gavinphillips Blog and Journals

The first time I heard of This Providence, I was at the Ludo, Sing It Loud, and The Morning Light show back in February.  When they came on stage with their long dark hair and black skinny jeans, I thought Oh, great. Another pop/punk band with boring lyrics about girls and drinking. I was completely wrong. They opened up with A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing. I quickly picked up the chorus, sang along at the top of my lungs, and danced the whole time. It was the most fun I've had at a show. Their set was my favorite that night.

Dan Young: Vocals/Guitar

Gavin Phillips: Guitar

David Blaise: Bass

Andy Horst: Drums

Label: Fueled By Ramen

Hailing from Seattle, Washington, This Providence, a Christian indie/rock band has received over 3 million plays on Myspace, released 3 albums and an EP within 6 years, and toured with numerous bands. I wasn't surprised when I discovered that they were considered a Christian band. Not all, but the majority of This Providence songs are about God. Listeners know that this band puts all their heart and soul into the music, whether it's writing songs or performing them live. Each song is catchy and just plain honest.

This Providence has shared the stage with The Cab, Copeland, Paramore, Sing It Loud, All Time Low, The Morning Light (RIP :'( ), Relient K, Brighten, Ludo, The Hush Sound, and many more. Over the Summer, they toured with Hey Monday, The Friday Night Boys, Stereo Skyline, and The Bigger Lights. This Fall, they will be touring with Cartel, The Summer Set, and Runner Runner.

Daniel Young (vocals) and Gavin Phillips (guitar) started This Providence in 2003. After graduating high school, This Providence worked with Seattle-based Rocketstar Recordings and released their debut full-length record, Our Worlds Divorce.

The quartet was signed to Fueled By Ramen in early 2006. They released their self-titled full-length Sophomore album in September 2006.

The opening track, A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing, is clearly about Satan. Young is telling us to stop giving in and stand against the devil."I've had enough of your games. If you're not trembling, you'd better be, because we're gonna be the end of you. I'm gonna show them who you really are. And I can tell you right now, it won't be pretty / You held me down for so long, but it's not gonna last, because I can see right through your beautiful eyes."

Last October, the band released an EP titled The Bright Lights EP. This past March, they released their third album Who Are You Now? Compared to their self-titled album, Who Are You Now? shows how they developed their own sound and how they've grown as musicians.

Who Are You Now was recorded with Matt Squire (All Time Low, Boys Like Girls, Panic! At The Disco). Oscary Wilde's, The Picture of Dorian Gray inspired Young to write a short story, which led him to write the 13 tracks of Who Are You Now?. This album is a collection of mostly rock songs with the occasional acoustic, slower songs.

Squeaking Wheels and White Light, the renovated version of My Beautiful Rescue, and Playing the Villian tend to be crowd pleasers. They have amazing lyrics and a fun, great beat that makes everyone want to dance. Chasing the Wind is the one of the acoustic songs that starts out mellow and gradually gets more powerful. My personal favorite is Sand In Your Shoes. Every since I heard Dan sing it back in February, I've been hooked. I can't go a day without listening to them.

Moral of the story? Don't judge a band on their looks. Even if they look like your typical pop/rock band. You will never know if their music could change your life if you don't give them a chance. I love that This Providence isn't afraid to share their message about God. Their talent definitely won't hold them back - making their future very bright.   

 This Providence - Letdown

Today, This Providence released the music video for their new single Keeping On Without You.

We went to the main stage to catch We the Kings.... There were boatloads of ppl! =) everyone was so impatient fer them to come out, but started cheering when Hunter and Trav came out. OMFG, I love DanDan! He rocks on drums, and so does Drew on guitar! They played Kim's fave song* and Trav was complaining about a hole in his pants near his crotch. I thought he was kidding, but it was true! It was covered by his guitar, though.

We the Kings setlist:

• Secret Valentine
• All Again For You*
• A cover song by Jimmy Eat World
• Skyway Avenue
• The new song

I tried to take a vid of them playing their new song, but a lot of ppl were crowd surfing, and it was impossible! =( I got hit like once, but I learned to help the crowd surfers, or I'd get hurt. So remember: Help or ye'll Yelp! =) Trav did this funny thing that he said that he hated Hunt and that Hunt hated him, but they loved each other and that's what being in a band is all about 0-o Hehehe =)

I also thought it was hilarious when Trav asked the crowd, "Who believes in God?" only a few low screams served as a response. Then he asked "Who believes in We the Kings?" And everyone started screaming! Hehehe =)

Fer the pic, we got lots of Trav. I wanted more DanDan, but couldn't really see him. =(

We also got these blurry pix or Rian Dawson and Jack Barakat from All Time Low when they joined the boys onstage, after Trav told everyone in the crowd to give All Time Low the finger as they walked by. =)

Then Trav went to the WTK tent after the set, but the line was ginormous! So we just snuck these shots of him before the merch guy closed the side of the tent that he'd left open.

