SPIN.COM Exclusively Releases To Write Love on Her Arms: HEAVY AND LIGHT Encore
Once In A Lifetime Video To Be Seen
January 14, 2009, 08:17 PM
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Sunday night was an exceptional evening at the House of Blues in Orlando. For the second year in a row, non-profit organization To Write Love on Her Arms hosted HEAVY AND LIGHT, an evening of songs, conversation and hope. Featuring acoustic performances by Jon Foreman (Switchfoot), Aaron Gillespie (Underoath/The Almost), Dustin Kensrue (Thrice), Anthony Raneri (Bayside), Josh Moore and Zach Williams, House of Blues accommodated over 1,600 guests in what Jon Foreman called "My favorite night of the year so far! Good friends with incredible talents singing together for a night of validating the worth of the highs and lows of the human experience."
"It was encouraging and life-giving to see so many people gathered with their guards down. It's a rare thing in our culture to cultivate that kind of honesty and openness, and the way TWLOHA has managed to create that atmosphere was clearly seen last night. It was beautiful to behold," said Kensrue.
"It was my favorite show of the last couple years," said Gillespie. "It reminded me of how I imagine the 50's in Nashville, with Johnny Cash and his friends learning songs backstage and then everyone playing together that night."
House of Blues' Vice President of booking Jim Mallonee said "It was an honor to be the venue chosen for a night filled with Hope, Love & Music. This event had a great turnout and the vibe in the room was astounding.”
The format of night was extraordinary, more than music, there was speaking - including founder Jamie Tworkowski, Renee Yohe, a counselor and a TWLOHA staff member who who has battled addiction. In addition to each artist playing solo, there was magic happening with collaborations on stage. Jon and Anthony covered Bad Religion's "Sorrow" and Josh joined Dustin on stage for his cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Atlantic City."
"Last night was a dream come true on so many levels. A few years ago, we started imagining these nights that could be more than music, nights where you could fill a room with hope and honesty, nights where you could also point to community and treatment. It was unbelievable to see so many people willing to listen last night, people willing to engage this conversation. And then obviously, the music was incredible and to be able to do it in this venue that we love, in the city where this (TWLOHA) began... It was a night I’ll never forget," said Jamie Tworkowski.
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SPIN.COM Exclusively Releases To Write Love on Her Arms: HEAVY AND LIGHT Encore
Come Spend An Afternoon with To Write Love on Her Arms Founder Jamie Tworkoski