachusetts (GOTO www.covmin.org), who have led worship and played and sung together for many years. These original songs, most of which we sing in church, reflect our desire to worship Christ in a scratchier, more truthful and theologically meaty way, in a way more specific to our own experience and hearing of the Word of God together, than we were able to find in the Christian music world at-large. Other Chum participants are family members and friends (all amateurs). John Dee is a painting and decorating expert who has made numerous appearances on This Old House; Peter and Charles Morin are practicing attorneys; Gail Dorey is an IT project manager for the Massachusetts government; and Adam Rich is a student at Berklee College of Music.
Have you performed live in front of an audience? Any special memories?
Mostly only in church, each Sunday morning, 10 a.m., at Covenant Church, 9 Westminster Avenue, Arlington, Massachusetts!
Your musical influences
Too many influences to name (since we're so old!) ... but probably what DJs might call Eclectic Adult Alternative ... some of blues, folk, soft rock ... all with Gospel words! Every influence from Steve Miller Band to the Grateful Dead to James Taylor to Mark Knopfler to Pearl Jam to My Morning Jacket to B.B. King to XTC to Shawn Colvin to the Clash ... and back again, y' know?
What equipment do you use?
Not much ... we're a studio project and church worship team, so PA is not much of an issue. For instruments ... G&L Comanche and Taylor 341 Ce guitars, Fender Twin Reverb guitar amp, Korg ToneWorks for effects, and Fender Precision bass (vintage 1970). Not much more ...
