Each year, the timing of the Grammy Awards aligns with the annual dinner at my church.  Sure, I suppose I could record the festivities.  But the likelihood that I would watch it later is slim.  I used to watch every music related awards ceremony available as a child, yet over the years I have lost interest.

Though when I opened up my Facebook account this morning, I noticed several status updates with comments on the event.  So I decided to go over to Twitter and read what folks had to say.  In some cases, I had to read several tweets from different people in order to pick up what had happened.  I then collected various tweets from friends, musicians, writers, and fellow inReview staff and in the end, almost felt as if I had watched it with them.

Maybe I will come out with a differentNewsboys or dc Talk? feeling next week after seeing the Newsboys at the Winter Jam Spectacular.  But as I look back to my first experience seeing former dc Talk member Michael Tait as lead singer of the Newsboys was … interesting.

Often when I listen to a new album for the first time, I wonder whether or not the music would fly in

Tim Foreman of Switchfoot at RevGen fest

So today as I look at the pile of discs purchased in the last 4 months or so, I pondered whether or not someone might benefit from my short list when looking for Christmas gift options.

Perhaps you are searching online for some ideas on music for someone who likes female music, and, like me, you don’t follow that genre too much.  There are some albums released since the summer you may wish to learn about.

Let me start by saying that I am not a huge fan of female backed music, in particular of the pop genre.  As such, it is likely a detailed review of this style of music won’t be coming from my fingertips.  I prefer the gutsy deep solo voice of Jennifer Knapp or the hard edge of the female fronted band Flyleaf.

Right now as I write, Hello Hurricane is one of the trending topics on Twitter.  Why?  Perhaps it has a little something to do with the highly anticipated release of said album by Switchfoot.  Perhaps folks are writing about the apparent transformation of musical style.  Or maybe the diehard fans are re-tweeting to get the counts up.  Either way, the first studio release in three years has been causing a buzz even before today's official release.

Jon and Tim at the auction acoustic set"When you're around the Switchfoot guys you just want to do something more, be better."  - Kip Locke, BRO-AM co-director

I agree.

I read that quote from an online interview with Kip soon after I had attended the 5th annual BRO-AM event, held at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California on Saturday June 27th.  But not only had I attended the event, I had also helped work the event.  And by the end of the day, I was speechless.

Each year Switchfoot, in order to give back to the community where they live, decides what local organization will benefit from the affair.  This year the guys continued their relationship with local chapters of Stand Up for Kids, a group of mostly volunteers who makes a difference in the lives of at-risk, homeless and street kids.  BRO-AM is a benefit involving live music, a surfing contest, and more.  It also included an auction a few days before, and an after-party to end the day's activities.

Jars of ClayWe all know that the “holidays” can be a crazy time.  So not long after I attended a Christmas tour show that included Jars of Clay, Sixpence None the Richer, Sara Groves and Leeland, I was sucked into the fray and never found a breather to sit down and tell of my tale.  Soon, I decided to bring it all about as a Christmas in July special.  Why not?  It’s 90 degrees outside, and the humidity is rising.  Much different than the cold we might experience here in the northeast in winter.  But, perhaps it is these times when I want to recall some colder temps.