Clever Signs Week 4

I know I haven't been doing that good with the clever signs...but I do have one this week!

The Thomas Confession - Convolutions Album Review

The Thomas Confession released their debut album "Convolutions" on December 5th. Before I get to the review I thought you should know a little bit about The Thomas Confession. The band is made up of Mike Borisov (lead singer / guitar), Stephen Chesnokov (lead guitar / vocals), Roman Baransky (bass / vocals) and Jacob Donovan (drums). They describe their music as similar to Shiny Toy Guns “We Are Pilots” and “Killers”, the vocals could sound like Matthew Bellamy from “Muse” at times, and it also has some indie dance influence, bands like Two Door Cinema Club.

The first song on the album is "Love Like Fire". This song has a cool futuristic/techno sound to it. I also really love the beat in this song, the energy is just infectious! The second song on the album "Put Your Mind To It" continues with the techno sound and also has some higher vocal parts during the chorus. Different parts of this song, especially the guitar towards the end, reminded me of the song "The Final Countdown" by Europe. After "Put Your Mind To It" there is an intro with some cool marching band sounding drums. Then it flows into the next song "It's Not So Simple Anymore". This song is probably my favorite on the album, because it is catchy and well rounded. After hearing this song only a couple times it started to grow on me, and it was stuck in my head. The next song "When Angels Fly Home" starts off slow and then builds up to the chorus. I personally love when a song has a good anticipation builder that leads up to the chorus.

The Next song on the album is "Heartbreaking Sight". This song has a bit more of a rock sound that has a lot of energy. In my opinion this song would be a blast in concert! Then there is another intro with a futuristic sound that leads into the song "When Everyone's Dancing". This song has a good sound that reminds me a lot of the "Killers". The thing that I don't like as much about this song is how repetitive the chorus is, the song tends to blur together. The next song on the album is "You're Asking Me". This song also has the build up to the chorus at the beginning. My favorite lyrics in this song are "Now in your eyes I realize / The wreck I am / All that I need is time to bleed / And heal again". The next song on the album is "Oh, If You Could See". This song starts off soft with acoustic guitars and then there are more things added as the song progresses. Things pick back up with the next song "My Perfect World". Listening to this song you can tell it has an attitude, but once again the drums were the best part in my opinion. Last but not least is the song "Still Standing Alone". This song has a similar sound to the previous songs, but towards the end there is some awesome guitar that I thought was cool.

All in all this album was a pretty good album with unique vocals and catchy songs, but to me the best part was the beat! I love a good beat and this album was full of them! Although I was having trouble finding the message behind this album. Also different songs seemed to blur together a little, but for a debut record this was pretty good! I would give this album a 3/5 stars.

My Thoughts Of The Day

For this post I wanted to do something a little more random. First off I wanted to explain why most of my album reviews have good ratings. When most people review albums they will give the albums 2 or 3 stars if they are good and every so often when are really good they will give it 4 or 5 stars. However most of my reviews are in the 4 and 5 stars area. Why? I don't know for sure....I guess I just like a lot of different music so therefor I like a lot of different albums! But I will let you in on a little secret if I give an album 5 stars it is good enough that if I lost my copy I would buy another one. That is kind of how I rate albums.

Okay moving on.....I thought I would include, in this random post, what music I have been listening to lately. So in no particular order.....

Sanctus Real - Pieces Of A Real Heart

I recently got this album and I have listened to it over and over. My favorite song on the album is "Lead Me".

 12 Stones - (Self Titled)

    My dad used to have this album a few years ago and I got hooked on it. He ended up losing it and then I just recently got it! I have probably listened to this at least 10 times all the way through!

Group 1 Crew - Outta Space Love

I just discovered Group 1 Crew last year and I am glad I did. I have had "Outta Space Love" for awhile now but it has recently made it back into the most played list. My favorite song on the album is probably "Breakdown".

  Lecrae - Rebel

    I have been a big fan of Lecrae for years

    now but I just recently got his album "Rebel". I LOVE it! My current favorite song on the album is "Don't Waste Your Life".

I also have one more thing to add...and it is more of a favor to ask. I am trying to win a cabin on the Music Boat cruise and in order to win you have to have the most votes on your picture. So if you have a second and you wanted to help me out you can go here and here to vote. I have two pictures submitted thats why there are two links!

Well I hope you have enjoyed these random thoughts! If you have any suggestions or ideas make sure you you leave a comment and let me know or send me an email at thechristianmusicjunkie@gmail.com.

Raised In Harlem - Hero!

The other day I was listening to a CD called Hip Hope Hits 2005. I found a song that I really liked by a band called Hero!. When I first heard the song "Raised In Harlem" it reminded me of the rapper Eminem. Then after researching the song a little I found out that Hero! wasn't a band, it was actually a rock opera. Hero! actually had a lot of big Christian artists like John Cooper (Skillet), Mark Stuart (Audio Adrenaline), Rebecca St James, and Matt Hammitt (Sanctus Real). The song below is from the Hero! rock opera and is performed by Michael Tait, T-Bone and Donnie Lewis.

