Billie Tarascio- Send me
It is always exciting to see new artists in the Catholic scene. Featuring great songs and superbly produced by Dave Smith, this release from Billie Tarascio, a female lawyer from Oregon, is a terrific pop recording and establishes this artist as one of the best new female vocalists to appear on the Catholic music scene this past year. The more upbeat numbers, like the title track, are solid but the slower numbers are where the album excels. There is a haunting “Our Father” and a beautiful “Hail Mary” and a wonderful ballad in “Lay it down”. Go to http://billietarascio.com/ to support this new artist.
David Wang- Catholic Register

It is going to be difficult to wrap up Saturday night’s CD release party. I am truly overwhelmed today with joy, love and gratitude. The concert itself went well, but what was amazing was all of the effort put in and the support we received from our community.

I have a very close group of friends from Lifeteen. We do a weekly bible study together and spend lots of time together. Some are in the band and some are not. Those who are not have named themselves “Group Bs” and we musicians have been dubbed “Group A” Every one in Group B has a job, they all have brought their talents to this ministry and have worked so hard, always. But they all truly out did themselves on Saturday. When I arrived at O’Hara Heather, Amber, Leslie, Lisa, Cassie, Scott, Sean and Brad were already there and had decorated and stocked the “green room” with fruit, veggi’s, sandwiches, chips, assorted candy, (including yellow m&ms in a 8 inch glass jar, per Josh’s request) drinks, a basket containing band aids, cough drops, deodorant, hair clips, a mirror, advil, a framed poster and framed CD, and much much more. They had decorated the green room and the tables for CD sales. They had prayed for us, promoted, MC’d, handed out fliers, invited friends and family. Each of them signed a card for each of us band members. The words of support and love from my friends amazed me. They brought a huge wooden cross to the green room. They prayed with us and Brent Cole the opening band.

Our families came- from far and wide- they brought their families. They brought flowers, and gifts.

O’Hara faculty, especially Barb, Bob, Dianne, Melissa, and Maryanne helped with everything from facility management to power point.

Then there were the kids. While I was on stage singing, children were right up against the stage, singing and praising, dancing and jumping and clapping. It was amazing!

I put an ad on craigslist looking for someone who would volunteer to run lights. I didn’t have enough money to rent lights and pay them and I didn’t know anyone who knew how. Kevin Wyatt and his girlfriend Sasha responded to the ad. They are Christians who attend life bible and they wanted to help. They went to the lights shop 4 times- picked up the lights, showed up early to set up and then volunteered to return them all on Monday. These wonderful people didn’t know me or my music or my friends, they just stepped up the help and went out of their way to do so. The sound people Mark Smith and Dean Goff came from Vancouver. Their ministry is to do sound for Christian artists. They were amazing and wonderful and worked so hard.

Our drummer, James, had planned to leave in April. He was too busy and this was all too much work on top of everything else. He decided to stay. He decided that the love displayed by our friends made everything worth it and he couldn’t walk away.

I am sure I have left out many many other things. My head is still swimming, my heart is overflowing. I am SO BLESSED!

WHEW- I spent this whole weekend- and the last two weeks for that matter immersed in music.

I received a shipment of 1000 cds about 10 days ago. I immediately began sending them to catholic radio stations, local lifeteen parishes and any other people who I thought might be interested from a promotional standpoint, other catholic artists, etc. I think I could give all 1000 away if me husband weren’t reminding me of the cost involved in their creation. lol!

On Saturday we had a gig at our local newman center. It went pretty well. There were about 50 people there so we had an opportunity to expose praise and worship music and some of our own music to a group that wasn’t really familiar with any of it. We met some new priests and got to connect with our old youth minister Corrinne. It was a really fun night. God Bless our Group Bs- they deserve their very own blog- so as soon as I get their photo’s up I’ll write one for them. We did an hour set and then headed to red robin for some r&r and food.

Sunday I spent the whole day from 8 am until 10:30 pm helping out with the Kutless, Disciple, Stellar Kart and Esterlyn concert. It started with buying food for the band. I was given a matrix style list from LMG concert productions. I spent over $600 and had five carts of food for one day! Then I went and set everything up at First Baptist Church. The church could probably use its own blog too on the massiveness but I’ll spare you the details- except to say that every age group has their own ministry rooms complete with a stage, lighting, sound equipment and instruments- whoa.

I made breakfast for the bands- with Caitlin- at about 12:30 p.m. they live on a very different schedule. I got to hang out with Disciple’s drummer- very cool guy- who showed me their bus, complete with six sleeping cubbies. Later I went to PF Changs and picked up another $700 in food for the bands.

At seven the show started. It was complete with major effects, lights, sound, sets etc. Sold out show of 2000 plus volunteers. K Love and Air 1 were there. It was a HUGE concert. Very successful. I learned a lot and had a good time. Even met another drummer friend- although sebastian is still my favorite drummer.

I am married to the manliest man on the planet. I couldn’t ask for anything more in a husband and I want to praise God for putting him in my path. What makes Tony so manly? His service in the army? combat in Iraq, service in Katrina or his literally saving young children?  How about his experience as a police officer and the fact that when he hears a noise in our house at night he can go to the gun safe and actually clear the house like in the movies?

Well yes all those things are very manly. But what inspired me to write this blog was a telephone call he made this morning to our three year old. This morning, like every morning, Sebastian and Isaiah followed daddy outside as he was leaving for work. They stood in the driveway blowing him kisses and waving until he was far out of sight. A few minutes later Tony called Sebastian just to tell Sebastian how special it made him feel to be loved so much by his children. My husband does laundry, cleans bathrooms, changes diapers, and does pretty much whatever needs to be done. He asks what he can do to help, he serves others daily-all the time. He is committed to his wife and children without question, calls to check in, is always respectful of everyone, says he’s sorry, can admit that he is wrong, supports me in following my hearts dreams and aspirations. Tony is vulnerable and open. He is a partner, leader, friend, father. He is grateful and overflowing with joy because he has a fantastic job, a devoted loving wife, adoring children, a fantastic community of friends, and a God who has never left him. A God who comes through in good times and in bad.

He is a man of God and the manliest man I know.

Hi Friends,

I’m headed in Indiana later in the week to record a CD. Come with me on my adventure and check out Fort Wayne, as well as all the other craziness in my life.

I hope you enjoy!

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