We went to the Maine tent (fer the like 4^th time! Hehehe =) Insane, I know!) But didn't see the boys at all. And then, out of nowhere, came Kennedy! Some girl is talking to him and we patiently wait until they're done, but we do sneak these pix of him meanwhile. She'd given him a bracelet, so that's what he was putting on.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then I asked him fer a pic and he was like "OK!" His eyes are so beautiful! OMFG! =) Amazing! And his smile...These are the pix!

I apologized fer bumping his head @ the AP tour stop in SF, and he said that it was fine. (OMFG! Closet freak out!) And that I shouldn't worry about it. Never the less, I'll never forgive myself. We said thanks, and Kenny said, "No, thank you!" Aww! =)

We were walking to the Ernie Ball stage to see Aiden, when we ran into Andy from This Prov again! I said, "Sorry to bother ye, but can we take another pic?" He agreed. Apparently Andy isn't too happy w/ a shirt on! Hehehe =)

Out of luck, we walked by the AP tent where Hit the Lights was signing. There was practically no line, so the girl at the tent gave us an AP Warped program pictured below, and I flipped it open to find a small pic and article on Hit the Lights. Everyone else was getting their shoes or the laminated cover signed, but the Sharpie didn't stick and smudged on the cover.

Kim snuck these pix while HTL signed, while the chick at the tent screamed "No pictures!" to some other girl. Kim was inconspicuous and we didn't get caught! Hehehe =)

Everyone at the table was really nice and Nick and Omar were talking about making an invention or something. Hehehe =) Well, Omar was sitting at the very end of the table, and started humping it, making it shake violently. Hehehe =) Everyone was like "Omar, stop!" and he was like "I'm sorry, I can't!"

We went to get my mom from the amphitheater, so that we could go and see Aiden. She sat at the bench near the stage, and Kim and I were lucky enough to end up pretty close to the Ernie Ball stage. Aiden didn't have a very big crowd. Despite the fact, they were amazing! wiL's energy radiated off into me. His eyes are stunning, yet empty. There was so much passion there. I loved seeing them play. They played some songs that I didn't know from their new album, but I loved being able to be so close to the band.

Aiden setlist

•·        Last Sunrise

•·        Let the Right One In

 

We didn't see their whole set, because we went to see There for Tomorrow a little bit before Aiden's set ended. TFT were playing in the amphitheater at the SmartPunk stage.

When we got there, P.O.S. was playing the Hurley.com stage, and I hated it. Hehehe =) It was bad. I totally didn't like it.

Meanwhile...LURKER ALERT! We saw Austin Bello from Forever the Sickest Kids watching P.O.S. perform with a Sharpie in his mouth, and Maika Maile from There for Tomorrow. They looked really concentrated and kinda-but-not-really into it. In the Maika pic, the redheaded kid on the side is Caleb Turman (OMFGZ! 0_o I know!) who was also watching, but just for a few seconds.

Right before TFT started, we saw Dirk Mai, Garrett, and John O' coming out from backstage. I wanted to go and get them to take a picture so bad, but I knew that I'd loose my spot for TFT if I did. So I didn't. Plus, they had food, and I didn't want to bother them. I regretted it (a little bit) later, b/c I didn't get to meet any of them. =(

We were lucky enough to come a few minutes before their set started, because we ended up basically in front of Christian Climer. (OMFGZ! =P *drools*) and Maika. I love Christian's new hair, BTW! =) he's really energetic and it was hard to get a good still pic of him. =) poor Maika! =( the sun came out during their set and was hitting him really hard in the face, making him sweat like crazy. I loved their set, although his voice was kinda drowned out by the guitars!

There For Tomorrow setlist

•·        A little Faster

•·        Backbone

•·        Stories

Oh, and Christian showed off a ginormous rip in his pants. You could see he was wearing really really tiny bright red boxers, that probably only reached the end of his jean pockets. Hehehe =) didn't get a pic of it, tho! I suck! =P

We left their set early, about halfway through, to go and see This Providence at the Kia Kevin Says Stage. We were lucky, BTW! =) Later on the place was packed, and we were right on the end of the front row, in front of Gavin.

While they were setting up, we heard All Time Low all the way from the main stage! =) We heard "Damned If I Do Ya (Damned If I Don't)", "Dear Maria, Count Me In", and "Break Your Little Heart".

LURKER ALERT! While they were setting up, Aaron Gillespie was walking around the stage! =)

We also saw Gerr and Pat Kirch walking near the back of the stage, but couldn't take a pic of Gerr. Here are some blurry ones of Pat Kirch, though! =)

This Providence setlist

•·        Selfish

•·        Letdown

•·        That Girl's A Trick

•·        My Beautiful Rescue

•·        Playing the Villan

•·        Waste Myself (one of my faves!)