For more info on the rock opera Hero! you can go here.

Sent By Ravens - Mean What You Say Album Review

Sent By Ravens is releasing their second studio album "Mean What You Say" tomorrow (February 28th).

The album starts off with the hard hitting rock song "Prudence". This song is enjoyable to listen to with its catchy chorus and infectious beat. The next song "Listen" is good, but it does repeat itself a lot which can get tiresome. Things improve with the next song on the album "Rebuild, Release". I really loved the drums in this song, but I am a BIG fan of a good beat, so it doesn't take a whole lot to interest me! Things slow down with a bit with the next song "Learn From The Night". I really love the vocals on this song. Although the vocals aren't much different than the of the previous songs, they just seem to shine in this song.

Right from the start of the title track "Mean What You Say", I knew it would be my favorite on the album. The song starts with an electronic sound and slowly builds up to the chorus. This song talks about the power that your words have. The only negative I have to say about this song is that it seems to end too soon! I wish it was just a little bit longer, although it is better to leave the fans wanting more than to over do it. The next song on the album is "However Long It Takes". This song is more of a calm song with some piano however it is still very much a rock song. After listening to this song a couple times it was stuck on my head and it just started to grow on me.

The next song on the album is "Need It Today". This song has a good sound but the best part to me was the lyrics. Some of my favorite lines are "I had to fall to make it through / I'm taking steps to find the man you knew / Cause no one cares the way you do". The next song "Never Be Enough" starts off with just piano and vocals. This song is different from all the other songs on the album, but I love it! This song is powerful without all the drums and guitar that I normally love. Things pick back up with the next song "We're All Liars". This song is the only track on the album that has a taste of the full blown screaming and I actually love it! I am just beginning to become a fan of that style of music, but I loved this song. The last song on the album is "Best In Me". This song has perfect blend of rock with great lyrics, it is good way to end the album. It is a bit of a bummer that this is the last song though, I was really starting to love these guys!

All in all this is a solid rock album that just sounds strong. This album is the kind that just sort of grows on you. Starting this review I liked the album and I thought this is probably a 3.5 to 4 stars. Then I listened to it some more and really fell in love with it. Although there were parts of the album that weren't perfect it was still a great album. I would have to give this album a 5/5 stars.

1. Prudence (2:24)
2. Listen (3:06)
3. Rebuild, Release (2:52)
4. Learn From The Night (3:52)
5. Mean What You Say (3:08)
6. However Long It Takes (3:06)
7. Need It Today (3:58)
8. Never Be Enough (3:02)
9. We're All Liars (3:04)
10. Best In Me (4:20)

Independent Artist Of The Week: About A Mile

For this weeks Independent Artist Of The Week I chose About A Mile.

I haven't had a lot of free time this week to research a Independent band that I could feature, so I started looking today. I was having trouble finding a band I wanted to feature, then my friend Haylee posted on Facebook about a band called About A Mile. I checked out their music and really liked it and I loved the meaning behind the band name, so that is who I picked. Below is a little bit about them that I found from their facebook page.

We're three brothers that love making music and sharing our faith and hearts using lyrics and melodies. We just moved to Nashville and have big things planned for 2012 thank you for enjoying the songs we write for you!!

The name About A Mile comes from a study that Jesus carried His cross "About A Mile". How far will you carry yours?
Now before you go, take a second and listen to About A Mile's song "He Won't Stop Loving You".

Also make sure you check out About A Mile's  website for more info, plus the site design is really cool.

KJ-52 Releases New Album "Dangerous" On April 3rd

KJ-52 is going to be releasing his seventh studio project "Dangerous" on April 3rd. Below is Jesus Freak Hideout's post which has more info on the album including the track listing.

NEWS SOURCE: Merge PR


Seattle, Wa. - February 24, 2012 -After 11 years in the music industry and more than 575,000 albums sold, hip-hop veteran KJ-52 will be releasing his seventh studio album Dangerous on BEC Recordings on April 3. After thriving through the seamless transition between a cutting edge newcomer at the tip of the 2000s to one of today's most respected and ambitious rap/hip-hop heroes, KJ-52 continues pushing the musical and lyrical envelope. In addition to KJ overseeing the album, it includes tag teams with producers Tedd T. (Mute Math, Delirious) and Aaron Sprinkle (Deftones, Hawk Nelson, Jeremy Camp). View the track listing here.
 
"The theme that runs throughout the record is God is calling us to live Dangerously for Him," states charismatic KJ-52. "We have to be careful that we don't give into the world, which is like drinking poison out of a gold cup. But as Christians, we can't go along with the status quo or play it safe. There's no room for laziness or complacency."

