This fest was monumental for me. It was way, way out of my comfort zone to put this thing on, but I felt strangely compelled to do it from the moment the idea struck me. (I was beyond lucky to work with Henry Cron in this as partner. I look forward to more collaborations!) 

Certainly, it would have been easier for me to not organize this fest, and I nearly let it pass quietly like any other half cooked idea. But it felt physically wrong to me to not have this fest. It felt lik  the times demanded it, and this needed to be done now and not later. There was a sense of urgency. My hope was that it would solidify and make official this new emerging indie scene that I had witnessed tentatively forming the past 6 months in Daytona around my open mic at World's Most Farmous Brewery and Punk Rock Pizza on Main St. 

The fact that we had ten quality indie and punk acts performing original music in Daytona to crowded rooms, shows to me that my faith and hopeful assumptions were, in fact, not misplaced, as improbable as they might seem to be. Daytona is a music town, always has been, and it's starting now to get back on it's feet. 

My last post from months ago, caught me gingerly suggesting that Daytona might be entering a new era of live music, but I remember feeling silly and a little delusional even as I typed it. It's been said before. I've seen many a form-and-fizzle when it comes to collectives and communities surrounding music. 

Since my last cautiously optimistic post, a lot has developed in a short period of time. I have met new inspiring bands like Liquid Mirrors and Nashua Pond Association who I would have never dreamed could pop up in this town.

I've seen people meet and form bands right in front of me, and songwriters with virtually no experience rapidly advance their craft in just weeks in front of welcoming audiences. Perfomers are showing up for their friends and community, with consistency and intention, even when they aren't scheduled to perform that evening. It turns out I was right; a new music scene really had been forming and becoming a real, not just a figment of my imagination.

We tested it, pushed on it a little, and found that there was indeed something solid where we hoped there would be. 

This is only the beginning. 

Check one, two. We are excited to introduce the Holy Human Blog as a new for us to be creative and connect with our friends and the people who listen to us. This blog will allow us to explore some of our ideas in depth and talk about music, community, philosophy, our favorite artists and bands… and who knows what else. The blog format allows a lot of freedom and range of topics, and we've got a lot to say and share.

There was a pretty badass Holy Human Tumblr back in the day, and I've been missing this form of outlet. Back then, I was able to catalogue and post some of the art and muscial performances that occurred during the legenday Body Electric Initiatif Colletive sessions at my apartment many moons ago (IFYKY). I had a great time keeping that blog back then, and I'm excited to pick back up where I left off and start documenting some of the great music and art that I see popping up around us in our community. I am seeing a resurgence of music and art in Central Florida. 

This is an exciting time. There seems to be new bands, scenes and venues popping up in different places and real community is being forged in ways that I have not seen in this area since before covid. The teenagers in my senior classes go out to hardcore shows to mosh and dance and fight just like we did we when we were kids. It's so cool to watch a new generation of music fans turn onto and grasp what the real reason is why music exists: the love and community bond that is forged. It's the same reason why our parents went to church when we were kids: connection and community. As I grow older and redefine my relationship to music, I am only now beginning to grasp the real magic of music… how it creates these powerful moments of meaning and bonding between the people who are present in that time and place, and forms the very connective tissue that holds some communities together. In the past couple of years, we have been lucky to be a part of some of these communities, and we look forward to doing our part in seeing them grow and be ever more inclusive. It took me too long to strip away a lot of the nonsense and ambition around music and industry, but I'm beginning to see it's really all about community and “the friends we make along the way.” Even Jesus said, “where two are more are gathered together in my name, there I am also.” Where there are people, there is Presence, and there is probably always music there too.