Jahi McMath Fund

It kind of blows me away that this lady isn't getting more support. If you are unaware of this story, then you should read up on it. Basically this lady took her daughter in for a fairly routine surgery and it went bad. Her kid has been declared brain dead and the hospital wants to pull the plug on Monday. Her mom feels like the girl needs more time for a miracle. She said that she believes she isn't brain dead. I know if I were in this position, I would want a miracle too, or at least have people support me until I had peace about it. She is looking for some financial help in order to get her daughter out of the current hospital and into another facility where they will give her more time. If you would care to help out, here is the link.

Warren Nicholson

Classical guitar ace Warren Nicholson just released a new album titled, "Latin American Guitar Favourites", which features works by Heitor Villa-Lobos and Agustin Barrios Mangore. Warren has been playing guitar a long time and is very skilled at it. If you're into instrumental guitar, you're in for a treat.

Website


Listen

Soul Junk - 1961

Right now i'm diggin' on a new album called 1961 by Soul Junk. The music is not at all normal, garden-variety, or whatever you want to call it... It's different. It somehow engages your mind in a different way and challenges you to be a little weird. It's like a mishmash of art-rock, grunge, indie, 60's underground and psychedelic. What I really dig is the continuous lyrical use of Bible scripture. Glen (singer) has basically said in an interview that he likes to just be led by the Holy Spirit and this is just what happens. They have put out numerous albums and EP's over the years (1993-present). If you're down for something different over the holidays, then feast on this most epic band.

Sacred - Ashes To Ascension

Ok, I know some of my readers are going to be really excited about this news. I have finally found a Christian band that sounds like Tool. Over the years, I have noticed that a lot of Christians trying to break away from Tool, are looking for their replacement. Sacred isn't, but they come closer than any other band I have heard.

LINK

Brian Sumner - Suicide

This is a video that I wanted to share of Brian Sumner (pro skateboarder) talking about suicide.

LINK

The Stuff of Legends

William Wallace. Maximus Decimus Meridius. King Leonidas. Movie legends.

Muhammad Ali. Babe Ruth. Bill Russell. Sports legends.

Michael Jackson. The Beatles. Bob Marley. Music legends.

What do all of these legends have in common? Their accomplishments seem larger than life. At times in their stories, each one of them seemed invincible. And their stories were so inspiring that men just kept retelling them over and over, eventually turning the details into folklore, stories that continue to live long after their time is past.

Samson had a moment like that, too, which we’ll read about today. A moment he shared with 1,000 other men.

How does Samson do it? There’s no question that it was God’s strength: “The Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon him.” All credit, all glory, belongs to God and God alone. Jesus once said that with God, nothing is impossible. God gets done the things that he wants done.

Unfortunately, another thing you’ll see today (in Judges 15:16) is that Samson takes credit for God’s power. He was arrogant. Arrogance is always born out of our insecurities. When we don’t know who we are in Christ, most of us look to pride to try to fill that void—just like Samson did.

Many of us try to define ourselves by our accomplishments, to find our worth in what we’ve done, instead of in the One we belong to. We want to rely on our achievements, our victories, our trophies, our wins to define us, instead of acknowledging God as the source of all good things in our lives. And like Samson, we want to get the credit. We want to be known as “a winner,” “a beast,” “a leader,” “a man’s man,” “somebody.”

Pride can be intoxicating. But the hangover is hell. We’re human; we do have (many) limitations, and we need to rely on God. If you lose sight of your identity and try to convince yourself that you’re a legend, you’ll miss the true legend in your life: that the God who made the universe calls you his son.
What’s defining you? Remember, you only get this one life. Whose name are you trying to make great?

(taken from the YouVersion Fight Devotional)

My Epic - Curse

So My Epic just released a new track called Curse off their upcoming album Behold that's set to release in December. Seems to me like these guys are progressing musically into deeper artistic territories which is nice to hear. For those of you that are new to My Epic, their sound is a mesh between a falling feather and a soaring rocket. Kind of leaves me with a feeling of wanting to do something greater with my short life... uneasy and unsatisfied, yet full.