While it would be easy for the six-time Dove Award winner and sought after collaborator (TobyMac, Newsboys, Thousand Foot Krutch) to rest on his laurels after more than a decade in the game, he aggressively walks that talk across Dangerous, while offering both listeners of faith and the mainstream scene plenty of reasons to relate. Dangerous also chronicles a series of compelling issues like drugs, divorce and racism, even the prejudice that sometimes pops up within the church's walls. The latter is particularly evident across "They Like Me," a collaboration with the Grammy nominated Lecrae.
Looking back on his career, KJ-52 reflects on what it means to have career endurance, especially as tastes and trends change practically overnight and many of his previous peers have since tapered out of the spotlight.

"Eleven years is really a lifetime in rap years,'" he suggests. "I think it's a result of a lot of things, in part staying in tune with the fans, listening to them, listening to what's going on musically, always staying on the road and looking to the future. Throughout it all, God's provided and expanded my platform and He'll continue to do that until it's time to move on to whatever's next."

KJ-52 will take this new album on the road as he'll be performing at the upcoming 2012 REVOLVE teen girl conference as well as the 4thirty1 Experience. For complete tour dates and information visit his Facebook page.


Here is the track listing for "Dangerous".

1. It’s Going Down (ft. Canton Jones)
2. They Like Me (ft. Lecrae)
3. Superhero
4. Dangerous
5. Facemelt
6. Shake 'Em Up (ft. This’l)
7. Do The Bill Cosby (ft. George Moss)
8. So Far Apart (ft. Emily of Shine Bright Baby)
9. Brand New Day
10. Speed That Light (ft. Rhema Soul)
11. That Was My Life (ft. Dre Murray)
    ***bonus track***
12. Go
    *subject to change

Blue Like Jazz Movie

Donald Miller's book "Blue Like Jazz" spent 43 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list and has sold over 1.5 million copies to date. I have the book and I liked it so much I read it twice. Well I have some news for fans of the book.... I was on Jesus Freak Hideout today and I seen that Roadside Attractions has filmed a movie based on the book, and it is set to release in theatre's on April 13th! I am very excited to see what this movie is like!

You can read the entire post by Jesus Freak Hideout here.

New Song By Manafest - Never Let You Go

Manafest has a new album coming out April 10th called "Fighter". This is a new song from that album called "Never Let You Go". Enjoy!

We Are Leo - Supernova Sunrise Music Video

We Are Leo released their very first music video for their song "Supernova Sunrise" the other day. I thought it was pretty good, what do you think?

Icon For Hire - Scripted Review

In Christian music it can be hard to find a good rock band that has a lead female vocalist, well let me introduce you to Icon For Hire. They released their first album under the record label Tooth and Nail called "Scripted", on August 23rd 2011.

The album starts off with the intro "Overture", which just builds suspense, then it flows right into the song "Theatre". This song introduces listeners to the edgy rock sound that you will hear throughout the album. The chorus of "Theatre" says "What happened to the girl who could overlook the world, She never gave a second thought to what the other people thought, what happened to the dream of rejecting the routine, Cause it never worked for me, I'm gonna burn this theatre down, I pray to God for the strength to help me face the crowd, I'm gonna live like I lost the script and scream every line like this is it". The next song is one of my favorites and also the first single "Make A Move". This song is an energetic rock that has some killer guitar! The chorus of this song asks someone to make a move, and my favorite lines in the song are, "And if I had the answers I'd have written them out, so I could tell you what to do and what this thing is about, But all I've ever learned has come second hand, And I dare not preach what I don't understand".

The next song on the album is "Get Well". This song starts off with an electronic sound and continues into more of a rock sound. There is always one song on an album that always seems to get stuck in my head on this album it would be "Get Well". Things slow down with the next song "The Grey". This song starts off with just piano and vocals, then halfway through they add the guitars and drums. I enjoyed the last half of this song, but to be honest I didn't really like the first half. The next song "Off With Her Head" picks up the pace with a rock sound and more sweet guitars. The name of the song is a little odd and reminds me of Alice In Wonderland, but the song is still good. Up next is the song "Fight". The lyrics of the song say "I will fight (fight), or be taken out alive". The really loved the echo in this song and I think it would be a lot of fun in concert. The next song "Up I Flames" has a great beat, and you just want to tap your feet along with it. This song is another one of my favorites on the album, because it is just fun to listen to.

