Switchfoot – The (Dual) Purpose Driven Life
Apr 22, 2012 Concert News
Switchfoot: The (Dual) Purpose Driven Life
My first foray into motorcycle riding began with the purchase of a dual-sport Suzuki. The dual sport provided me the opportunity to ride off-road or on the highway depending on my needs at the time. It’s a cool thing when something can provide or be used for more than one purpose.
Dual purpose is not strictly limited to motorcycles obviously, so it’s not a far stretch to apply this same theory to music, as is my experience with Switchfoot and their music. Switchfoot has been successful in both secular and Christian markets with meaningful lyrics and a rock-solid soundtrack. I have witnessed the dual-purpose of Switchfoot personally having had the opportunity to see Switchfoot live at a Christian festival and more recently, in a more secular club setting.
The club in this instance was the Majestic in Madison, WI. The Majestic is an old theater that has gone through many conversions (and closures) that still maintains some of that old theater ambiance. The sloped floor, tight stage, and balcony seating make for a unique experience. The theater was fairly full with a recorded capacity of 500 so I am guessing there had to be nearly 400 people in attendance. On a side-note I overheard a couple of ladies talking about how they worship in the same place on Sundays – a dual purpose club.
The Rocket Summer opened the show with a short set that got the crowd warmed up. I saw a handful of youth wearing RS t-shirts so he’s apparently got a decent following in the area. Unfortunately for me, I was not as familiar with his music so it was at times hard to hear the lyrics. The sweet spot for the night though was when Bryce Avary, the mastermind behind the band, did a solo – as in guitar, bass, drums, and vocals all by himself. Avary is a versatile musician who typically records all pieces of his music when producing a CD. It was an awesome spectacle to witness his abilities as he effortlessly jumped from instrument to instrument.
After a short break and a bit of stage prep, Switchfoot rocked the stage with a high-energy set that included many of their B-side tracks and a few of the more recognizable top 10 hits. I was seriously impressed with how hard they played for the size of the venue. There was little banter or unnecessary gloating that you often hear from the stage. It was a stark contrast from what I heard last fall when I went to a My Darkest Days concert. There was no reason for the members of Switchfoot to have to make up for a lack of talent with a plethora of profanity and sexual innuendos. No sir indeed – effective dual purpose means being good at what you do, not fake and shallow.
The greatest moment of dual purpose was when the show ended (pre-encore) with the song “Meant to Live,” which sums it all up very well. We can rock –n- roll, party it up and have fun, but in the end we’re meant for so much more. So our talents – whether it be music or otherwise – have a dual purpose. We can rock and we can glorify/praise the Lord – vice versa (or vice-verses in this case).
- Ken W.
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Switchfoot is touring extensively the next few months, including some overseas dates and again a mix of clubs and festivals all over the United States. This past week on April 21, they also released a limited edition CD entitled Vice Re-Verses. The EP features remixes of songs from Vice Verses by Paper Route’s JT Daly, Owl City’s Adam Young, Photek, Darren King and DandJ. A digital version of Vice Re-Verses will be released on May 1 and will include a remix of the band’s new single, “Afterlife,” by the winner of the Switchfoot Remix Contest sponsored by Ultimate Ears (http://www.talenthouse.com/remix-for-switchfoot).
For more information check out their official website at: http://www.switchfoot.com/
Noel: A Unique Christmas Experience
Dec 23, 2011 Concert News
I was beyond excited when I heard Josh Wilson would be on tour in my area this holiday season. His music has set the bar high – very high – and I went into the concert with great expectations. Naturally, Josh challenged my preconceptions and provided the audience with a shining performance that was truly second to none.
Josh along with tour partner and long-time friend Wes Pickering (who’s music I highly recommend!) played over 21 instruments and recorded entire songs live with the assistance of a loop pedal. Accordions, harmonicas, mandolins, xylophones and a host of other instruments were played in perfect sync to create live masterpieces. It was fascinating watching Josh and Wes quickly switch from one instrument to another while managing to keep in time with each other and the songs they were performing.