This Divided World

I am being brutally pummeled right now by a band called This Divided World. No actually, I am really enjoying them. They have a nice touch with lack of redundancy, lightning quick drums, sludgy guitars and lower-pitched growls. If you're into getting hammered musically, then this is it.

Music

Enduring House

I recently checked back on an East Texas band that I discovered over a year ago and I was pleasantly surprised to see how they're progressing musically. Their newest material is up on Bandcamp, and though they aren't the final "professional" recordings, they're still really good. Enduring House has a mixture of Southern rock, Post-grunge and Classic Metal. The guitar work as far as writing is definitely not boring and has some creativity. The singer has decent range and a voice personality that you don't hear often. Definitely, give this band a try. I look forward to their new, finished material.


Music Page

The Final Quest

Right now, I am reading a book called The Final Quest by Rick Joyner. I stumbled onto it actually, and had no idea what it was about. I really don't recommend books that often because I am unsure as to whether Christ would want me to or not. This book however is different. From the start, I have been locked onto it, absorbing what I believe to be incredible revelations. From what I understand, Rick derived all the content in the book from a dream then visions and prophetic experiences. It will take you on a serious ride and if you are open to it, can change your life. Numerous times today while reading, I have felt the Holy Spirit all over my face strongly. Maybe it's because I am so focused and enthralled by the story, and it is true... or maybe my faith is increasing greatly. I am not sure. All I know is, it is changing me for the better. If you're interested in reading it, here is a link to a free online copy.

BOOK

Loud Bird - Tree

I just randomly picked a band on Noisetrade the other day called Loud Bird. After giving it a listen (the day was perfect for their sound - cloudy and overcast), I was thrilled to find something different that hearkens back to the 90's era where bands didn't really care how much recognition they got or how many records they sold. Their sound is hard to pin down because it is layered and noisy but beautiful at the same time. The vocals aren't the most dominant part. They just kind of hover in the background. The music is very explorative and I really like the drum beats and overlayed sounds. All in all, this is most definitely a band that people need to know about if you're into sonic-alternative, and one that I highly recommend. Nice find.

Artist Page

Scott Stapp - Slow Suicide - Proof of Life

Scott Stapp just released a new song called Slow Suicide for his upcoming album "Proof of Life" that's due to hit on November 11 this year. You've probably heard, Scott has made serious changes in his life and has even written a book about it called Sinner's Creed. By the sound of this song, his music is a little different now (my son thinks it's better than new Creed), and has a more straight up hard rock feel. I am glad that he didn't go in a more mellow direction. Part of what I liked about him in the early Creed years was how he brought the house down vocally, building on the choruses. It's good to have him back in an even better way. I'm excited to hear the rest of the album.

Website

Kevin Hayes

Kevin is a singer songwriter based out of the Chicago, Illinois area. A song passed through my desk that he just composed, and I must say, it is refreshing. Kevin is a dynamic soul singer teamed up with highly talented acoustic guitarist Matt Kupcso. They just released a new song called Never Felt This Kind of Love and are set to release an EP soon titled Pure. Their sound is very signature and not like something you would hear too often, if at all. It has a very bluesy, alternative-acoustic sound with soul. The lyrics are very thoughtful and sung beautifully. You can purchase their song on Itunes and CD Baby. Be on the lookout for this EP. I am sure it will be nice.

Artist Page

Mouth of the South - Transparency

Ok, I don't feature a band on my blog very often unless they really get my attention. 2 or 3 years back I found out about Mouth of the South when they were a little band. I checked them out, found them worthy, and put them on my metal post with all the other bands. But lately, I have noticed a lot of buzz about this band. As with most of the tiny, underground bands I find, I figured they would make an EP and fold after about a year or so. But not these guys. After scoping two videos for their songs Riddance and Uprooted, I was blown away. These guys have definitely not only mastered their craft, but have brought a new sound the metal market. Finally, something truly heavy with groove. I hope this is an indicator of the direction metal is taking now, because this is good! Here is one of the songs that I mentioned. I think you'll agree too.

