Mourning

No NTB shows since Oct 8th. Missing it!


-- Jason Deere - Post From My iPhone

San Bernadino

President and Sister Sanchez, mission president of the California San Bernadino mission, are amazing people. Operating under on faith, and with the fervent encouragement of an Elder Mitch Sherwood, they were instrumental in arranging our NTB shows in their mission over the past two days. Matt, Brad, Ron and I were all priviledged to stay in the mission home under the care and hospitality of the Sanchez's. They are definitely "GOOD PEOPLE" (referring to an earlier blog). They are from Provo and this area is lucky to have them serving here.
We did one show to a very packed stake center in Apple Valley (Victorville) on Sunday night. We loved the people there! Great smiles, great stories after the show! Yesterday we did a show near the mission home (at a stake center on a street call Edinwalda or something like that). Not quite as many people in attendance but lots of missionaries!!! We love missionaries. So many Poly missionaries (Tongan or Samoan). I love my Poly brothers and sisters! After playing rugby at BYU, and serving in a Tongan ward for a great part of my mission, I love my Poly peeps. So great to see so many serving in the field. There is nothing like being around a large group of Elders and Sisters. Good stuff.
After the show last night we ate dinner at Claim Jumpers. DANG! I had salmon that will pop your head clean off....so good. Ron had tri tips, which looked heavenly. Matt has a rib eye that cut like butter and Brad went all out and had sliders (tiny burgers). We then headed back to the mission home where a jam session broke out in the living room and we all played and sang some mission appropriate tunes with the Sanchez's, I think the wildest moment was Country Roads by John Denver. Sister Sanchez grabbed my guitar and amazed us all with three or four songs that she had written for girls camp years ago. Brilliant! She should make an album! Carly Simon watch out! :)
Thank you to the people, the missionaries and the Sanchez's of the California San Bernadino Mission. We love you and so enjoyed our short time there! We are planning a run of shows through Oregon and California in the first quarter of 2010. Hope we see some of you again!
All the excitement of the past two days has Matt & Brad passed out on this flight home. Brad is snoring! :)











-- Jason Deere - Post From My iPhone

Performing in the Tabernacle!

Words cannot express our experience on the evening of October 7th. Unbelievable facility, wonderful staff and crew, soul shaking spiritual and historic splendor in every square inch of that place. And you the people. Not one empty seat!!! We will NEVER forget that night! - Jason Deere

See more pictures from the tabernacle at http://www.nashvilletributeband.com/tabernacle.html

Lunch!

Sister Sanchez feeding us! Thank you!









-- Jason Deere - Post From My iPhone

Mission Home

Just arrived at the mission home. Sister Sanchez has it feeling warm and cozy. Here are some secrets on the transfer board. I heard Elder Sherwood is bring transferred for sure!









Elder Sherwood's picture is placed at a tilt, which means ADIOS next tranfer. One mama in Franklin, TN will be crying tears of joy in two weeks!

-- Jason Deere - Post From My iPhone

Ontario, CA airport

My welcoming committee! Elder Sherwood looks great!



-- Jason Deere - Post From My iPhone

Lucky Man

I consider myself a lucky man. There are many reasons, but sitting on this plane to California right now I have a couple of reasons on my mind. In the summer of 2003 I was called to meet with my Bishop, Mark Welsh. He asked me to teach early morning seminary. That pit in my stomach came immediately. I was a busy man (we all are right....unless you are a busy woman). I accepted the assignment having no idea what I was in for.
What an idiot I would have been to say no to Bishop Welsh. I am forever changed for the better because of those years. I wrote and recorded the JOSEPH: A NASHVILLE TRIBUTE TO THE PROPHET album that first fall, which has definitely changed me forever as I have traveled the world testifying of the Restoration with my closest friends. But, as I think back on those 24 students who came faithfully to our classroom in the stake center each morning, I am lucky to have shared some of their lives with them. I don't see them all often but I do love it when I do. Beth and Ann Peach lost their mother to cancer while they were my students. We all mourned that deeply, but we have seen them grow into beautiful women as Beth has returned from a mission and Ann is at BYU Hawaii. I love to see them come home. Ann is always so tan! Stevie Ross found herself the love of her life and is married. This past pioneer day, NTB did a show in the American Fork Amphitheater. In attendance was Rachel Stolworthy (she brought with her a pack of friends from BYU). She and her sister Danielle were my students. I could see Rachel's smile from a mile away in that crowd. I attended Steven Hotard's mission homecoming from the Phillipeans. Another one of my students, Kelsi Koford, drove to Nashville to attend that homecoming as well (she and Steven were high school sweethearts-wonder what is up with them now?). Lucky me, I got to see them both. At a recent show at BYU Idaho, there was Shalice Oman at the show, looking happy as ever. And most every Sunday I get to see RV who still lives in our ward. His real name is Bud, but I have always called him RV, for radio voice because his is as deep as a canyon. I recently attended the mission homecoming of one Allan boy only to see the other have his farewell soon after. Both my students.
A few weeks ago I got a call from Elder Mitch Sherwood, who is in his final month of his mission in the California San Bernadino Mission. He and his mission President, Elder Sanchez, booked us (NTB) to do two shows in the boundary of that mission tonight and tomorrow night. Again, I get the joy of seeing another one of my students, in full stride, in the last week of his mission.
To all my former students, wherever you are. I love you. I am lucky to know you!


