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NEW ALBUM! Haystacks: A Collection of Favorite Songs (2008-2016)

haystacks-album-cover

Today I turn 38. When reflecting on life this I realized something:

Over the past 8 years I’ve released 8 albums!
becoming_cover_1600almanac-cover_color_v1418qjnxtlul-_ss500frailty_album_cover_giants-and-pilgrims_sm51b3jzcvpil-_ss500trillium-album frailty_album_after_party61r8b-835nl-_ss500

 

Before that, when I had turned 30 I had crisis of profession. I wasn’t sure if being a musician/singer-songwriter was going to be good for my family. Our first baby was on the way and I had always treated this part of my life as a hobby. I wrote songs and shared them locally but I never went beyond our pocket of friends with any intention. Yet I had this strong pull that I needed to be giving more room for this in my life.

Then I had a transformative conversation with a friend.

He let me know, “Tim, this is the year of the baby. You’re going to have your first child. And then you’re going to let this other child known as your ‘creative career’ out of the closet you’ve locked it up in.”

Really, someone’s respected opinion that I could DO IT was all I needed.

I created a website.

I shared my music online.

I played shows and gathered emails.

I went on my first tour (to Kansas! because it was home!)

It was a turning point for me where I stopped talking about what I wanted to do as singer/songwriter and started actually doing it.

So collected here are songs that are favorites of mine and the people who have listened in over the last 8 years. In the fields of everything I’ve released these are songs that rise a little bit higher in their season.

Hence the name, Haystacks.


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The New Project Releases: See & Hear “Becoming”

Becoming is the new art and music project from Giants & Pilgrims.

Says Tim Coons in a recent article:

“The project comes from a central idea. When I was young, I couldn’t dream very far. My projections were one day I’d have a wife and kids and be a musician. Well, I have all that now. Am I done growing up? Am I all wise and coasting from here on out? I have ‘arrived’ haven’t I?

“It was a nice surprise to know we never stop growing up. It’s never all figured out. We are still in that process of ‘becoming’ who we’re meant to be, because, though the body may slow down and stop, the soul never does. It’s always dynamic.”

You can listen and purchase the album here.

You can see and purchase 3 prints of the art series here (full series available November 6th).

If you’d like a combination of album + prints pick get that special here.

Butterfly Tree_webOn becoming an artistboxing shadows_web

 

“Breaking Love”: Story, Lyrics, Painting, Chord Chart

“Breaking Love”

Painting above by Betony Coons

THE STORY OF THE SONG

I wrote the “Breaking Love” as a communion song for our church community (Atlas Church in Greeley). It’s the raw picture of being inspired, moved and motivated by one who gives all of himself so that we might survive and thrive.

I find this as the best reason for why I would give of myself sacrificially to others- family, friends, even enemies. I come to that table of bread and wine in order to fill back up after engaging my life in that kind of Love. I love others because I was first loved so well. – Tim

If you’d like to see a video of us singing this song live head to: https://s28969.p27.sites.pressdns.com/breaking-love-live-at-crescendo-espresso-bar-music-cafe/

Breaking Love
by Giants & Pilgrims

C                                                                   F

You and I have a history before mine starts

C                                                                      F

You and I share a heart since mine gave up

F

And your love is my blood

G

And your love is my blood

C

You remind me of why I break my hands

You remind me of why I move my feet

F

You remind me of why I give a damn (why I change my plans)

F                                                                   C

You remind me of the breaking love I need

C

You remind me of everything poured out

You remind me of my identity

F

You remind me of why I call this home

F                                                                     C

You remind me of the breaking love I need

Almanac No. 1 ACOUSTIC Album Now FREE on NoiseTrade

We’re offering our album Almanac No. 1, the ACOUSTIC version, as a FREE download at NoiseTrade this month!

This acoustic album is just the guitar and vocals off the actual record, featuring the voice of Tim Coons and his songwriting in a stripped-down, raw fashion.

Please enjoy the FREE gift and spread the word of Giants & Pilgrims!

http://noisetrade.com/giantsandpilgrims/almanac-no-1-acoustic

The Difficulties of Faith and the Song “Run, Run”

Here is the story behind the song “Run, Run” from Giants & Pilgrims album Almanac No. 1:

I was at a retreat in the mountains a couple years ago. The folks leading it said you have three hours on your own in this wilderness for quiet and alone time. We want you to connect with God.

I had been in a difficult place for a while with faith and I was excited for this get away.

Here’s what had been going on: Most people say that when their children are born they finally understand the heart of God and how much God loves them.

I actually had a very different reaction.

With the immense joy of having my daughter I realized just how much I did not want to die; to leave her and my family. It made me, for the first time in my life, face my own mortality and intensely question heaven and the idea of an afterlife. This retreat was going to help me find a deeper faith and greater hope in God for my future. I had this great experience with love in the birth of Lucy, it was time to increase belief and understanding. I had been praying about it often; that God would ease my wrestling in these questions.

