This event was an opportunity to highlight the Apple software and hardware used in the production of the "the eleventh hour" album and tour. In the front of the store's demonstration area was a large screen and a small podium with a computer on it. Each of the four guys in the band basically focused on a different aspect of production or an application that they used. If the screen wasn't specifically in use while they were doing their presentations, it alternated among a couple of different wallpapers: one was a Photoshop-type rendition of Matt Odmark as Dr. Evil from Austin Powers (complete with extended pinky finger), and another was the portrait of Christ used in the "Worlds Apart" section of the 11th hour tour video, with the commandment "Thou Shall Not Record Crap" across the bottom. Both of these received a lot of laughs from the assembled audience. (I don't know who is responsible for creating either one, but my guess is Steve.)

Dan spoke first and showed the video from the "10:30" CD-rom. He mostly focused on the hardware they used to set up Sputnik Studios and the wireless "Airport" network they have there, so each of them can be working on his own workstation anywhere in the studio. Charlie and then Matt followed Dan, each talking about specific software applications and how they could be used in recording and editing. As each of them finished, he passed the wireless headphone microphone (a la Britney or N'Sync) to the next one--sadly, none of the Jars busted out any dance moves!

Steve was fourth, and focused on how the band produced one of the video segments used on the projection screen on the 11th Hour tour. If you saw the live show or the PPV concert, perhaps you remember a video segment that featured a woman with a lot of leaves floating around her? Well, they filmed that sequence (based on a concept of Matt's) in Steve's backyard, and Steve told about that and showed a little "making of" video showing behind-the-scenes. It was pretty hilarious. Each of the Jars had a job during the filming. Charlie had the best job: "Leaf Tech," which meant he had to throw the leaves up in front of this big fan so they blew around the model as she was moving around to the music. Kristen Odmark contributed catering and makeup.

After Steve, Andy Lowell came up to talk about the forthcoming DVD. Andy evidently had a lot to do with the design of the menus and such, and went into a lot of detail about how they were created and how the design compared with a lot of other DVDs on the market. The only portions they showed the audience assembled were parts of the PPV concert. Andy started out by saying that he used to be a teacher, and it was very clear from his presentation; he did an excellent job of explaining the technical elements to the crowd, most of whom were technical novices.

When Andy was done, all five of them took questions from the audience. The folks at the Apple store presented everyone who attended a copy of "the eleventh hour" and the guys hung around signing stuff and talking for a long time afterwards. All in all, it was a really fun, interesting event, and very informative about the technology that helps Jars of Clay do what they do.