The next song on the album is "Iodine". This song a great sound that is enjoyable to listen to but my favorite part of this song is the lyrics. My favorite lyrics are at the end and they say "I don't like pain but I bring it to life, I don't like scars but I'm good with a knife, I don't like tears but I'm starting to cry when I realize I'm destroying my life, I do this to myself, I do this to myself, Stop blaming someone else, we do this to ourselves". Things slow back down with the next song "Only A Memory". I really like the meaning behind this song it basically says that your are not your past. What you have been through an what you have done, doesn't make you who you are.Things pick back up with last song on the album "Pieces". The lyrics in this song talk about pretending that everything is okay and there is nothing wrong, when in reality we aren't always good or okay.

It is rare for me to find a band with a female vocalist that I really like, but I found one! Ariel's voice mixed with the awesome rock music makes this album enjoyable to listen to. Although I really enjoyed the music I would say the lyrics of this album are my favorite. I really liked how the lyrics were just real. Some people think that because a band is a Christian band that they have to have everything figured out or at least pretend that they do. Icon Fire Hire basically said we don't have it all figured out but we can be clueless together, at least that is what I got from it. I would give this album a 4.5/5 stars.

Bonus Info: The album booklet that you get with the album is like reading a script with the songs being different acts, I thought that was cool and unique.

Independent Artist Of The Week: The Opposed

For this weeks Independent Artist Of The Week I chose The Opposed.

I don't know a lot about these guys but really liked the sound of their music, so I thought I would feature them. I did end up finding out a little bit about them from their Facebook page, here is what is said...

"Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, members of The Opposed bring a culmination of styles from their various backgrounds into a unique and progressive, yet accessible sound that is powerful and intense. The Opposed consists of professional musicians dedicated to their craft, and to them, it is more than a band. It is a platform for the passion to influence and change the lives of all that they encounter."

They also listed some of the band interests which are:  Chilling, worshipping, rocking, melting faces, fellow shipping, ping pong, theological discussions, Frisbee, not-moshing...

So now you know a little bit about the band and we can move on to the music. Below is The Opposed video for their song "What Love Is".



What did you think of the video? Leave a comment and let me know!

Nine Lashes Giveaway Courtesy Of Jay's Music Blog

My Friend Jay from http://www.jaysmusikblog.com/ is giving away a physical copy of Nine Lashes brand new album "World We View".

I was able to review this album and I loved it, I gave it a perfect 5/5 stars. It is a great rock album! Entering the giveaway is super easy and worth your time, so make sure you check it out! For details on how to enter click here. While your over there make sure you check out the other cool stuff on Jay's blog.

New Song By KJ-52

KJ-52 posted this video on his Facebook page the other day. It is a video promoting the 4Thirty1 tour, but it also features a new song by KJ. Check it out!

Pioneer - "Pioneer" Album Review

Pioneer released their self titled album on January 24th, 2012.

The first song on the album is a short intro song called "Clarity" that honestly I didn't think fit in right here. The next song is catchy rock song called "Lights". The lyrics that I really like in this song are "But something in the dark, set a flame within our hearts, It came to life and now we are burning down inside, It's safe to say, We'll never be the same, It's safe to say we were lost along the way". The next song on the album is called "Treason". The chorus of this song says "Love is what it takes to do what we've been up to, breaking from the darkness". After hearing this song only a couple times it was stuck in my head, which isn't a bad thing.

I really enjoyed listening the next song "Dreams" it is probably my favorite song on the album. I really love the message that this song has, plus I like the sound of it as well. The song talks about being complacent and not really living. The next song is "Whatever It Takes" and this song is another fun and energetic rock song with a message, which seems to be pretty much all of these songs. Haha Then there is another intro to a song, and unlike the previous one I thought this one fit in perfect and added alot to the next song "Reaching". It flows very well from the intro "Mantua" to the song "Reaching". Things slow down a bit with this song which is a good to change things up. I tend to get bored of an album when all of the songs have the same kind of sound, so slowing things down a little just breaks things up.

Then things pick back back up with the next song "Long Way Home". I love the build up at the beginning of this song with just vocals and some cymbals. This song is another one of my favorites on the album, mostly because of the beat! The next song on the album is "Better Days". This song has a nice sound, but more than that it has a great message. Once again I have favorite lyrics in this song as well, they are "I put all my faith in everything, That was bound to fade away from me, I can finally see, I used all my strength, To climb my way into the light again, Now better days are headed my way". That is just picking some of the lyrics in this song, I could easily put all of them!

The next song "Catharsis" is yet another one of my favorites. I love the sound but once again it is the lyrics that I really love. I won't keep sharing lyrics on every song, because then this post will be REALLY long, but I should! The next song "Coming Of Age" would be a great one to sing along to at a concert. I love the echoing "Waoh-oh-oh--oh-oh" along with the beat, very cool. Last but not least is the song "Kings In Rags". This song is slightly different than the other songs because it is mostly just singing and acoustic guitars. I actually really enjoyed this song, alot more than I thought I would.