As far as faith goes, I can speak to my experiences. I’ve seen evidence of God bringing new life in people’s past – the way that people feel absolutely forgiven of their regrets and guilt. And in my experience I’ve seen evidence of God’s work in the present – people motivated by supernatural purpose, doing amazing things of love and impact for the sake of God’s Kingdom.

But as far as the future? So far no one has footage on what happens after death. I’m suspect of books like “Heaven in Real”, so all this remains a mystery for me.

Here I was in the mountains for three hours with the same questions I’d been wrestling with for a couple years or so.

I think what I was really longing for in that wilderness was contact. To hear from God or see God. Perhaps to have something happen that I could make meaning and purpose of and attribute that to God. Then I could have greater faith in something happening when we die. It would  become less faith and more assurance, really.

While wading in a creek surrounded by mountains I did not hear or see God. But I did have, in a sense, an epiphany. And this will be a let down for any of you reading this hoping for something big and profound. Here’s what I came into.

A still, small voice within me said, “Hey.

“You will never see or hear God, truly, in this life-time. At least not with direct contact. Rarely do people ever see angels or get direct messages from God. In fact, unless a donkey talks to you or you are a 15 year old virgin in first century Israel, your story will not be given to you so directly.

“But there will always be something just underneath. Something within or below all your senses, deep within your DNA that says God is real. You won’t be able to shake that sense that God is with you and for you and a part of your life. This is a different, more difficult kind of seeing and hearing. It won’t necessarily bolster your faith, but it will never leave you.”

That epiphany felt a little disappointing. And it’s probably one that others reading this have come into earlier in their Christianity (I’ve always been a slow learner).

But it  felt true.

It stayed with me and eventually I wrote a song heavily influenced by this moment called “Run, Run”. My favorite lyric from it goes like this:

You won’t see God, you won’t see God
But you’ll swear He’s in the morning when the sun comes up
Your God won’t talk, your God won’t talk
But He’ll sing within your blood and he just won’t stop

And so I acknowledge this. That faith is a different kind of seeing and listening for me- difficult to get words and senses around. And that with that, wrestling over “life after death” will continue to be a struggle for me.

But in that faith and struggle, I long to run the good race set before me. In all the great questions of past, present, and definitely future, I hope to

Run to the edge, unbroken

as the chorus of “Run, Run” admits.

I hope to keep living this good life given wholly to love, joy, hope, faith, family, good-works… this life following Christ and his pattern of sacrificing yourself so others might live. And at the end I hope to leap off that edge in full gait, unknowing of what happens next, embracing that great mystery of the beyond, unafraid, unbroken,

and faith-full.

Here are the full lyrics of “Run, Run”. You can listen to the song HERE.

RUN, RUN
Giants & Pilgrims

You can’t go home, you can’t go home
But you can find another shelter you can call your own
You can’t push time, you can’t push time
But you can ride out every wave like an alibi

Your past won’t leave, your past won’t leave
It’ll stay with them like it stays with me
You won’t break free, you won’t break free
Death is gonna get you like he’s gonna get me

Run, run
Just run
Run to the edge unbroken

You won’t see God, you won’t see God
But you’ll swear He’s in the morning when the sun comes up
Your God won’t talk, your God won’t talk
But He’ll sing within your blood and He just won’t stop

Run, run
Just run
Run to the edge unbroken

 

Great Reviews for the Album “Almanac No. 1”

There are some online reviews available now for our first album, Almanac No. 1. Take a gander and how people are responding. It’s been extremely encouraging.

From Quip Magazine out of Toronto:
http://www.quipmag.com/giants-pilgrims-release-almanac-no-1/

Storyacious.com contacted us to do a feature on “Shimmer No Waves”. They bring story-lovers and storytellers together to celebrate the art, science and skills of storytelling through diverse media.
http://storyacious.com/music-monday-shimmer-waves/

And finally the northern Colorado music publication, the Bandwagon, reviewed us. Jed Murphy, one of Greeley’s best writers, took on the album:
http://www.bandwagmag.com/2014/03/album-review-giants-and-pilgrims-almanac-no-1/

If you haven’t yet heard the album, bring your critical ears here:
giantsandpilgrims.bandcamp.com

THE ALBUM IS HERE

Almanac No. 1 is a three part project: a series of 12 paintings, a 12 month publication, and a 12 song album.

After months of writing songs that attempt to strike to the core of life, then months in the studio capturing and arranging and creating moments with those songs, then months of mixing and balancing and bringing out the right and specific feel for each… THE ALBUM IS HERE!

Here is the digital release. Take a listen, buy the album, share the album with friends, family, enemies, and frienimies.

http://giantsandpilgrims.bandcamp.com/

Thanks for your support. We’re very excited to share these great and beautiful songs with you.

Giants & Pilgrims

Pre-Order the album “Almanac No. 1” Now

Here: http://giantsandpilgrims.bandcamp.com/

Come and listen to the leading track off the new album! Share it with your friends for the pre-order because this is going to be such a tremendous album and we are so very excited.