The meaning of Christmas was proudly proclaimed through short videos narrating the nativity story and tying in each song that was performed. Many famous Christmas favorites, a handful of hymns, and several of Josh’s most popular songs were sung, each being tied in somehow to the Christmas story. The duo also captivated the audience with a handful of instrumental tracks, including Josh’s recent hit “Amazing Grace”. “Carol of the Bells” was the evening’s showstopper and honestly one of the outstanding performances I’ve ever seen!
The audience was involved (and recorded) in many songs with handclaps, singing, and even a few whistles. Scripture verses were read together and stories were shared. Josh and Wes are two phenomenal singers, songwriters, and musicians with hearts on fire for God. While they’re show was breathtaking, it was a joy to watch them pour their hearts and souls into what they were singing about. They managed to transform some of the most familiar, well-known holiday songs into profound worshipful moments. I’ve never seen anything as spectacular as what I saw at the concert that night. The concept of recording each song makes for a truly unique and memorable concert experience. To be honest, it didn’t feel like I was at a concert. I felt like I was sitting in a living room with a group of my closest friends celebrating Christmas together. It was a truly wonderful experience I’ll remember forever.
- Tom F.
An Evening with Mark Schultz
Dec 6, 2011 Concert News
Mark Schultz
Emmaus Bible College
It is becoming a Christmas tradition – at least for the past two years now – to take part of a Mark Schultz Christmas concert. This past Sunday, my wife Ellen and I were honored to join a few hundred college students and a handful of faculty/staff at Emmaus Bible College in Dubuque, Iowa with Mark Schultz and his band. The event was a part of the overall family Christmas celebration at Emmaus.
The concert was held in the majestic marble chapel at Emmaus, which proved to be a wonderful echo chamber that added a lot to the overall sound. So much so that Mark himself stopped to marvel at the sound more than once. Mark even pulled off a few extra songs just so he could hear the audience sing along with him. One of those songs was the hymn “It is Well.”
One thing that I have come to expect from Mark Schultz is a healthy amount of story telling to go along with the songs. I could never tire if listening to the inspiration behind so many of his songs. On this particular night he spoke of a recent trip to Normandy where he was inspired to write an instrumental piece that they performed for us this night. Mark spoke of his new instrumental project, “Renaissance,” and how he was giving the proceeds to organizations for children and widows, much like he did with his “Ride Across America.”
I recently read an article by Rick Cua called “Great Songs Do That” (Christian Musician, Nov/Dec 2011). This article speaks of great songs that are an anointed from God and how they impact people in so many ways that an artist may not even be aware of. Mark spoke too about this same thing as he gave credit to God for dropping certain songs virtually into his lap. Mark also elaborated on a story of how his song “Letters from War” opened many doors for him that he never would have expected. Including leading worship at the Pentagon and attending an Air Force basic training graduation where the whole class was singing along with the video word-for-word.
The evening was very special and one of the best concerts I have attended in a long time. It was amazing how “intimate” Mark could make the evening feel even with a sold-out show in the hundreds. He performed a good mix of his hits like “Letters From War,” “Remember Me,” and “Broken and Beautiful.” Along with a handful of Christmas classics like “Drummer Boy” and “Joy to the World.” Throughout the evening Mark was very fluid and he deviated from the normal set list many times. He even returned for an encore, as the audience was not letting up on cheering after the show. He seemed surprised at the response and it was fun to watch him vamping as someone was sent to locate the band that had already made its way back to the bus or dressing room.
Overall it was a wonderful evening and an amazing concert. Mark is setting out on the “Letters From War” tour starting now in December and going through the next few months. I highly recommend checking out his website for tour dates and more! http://markschultzmusic.com/tour/
- Ken W.
How Many Kings – Christmas Tour
Dec 3, 2010 Concert News
I just returned from the “How Many Kings” Christmas tour featuring Mark Schultz, Downhere and Alli Rogers. Alli is a singer/songwriter who was new to me as of tonight. Her set was a quaint acoustic set that gave you a brief look at who she is as an artist and writer. I particularly liked how she referenced older hymns in her writing. She did a great job as an opener and she even showed up later on background vocals for Mark Schultz.
The group Downhere followed up with a rousing set of tunes that warmed up the evening. I tell you this is one of the tightest bands I have ever seen live. You can tell they are a seasoned band that loves their job. The highlight of the night was when they played the tour moniker “How Many Kings.” After which they shared a video from World Vision and a brief story of their own experiences in the Dominic Republic.