-- Jason Deere - Post From My iPhone

"Late night parties after the lights go down.."

Bishop Dan Clark and his wife Kelly were kind enough to be heavily involved in getting the NTB show set up at the tabernacle. It took an immense amount of time and energy to make that happen and we are grateful. But in addition, they also set up a private NTB/Due West show at the home of David and Susan Spafford in Holladay, UT. How kind of the Spafford's to open their beautiful home and allow a fairly large group of people, many whom they didn't even know, hang out for a night of music and testimony. Man was it fun and what great friends we made last night! Clyde Bawden, a friend from Gilbert, AZ, flew up with about five of his friends just to share the night with us. So much fun! All of the company was top notch! Hats off the Susan Spafford. To design and build a home like the one you have was surely an all consuming task, but you did it as well as any I have ever seen. And that you share it so willingly, well we appreciate it so much! Jason















-- Post From My iPhone

Tremonton (Bear River High School)

We were blessed a couple of weeks ago to do a concert at Bear River High School in Tremonton, UT. The show was a fund raiser for juvenile diabetes. What a pleasure for us! The organization raised a significant amount of money and we were thrilled that we could be a part if it. As we were driving in from Logan we saw a bald eagle sitting beautifully in a tree in the middle of a field. I had a feeling that day was going to be special.
You know, of course we love to play our instruments. Of course we love to sing and perform together. And of course we love to testify of the restored gospel and all of the people who brought it to us. But we love nothing more than meeting all of the people. We love to hear your wonderful stories that make us laugh or cry (and sometimes both!), to hear your testimonies, to see your beautiful families and their wonderful smiles. We are the lucky ones. Billy Currington says, "People are crazy", and I can't say I disagree with him too much, but I will add, "People are beautiful!".
Here is a sweet card from the great folks who put on the event...Jason Deere







-- Post From My iPhone

General Conference

This morning's session (Saturday morning) was spectacular! So powerful. This evening I had the opportunity to attend Priesthood session in the Conference Center with my brother Monte and his son. We had great seats on the floor very close. Elder Packer and Elder Bednar were not present. The talks were wonderful. However, the greatest impression upon me was the literal sea of men, young and old, in white shirts, ties and suits, filling the tremendous building we call the Conference Center. They say there is power in numbers. I know this to be true. It was a beautiful sight. I felt much like Lehi standing at the tree. I longed for my friends and family who were not there to join me and partake of the goodness. It was beautiful. At least for this Oklahoma boy who knows experiences like this come all too rarely in his life.


-- Post From My iPhone

South Africa

Had the best time tonight! I flew into Salt Lake today for a solo show tonight, something I'd never done...play for a mission reunion. South Africa 1975-1981. Awesome group of people. What a treat for me to be a fly on the wall and watch them reconnect after so many years. Nothing like it. After a funky dinner I played for about 40 minutes. Played EMMA, played CRACK OF A WHIP and played three songs off of the new MISSIONARY album out soon! So fun. I felt the Spirit again, so strongly, as I did my best to pay tribute to wonderful people, past & present. To Wes Stephenson and all the missionaries who served in South Africa during President La Baren's and President Wood's service, thank you for having me. I salute you and the fulfillment of your missions!


-- Post From My iPhone