BTW, Pat brown joined them onstage for "Waste Myself" and Dan said that they were doing Denny's w/ Sing It Loud that night (I couldn't go, though! =( ) then he gave Dan a long hug before he left.

This Prov rocked. They're really great live. =) I think David kinda recognized us, because he kinda stopped onstage and looked our way (I swear he was looking at us!) for a little bit, mouth agape. (We'd waved at him twice, and did the pictures!) He did some mean head banging, BTW! =) poor Gavin! He was so red!

We rushed next door to catch the last 2 songs of VersaEmerge on the Ernie Ball stage. I love Sierra and her voice! She looked beautiful, and got the crowd all crazy. I was dying to see VE forever!

VersaEmerge setlist

•·        Clocks

•·        Whisperer

Then we went to the Maine tent again, but no luck. =( We went to the Innerpartysystem tent and were surprised to see Dave from Hit th Lights filling in for the merch guy. We asked him for a picture and he did this really weird thing! Hehehe =) we tried 2 times with him (for me) in the first pic he's doing this weird muscle thing, and I told him to do the same thing in the next pic, so that I could put my hand on his muscle. But he said "I'm sorry, I don't have any muscles!" so weird, right? =)

Then I asked Kim if she wanted a pic and she got all nervous. She was kind of reluctant, but then Dave grabbed her in a hug and said "C'mere, you!" He's so cute and playful. She was so embarrassed! Hehehe =)

We went to the Hurley.com stage to see FTSK @ 7:45PM. Breathe Carolina, which I don't like =P was playing the SmartPunk stage. Kim and I were sitting around, since we were a bit exhausted.

Later, we went to the other side of the amphitheater where FTSK was gonna play. It was packed, and we had to be in seats, but I loved what I saw of their set. They had a really good audience, loving and cheering them along. =)

Forever the Sickest Kids setlist:

•·        Hey Brittany

•·        My Worste Nightmare

•·        She Likes

They came out practically jumping and got the crowd all riled up. Jonathan looked really into it, and all of them looked really animated. =) then Jonathan started talking about a dream catcher that was projected on the roof.

Unfortunately, we had to leave (OMFG, I know! So unfair!) During their third song. We were getting out and we were gonna give the Maine tent another try, when we ran into Nate Flynn from Sing it Loud.

I couldn't remember his name at all (Mean, I know! =( ) but I just said "Hey!" and he turned around, ASAP! I asked him fer a pic, and he said yeah. I told him that their set was great and he laughed and said thanks. I was all sweaty and fucked up (since it WAS the end of the day) but he was so nice!

 

We had to leave early and I was bummed about not being able to see all of the Maine, or All Time Low who were playing at the same time as There For Tomorrow, or 3OH!3 (who were going to play at 8:15 PM), or all of the bands that I'd wanted to take pictures with, like FTSK, Aiden, Craig Owens from Chiodos, or Aaron Gillespie from Underoath and the Almost, but I really seriously loved Warped. I got a pretty mean sunburn running over my nose and cheeks but it wasn't all that bad. =)

Warped rocked! Hope that I can come next year!

-Jack

BTW, David Blaise is even cuter in person, if that's even possible! =)

 

Hey Everyone!

I need your help. It will just take 2 minutes maxium.

Vote for This Providence!

So they can open for Blink 182 and Weezer at the Virgin Mobile FreeFest on August 30th.

Vote as many times as you want.

Or text  PROVIDENCE to 59907

It's on Dan's birthday.

Wouldn't you want the chance to meet Blink and Weezer on your birthday?

 Make his wish come true!

Please?

Thank you so much!

<3Jenny

 

To whom it may concern,
We're done touring for the year. Wow, it was a big year in touring for us. What 2 tours? I know, insane. Thank you very much if you came out and supported us. We played our last show of 2008 in Seattle at the Showbox on Wednesday night. It was nice, you Seattle folk should come to our shows more, we have cool things like lights and stuff on stage...haha, seriously though. We had white christmas lights all over the stage and as a back drop, it was pretty sweet. Also, Phil, our original bass player came out and sang on an older song that he actually wrote called 'Truth and Reconciliation.' Thanks Phil!
We're going to pick up touring again as soon as we possibly can, which will be either January or February next year. Oooo, and you can expect to see a brand new album from us early next year!
Before I wrap this up, I wanted to let you know about my cousin's band 'Detective Social.' If you haven't heard them make sure to have a listen. They just released a new EP on iTunes. I was listening to it today (for the 100th time). It really is something sweet and unique.
Thanks for reading, you're the best,
-Dan, This Providence