Music Page

Photo credit goes to:  Prison Mike

Deeper Well

There is some really nice music ministry brewing on the West Coast at Door of Hope. Door of Hope is a Portland, Oregon based church pastored by Josh White (formerly of Telecast, now with The Followers and Pilgrim). I also believe this is where Josh Garrels (my favorite musician) gathers. Deeper Well is the name given to their music ministry where those that desire to express their musical giftings get to. Artists like La Liberte, Wesley Randolph Eader, Holly Ann and others make up this group of musical troubadours. I recently received an email for a video of a song called Empty Me Out, sung by Liz Vice. She also sings with The Followers, and let me tell you, she's got that soul. Here are a couple of videos from the Deeper Well Collective. Enjoy!

P-Munnay

I just recently found out about an up and coming hip hop artist called P-Munnay. The thing that intrigues me about him is that he seems very ministry-oriented. He has a new album called Changed (The Gates) due to release in early September. On his website, he has a free track available off the album as well as a personalized promo video and music video. If Hip Hop is your thing, then you should check out P-Munnay.

Website

My Cat Puddinhead - Interview

An interview with Derek Close, bassist for the band My Cat Puddinhead.

Derek Close (Pictured Above)

So what years were you officially active as a band and where did you guys form?

• I think the total run was '93 to '96. Maybe '97? The two Mikes and Tony started the project and I'm not sure how they all got together. They had a bass player but things didn't work out. I had done some casual jamming with Mike Young a year or so before and he called me up and asked if I could fill in for an upcoming gig. During this time, the band I was playing with fell apart so I joined on as Puddinhead's bassist. I came in late '93 and was with them until June '94.

Who all was in the band?

• Mike Blake: Vocals, Lead/Rhythm Guitar
• Mike Young: Drums
• Tony Benedetti: Lead/Rhythm Guitar
• Derek Close: Bass (until June '94)
• Jeremy Christopherson: Bass (June/July '94 on)

Do you still keep in touch? And if so, what is everyone doing now?

• I've lost touch with the guys over the years. I haven't heard what Mike Young and Tony are up to these days. Mike Blake went on to play with Grammatrain for a bit then he and Paul Roraback joined forces and formed Gideon's Press which then became The Illustrated Band. I'm not sure what he's doing now but I'd be willing to bet it involves music.

So did you guys put out one album or do you have other recordings?

• There are 2 Puddinhead recordings. The Self-Titled cassette and the CD that I've heard referred to as For Sale by Owner.

Where did you record it?

• The first album was recorded at Creation Studios in Everett, WA. I was no longer in the band for the 2^nd release but I do have a copy of it. It was recorded at Audio Genesis Studios.

You guys have a really interesting sound. Kind of hard to pin down. It seems like it combines elements of many of the grunge sounds of the 90's. Did one person do the writing or was it more collaborative?

• Mike Blake was the principal writer. He'd come in with a song, or idea and we'd jam on it until it was complete. Each member would play along constructing our parts, throw in ideas for nuance or punch or the like. It worked for us and usually went really smooth.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

My personal favorite is Finger. Did you guys have a song off the album that you liked to play most?

• Wow. That's a tough question. I don't know about the other guys, but I really enjoyed most of the songs we played. I think it would be safe to say that we enjoyed the music we played and we enjoyed playing together.

What did most people seem to enjoy hearing live?

• Another tough question. I don't recall any specific song that people seemed to like most live or were drawn to. The feedback we did get was positive. At this time we were a young, unheard of band swimming in a sea of unknowns. So most shows we played were for people hearing us for the first time.

What was your favorite?

• If I had to pick one it would either be Sick or Kinda-Bent.

Describe a My Cat Puddinhead show for us who never got to see you play live?

• We played a lot of small clubs in Seattle so most shows where just us playing under whatever houselights the venue had. It would be pretty typical, four guys rocking with some fog or smoke with a little banter between songs. We didn't have any signature moves or choreographed “dance” steps or the like. We got up, played our songs then usually watched the next band or two.

I know Sub Pop was one of the big labels around that time. Were you ever approached by any labels?