After a short break Mark Schultz took to the stage and almost immediately began with a whimsical rant about the cold weather and snow – something he was not use to coming from the south. Between jest Mark and band performed a few Christmas sing-a-longs and some fan favorites of Mark’s usual repertoire.
It was a wonderful evening overall and if you’re lucky enough to be in the path of the tour that still has more than a dozen shows remaining.
http://markschultzmusic.com/tour/
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/www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer” />Tags: Alli Rogers, Downhere, Mark Schultz
The Story of Your Life Tour
Nov 11, 2010 Concert News, Feature
The Story of Your Life Tour
By Tom F.
“The Story Of Your Life” tour, starring Josh Wilson, Jonny Diaz and Matthew West, provided a truly one-of-a-kind concert experience! I was very excited when I first heard about the tour, seeing as how I’m a fan of their music. Matthew West recently released his newest album, “Story of Your Life” (read the review here, in which he used personal stories from everyday people to create a truly inspirational, hope-infused album.
Josh Wilson opened the concert, by himself, a one-man-band. Using only a loop pedal, harmonica, and his trusty guitar, he crafted in real time, the backgrounds for his tracks (which impressed me, for sure). He kicked the show off with “Listen” from his latest self-titled release. “Before the Morning”, his major radio-hit came next, followed by his instrumental take on the hymn “Amazing Grace.” To say Josh has amazing guitar skills is a gross understatement. His set’s finale showcased his talent, and left us all speechless! (Check it out on Youtube sometime, you’ll see what I mean.)
Jonny Diaz also performed as a one-man-band in a very personal, acoustic show. He opened his set with the hilarious and equally fitting track, “The Opener”. The song takes a very comical look at the life of a new, relatively unknown singer. Jonny followed up with his current hits “Stand For You” and “More Beautiful You”. Not only did his sincerity shine through his performance and his music, but his comedic side had the audience laughing, the entire duration of his set.
Matthew West began his portion of the show with an acoustic, piano-driven version of “The Motions”. “More”, “You Are Everything”, “History” and “The Next Thing You Know” followed before a brief intermission. He explained his latest album, at length, giving the audience a look at his latest its inspiration before performing an album in its entirety for the very first time. Before each song from “Story of Your Life” was performed, he gave a quick preview of the song’s background. He read the actual stories the songs were written from and also showed quick video interviews with some of the authors whose stories set the stage for the album. The stage was another unique feature in the show. While the songs were being performed, animated music videos were projected on the backdrop (which looked like a log cabin wall and window). The music videos were subtle and gave clear pictures of the song’s meanings and messages. It definitely helped create an even more unique experience throughout the show.
The evening was filled with laughter, stories, songs, and true worship. It was an amazing experience and I would definitely recommend Josh, Jonny & Matthew’s music to anyone looking for hope, worshipful music, and reassurance in a loving God. These guys don’t disappoint!!
For concert photos check out our Facebook page.
An Evening with Brandon Heath & Jars of Clay
Nov 11, 2010 Concert News, Feature
An Evening with Brandon Heath & Jars of Clay
By Tom F.
Back in mid-August I saw an update from Brandon heath on Facebook, detailing an upcoming, 21 city tour with Jars of Clay. I knew, then and there, that I had to go. The tickets were bought and I began counting the days until I would see one of my all-time favorite musicians in concert. Having been a die-hard fan since his debut album “Don’t Get Comfortable” this, naturally, was the concert for me. I was excited, not only to get to see him perform, but to get the chance to see Jars of Clay live as well. I had always been an admirer of the music I’d heard on the radio or in compilations such as the WOW hits series, but had never really listened to them much aside from those. I knew the concert would be a great intro to their music, but I never expected to get such an in-depth look at their hits from the past 15 years! As the band celebrated their 15th year in action, they performed some of their best-loved songs from each album! It was definitely a great introduction for a new fan.
