Learning...

I feel like blogging.. or just typing to clear my head/heart. This past weekend was something else. I learned a lot.. from things I wasn't expecting to "hit me." Faith is a funny thing. How much of it do you really need? Often times I find that I need grace more - but I hate saying that.. almost as much as I hate hearing people saying it. They say being a musician is the least promising life to lead but I beg to differ. Though it's difficult and for me a constant emotional roller coaster.. it's the only life I'd want to live. I believe with my whole heart that I was born to do this. It's the only purpose I've ever longed for. The thing is.. we're ready for the next level. That leaves us to deal with transition. Something I've never dealt with very well. When we released our latest record back in October I thought it would explode. It didn't and each day, all day long I contemplate what I did wrong. And if it wasn't something I did wrong, what is it that I could do better? This is the album I've waited to write for a long time. It's literally a reflection of my heart. The good and the bad. I know these things take time and I believe that it will get the recognition it deserves. Then I got to thinking we just need to hit the road and make some sacrifices we may not be ready to make. To further. To spread. To discover. To learn.

I posted this status yesterday: "What makes us stronger is the building of our character through the best and absolute worst times. I'm grateful to know that and live and learn everyday." We're so blessed to have such loving and wonderful friends that are always there for us. So many of you here in Austin have become the best family away from family we could ask for. I love you.. and I speak for Joel on that too! xo

Also this weekend I got the opportunity to watch the movie "Burlesque." It was incredibly inspiring for me. I guess I've been "waiting" for too long for something or someone to come along that could help me get to that next level. But that's hopeless. I learned that I need to take this and not take no for an answer. So that's a new development I'm gonna start working on.

There really aren't any words that could describe how grateful I am for everyone that supports us. If if wasn't for ALL of you that always come out to shows, share our links with your friends and family, buy our music, feed us (lol), text me that a certain song is helping you at the moment... I could not keep going. It pays to feel appreciated. I only hope and pray that I can continue to give you what you need. Haha I don't know why I felt inclined to write all of this but you do need to know that if you're reading this... you're who I'm talking about. So thank you. You really do keep us going.

Anyway. I love you all. I am so thankful for each and every one of you. Happy Holidays everyone. Make sure you let your family and friends know how much you love them.

-Mike

Show at Lucky Lounge this Sat Dec 4th!

Austin! This Saturday we will be at Lucky Lounge on 5th St. We will have our dear friend Jaime Saso sharing some music with us.. and we'll be doing some classic Christmas tunes. Come out and hang out with us... buy our new record.. for those of you that couldn't make the CD release party in Oct.

Love you all!

Here's the Facebook event so you can RSVP :-D

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=117775021616777

New Press Item from Man of Austin Magazine

“I wrote the majority of the song at night on tour. It’s really our story about how we lost and gained.” The track is haunting as it is uplifting and the chemistry of their relationship is most evident in the final chorus. Especially when you witness the song live as we did during their CD release party. Their onstage connection was incredibly moving to the point of tears in our eyes."

-Patrick Mark of Man of Austin Magazine on "When They All Catch Wind"

http://manofaustin.com/2010/11/the-courage-longing-of-mike-burns/

Noise Trade - Fair Trade Music

I've recently set up our new album on Noise Trade. In this music industry where artists are having to work even harder than ever to get their music out there.. I'm really impressed with this system. You can give your email address and zip code and download our new album for free. AND the coolest part is you can leave us a tip up to $100. Check it out!

http://www.noisetrade.com/mikeburns

Thanks for all of your support!

New Album on iTunes

Hey guys.. our new album "Courage & Longing" is now on iTunes!! For those of you that were waiting to get it there.. well you can now :)

Do us a favor and leave a review on what you think about the album and what your favorite song is!

Love you guys!

http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/courage-longing/id405265004

Man of Austin Magazine

Awesome article on us in Man of Austin Magazine...

http://manofaustin.com/2010/11/the-courage-longing-of-mike-burns/

Eeek

I am so behind on my photo blog. Our trip to California did it to me. I'm gonna try and get working on that today.

