Violinist Wanted

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the VI band. Maybe it's because Elliot and Chris are graduating. Maybe it's because the band last week was just three of us. Maybe it's because I really love playing guitar and listening to music.
When I first came to VI, I was terrified. I was a lowly seventh grader and I only had a handful of people from the ministry who I knew. So for the first half hour, the meeting-friends-and-hanging-out was really intimidating. The game we played was fun, but the whole dividing-into-teams situation was also unnerving for me.
But then we got to the music.
I could relate to that. Sure, I didn't know the lyrics. Sure, the band was mostly strangers to me then- Phil Bowdle, Kate Young, Will Lucas, Matt Johnson... but the music was something I could get on board with. It truly is the universal language. The fast and slow sets (back then, people used to mosh during the fast set- that was nuts) were the best and most memorable part of my VI experience.

That's why I am so glad to have worship as my ministry in VI. I'm not an expert guitar player, and my voice is so-so on good days, but I love being up on the stage. I love knowing that even when I play the wrong chord, even when the band is small, God's in the music.
I'm hoping that in this upcoming year we can build our band. It'd be great to have some female voices on stage to accompany Dustin. And maybe some new instruments. For one, the violin.

I have no idea whether "violinist" is even a word. I don't care. All I know is that I love the sound of that instrument. I really wish I knew how to play.
A good friend of mine (you know who you are) recommended that I check out the new CD called "Paper Walls" from Yellowcard. In case you've never heard of them, Yellowcard is a rock/pop punk-ish band that's been around for a few years. Their song "Way Away" was pretty popular a few years back. Anyway, I have never been a huge Yellowcard fan, but I figured since I had some gift card money stored up on iTunes, I'd check it out.
I was amazed.
I had no idea I would like these guys as much as I do. Nor did I have any idea that their band features a VIOLIN. It sounds amazing! Every time I listen to the songs that have violin solos or whenever I hear the violinist (whose name is Sean Mackin) coming in to play harmony, it awes me. I can't help but wonder what it would like if we had a violin- or multiple violins, for that matter, in our VI worship band.
So this isn't just in jest. Do any of you know really good (or even average) violin players? Tell me. Give them my number or the web address for this blog. Do whatever it takes. I'm interested in this.
Here's a few samples off what Yellowcard's violin amazing-ness sounds like:

"Bombers"- a bonus track from Paper Walls


"Gifts & Curses"- forgive the Spanish, and lack of video



Seriously. I want a violinist in the band.
Love you guys!

Live big, stay classy.