The evening started off, entirely different than I would have imagined! As I waited for the church to be unlocked, I and several other attendees had the unexpected opportunity to watch Brandon and Jars go head to head in a round of bocce ball. Brandon let a few concert-goers play on his team, which was really cool to see. Everyone seemed so down to earth. The doors soon opened, and our pre-show backstage session began. The Q&A session was scrapped due to time concerns, but it was replaced by something equally enjoyable – one-on-one time with the singers. After they took some pictures and signed posters or anything else fans pushed their way, they just spent some time talking with us. The only real encounters I’d had with some of my favorite musicians were in a crowded line at an autograph table after the show, so this was a new experience for me. It was refreshing to see how laid back and down to earth both Brandon and the Jars guys were. They mingled and spent time with us for about half an hour before the show. It gave me a unique look at a side of these people, I’d never expected to see! That on its own made the backstage pass worth it to me.
The concert began about half an hour later, with both Brandon and Jars on stage singing “Movin’ on Up” together. It was really cool seeing both perform together. They continued their “duet” with “Sore Eyes” from Brandon’s latest CD. He co-wrote the song with Jars so it only made sense to perform it live together! Once again, very cool. The harmonies were spot on. Brandon went on to perform several hits from his current albums along with 5 songs from his upcoming release “Leaving Eden”. Brandon’s set list consisted of:
1. Movin’ on Up (With Jars)
2. Sore Eyes (With Jars)
3. Wait and See
4. Don’t Get Comfortable
5. I’m Not Who I Was
6. Love Never Fails
7. Sunrise
8. Leaving Eden*
9. Your Love*
10. Only Water*
11. Might Just Save Your Life*
12. One*
13. Give Me Your Eyes
[* indicates tracks from “Leaving Eden”]
Check out our Facebook Page for photos.
Underoath Fall Tour
Dec 10, 2009 Concert News
This past Saturday (12/05) I was in the Madison area and I had a few options for entertainment. Matthew West was touring his Christmas show at a nearby theater, with a special appearance from the Veggietales stars Bob and Larry. While just a few miles away (several actually), Underoath was headlining at The Rave in Milwaukee. I chose to join a few friends and head to Milwaukee for the metalcore over the mellow and what I got was a whole new experience for me in many ways.
I have seen a handful of “screamo” acts at Lifest, but never in a secular venue like The Rave. The Rave is a cool venue in an old theater full of architectural styles and multiple stages. Prior to the main arena opening there were three smaller stages sporting local and regional bands. We previewed three of these acts and of the three only one was worth listening too. One of the acts still had not learned that there was more to the genre than just screaming lyrics that were in comprehendible. It was torture as the young lead sounded like he was going through puberty all over again mid scream. Fortunately this was not a precursor of how the main acts were going to be.
I was very interested in how the show would go down and how different it would be in a more secular setting. When the main doors finally opened, we were able to find a decent spot in the upper balcony to take it all in. Not too long after settling in I got my first dose of just how different the night would be, as we were asked if we had any “herb” to spare. It’s been a long time since I’ve been questioned like this at a concert. It was quite humorous. Aside from that one incident there was no indication that others were interested in cooking spices and there was only one annoying drunk, who just happened to park herself right behind me during the headliner, singing (I use that term loosely) every lyric along with the band. My only consolation was that I was sure she was going to pay for it in the morning.
All that aside the show was amazing and the crowd reaction was mind blowing. Right from the start when Emery, the opening act at 8:00pm, came on board singing a Christmas tune until the final note from Underoath at 11:15pm, the crowd never stopped jumping, slamming, and shouting. I have never seen such unbridled energy in a mosh pit before. Yet it was all quasi-controlled and more disciplined than a square dance on a Louisiana Saturday night. The etiquette was amazing to watch. As a person fell, there were at least two others that instantly jumped into action and picked them up. Others stood by in the circle and protected those who were just watching the bands. The coordinating hand signals and synchronized moshing was so distracting I had a hard time deciding which to watch, the moshers or the band. It was a cool experience and a much more energized feeling than I had expected.
