The Gentle Wolves say goodbye to Eric Vogt - Free Show 6/22

It will be difficult to say goodbye to Eric Vogt, who was the founding pastor of Servant Church. But, being a United Methodist community, Eric and Valerie have been moved to a church in San Antonio at the end of June. 

Before they go we wanted to do something special... especially for Eric, who has (both figuratively and perhaps even literally) given everything he has to birth the community we now call Servant Church. So we'll be throwing him a rager to say goodbye.

In our first bar gig in almost two years, The Gentle Wolves be playing some originals, some covers, and we'll be toasting Mr. Vogt's for all that he's done for us. Our friends/brothers in Good Field will be closing out the night.

Click on the brutal flier (made by the one, the only Josh Gamma) the RSVP to the Facebook Event.

New Music: "Into the Woods My Master Went" Compilation Out Today! FREE!

Last summer my good friend Seth Woods sent me this picture with a text saying: 
"Dude. I'm doing some childcare for my friend's Mennonite congregation today, but they are having their retreat at a baptist camp. I am going through a hymnal. Most baptist hymns annoy me, mostly because they have no mystery or subtlety. But i came across this short, weird hymn called "into the woods my master went. It's awesome and creepy."

I quickly responded: "Weird. What does this song even mean? Let's each retune this thing and put it out in time for Holy Week... because it's talking about Gethsemane and Golgotha right?"

The retune project grew as we invited our talented friends Chris Simpson (Mineral, The Gloria Record, Mountain Time), Alex Dupree (Idyl), Jana Horn (Reservations, Knife in the Water), and Bruce Benedict (Cardiphonia, Hope College) to submit versions as well. 

It is now available, just in time for Holy Week. 
I'm so proud with how it turned out.
Click the album cover to listen, and you can download it for free from the bandcamp page.

Announcing "Into the Woods My Master Went" Retune Compilation

Last summer my good friend Seth Woods sent me this picture with a text saying: 
"Dude. I'm doing some childcare for my friend's Mennonite congregation today, but they are having their retreat at a baptist camp. I am going through a hymnal. Most baptist hymns annoy me, mostly because they have no mystery or subtlety. But i came across this short, weird hymn called "into the woods my master went. It's awesome and creepy."

I quickly responded: "Weird. What does this song even mean? Let's each retune this thing and put it out in time for Holy Week... because it's talking about Gethsemane and Golgotha right?"

The retune project grew as we invited our good friends Chris Simpson (Mineral, The Gloria Record, Mountain Time), Alex Dupree (Idyl), Jana Horn (Reservations, Knife in the Water), and Bruce Benedict (Cardiphonia, Hope College) to submit versions as well. 

I'm so excited to announce that it will come out digitally next week, Friday 4/7, just in time for Holy Week. Check here for more details on how to get it.

New Music: The Gentle Wolves "Lament" Live Album Out Now

The Gentle Wolves are proud to announce the release of their first live album. These recordings come from Servant Church's lament worship gathering on 1/29/17. The purpose of the liturgy was to confess and mourn the way we, the Church, have failed when it comes to dealing with our people's sexuality and gender. 

You can download this album on the Gentle Wolves bandcamp site.  You can get it for free by going to the Gentle Wolves' site, clicking on "Buy Now," and then entering $0. With a download of the album you also get chord charts for all of the enclosed music.

This powerful set includes some of The Gentle Wolves' most emotive music, including adaptations of songs by Mahalia Jackson, A Silver Mount Zion, Mineral, The Whiskey Priest and Chris Simpson. We try to ensure that the Gentle Wolves aren't a 'cover band' by thoroughly reworking the material to fit God's purposes in our context. 
The setlist looks like this:

1) O God We Waited So Long (original)
2) Troubles of the World (Mahalia Jackson)
3) When the World is Sick (A Silver Mount Zion)
4) Holy Ghost With Light Divine (Seth Woods)
5) Please Don't Make Us Sing This Song (Lori Chaffer)
6) Been in this War for Too Long (Chris Simpson)
7) Blessed Lord in You is Refuge (original)
8) Modern Living (Chris Simpson)
9) The Last Word is Rejoice (Mineral)

If you ever wonder where some of the best indie-rock musicians in Austin are spending their Sunday mornings, the ones who aren't sleeping in are at Servant Church.

