Rick and Linda Trice: News and Views

Rick and Linda will lead the praise and worship for the Christian Motorcyclists Association’s Colorado State Rally in Westcliff, Colorado, July 2, 3, and 4th.  CMA is a tremendous organization with a heart for evangelism, and we are very honored to have been asked.  

 

Rick and Linda Trice have been invited to provide some music as part of the annual Hope Pregnancy Center Run, August 29, 2009, in Trinidad, CO! This organization provides important services in the area of alternatives to abortion, in a professional and respectful setting. This event provides much of their funding, and includes a morning Bike Run from Trinidad - Raton - Johnson Mesa - Folsom - Branson - and back to Trinidad; a BBQ and games at the Las Animas County Fairgrounds; and of course, live musical entertainment from Rick and Linda. For more information, phone Joanne Valdez at 719-846-4889. Come and join the fun and help support a great cause to save unborn lives!

Rick went down and played a few tunes for the crowd at the El Raton Wednesday, August 12. If you haven't been down to enjoy their "Open Mic" series, the 2nd Wednesday of each month, you're missing a treat from a lot of great, local talent. In addition to Rick, the crowd enjoyed the playing and singing talents of KC Armstrong, Carl and Marcia Patty, and Daniel Slocum.

Wow! What a great show (if I do say so myself)! "I Do, I Do," starring real life married couple Jillian Trice-Solano and Dreyson Solano, was also a real "family" production, with Dad Rick as Artistic Director and Mom Linda as piano accompaniment. We did five performances at the Historic Shuler Theater to enthusiastic audiences, many of whom were overheard saying it was the "best show of the summer season!" Jill and Drey were fantastic as Agnes and Michael Snow, portraying a "typical" marriage over a span of 50 years, and literally "aging" on stage. The play was full of great music, as well as both comedy and pathos, pulling no punches in depicting all the ups and downs we all recognize from a married life. There was often not a dry eye in the house at final curtain call. This will always be one of my favorite theatrical experiences ever!

(Go to "Photo Gallery" and select "Theater" to see some great photos of the show!)

Rick is directing his daughter and son-in-law in a five performance run of the Broadway Musical, "I Do, I Do." Performances to be July 29 thru August 2, 2009, at the Shuler Theater in Raton, NM.

Linda is accompanying on piano. The play follows a married couple through 50 years of their lives, beginning on their wedding day.

Come and see the show!

Dreyson Solano and Rick Trice shared the stage at the El Raton Theater Wednesday night for a live set of acoustic guitars, bass, and hand drum, not to mention some great two part harmonies on both covers and original songs. An audience of about 50 people enjoyed the two hour set. It marked the first time the two had performed together, and all agreed the voices and music blended nicely!

Dreyson's next venue will be a concert in the park, Sunday, July 26, at Ripley Park.

What a fantastic and great time of year is upon us!

Wait a minute! Not only have we just experienced in this country the longest, most expensive, and tiresome presidential campaign season in history (which of itself points strongly to the very same mentality that has caused the current economic chaos--"spend, spend, spend"), we are seeing many friends, family, and acquaintences trying to cope with very real problems economic, health, and spiritual-wise.

So what's so great about it?

Mainly, how refreshing to be reminded, and truly celebrate, that 2000 some-odd years ago the Lord God Almighty sent us a Savior, through who's Holy Spirit He has tried to woo the world back to Him and His ways for that same period of time. Would that we would!

Alas, the Bible is clear that we will unfortunately continue to see a slide into utter despair, war, and loss until God sees fit to call it to an end.

As followers of Christ, though, we are not to share in this despair. We are to give a constant accounting of the Hope that is within us, and live out our times with the fruit of Peace on our lips and Joy in our hearts.

Easier said than done? You betcha! In fact, it cannot be done, save by the strength and power of the Holy Spirit. As the t-shirt I saw the other day says, "No Christ? Know Fear -- Know Christ? No Fear!"

True Peace and Joy be yours through Christ our Lord this special season.

Rick and Linda are once again heavily involved in the annual production of "A Christmas Carol," based on Charles Dickens famous story. Linda is working the controls as Sound Engineer, and Rick reprises his roles as Marley's Ghost, and Ghost of Christmas Present.