Honestly this album surprised me quite a bit. Just hearing a couple songs and not paying attention to the lyrics I figured that the songs would be catchy and fun, but not really have good lyrics. I was totally wrong.
The lyrics were the best part of the album to me. Although I also enjoyed the music which was upbeat and fun, with great vocals. I would recommend this to fans of Hawk Nelson, Hyland or any other rock band that has meaningful lyrics. I would give this album a 4.5/5 stars.

Nine Lashes - World We View Review

Nine Lashes is somewhat of a new band to the Christian music scene, but this album didn't sound like it was from a new band it sounded like a classic album.

The album starts off with the rock single "Anthem Of The Lonely". This song encourages people who feel alone to stand up! This song is just the teaser for the rest of the album. The next song on the album is "The Intervention". This songs starts off with a cool piano intro and the it starts rocking! My favorite part of this song is the guitar riffs! The guitar is one of the big things to me on a rock album, this one nailed it! The next song "Get Back" is one of my favorites on the album. The lyrics talk about I love the beat as well as the "Oh's", it is a great song to sing along with. The song gives us hope when this world tries to knock you down, the lyrics in the chorus say "Get back to where you once believed, Get back, Get back, You want so bad to bury me, Get back, Get back!".

Then things slow down a little with the emotional track "Afterglow". The song deals with the sadness after a family member dies. Although this song is a little sad it is still enjoyable to listen to. The next song is appropriately named "Adrenaline". This song is probably my favorite on the album for three reasons. Number one I am a HUGE fan of Thousand Foot Krutch and this song sounds alot like TFK because Trevor McNevan (lead singer of Thousand Foot Krutch) sings on this song. Number two this song not just sounds great it has a message that challenges listeners to chase their dreams. Number three this song has an energetic and fun sound that would be a blast in concert!

The next song "Believe Your Eyes" is slightly slower than the previous song but it still rocks out. The next song "Our Darkest Day" has the kind of screaming I like, some screaming but mostly singing! Haha This song reminds me a little of RED because of the sound and the screaming. The next song on the album is "Memo". This song is quite a bit lighter than the previous song, with higher vocals and more of a rock sound. I really appreciate the changes in sound on this album, you can't get bored! This song talks again about not giving up on your dreams. The next song "Write It Down" starts off with some techno effects, but it is not a techno song, it is ROCK!!! This song is another one of my favorite songs from "World We View".

The next song on the album is "The Void". I really like build up to the chorus with the beat and "Oh's", but I was almost expecting the start of the chorus to be more of a BANG!!! The last song on the album is an Acoustic song called "My Friend". I really liked the change from the hard rock to acoustic and I think it was a really good way to end the album. It reminds me of how at a concert the band will be done playing and the crowd will start chanting "One More Song!!!". This would be a great "One More Song"!

This album is exactly what I was looking for! I was hoping it would be a harder rock album, and it is but its not just that it is a hopeful rock album! There wasn't one song on this album that I didn't enjoy listening to! This album is my favorite album of 2012, so far! ;) Nine Lashes is definitely a band you are going to want to keep an eye on, because they are just getting started and this album is great! I would easily give this album a 5/5 stars!

1. Anthem Of The Lonely
2. The Intervention
3. Get Back
4. Afterglow
5. Adrenaline (feat. Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Krutch)
6. Believe Your Eyes
7. Our Darkest Day (feat. Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter)
8. Memo
9. Write It Down
10. The Void
11. My Friend

New Manafest Song - "Fighter"

Manafest is releasing his new album in April, this is the title track "Fighter". I thought it was really good, let me know what you think.

Independent Artist Of The Week: Nate Marialke

This weeks Independent Artist Of The Week is Nate Marialke. I have reviewed his CD but I figured I should still post about him.

I first heard Nate at The Big Ticket Festival, he was playing on the indie band stage. I loved his music and I especially loved his message, so I bought his CD. I don't know that much about him other than he is a very talented musician from Michigan. This is what his facebook page had to say about him.

"Nate can be described as a singer/ songwriter with an edge. Nate has always enjoyed passionate and emotional music, add that to his love for the presence of God and you get a brand of infectious worship music that crosses genres and age barriers and reaches to the heart. From a young age Nate has carried a desire to experience God within the arts and began writing songs to that end. After completing 2 Rock albums as the front man in the band Core. Nate ventured into a solo career in 2006 releasing "Heaven's Hero" a live album featuring several styles of music. In his latest project "Your Kingdom Come", released in the summer of 2010 Nate teamed up with Producer Steve Hindalong (City on a Hill, The Choir, The Lost Dogs) in Nashville. In this much anticipated release Nate grows musically and lyrically venturing further into the modern rock genre while keeping the authentic worshipful edge he is known for."

I also wanted to share with you guys my favorite song by Nate Marialke "Your Name Is Higher".

Switchfoot Relaunches "Friend's Of The Foot" Fan Club For FREE!