Guitar and Vocals: Richard Kentopp (Scenery)
Vocals: Diana Rudd
Guitar: Mitch Holt (Ex: The Rocketboys)
Guitar: Ben Lance (Booher, Broken Gold)
Bass: Paul Price (Good Field) 
Drums: Andy Beaudoin (Nori, The Eastern Sea)
Piano: Kyle Robertson (Good Field)
Horns: Jonathan Hoyle

Album Art: Trina Bolfing
Recording, Mixing, and Mastering: Richard Kentopp

Announcing The Gentle Wolves' First Live Album "Lament" Out 3/1/17

The Gentle Wolves are proud to announce the release of their first live album. These recordings come from Servant Church's lament worship gathering on 1/29/17. The purpose of the liturgy was to confess and mourn the way we, the Church, have failed when it comes to dealing with our people's sexuality and gender. 

The Album will only be released digitally, and will be available in time for Lent on Ash Wednesday 3/1 on the Gentle Wolves bandcamp site.  You can hear one of the songs by clicking on the album cover above.

This powerful set includes some of The Gentle Wolves' most emotive music, including adaptations of songs by Mahalia Jackson, A Silver Mount Zion, Mineral, The Whiskey Priest and Chris Simpson. We try to ensure that the Gentle Wolves aren't a 'cover band' by thoroughly reworking the material to fit God's purposes in our context. 
The setlist looks like this:

1) O God We Waited So Long (original)
2) Troubles of the World (Mahalia Jackson)
3) When the World is Sick (A Silver Mount Zion)
4) Holy Ghost With Light Divine (Seth Woods)
5) Please Don't Make Us Sing This Song (Lori Chaffer)
6) Been in this War for Too Long (Chris Simpson)
7) Blessed Lord in You is Refuge (original) LISTEN NOW
8) Modern Living (Chris Simpson)
9) The Last Word is Rejoice (Mineral)

If you ever wonder where some of the best indie-rock musicians in Austin are spending their Sunday mornings, the ones who aren't sleeping in are at Servant Church.

Guitar and Vocals: Richard Kentopp (Scenery)
Vocals: Diana Rudd
Guitar: Mitch Holt (Ex: The Rocketboys)
Guitar: Ben Lance (Booher, Broken Gold)
Bass: Paul Price (Good Field) 
Drums: Andy Beaudoin (Nori, The Eastern Sea)
Piano: Kyle Robertson (Good Field)
Horns: Jonathan Hoyle

Album Art: Trina Bolfing
Recording, Mixing, and Mastering: Richard Kentopp

Scenery's TWO STARES now available everywhere!

Scenery's first full-length album, Two Stares, is now available everywhere!
You can order a physical CD here for just $10, or check out your favorite digital music service below.

Spotify

Bandcamp

iTunes

Google Play

Smoke & Mirrors - KUTX Austin's Song of the Day

My band Scenery's latest single, Smoke & Mirrors, was KUTX's song of the day on Friday 12/2/16!

CD RELEASE SHOW: Scenery's Two Stares FREE release show & party 12/3/16

My friends and I in Scenery are so excited to celebrate the release of our fist full-length album Two Stares on Jan 6th. We'll be partying this Saturday night 12/3 at Cheer Up Charlie's with our good friends in Good Field, Kady Rain, and Ronnie Heart performing. THIS SHOW IS FREE!

Even though Two Stares doesn't come out until January, we'll have our cd for sale for only $10. 
We can't wait to see you there!

