BEC Recordings - Artist Blog - The Museum

He Knows Where We Are

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 09:08:14 -0700

Hey guys, Chris here from The Museum. I just wanted to take a little time to say hey and share a little bit with you. As some of you know we are gearing up for the release of our new record "My Only Rescue," which we are really pumped up about! We have truly done our best to make sure that the lyrics in these songs are true to what we are going through and what we want to say. We've also tried very hard to make sure we are proud of the songs musically. So much so, that we even cut a song or two after it was recorded because we just weren't happy enough with it. So, we scrapped it and wrote another one :)

I say all of that to say that we've put a lot of hard work and energy into this release, and sincerely hope that it meets you right where you are emotionally, spiritually, and musically. We know that if we're going through certain situations in life and are really affected by them, then chances are, you guys have been through the same thing or something similar. That's the beauty of fellowship with one another. We can all relate in some form or fashion.

One thing in particular that I feel like God has been showing me lately is His power and faithfulness. As I've been reading through Genesis recently, I've really been hit with this theme. In Genesis, God shows up to Abraham and promises him that He will make him into a great nation. He tells him that his descendants will be as the sand of the seashore. Over the course of the rest of Genesis especially, you really see God holding true to this promise. Even when Abraham, or Isaac or Jacob, etc, would disobey God, He would stick with them. Nothing they did ever made God go back on the promise He made. God even worked through some incredibly difficult scenarios to keep His promise.

This has just really stuck with me, and been a real encouragement. God will remain faithful to us even when we aren't faithful to Him. There are a lot of times we look around us and don't think that God is working, because we aren't seeing the final outcome. Our timing is not God's timing. That's something we can all praise Him for, because unlike us, He knows the future. He knows where we will be in 20 years or 2 years. He has an incredible plan for all of our lives. All we have to do is realize that, and surrender to Him. Sounds easy, but it never is. I always find myself wanting to go ahead of God and take matters into my own hands foolishly. But when I do, I remind myself of this. God knows where I am, where I've been and where I will be, and He knows what's best for me. I must trust that. On top of that, He's ALWAYS proven faithful. Not just sometimes, but ALL the time. So, how could I not trust His timing?

I hope this is an encouragement to you guys, as it's been to me. Thanks so much for being a part of our journey of making music. I can speak for the rest of the guys when I say we are so excited for this release, and really hope it's an inspiration to you. We're also excited about hopefully getting to see you all very soon on the road! Thanks so much for your support!

-Chris

You Are Love - Chord Chart

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:03:22 -0700

Here ya go – Enjoy!

You are Love – Chord Chart

Not For Sale

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:03:20 -0700

This past January I was sitting in Houston, TX with a church leader from Las Vegas... Over dinner the subject of Human Trafficking came up & he proceeded to tell me of a horrible event that had recently taken place in his home town just outside of Las Vegas.

Police had gone in to break up a warehouse that was an apparent drug trafficking ring... in searching the building the police discovered a secret underground area where as soon as a trap door was opened hundreds of young girls from the ages of 11 to 16 began to flood out. Many of the girls did not speak any english; know where they were or how long they'd been there! They were victims of Human Trafficking...

Recent statistics tell us that over 27 million people in the world today are being held as slaves. Human Trafficking is a $32 billion dollar industry that (according to the united nations) is believed to span across 161 of the 192 countries...
Children make up roughly fifty percent of human trafficking target and they become victims as early as 12 to 14 years old as they are most likely to get exposed to sexual exploitation.

It's devastating to realize that this is happening in our own backyard! Our home town of Atlanta is becoming known as the number 1 hub of human trafficking in the US. It's an ugly reality that we have to fight!

This has led us as a band to partner with Not For Sale Campaign who is becoming a global leader in the movement to fight against slave trade & human trafficking.

Our first step has been to create a T Shirt that says "This Shirt Frees Slaves." By buying and wearing the shirt you help raise awareness & also give proceeds directly to Not For Sale. You can click here to view the shirt.

I'll be honest... at times this seems like a daunting task, but we have to begin taking small steps...

Please take a minute to check out this video we've created to show at our live concerts & check out www.NotForSaleCampaign.org to see how you can do your part!

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -John 16:33

-Ben

The Rock & Roll Legend of Geoffrey…

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:03:53 -0700

Everybody has heard the phrase “Business up front, party in the back”, most of the time in reference to what the layman would call the mullet. Well, let me tickle your senses with another possibility, another option if you will, one of grandeur and splendor that only comes from 45 minutes with a hair straightener…..enter Geoffrey Keith Ashcraft, the pioneer and sole proprietor of ”Party up front, party in the back”.