Switchfoot announced that they are relaunching their fan club "Friends of the Foot" and it no longer costs money to be a member. Plus if you sign up you will recieve a FREE 3-song EP! Here is the official report from http://www.jesusfreakhideout.com/.

Switchfoot has just announced the relaunch of their fan club--AKA "Friends of the Foot"--as a free perks-filled elite fan club that no longer requires fans to shell out money to be a part of. To sweeten the deal, anyone who signs up will get an exclusive live 3-song EP of songs recorded at the John M. Perkins Benefit show on September 29, 2010. Visit www.switchfoot.com for details on signing up and check out some of the announced details below...

Membership Details
* Free Membership or donate to the John M. Perkins Foundation
* Meet and Greets: VIP tickets including Meet and Greet passes and early entry will be available for purchase during Tour pre-sales
* Receive exclusive updates on Switchfoot News, Tours etc.
* Free Merch ie. Stickers etc. at Switchfoot Headline shows (when available)
* Occasional digital coupons to be used towards purchases at Switchfoot online store
* Receive free download of 3 Live Switchfoot tracks recorded at John M Perkins Benefit on September 29, 2010

Attention: Existing Members from 2011
* Current members of Friends of the Foot will continue to receive ALL paid membership benefits for the remainder of the membership period
* When signed in, your store discounts will still apply
* You will continue to have access to Meet & Greet events
* You are automatically a member of the new free version of Friends of the Foot, and will be included in all new benefits

Interview With Sean Loche From Worth Dying For

I had pleasure to interview Worth Dying For's very own Sean Loche. I was also able to review Worth Dying For's new album "Live Riot". My questions are in Green and Sean's answers are in Orange.

How did God call you into this ministry?

I grew up in the church that the ministry was under. Getting older, I knew I had a call of God to reach people through the area of worship music. I wanted to show people that our God is not boring and is creative in all He does. Ps Jeremy and Christy Johnson meanwhile had the same mindset and believed in the dream I had. This brought us all together and out of that birthed the ministry of Ammunition and Worth Dying For.
 

Will you give us a couple of examples of how God has shown up in your life, when times were maybe dark or you were discouraged?

An event that currently happened in our team was with Christy Johnson. In March of 2010, our lead pastor Jeremy Johnson and his wife Christy had a miscarriage. In that time, the whole didn’t fully understand why this had happened. We encouraged to see a man and woman of God stand on the promise of Romans 8:28 which says, “And we know that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.” In a beautiful story, after trying and believing for their miracle child, Christy and Jeremy are currently expecting their first child.

Where is your favorite place you have played and why?

While we love every place that we lead worship and connect with Christ, Ammunition Conference has a special place in our hearts. We are so proud of where this conference has come and the power and presence of God that invades the room.

What would you say your main message is as a band?

As a worship team, we want each ministry, church, youth group, and person to realize that God has put a specific purpose in his or her life and/or ministry. We aren’t meant to be carbon copies of each other but rather unique, creative, individuals with a specific purpose and calling.

Now if you had to pick a favorite song from your new album what would it be?
Let’s preface this by saying each song has a very unique place and my favorite changes all of the time! Currently, I am loving the song, “Rebuild.” Having our lead pastor Jeremy Johnson give a charge to Christians around the world to rebuild their culture with the love of Christ set to music will get me pumped about seeing the lost come to know Him any day.        

Can you give an idea of what a typical day looks like for you on tour?

Summed up in one word, it’s a whirlwind. Its funny because I talk with my wife about how when we are home, life seems to move so much slower but when we are on the road, a month feels like it was just one day. As a team, we will typically spend the morning working on running the ministries of Ammunition, Worth Dying For, and now the church plant, FEARLESS. Sound check happens in early afternoon. In the evening, we make it a priority that no matter what happens in the day, we spend time praying, reading the scripture, and believing for miracles to take place that evening. We ask God to challenge our faith and to move in any way He would like. This all leads up to the worship experience. Afterwards, we also make every effort to meet the people we worshipped together with and pray for any needs that they may have.
 

Who has been the biggest influence in your life?

My wife Whitney Loche. Without her, I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing.

How would you describe God to someone who doesn't know anything about Him?

Unconditional Love. It’s sad because the modern day view of Christ from those who don’t know him is overwhelmingly that of judgment, condemnation, and, to be honest, just boring. People need to know that our God has unconditional love no matter where you have been and that serving him will be the wildest, craziest, most exciting journey you could ever choose.

 Do you have any advice for my readers on how to keep God your focus?

Accountability. Create a culture around you that loves accountability. Open up your circle to let those who are close to you call you out on scenarios and pull you closer to Him with love.
 

If you had one day where you could do anything, anywhere, what would you do?

If I could do anything….. I have always wanted the ability to fly…. That would be awesome! I would probably fly to Disneyworld and have the greatest day of my life!
       