Here is a link to the event.
Here's the schedule:
9pm Good Field
10pm ronnie heart (Dallas)
11pm Scenery (LP release)
12am Kady Rain
1am The Bristol Hills (Shreveport, LA)

New Scenery Track: Smoke & Mirrors

In anticipation of our first full-length record, Two Stares, Scenery is proud to announce our third single Smoke & Mirrors. It's, by far, the most rocking track on the album, but it's not all fun and games. Though the lyrics for most of Scenery's songs are general and applicable to many of the past relationships in all of our lives, this one has a bitter root of truth for me. Underneath all the rock guitars, tight grooves, and soaring keyboards there's a lament of the times I've wronged those I was close to... and vice versa. That said... I hope you enjoy the track, but can't relate.

Announcing Scenery's new LP, Two Stares - Out Jan 6th, 2017

I'm so excited to share what my friends and I in Scenery have been working on for the last year. May we present Scenery's first full-length record, Two Stares. While there will be lots of sights and sounds to share in the next two months, here's the basic info along with the album cover (designed by my good buddy Bryan Butler):

Scenery - Two Stares
Release show/party: Sat 12/3/16 @ Cheer Up Charlie's in Austin, TX
Release date: Fri 1/6/17 on Spotify, Apple Music, and Bandcamp

Produced by Scenery
Mastered by Timothy Gerron
Album Art by Bryan Butler

Physical CD copies can be preordered here in December and will ship 1/2/17. But, of course, they will also be available at our live performances, including the 12/3/16 release party.

Press release:
Austin synth rock band Scenery is proud to announce the release of their first full-length album, Two Stares. It will be available the first week of 2017. Having been a band just under two years, this collection of Austin music veterans has already cultivated an avid following through their electric live performances.
Two Stares is a collection of 11 songs that reflect on being young, growing up, not being young anymore, and yet somehow still being young. Vocalist Richard Kentopp recalls stories of long drives, sneaking into the woods, being an angry drunk, and fires on the beach. Underneath the idyllic pictures of days gone by, the rhythm section of Shane Wood (bass) and Austin Hegarty (drums) pound out their tightly angular grooves. Dean Stafford douses the sound with swirling guitars while Ali Sanders tops everything off with lush keyboards and vocals.
It all comes together in Two Stares, leading the listener to believe that no matter how old they are the stories of the young can still move their body and heart.

UMC Young People's Ministries Interview Richard Kentopp

UMC Young People's ministry recently interviewed me for their podcast. I'm pretty rambly and not particularly helpful to their larger conversation. I hadn't slept much the night before because of my baby. But... if you're interested in hearing how I got into music and music ministry, my current listening, my thoughts on worship music in general, and lots more... this is the episode for you!

New Gentle Wolves Track: O Lord Our Words Don't Work Any More

The past week has been a rough one for many of us; the police killings, the police being killed (in my hometown).  

Yesterday while many were posting on social media to process the societal carnage, I wrote and recorded this song. 

"O Lord Our Words Don't Work Anymore" is meant to be sung communally, and so it will be. I'm not exactly sure if I like it or not, but maybe it can be helpful for you to confess with me in these dark days. 

O Lord our words don’t work anymore
We talk and sing till the air is warm
But we can’t convey what needs to be said
We need your Word to cure our dread! 
Yes we need your Word to cure our dread! 

O Lord our ears don’t work anymore
Our neighbors cry but we’re deaf for sure
So we cannot hear what your Spirit says
We need your voice to raise the dead! 
Yes we need your voice to raise the dead! 

O Lord our hands don’t work any more
We thought they did but they’ve grown quite worn
From building shrines to gods unknown
We need you Lord to reclaim your throne! 
Yes we need you Lord to reclaim your throne! 

O Lord our feet don’t work any more
We crawl around in the dirt evermore
We’ve chosen paths that scar and mame
Savior bring healing to the lame! 
Savior bring healing to the lame! 

O Lord our heads don’t work any more
We think we know the truth for sure
But we get so lost in thoughts base and vain
Humble us with wisdom’s reins! 
Yes humble us with wisdom’s reins!

Here is a link to the PDF song sheet.

SCENERY/DAY WAVE at The Sidewinder 6/14

Scenery's back in action this week opening for the buzz band Day Wave.
We play early at 8!