Geoff emerged from Austin, Texas some years ago with nothing but an old, worn-out pair of converse, a guitar, and an autographed picture of he and Fred Durst. He loaded up the ole rusty jeep and drove cross-country to Atlanta, GA with hopes of fulfilling his pop/reggae dreams of stardom, which to this day never happened. However, this guy has quite the story, and with good reason spells his name in such a way that leaves other “Jeffreys” thankful that they don’t have to live up to such hype.

A typical day in the life of Geoff is quite complex. It starts with a bowl of cereal that will leave even the avid cereal eater begging for milk mercy. After the cereal, Geoff moves on to the Listerine, because every good day starts with good breath. And as if the Listerine gives Geoffrey some magical powers, he pulls out the P90X yoga mat and goes to town. And several pushups, sit-ups, chin-ups, jumping jacks, lunges, toe touches, and crunches later, Geoff is more cut than a Christmas ham. And that’s not all. He does it all with a squirrel sitting on his shoulder. Moving on from his intense workout, Geoff would hit the shower and then on to lunch at Subway, where he would order a Spinach sub as if to say, “Yes, I do resemble Popeye”, all while sporting sunglasses that would have landed him a cameo in the Leonardo film “The Aviator”. After Subway you might see Geoff hit up the local music shop in search of such diamonds as “Tonic, Third Eye Blind, and Duncan Sheik. Why? Because Geoffrey has great musical taste. After lunch Geoff heads back to the house to hit the practice field, that is his room and a guitar. Geoff will spend the next several hours crafting his art much like Pablo Picasso sculpted people without their clothes on (don’t shoot the messenger). After practicing his Minor Pentatonic Scales for Guitar, with fingers bloody from shredding his favorite Mark Tremonti solos, Geoff will end every productive day with a run to Smoothie King. Because that’s what rock and roll icons do, they rock their guitar while keeping their physique and thinking about the environment all at the same time. Well done, Geoffrey. I’m proud to have the privilege of playing alongside this guy every day. It’s refreshing to have someone to keep you on your toes musically.

It is for the reasons stated above, and many more, that I introduce to you Geoffrey Keith Ashcraft. Guitar extraordinaire. One of my top 3 band-mates. A legend by the age of 28. A crafty and cunning individual that will leave you wondering at every gas station…..”How did he get to the bathroom before me?” This guy won’t let you down ever, so come one, come all, and lend your ear to some of the most amazing guitar riffs that ever made it to sound waves. Thank you for experiencing….

The Geoffrey.

-Written by Josh Kirk.

K-LOVE’s Day at The Museum!

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:07:55 -0700

We’re honored to be a part of this great promotion with KLOVE – make sure to check it out & listen in this week on your local KLOVE Station!

K-LOVE’s Day at The Museum is your chance to spend a weekend in Chicago at a museum with band The Museum! You’ll be taking a group of underprivileged kids on an amazing field trip with the band and enjoy an exclusive concert by The Museum! Listeners will be invited to play the 5 in 10 game, where they will have the opportunity to name 5 items found in a museum in 10 seconds.

How do I qualify?

Listen for your chance to call in at 1-800-900-1300 and be the designated caller to play the 5 in 10 game. If you can name 5 items found in a museum in 10 seconds, you will win a copy of The Museum’s new album Let Love Win and qualify for the grand prize.

What is the grand prize?

Roundtrip airfare for 2 to Chicago to take underprivileged kids on a field trip to a museum during the weekend of August 27-29. You will be accompanied by the band The Museum and enjoy an exclusive concert by the band.

The grand prize winner will be announced Friday, July 30th during the 5pm (CST) hour.

The Wondrous Journey of Ben Richter and His Bag of Goodies

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:08:09 -0700

You all (or most of you) have come to know Benjamin August Richter as the lead singer of The Museum. You know about and may have witnessed his superb singing and guitar playing abilities. But do you know what lies deeper? Oh yes, there is much more to this man than mere singable melodies and catchy phrasings. He is a master of the money. How did this come to be you ask? Well I’m glad you asked.

You see when Ben was 11, the great depression hit his hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico, so in order to help his family pay the bills, he was forced to go find work. However, as you can imagine, work was not easily found due to the crumbling economy around him. So, with three packs of hot tamales, a few ice cold coca colas, and some pickles to boot, he set out on his journey to find work.

Now in those days a young boy like that was very useful in the coal mining industry, as coal was a very valuable commodity. With that in mind, Ben set out to begin a job in the mining industry. The one place he knew he could find a job in that field was Dallas, Texas. Therefore he began his trek to Dallas. It was at this point in his life, that Ben began realizing the value of a dollar, and began using his money very wisely. In order to make it from Albuquerque to Dallas, without more than 20$, hot tamales, a coca cola and some pickles, you had better know how to be frugal.