Five Fun Facts:
1. What is your favorite movie?

Call me a kid, but I am a lover of all things Disney. Up, Toy Story, Tron, any of that takes the cake.
 

2. When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?



3. What is your least favorite food?

Fruit. I HATE all fruit…. In my life, I have only met one other person like me but any type of fruit makes me want to vomit…

4. What is the last CD you bought?

Foster The People, Torches

5. What is one thing that you must have with you while on tour?

My iPad…. That encompasses everything.A pediatrician. That obviously changed :)

Clever Signs Week 3

I am a little late on the clever sign of the week but here it is!

Rock And Worship Roadshow 2012 Concert Review

I had the the privelage to go to The Rock And Worship Roadshow as a VIP. The difference between general admission and VIP is #1 you get into the show early which means really good seats. #2 which is another part of #1 it is guaranteed that you will get in, plus you don't have to wait in line. #3 You get a free Rock And Worship Roadshow t-shirt. #4 You get a discount on The Rock And Worship Roadshow merchandise. #5 You are helping support the tour and making it possible for them to keep their prices low. Now the difference in price is $10 at the door for general admission compared to $50 for VIP.

Okay now that you all know what a VIP is, we can move on! In some states they do a talent search for the opening band that will play. Here in Michigan they did a talent search and so the first artist to play was a teenage girl from a small town in Michigan, her name was Christy Davis. She only played two songs and I didn't know either of them, but she had a really beautiful voice. It was only her and her guitar on the stage so I am sure it must have been quite nerve racking for her, but she did very well. The next band that played was a band called The Rend Collective Experiment and they are from Ireland! You gotta love an Irish accent! Anyway they only got to play a few songs which was a bummer but each song they played got better and better. Their energy was infectious and by the end of their set the whole crowd was jumping and claping. I was actually really suprised by how much I enjoyed their music. I am deffinately a fan now, although I don't know if there music would be the same with all the energy of the crowd.

The next band to play was Sidewalk Prophets. They played a lot of their more popular songs that you can hear on the radio, like "You Love Me Anyway". They also played a new song called "Live Like That", which was actually my favorite song they played! I really loved how Sidewalk Prophets didn't seem to concered with entertaining the crowd, they were more concerned with worshiping God. The next band that played was the hard core rock band Disciple. Although I couldn't understand most of the lyrics I actually really enjoyed their performance, I couldn't help but smile the whole time. The guys in Disciple were so crazy and energetic, it was nuts. My favorite part of their set was when the guitar player (I believe it was Micah) did an awesome back flip off the speakers. Also at the very end the other guitar player apparently smashed his guitar! I'm not sure how because I missed it, but he went running carrying two separate guitar parts and threw them into the audience.

The next band to play was Hawk Nelson. Their performance was bitter sweet for me because Hawk Nelson announced a couple days before the concert that Jason will be leaving the band to pursue a solo career. I have been a fan of Hawk Nelson from the beginning, I have all of their Cd's. So to know that this would most likely be the last time I would see Hawk Nelson with Jason as the lead singer was a little sad. Hawk Nelson rocked it out like they normally do and they played my all time favorite song "Bring Em Out". The next band to play was my most anticipated band on this tour, Lecrae. It was my first time seeing Lecrae live and he didn't disappoint. He put on a great hip hop show, but even more than that he made sure that everyone knew that God was the one we were here to praise. To me Lecrae put on the best show, but I was the most excited to see him in the first place!

The next band to play was Tenth Avenue North. They played a lot of their classic songs like "Healing Begins", "By Your Side" and my favorite "You Are More". Their performance was very powerful and worship focused. Part way through their set Mike (the lead singer) came down into the audience and went part way up the stairs, then he stood on a chair just singing praises to God. It was a very powerful moment with all the audience singing along. The next band to play was the headliner Mercy Me. They of course did not disappoint delivering upbeat and fun music like their song "Move" and then powerful worship with the audience all singing along.

All in all it was a great show with something for everyone. Whether you like Rock, Rap, or Worship you can find it at The Rock And Worship Roadshow. Even better than all the music was the message and although there wasn't a big hour sermon, each band shared from their heart and it made it an even more powerful experience in my opinion. So be sure to catch The Rock And Worship Roadshow in a city near you!

Hear is what some of the artists say their favorite part about being on The Rock And Worship Roadshow tour is...

 @jonsteingard from Hawk Nelson said: probably all the other amazing artists and friends that are being so loving and supportive of us right now. :)

@nathancochran from Mercy Me said: The Christ centered community that we get to be a part of with all the other bands.

@mikescheuchzer from Mercy Me said: making new friends, catching up with old friends, watching thousands worship God.

@barrygraul from Mercy Me said:  leaving knowing that the audience hears a lasting message an not just music.

@robbyshaffer from Mercy Me said: the big crowds.