As I mentioned, Emery opened the night and I was most familiar with their music over all of the other bands. Having not been a big fan of the screamo style of music, I was quickly won over with their dual vocals and their amazing performance. Following up Emery was the band August Burns Red. August Burns Red was straight up screaming compared to the mix of melodies and scream from Emery. I was imagining that many parents would think ABR low guttural screams were demonic, as well as the impulsive slam dancing in the mosh pit, but at the same time, I was picturing the lead singer teaching 5th grade history while not on the road or even Sunday School at his home church. He just had that kind of vibe that although he sang like a mad man, he was far from it. Closing out the night was of course Underoath and I was really blown away by their live show. I have never seen such a spaztastic display of keyboarding as I did from Christopher Dudley.
The musicianship was tight and I particularly liked how Aaron Gillespie sang some leads and backups, equalizing the screamo with a bit of standard hard rock. Towards the end of their set, Spencer started to thank the audience for coming and he started to allude to why they did what they did and why they so much enjoyed playing music. It peaked my attention right away and I immediately wondered to what he would give the credit. I was ignorantly stunned when he broke out and shared the gospel at that point. It was short and concise and not at all inappropriate for the moment. It was a moment when I realized how prudish I was with my preconceived ideas of how the night would go.
Overall the night was entertaining and enlightening. I believe I have a much more openness to the genre, which was evidenced by how well I enjoyed the screamo sampler CD that was being given away outside as we exited the club. I look forward to seeing more bands like Underoath, August Burns Red and Emery in the future. As well as writing more reviews for the genre on AlphaOmegaNews. There are just a few dates left in the United States before Underoath heads overseas for some shows. Check out their MySpace page http://www.myspace.com/underoath or their official website at http://underoath777.com/index.php for more details.
- Ken W.
Tags: August Burns Red, Emery, Underoath
Aaron Kampman @ Lifest 2009 – “Grow and Go Where You Are”
Jul 20, 2009 Concert News
by Rob Snyder
Green Bay Packers All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Kampman told a big audience to not let what they do become how they define who they are.
Kampman spoke at The Edge stage during Lifest Saturday morning. He used the word “grow” as an acronym to illustrate his point.
“G” = Guard your identity. Aaron told the crowd that while he had grown up in a Christian home, his self-worth became wrapped up in being an athlete and becoming a NFL player. That was until one of his college coaches told Aaron that he had no future as a football player. “I was completely devastated,” Aaron said.
Aaron said that God did a “ton of refining” and he began to realize that he “was worth Christ’s sacrifice.” Aaron referred to Colossians 2:20 and challenged his audience to understand where their true identity lays and it’s not what we do for a living
“R” = Remove your mask. Simply put, “Be yourself,” Aaron said. But, he said, ‘We want to have real relationships but the digital world and reality TV” is not the same thing as an intimate, real connection.
For advice on how to be one’s self, Aaron referred to 2 Corinthians 3:18 (look it up!).
“O” = Operate with awareness. “Don’t focus on self so much that you forget about others around you,” Aaron said. “Pray for eyes to see, be sensitive to others around you.”
Aaron brought up Isaiah 61: 1-2 during this portion of his presentation.
“W” = develop a Winner’s character. During the final portion of his talk, Aaron made extensive references to the words of his high school football coach, the late Ed Thomas. If you are not familiar with the tragic, yet inspiring story of the late head football coach of Parkersburg, IA, I would direct your attention to the recent cover story in Sports Illustrated.
Parkersburg was destroyed by a tornado in June, 2008. Thomas helped rally his community. Aaron noted that Thomas was already a man of passion and integrity but that after the tornado, Thomas reached “a new level in sharing his faith.”
Aaron said, “That was a tough day,” when he learned that his former coach had been gunned down while supervising a weight training session this summer
And yet the power of the Gospel shone through those darkest of hours.
“Evil tried to take out a good man but it didn’t work,” Aaron said, “because the good news was proclaimed.”
“I don’t have all the answers,” Aaron concluded, “but if you were to find yourself standing before Jesus Christ today, would you be excited to see him or, regretfully, hang your head and say you’re sorry. Only you know that answer.”
So much fuss is made over role models; who is and who isn’t one, for example; but Aaron Kampman is one person in this world’s spotlight who’s willing to use his platform to let His light shine.
BarlowGirl Inteview (30-CC)
Jul 20, 2009 Concert News
Below is a link to the BarlowGirl interview for 30-CC that was taken at Lifest.