Performances are at the Historic Shuler Theatre, the famous Victorian style opera house (appropos for the show!) in downtown Raton, NM. Opening night is 12/5 at 7:30pm. Additional performances are 12/6, 12/12, and 12/13 at 7:30pm; and a matinee performance at 2:30pm 12/7. Adult tickets are $10.00 at the box office.

So don't be a Humbug! Come see a great seasonal show with great sets, costumes, and acting.

Rick and Linda will be providing the music and entertainment for the Sangre de Cristo Riders – Chapter of Christian Motorcyclists Association, annual Christmas Party on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 11:00am.

This chapter serves the area communities of Raton, NM, & Trinidad, Walsenburg, Fort Garland, CO, by ministering Christ to the motorcycle community.

Rick and Linda are honored to be asked to provide their original music, plus their arrangements of traditional Christmas songs.

Well, we've ventured back in the studio to begin work on what could be a series of new CD projects. In addition to a ton of new material, Rick still has a backlog of older material to get down for posterity (over 75 pieces written over the past 30 years or more!)

The next project will probably be an album's worth of songs written about or for family and friends over the years, and will be entitled "One of the Family," (or "One For the Family"). A second project coming up will be an album of praise and worship songs, to be titled "PraiseWorthy."

All work will be done, once again, in our own Anastasis Studios right here in good old Raton, USA. So, check back often for a progress report!

On August 21, Rick played drums in concert with the internationally renowned rock and roll band The Fireballs. The group, featuring original founding members George Tomsco (guitar / vocals) and Stan Lark (Bass / vocals) were responsible for several top 40 hit songs since the late '50s, with such songs as "Torquay," "Fireball," "Sugar Shack," and "Bottle of Wine," and are still going strong, writing, recording, and touring their music worldwide. The band was discovered around the same time that Buddy Holly was, and indeed by the same producer, Norman Petty, from Clovis, NM. Their current reportoire of songs includes a lot of Buddy Holly tunes, as well as other popular rock and roll songs of the era.

As their regular drummer, Chris Segura, wasn't available, Rick was asked to join the band on August 21, 2008, for a concert at the Roosevelt County Fair in Portales, NM.

A great time was had by all, the crowd seemed to enjoy it, and the vibe was just fantastic. (See PHOTOS section for some pictures!)

"Time is an illusion...lunchtime doubly so." --Douglas Adams

"Look, I don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must at very least think noisy and colorfully, or you're not alive."
Mel Brooks

Rick played an acoustic set for the Raton Arts and Humanities Council, Inc., fundraising event, at the Raton Convention Center. A great crowd, at a great event, for a great organization! A fun time was had for all!

Well, we just had a terrifically busy month, and know you all probably did, too. End of the year stuff with the "day job," etc.

But the really great news here at good old Anastasis Recording Company is that we've finished up recording and mixing my buddy Jacob McLeroy's first CD project! Hopefully, he'll be able to get everything together on the business side of it to get this "officially released." Jake is a good songwriter, and his love of the Lord soaks through all twelve of these wonderful songs. It was a challenge for me producing someone else's music for a change, but I learned a lot, and had a heck of lot of fun! We'll hopefully have more news for you regarding this project, and possibly even be able to make some sound clips available to you to listen to.

In other news, we're getting ready to help produce the Raton Choral Society's spring show, which is going to be Gilbert and Sullivan's "Trial By Jury." I'm directing the stage, and my friend Bill Crary will be directing the music. The lovely Linda will be accompanying on piano.

Have a good rest of the month, and see you in February!

----Rick

The final cast and performances have been announced by Bill Fegan, director of this outstanding seasonal operetta. Cast as Amahl is JACOB FEERER, his mother is played by longtime local actor SUSAN MARTIN, the Three Kings are played by ALVA EARLY, BILL CRARY, AND RICK TRICE, the page played by DENNY GRIFFIS, with numerous other local talent playing the SHEPHERDS.

PERFORMANCES ARE SET AS FOLLOWS:
1/3/08 - Cimarron Methodist Church, 7:30 pm
1/4/08 - Clayton Methodist Church, 7:30 pm
1/5/08 - Des Moines Methodist Church, 7:30 pm
1/6/08 - The Shuler Theater, Raton, 2:30 pm

Come enjoy this unique holiday musical production, featuring some of the best acting and vocal talent in the region!