Day 81:

Crazy truuuck that blew up off I-10 in AZ

Broken Bells - The High Road

SXSW Day 76-80:

This past week has been the craziest musical week of my life. Our shows were SO much fun and we met loads of people. Tomorrow morning we head out to L.A. for a week and a half and it's a much needed vacation. Expect tons of pictures from that ;)

I want to shout out Jeff Schmelzer, Becca Hyatt, Ray Prim and band, all the staff at Rusty Spurs, Michelle for being super Mom, Sophia for being there for us! And of course... my amazing band. I love you guys!

Day 74, 75:

This was my yummy breakfast. Non fat vanilla yogurt with blackberries and raspberry mueslix.

Lovedrug has released their new EP called 'PART 1" .. I've been listening to that all morning.



These are our new Dropcards. They have 2 songs on them with a download code on the back. Any purchase of a t-shirt comes with a free Dropcard.

Day 72, 73:

Today was long. Joel and I practically spring cleaned our house... then we got flyers printed and walked around downtown hanging them up and scoping out even more venues that we're playing soon. We met a lot of people and I think from now on we'll make it a weekly thing to just walk around and promote and talk up our music as much as we can. I'm exhausted... and I have to go to the gym. It's SXSW baby! Gotta be ready and full of energy!

This was our stage setup at Rusty Spurs. For those of you that haven't been out to see us or live far away and haven't had the chance... you're really missin out!

Lady GaGa & Beyonce - Telephone

I'm still trippin on how good that music video is!



Spring time in Austin. I love this city!

Day 71:

We got our T-Shirts in today. I'm so excited to get these out there and on peoples backs lol. My only thing about them is I wish the tears from the lion were more pinkish and brighter blue but I still love them. If you see or talk to my brother shout him out for the design!

Alanis Morissette - I Was Hoping

Day 70:

I'm a house wife ha.. planted some flowers for spring and they showed their face this morning...

If you like reggae buy the new Iration. It's #1 on iTunes reggae right now. It's called "Time Bomb" -- I used to record with the their engineer and it's so cool to see Iration come this far.

Iration - Falling

Day 67, 68, 69:

Preparation time is never wasted time...

I've been listening to a lot of the Tracy Chapman Collection lately... and still alternating between her and the new Lifehouse lol

Mural by Shepard Fairey of Obey



At Woodrow's with some friends... Yum



And the heat is coming back to Austin.. thank God. I love this city!

Day 63, 64, 65, 66:

Way behind on this blog, I am. Still on Lifehouse - Smoke & Mirrors lol

"It Is What It Is" is my song right now...

Jen Jen!



Creepy guy sat on the stage while we were playing at Hickory Street Bar & Grille LOL



Had a great rehearsal with everyone on Sat...



And my little monster :-D

Day 60, 61, 62:

Gloomy day... creepy crow...

The soundtrack for these past 3 days has definitely been the new Lifehouse record "Smoke & Mirrors" ... My ultimate favorite band.




Talk to tha hand lol



@allexdaniels TOBY!

New Website Domain

The brilliant Adam McElhaney at Exohive.com hooked us up today with a new domain name for our site. It's so good to have our website address have our name in it finally...

Check it out -- http://www.newjerusalemband.com

Day 57, 58, 59:

This past weekend was really great. My parents bought Nathan a new truck and drove it up from Corpus Christi and along with it brought us a new rug for our living room. It seems like now that Nathan's not living with us we've been slowly starting to really get our place together with stuff. One step at a time.

Pink - Please Don't Leave Me

I cannot get this song out of my head!



This is our very own Andrew Dethloff performing Emerald City @ Rusty Spurs and he had is sweet sweet sweet friend Sofia come up and sing a song. It was amazing!

Sufjan Stevens - Chicago



Joel and I had dinner with our good good friend Jacob at Vivo! Great atmosphere.. low light.. super rad mexican place! I had some pretty insanely amazing puffy tofu tacos and a prickly pear margarita! Yum!

Junior Boys - FM

Day 56:

Sunset from our front porch. I can feel spring coming... can't wait!

Grandaddy - A.M. 180

Day 55:

Yes I'm obsessed... even though I may be a little behind.

The Calling - One By One

What happened to The Calling?

Day 53, 54:

Joel working on gettin some midi piano tracks recorded...

Lifehouse - Halfway Gone

Yeah... they're new record will be out March 2nd. And. I. Shall. Get. My. Fix. (It's been too long)



So it was 75 degrees on Sunday. It was glorious and this is what I wake up to this morning! Really?