• Non that I know of. Again, we were just getting our feet wet and starting to build a fan base. I didn't hear of any labels approaching them after I had departed.

Did you ever share the stage with some of the grunge icons of the past?

• Unfortunately not. We did do a couple of shows with Soulfood '76. They were really good and lasted longer than Puddinhead did.

What bands did you guys play with?

• I can't remember the names as most of them were unknowns also. Plus it's only been about 20 years. Besides Soulfood '76, there was Bucket, one called Mama, and another called Clutch or some kind of car part. I remember Chump, too.

What was it like being a part of that scene back in the day? I mean you were so close to where it all happened.

• The music scene was pretty nuts in Seattle. You had Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana who were hometown heroes and all eyes were on Seattle. Everybody was hoping to be discovered so vying for attention was pretty difficult. It was hard to even get a good slot to play in. We did a lot of late night shows that were on the mid-week schedule. And a lot of those were in between 3 or 4 other bands that were scheduled for that night.
  
  
  
  
  

Do you ever think that if you stuck it out for another album or two you might have been a part of that success?

• I've always thought that Puddinhead had a real shot of being able to break through. Even after I left the band I expected them to go further than they did. As I mentioned before, they did release a 2^nd album that got fair reviews and a good reception from the established fan base. I picked up a copy, too. I think if they gave it more time they could have gone further.

How important was faith in Jesus to My Cat Puddinhead?

• Extremely! We were all believers, attended the same church and played on the Worship Team. As any believer knows, our walk with Christ is an every day, every moment thing. He is a part of you and not something you can pick up or set down at leisure. God is nn my mind the majority of the time.

Do you have any final words you would like to say to your readers?

• Thanks for your interest in My Cat Puddinhead. Finding out that people are still listening to and/or just discovering something you had a hand in is pretty cool. It was fun taking a walk down Memory Lane!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Music Page
   

Interviewer:  Cory Enderby

Interview done on July 30,2013

John Elefante

I'm stoked to announce today that I discovered a really nice musician, and his name is John Elefante. Some of you are asking, "Where have you been man?" The truth is, I've heard of Mastodon, and I know about Kerry Livgren, but to my knowledge, have never really checked out John until seeing this groovy album cover and a 5 star review from Bill Roxx. So hear it is, and believe me, if you dig progressive tunes that have a true "70's quality feel", then you will really dig on this. Check out this video recording to his 11 minute track titled "This is how the story goes". I'm impressed to the max, how about you?


Website

Rance Allen

One of the great soul artists out there that I wanted to call attention to is Rance Allen. For as enjoyable and quality as he is, he is relatively unknown, at least to me. His Stax profile album is one to check out, and is ultimately the one that got me into him. He has great vocal range that goes well with the quality instrumentation going down on his record. He is also a pastor these days based out of Toledo. Rance Allen. There it is... Check him out!

A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out.

A subjective person came along and said, "I feel for you down there."

An objective person walked by and said, "It’s logical that someone would fall down there."

A Pharisee said, "Only bad people fall into pits."

A mathematician calculated how deep the pit was.

A news reporter wanted the exclusive story on the pit.

An IRS agent asked if he was paying taxes on the pit.

A self-pitying person said, "You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit."

A fire-and-brimstone preacher said, "You deserve your pit."

A Christian Scientist observed, "The pit is just in your mind."

A psychologist noted, "Your mother and father are to blame for your being in that pit."

A self-esteem therapist said, "Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit."

An optimist said, "Things could be worse."

A pessimist claimed, "Things couldn’t be worse."

"Jesus, seeing the man, took him by the hand and lifted him out of the pit." 

Shawn Weed Hell Testimony

A while back I came across this absolutely riveting testimony from Shawn Weed where he describes dying, going to hell and coming back. Since I watched it, I have repeatedly thought about it. It has changed my life. See for yourself, and let me know what you think.

Underground Christian Bands

Soon, with the help of my brother Chris and his web design company eegraphic.com, we will be launching a totally new site called Underground Christian Bands. I will keep you posted as this becomes more tangible. In the meantime, enjoy something from Josh Garrels.