12/1/07 - IT'S FINALLY HERE! The remix of our 1998 project, "A Walk in the Desert," was released last week on CD, each song digitally remastered, cleaned up, and augmented, in some cases, by additional instruments and voices, and in at least two cases, new lyrics. AND, we have added three BONUS songs never released before: a concert favorite entilled "Diamonds," "You In Me," and "Just A Voice."

The CD IS NOW available to purchase on www.cdbaby.com/cd/trice2. You can also click on the "Listen to the Music" page and hear some sample tracks, or read the lyrics. Let us know what you think! Go to "Guestbook" and leave us a review!

Rick has agreed to take the role of one of the Three Kings in a Christmas Season production of the operetta, "Amahl and the Night Vistors," to be performed (on yet-to-be-determined dates) at the Shuler Theatre in Raton, and hopefully to tour some of the other communities around Northeastern New Mexico. "Amahl..." is being produced and directed by Bill Fegan, of the Santa Fe Trail School for the Performing Arts, in association with the Raton Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Bill was recently honored by the New State Arts Division as a top contributor to the arts in the State of New Mexico for 2007! He has over 60 years of professional theatrical expericence, and we are fortunate that he has chosen Raton as his home!

STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ADDITIONAL CASTING AND DATES!

Linda Trice has been asked to accompany the annual Raton Ecumenical Choir in its presentation of choral music centered on a Thanksgiving theme. Production is slated for Palm Sunday, 6:00 pm, at the Raton United Methodist Church.

The Choir is one of the few remaining multi-voiced choirs in the area, and performs every Thanksgiving and Easter. Donations are accepted, and are usually for the benefit of the Raton Ministerial Alliance's Benevolence Fund, which aids travellers and ministers to locals struggling with utility payments.

Our little studio, Anastasis Recording Company, has been quite busy lately! (BTW, "Anastasis" is Greek for "a rising up again," or "resurrection.") In addition to our own projects, Rick has been busily producing sessions for Jacob McLeroy, a longtime friend and Christian brother, from Springer, NM, who is busy recording an album of his original material. Today marked the final sessions of laying down tracks to 12 of Jake's songs, and the task of mixing down to final masters can now begin. Jake's style could be described as alternative, guitar based songs of praise, overlaid with his smooth, but husky, bluesy baritone voice.

We will keep you posted on the progress of Jake's album, and how you can lay your hands on a copy, when it's finished!

We want to thank the following retailers who are now carrying our "LifeLines" CD for sale in their shops:

RATON: Oasis Books; Los Cruz New Mexico Music; Old Pass Gallery

EAGLE NEST: Cloud 9 Gifts

Stop by these great shops when you're in the area!

And if you know of other places we can approach to carry the CDs, CONTACT US!

Way back in the dark ages of Analog Tape Recording, Linda and I produced an album called "A Walk in the Desert," consisting of 12 original songs. Since then, we've made the move to digital music production, but we had not figured out til recently how to convert those old analog master tapes to the digital format. But praise God we got 'er done this weekend, including the added bonus of transferring four other completed songs that never make the final album cut (for space considerations, not necessarily quality of writing)! So...long story short, our planned re-release of "Walk in the Desert" has now been moved ahead significantly! We still need to go in and tweak each song clean it up digitally, and perhaps replace / augment some of the individual instruments. But my intent is not tamper too much with the original performances, as they still represent a "capsule in time," so to speak, of those songs.

Look here for more news on the planned CD remaster and release of "Walk in the Desert," soon, on Anastasis Records, with bonus tracks!

(note: we still have some cassette copies of WITD available for sale, at $5.00 apiece! Just go to "Contact" and let me know by email if you want to buy one and we'll get it right out to you!)

A few people have asked why the new CD is identified by the one word name "Trice," only.

Good question! I originally intended it because I was going to have all the vocals and instruments played only by family members of that surname! But when my daughters became unavailable to sing backup vocals, the musicians dwindled down to my wife, Linda, and me. So...I still thought it was rather cool to just use the surname, so if you see us in your town at a gig, it likely will be under the band name of just "Trice!" (We'll see how it goes).

My new album, "LifeLines," is now availabe for downloading at iTunes. Click here: http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?playListId=262280557 to check it out and purchase!