John Mayer feat. Kanye West - Bittersweet

Day 51, 52:

This past Saturday after we were finished with our gig... Nathan was dancing a little too hard on the patio at Rusty Spurs and fell and cracked his head open. We were in the emergency room till 5:30am. But at least his brain is okay ha!

Rihanna - Disturbia



Here is Kalaidoscope of Dreams with a rad stage set up. They were really good!

Justice - D.A.N.C.E.

Day 50:

Ghostland Observatory - Dancing On My Grave

Fun times at @HARMONYSWEET

Day 49:

This is a new addition to NJ. This is Cheryl's french harp. Can't wait for you guys to see/hear her!



Artists For Haiti - We Are The World 25

Day 47, 48:

It hasn't been the best past 24 hours. Fat Tuesday last night was a big bust. I've spent most of today evaluating what we've accomplished since being in Austin. I'm grateful for everything that we've done but it can always be more. I'm that guy that's never satisfied really so it's time to work harder. April marks 10 years of me doing music. Where will I be in another 10 years? Who knows. But I do know that I'm not stopping. This is my dream and I will do any and everything to make it a success. For the next few days if not longer I'll probably be ranting more about this so bare with me. Lol

This picture has nothing to do with that but it made me laugh when I saw it. Rufus sleeping in a strange position in his kennel:

As Tall As Lions - Is This Tomorrow?

"OH YOU DON'T NEED TO SEE SOMETHING TO KNOW IT NEEDS A CHANGE."



And this is my beautiful Ryann Isley who sent me this today to cheer me up. I love you Rye!

Owl City - Super Honeymoon

Day 46:

Margarita Monday with that Jacobie!



Depeche Mode - Stripped

Day 42, 43, 44, & 45:

We have had some of the best food this past weekend. Z Tejas, Kona Grill, Moonshine and Bess Bistro to name a few. This was Joel's Chili Relleno @ Z Tejas!

Broken Bells - The High Road



This is a painting our friend has in his condo. Reminds me of Justin from QAF lol

Bronski Beat - Smalltown Boy



Mardi Gras Son!

Carlos Santana & Rob Thomas - Smoothe



And of course Valentine's Day dinner with my love @ Bess Bistro. Apparently Sandra Bullock owns it. It was incredible!

Keyshia Cole - You Complete Me

Day 41:

Gotta love the black on black!



Tracy Chapman - Fast Car

Day 40:

I love my brother!



Elton John - Rocketman

Day 39:

My mom got Joel and I this portrait for our living room at Ikea. Love it!

Lady Antebellum - Need You Now

I know this song has raped the radio but it gets me everytime!

Day 36, 37, 38:

Okay so I'm not keeping up with this blog as much as I'd like to. I need better discipline for sure. However... this has been a pretty crazy weekend. My Mom, Dad and sister came into town to help Nathan move into his new apt... and he lives on the 3rd floor so... enough said lol

Sat night we played probably the best show we've ever played here in Austin. There was insane amounts of energy and our new guys are really incredible. Thank you to everyone that was there with us at Emerald City. We really love you ALL!

So I'll group the whole weekend together on this one and just say that I've been really stuck on Lovedrug's record "Pretend Your Alive" ...Spiders will always be one of my favorite songs ever! I'm hoping they come to Austin on the tour they're doing right now. Such a great band!

I love this city. This is the view from a friend of ours condo downtown.



Gotta love the my bro works at Zumiez!



And last but not least here's Joel about to destroy this calzone at brunch today! Boy can eat!

Day 35:

Lil Wayne - Mr. Carter

"Man I got summer hatin on me cause I'm hotter than the sun, got spring hatin on me cause I ain't never sprung. Winter hatin on me cause I'm colder than ya'll... and I will never I will never I will never fall. I'm being hated on by the seasons, so fu*k ya'll for hatin for no reason."

Day 34:

Lovedrug - Ghost By My Side

This band helps me so much. Such passion and truth... get something new from it every time.

"Because love means going this far. Even when the ending is only the start."

Day 33:

Michael Jackson - Dirty Diana

(RIP)

Day 32:

These are my good friends Candy and Travis with India Arie. Candy didn't know what to say to her so she just told India that her bag was cute lol



India Arie - Complicated Melody