Future of Forestry - Slow Your Breath Down

A video that I'm really digging right now is Future of Forestry's Slow Your Breath Down. It's one thing to read the album credits and hear all the instrumentation going down on the cd, but it's entirely a totally different feel to see it all in action. I mean, it's flat out amazing what these guys (and girl) are doing musically with what God's given them. Amazing. Here it is...

Jonathan Thomas - Rambler's Reflections

Jonathan is an artist that I want to feature not only for his music, but I also discovered that he's a blogger and has some of the most interesting well-thought out content that i've read in a while. I mean, it stands out... He writes his thoughts out in a way that I personally, can not only relate well with, but understand. It leaves me walking away with an elevated perspective about my walk with Jesus. Not too many people do that for me these days. Hopefully, you'll feel the same.

His Blog

Bandpage

The Walking Tree - We Are Instruments

                                   All I have to say is...
Finally a band that is new, fresh, innovative, dreamy, explosive, intoxicatingly delicious and just downright gnarly... The Walking Tree just released a new album titled We Are Instruments, and it is just really nice. After getting home after a long day's work, I cranked up their song We Are Free. All I can say is I'm feeling pretty good now. This is a band that I just discovered about a month ago, and when I did, I downloaded their debut EP Glorious and really liked it. But now, they just released We Are Instruments and I feel like I have been given an early birthday present. Thanks guys! I don't know what you're doing different, but it's working.

Bandpage

Holiness > Worldliness

What does it mean when God tells us to be Holy, and that without Holiness no one will see Him? That's a good question and one I think is one of the most important that we can talk about in the last days. If you Google the definition of Holy or Holiness, several sources have it as being,

"Sacred, pure, saintly, blessed, godliness, clean, sanctity..."

These are all possibly good definitions, but they don't really explain anything.

What I think God means is that we should do something on our part as an expression of our faith in Jesus. First off, let me say that we have nothing in us that is Holy outside of Jesus Christ. Nothing. The only reason we have anything good in us at all is because of Jesus. But, what we can do is offer our lives as a living sacrifice, undefiled and pure to Jesus. But, how do we bring purity to Jesus. Some ways that I have found are successful in doing this is full surrender. Surrendering your will, mind, heart, emotions, everything to Jesus to bring Him glory. Basically, being "All In". Another way is not being a "lover" of the world. The Bible tells us that when we love the world, we don't love God. God and His ways are the opposite of the world's. The world and it's desires are passing away, but those that do the will of God will live forever. So, I think that taking a personal inventory of worldliness in our own lives, and then making changes is another essential element in remaining pure and undefiled. So many of the movies that come out these days are actually defiling you and you don't even realize it. Some movies encourage us to live a loose lifestyle, while scary movies invoke the spirit of fear upon us (something demons feed on). I own a TV, but I don't really watch it ever. It just sits there unplugged. I know that by bringing that to life with cable and movies will keep me distracted from the work God has for me. I actually believe that one of the major things satan and his kingdom use against people in these last days is distraction. It seems like if he can get us distracted enough away from the things of God, then we will always be lukewarm and never realize our full potential, and never really get on fire for Jesus. You might remember in Revelation, where God hates lukewarmness enough to vomit people like that out of His mouth. That's not a good position for a believer to be in at the judgement throne. Another thing is music, which is ultimately why I ever even started this blog in the first place. I have a personal testimony about something I went through as a musician years ago that forever changed my views about music. To make it really short, I relapsed on drugs and when I started playing my guitar, I felt something enter inside of me and I began to play a song that I knew and listened to on cd many times, but never learned. The music just came to me and my fingers went to the right positions on the guitar neck. After that, I realized that demons do help people play and write music. Another story I have is one where I had been sober for a little while, and the only thing I changed was my music. I went from Christian music, to playing Alice in Chains unplugged. It wasn't long before I was using drugs again. Again, what I changed was music. Satan and his kingdom use music to entice people into a worldly lifestyle. Music is powerful, and something that should only be used for God's complete glory. We should get absolutely none of it. It all belongs to Jesus. I am sure there are many other ways to be holy and bring purity to Jesus that I haven't listed. What I am trying to do is engage people and find more ways that we can be set apart and holy, so if you have any suggestions, please comment. Thanks!