Well, after 30 sleepless nights without the luxury of a hotel or a shower I might add, Ben finally made it to the beautiful city of Dallas. As a result of his young age and good work ethic, Ben found a job quickly there, working for 3$/hr (that would be the equivalent to 30$/hr now). While on the job, he met a young man by the name of Geoffrey Ashcraft, who also had left home in search for extra money for his struggling parents. Geoff however was a little rough around the edges. Being the son of missionaries, he grew up in the icy, Siberian tundra, and wasn’t used to urban Dallas. Ben and Geoff hit it off quickly though, with their many stories… Ben’s stories of his travels to Dallas, and Geoff’s stories of fighting off polar bears and sabertooths were their immediate connection. They were also a great team while mining. So good, that their boss decided to relocate them where the coal mining business was suffering, in hopes they could bring it back to life again.

So once again, Ben gathered himself some tamales, pickles, coca cola, and Geoff gathered his animal weaponry, and together they set out for Peachtree City, Georgia. Having made a good living while working together, Geoff decided to allow Ben to handle the money side of things for the two of them. This was a fantastic decision! Ben began putting his money smarts to good use for them both. Being the son of a poor banker, Ben had learned a lot about how to handle money, along with the art of bargaining. His father taught him many things, but the one principle that always stuck out in his mind was, “When you’re looking to get a bargain for an item, you must always be willing to walk away with nothing.” This incredible piece of advice paved the way for Ben’s prowess behind a checkbook.

Now during their trek to Georgia, they decided to use some of the money they had earned to stay in hotels. After all, they had worked hard for that money, and they deserved a decent place to sleep. So they would travel for the day, and then around dusk, they would locate the nearest hotel and Ben would walk in and use his father’s technique, saying, “I know it’s late and you have some rooms available, what’s your best offer?” Sometimes he would get them to come down 50%; while other times, he would walk away empty-handed! However, he never once paid full price for a hotel room. One other instance I feel inclined to tell you about, was the time during that same trip when they went to a Western Outfitters store. At this point in time, they were in the middle of Mississippi and both needed a new pair of jeans. Ben’s jeans had 13 holes in them, while Geoff’s had 20. Ben’s were about a year old while Geoff’s were 7 years old. So, they walked into the store, picked a pair they both liked, and Ben began his masterpiece. They were $5 per pair. However, there was only $30 left to spend on the whole rest of their trip to Georgia. So, Ben began talking to the clerk at the counter and the next thing you know they walked out of there paying $5 total for both. It was quite a sight to behold. Despite seeing this a number of times, Geoff’s mouth always hit the floor when Ben got his deal.

16 days later they finally arrived in beautiful Peachtree City, GA. After being on the job there for a few weeks, trying to revitalize the coal industry there, they began making friendly conversation with a young man who cleaned the holes in the ground (their toilets). Word on the street was this guy, Josh Kirk, had some coal skills, but was just never given a chance to make a living with it. So, they decided to put young Kirk to work, and what a miner he was! Kirk could mine 35 lbs of coal a day (just so you know the average rate was 15lbs.) The three of them became a team deciding to join forces. For a while, things couldn’t have been better. They were making great profits and loving life. However, after some of the other miners saw how much money they were taking in, some became jealous and plotted attempts at their lives in an effort to steal their wealth. It was then they realized that they needed protection. In their time around the Atlanta and Peachtree City area, they had heard of a 7’5’’ giant who worked on the police force and lived about 40 miles north. They decided to consult with him and offer him a position protecting them. Chris quickly obliged after meeting them, looking for a more exciting line of work. It was then that this group of 4 decided to join forces and begin mining together.

To get back to Ben’s money prowess, he continued to get them discounted food, clothing, lodging, etc. Anytime they went anywhere, they never paid full price. And the four worked contently together getting discounted rates at everything. Later in life, they began a band together and enjoyed making polka music for the nations.

This story Is 99% fictional. Ben is very good with money, and gets us discounts on everything. Seriously. It’s ridiculous. Just remember his #1 rule: “You must be willing to walk away with nothing.”

-Hope you enjoy, -CHRIS

“Let Love Win” is here!

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:07:08 -0700

This day has been a long time coming & we’re so excited the record is finally hear! Make sure to take a trip by your local christian store to pick up the album! Also available on iTunes, Amazon & all that good stuff. We hear a rumor it’s at best buy too?!? Either way, make sure to get yourself a copy & let us know what you think!

Video Blog #2

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 09:08:19 -0700

A little video update from the Northwest portion of the "It Is Well" Tour with Kutless, Chasen, and The Museum

Check out our official YouTube channel:

Tour Update! (Video)

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:05:00 -0700

Here's our first video update from the Kutless tour! (more to come!)
Subscribe to the videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/TheMuseumMusic

Twitter Videos from Kutless Tour!

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 15:04:21 -0700

Video updates from the Kutless tour! Hope you can come out and see a show! Tour dates posted at www.myspace.com/themuseum