New Music Video: Scenery - "For the Record"

You can view my band Scenery's new video here or on Facebook.
We shot it with an Iphone 5 on the VHS Camp app. I edited it on Final Cut Pro using the multi-cam clip feature. Overall we spent about 10 hours and less than $20 on this gritty little piece. Enjoy!

New Music: Scenery - "For the Record" Single Now Available Online

My newish band Scenery has released our second single, For the Record. It is available on Itunes, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music and anywhere your ears care to consume. You can also listen to it by just clicking on the play button below.

Several folks have asked me about the song's dark nature, and who I might have kissed in 1993 that would be giving me such present-day alcoholism. Well, in a dramatic departure from the overly heady and deeply spiritual music I have become known for, I have let my songwriting for Scenery be fictional, universal, and as sappy as Robert Smiths'. It has been a lot of fun. Seeing as I have never allowed myself to just write songs that weren't part of a concept album or meant to be sung in liturgical worship.... it's very refreshing.
So hopefully you, or anyone, can find something you identify with enough to sing along or get down on the dancefloor. 

Friday 3/11: Scenery @ The Mohawk

My newish band Scenery will be kicking off SXSW in style with The Shivery Shakes, Borrisokane and more on Friday 3/11 at The Mohawk in Austin. It's really a great bill of local talent. You can get tickets here. We can't wait to play some new material and dance our way into SXSW with each one of you! 
 

"This Austonian Life" Episode 1: Too Good - Servant Church Sermon

I was asked to preach at Servant Church back in October of 2015. Instead of a boring sermon, I decided to create the first episode of This Austonian Life, a spoof of the legendary radio show This American Life. So, how do Nas, Destiny's Child, and the Dirty Projectors relate to the name of God? Find out in the first episode below.
 

New Gentle Wolves Track: Psalm 147 - The Strength of a Horse, the Legs of a Runner

The Gentle Wovles have set Psalm 147 to music and released it on a new Cardiphonia compilation. You can stream or download the track below. All proceeds go to support Base Academy of Music in Kansas City. 

Richard Kentopp: Guitar, Bass, Vocals, Drums, Percussion
Kyle Robertson: Keys
Molly Kentopp: Vocals
Phil Ajjarapu: Pedal Steel

Here is a link to the chord chart. 

The Gentle Wolves Set II CD Release 9/24 @ Hole in the Wall

How better to celebrate the release of our second CD, Set II, than to celebrate at one of Austin's most legendary venues, Hole in the Wall? Our friends in Justin Fallen and The Angels (including yours truly) will also be releasing their new EP. 
We can't wait to see you there, and we will have copies of the CD for sale for as cheap as you can afford!

"Shoulder to the Wheel" Lyrics

This past Sunday at Servant Church we had a 'ministry fair' in lieu of a traditional sermon. We were trying to get our many new people and unconnected regulars to participate in serving with one of Servant Church's existing partnerships. For the occasion I wrote a fairly harsh song. Really it's more of a sung prayer of confession that I wrote about myself, knowing that I probably wasn't the only one who needed a slight in the ass. Several people have asked me for the lyrics, and yes, The Gentle Wolves will be recording it soon.

Shoulder to the Wheel
Words & Music: Richard Kentopp, 2015.

Chorus:
Well the workers are few, and the harvest is plenty.
But we’re all too busy, just watching our TVs.
We say we want to enter to the Kingdom of Heaven
As long as it doesn’t waste our time.
Oh… as long as it doesn’t cost a dime.

Verse 1:
God we’re just waiting for something to happen,
we say we want to serve you but we gotta fit a nap in.
So strip away the comfort that we all take for granted,
And put your workers’ shoulders to the wheel
Oh, put your workers shoulders to the wheel!

Chorus

Verse2:
So give us the courage to curb the consumption,
when so many of your children are just struggling to function.
Teach us how to pass through the eye of the needle.
And put your workers’ shoulders to the wheel
Oh, put your workers shoulders to the wheel!

 Chorus