5to Angel - Review

5to Angel means The 5th Angel in English. 5to Angel is a band out of Lares, Peurto Rico (hometown of Jose Feliciano). I don't remember how I discovered them but somehow we arranged it to where they sent me a CD and here it is, a review. The album they sent me is more of a demo EP with 6 songs on it titled:

El Final - End
Acerate -  Come Quickly
Aqui Decimos Adios - Here We Say Goodbye
4 Anos - 4 Years
Culpables de Homicidio  - Guilty Of Manslaughter
Sin Ti  - Without You

My personal favorite is Sin Ti which I must have played the intro (first 20 seconds) numerous times. It's good and embodies the old-school metal that I grew up on. However, the whole album isn't metal. It is a mixture of alternative hard rock with pop punk elements. Comparative to Hawk Nelson at times, but with more of a heavy edge. All the lyrics are in Spanish, and though I can't understand any of it, I can understand the feelings and emotions that the singer is trying to convey. It's really not a bad start for a band. For Spanish audiences, that enjoy fun and energetic rock, 5to Angel will bring it. Culpables de homicido is a song that invokes feelings of deep thought and contemplation and is their slowest one on the album. 4 anos is another song that is one of my favorites on the album. It has a nice arrangement and solid instrumentation. Aqui Decimos Adios is one of the more energetic and rocking songs on the album. I really like the guitars on it and the chorus. I bet it goes over well live with the audience. Acercate is another one that is very energetic and rocking. The guitar player has put together some really nice licks on this one. El Final is the first song on the album and delivers a nice tone to the rest of the album. The overall pace of the album and the best way to describe this band is energetic. Overall, 5to Angel is a solid band and should they continue to make music, they could easily be one of the most excellent alternative hard rock/ metal bands for the Spanish market.

For booking or contact info:

787-217-6607

939-260-0676

humber_5toangel@yahoo.com

Band Pages:

facebook.com/5toangel

youtube.com/5toangelofficialpage

Here is a link to their first album:
FIRST ALBUM LINK

Reviewer:  Cory Enderby

SPANISH VERSION:

5to Ángel significa El quinto ángel en Inglés. 5to Angel es una banda de Lares, Peurto Rico (ciudad natal de José Feliciano). No recuerdo cómo los descubrí, pero de alguna manera nos organizó para que me enviaron un CD y aquí está, una revisión. El álbum me enviaron más de un EP demo con 6 canciones en él tituló: 

El Final  
Acercate  
Aqui Decimos Adios
4 Anos  
Culpables de Homicidio 
Sin Ti

Mi favorito personal es Sin Ti que debo haber jugado el clip Introducción (primeros 20 segundos) varias veces. Es bueno y encarna el metal de la vieja escuela que yo crecí. Sin embargo, todo el álbum no es de metal. Es una mezcla de hard rock alternativo con elementos de pop punk. Comparativa de Hawk Nelson a veces, pero con más de un borde grueso. Todas las letras son en español, y aunque yo no entiendo nada de eso, no puedo entender los sentimientos y emociones que la cantante está tratando de transmitir. En realidad no es un mal comienzo para una banda. Para el público español, que disfrutan de la diversión y enérgico rock, 5to Ángel lo traerá. Culpables de homicido es una canción que invoca sentimientos de profunda reflexión y contemplación, y es la opción más lenta en el álbum. 4 anos es otra canción que es una de mis favoritas en el álbum. Tiene un bonito arreglo e instrumentación sólida. Decimos Aqui Adios es una de las canciones más enérgicas y balanceo en el álbum. Me gusta mucho las guitarras y los coros. Apuesto a que va más bien en directo con el público. Acercate es otro que es muy enérgico y balanceo. El guitarrista ha reunido algunos licks muy agradable en este caso. El final es la primera canción del disco y ofrece un buen tono para el resto del álbum. El ritmo general del álbum y la mejor manera de describir esta banda es enérgico. En general, 5to Ángel es una banda sólida y que debe continuar haciendo música, podrían ser fácilmente uno de los más excelentes bandas de rock / metal duro alternativas para el mercado español. 