Note: I didn't take these pictures at the concert, my camera wasn't working well so I got the pictures from The Rock and Worship Roadshow's Facebook and from the different band's Facebook pages.

Worth Dying For - Live Riot Review

Worth Dying For releases their first live album tomorrow (2/7/12) called "Live Riot". I have the honor of reviewing it.

The album starts off with the intro song, that sounds like a poem, "Rebuild". Then it flows into a techno rock sounding song called "Arise". This song also features very beautiful female vocals. The next song is one of my favorites on the album, "Never Look Back". This song definitely has the live feel to it, and it is just a blast to listen to. It also has a great beat that makes you want clap along with it. "Freedom is Rising" is the next song, starting off with a killer guitar and drum mix that just sounds tough. I really enjoyed listening to this song all the way through. The next song "One Love" is another upbeat fun song that you want to sing along with. The lyrics of this song I really enjoyed as well, they talk about how much God loves us, and how beyond this world there is only ONE love. I absolutely love the next song "Love Riot", it has a techno/rock sound that is a RIOT! This song also has an anthem sound to it, with all the people singing along, it is really cool. Then it moves into the next song "The World Can't Take It away" which talks about how people can't take God away from us. This song is another lively song that has really powerful female vocals.Then things slow down a bit with the next song "Risen From The Grave". This song is slower but I still enjoyed listening to it, and the vocals are very nice as well.

The next song on the album is "Closer". This song is a a very gentle song yet powerful at the same time. My favorite lyrics in the song are, "No distance can keep me from you, Forever you found me, All my sin has drown in your grace, All of my past has been erased". The next song "All I Want", is another lovely song with female vocals. I love hearing the crowd sing along in this song it makes the song even more powerful. The next song "Higher" is about how great and powerful Jesus is. My favorite lines are "The nails couldn't keep you down, the Grave couldn't keep you in, Hell couldn't keep you out", because it gives you a perspective on just how powerful Jesus is. The next song "Send Your Glory Down" has more of an upbeat sound and I love the drums!!! The next song on the album is "Power Of Your Love" and this song talks about how much God loves us. My favorite lines in this song are "The power of your love saved me, Your love is all I need". The next song "Spirit Of God" is another really nice worship song. The next song "Light A Fire" is very cool live, because the audience sings part of it. The next song "Taking Back" has been stuck in my head for the last couple of days! I love the lyrics, "Through your victory, I can finally see, I'm taking back what the enemy has stolen from me, The battle has been won, Death was overcome". The next song "Savior" ends the album with a bang! I love the how the energy builds up at the beginning of the song.

This album reminded me a lot Hillsong, which I thought was cool. I really enjoyed the variety of music in this album. Although towards the end the songs started blurring together. I am sure alot of that is because of it being a live album and they play the songs in a certain way so that is how they put them on the album. All in all I really enjoyed listening to the album and not just the music but the lyrics as well. I would give this album a 4/5 stars. 

Worth Dying For is on Facebook, so make sure you check out their page!

Hawk Nelson Frontman Jason Dunn Departing For Solo Project

Hawk Nelson announced yesterday that Jason Dunn (the lead singer) will be leaving the band. I honestly did not see this coming, but I wish him the best.

Here is the official press release:

"(NASHVILLE, Tennessee) -- After nearly a decade with Christian rock band Hawk Nelson, frontman and founding member Jason Dunn will depart the GRAMMY® and Dove Award nominated group on May 15th. Dunn plans to release his first solo project under the name Lights Go Down later this year.
Dunn spent the last few months recording at Profile Studios in Vancouver, B.C., with RIAA Gold-accredited record producer Steve Kravac (Blink 182, MxPx, Less Than Jake). Tentatively titled Abandon Progress, information about the album’s release date and label and distribution plans are forthcoming.
Hailing from Ontario, Canada, Hawk Nelson signed to Tooth and Nail Records in 2004, and to date have recorded 5 full-length albums selling in excess of 600,000 units. A compilation album, The Songs You’ve Already Heard: Best of Hawk Nelson, is scheduled for release on March 27, 2012.
"I will miss playing music on stage with my friends, but really looking forward to the future with Lights Go Down,” says Dunn. “I wish Hawk Nelson the very best with their future endeavors."



Here is Hawk Nelson's Facebook post:

"We want to officially announce that Jason Dunn will be leaving Hawk Nelson at the beginning of May to pursue his solo career.

"For 10 years we have climbed this mountain together. Hawk Nelson has gone through thick and thin, challenges and blessings. Jason is a brother, and we will miss everything he brings to the band. We know that God has a plan for him as well as for the future of Hawk Nelson. We're excited to share about the future of Hawk Nelson very soon, and we constantly give God all the praise and glory." Daniel Biro, Jonathan Steingard, and Justin Benner"