Para reservas o información de contacto:

787-217-6607 
939-260-0676 

humber_5toangel@yahoo.com

Páginas de banda: 

facebook.com/5toangel 

youtube.com/5toangelofficialpage

Aquí hay un enlace a su primer álbum:
Primer eslabón ALBUM

Evaluador: Cory Enderby

After The Well - Glory Resound

Until recently, I am not sure that I have ever heard of After The Well, but after listening to their music on Facebook, I think they're a really solid worship band with a fresh sound. Founded in 2008, they have played for thousands at youth conferences, camps and all across America. Their sound can be compared to Lifehouse and David Crowder Band, but with enough originality to be different. Some things on this album that really stick out for me are how well the songs are written, produced and recorded as well as other high points like the vocals which are edgy, but very clean as well as the guitars and keys that somehow flow and intertwine with each other making musical bliss. This makes for a very solid sound and I really think these guys make the kind of music that will be heard on the radio. My favorite songs are Open Heaven, I Refuse and Not Alone. As a matter of fact, most of the day yesterday their song Not Alone was going through my head. I'm really excited to see what this band continues to do. They certainly have the potential to have a career like Mercy Me or David Crowder. Scope their album. I am sure you'll agree!

Band Page

Shane and Shane - Bring Your Nothing

I just got turned onto a band of two men called Shane and Shane. They're an interesting group because they have a slightly edgier vibe going on with their worship sound. I really dig it. Shane and Shane just released their 8th studio album "Bring Your Nothing" and it sounds pretty good so far. If you're into a really nice acoustic worship sound, then this a band that you should know about!

Band Page

The Burial - Wretched Restless Forms

I know I'm almost a week late on this, but I noticed that The Burial just released a new lyric video from their upcoming album "In The Taking Of Flesh" that's due out on July 9th. The Burial always stood out (even since their days on Sancrosanct) as a flat out metal band. I was really happy when they got signed to Facedown Records because I knew they were headed in the direction of more albums. The new song is called "Wretched Restless Forms" and here is the video.

Band Page

Tour Schedule

w/ Becoming the Archetype

May 20 - Albuquerque, NM @ Gasworks
May 21 - Mesa, AZ @ The Underground
May 22 - Canoga Park, CA @ Cobalt Cafe
May 24 - Seattle, WA @ Studio 7
May 25 - Tacoma, WA @ Louie G's Live Music
May 26 - Boise, ID @ The Venue
May 27 - Denver, CO
May 29 - Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall
May 30 - Fort Worth, TX @ Tomcats West
May 31 - Lafayette, LA
Jun 1 - Pensacola, FL @ The Handlebar
Jun 2 - Tampa, FL @ Epic Problem

w/ Hope for the Dying

Jun 16 - Cape Girardeau, MO @ 4th Expo
Jun 17 - Fort Wayne, IN @ New Republic Skatepark
Jun 18 - Newport, KY @ Thompson House
Jun 19 - Terre Haute, IN @ The Venue
Jun 20 - Kokomo, IN @ Centerstage Bar
Jun 21 - Douglasville, GA @ 7 Venue w/ Becoming the Archetype
Jun 22 - Cleveland, TN @ The Warehouse w/ Becoming the Archetype
Jun 24 - Fayetteville, NC @ The Drunk Horse Pub
Jun 25 - Linthicum, MD @ Linthicum United Methodist
Jun 26 - Wilmington, DE @ The Harmony Grange
Jun 27 - Trenton, NJ @ Championship Bar and Grill

Jul 19 - Wilmar, MN @ Sonshine Fest

The Ultimate Indie Bundle

I've been looking through the Indie Bible the last several weeks and I am realizing that this is perhaps one of the most valuable resources a serious musician can have on hand. You may even remember the very first Indie Bible that came out years ago in bookstores across the US. I remember secretly wanting one, because deep down, I wanted to play music for a living and I knew that this book could help me do that. Well now, 14 editions later, The Indie Bible is still doing the same thing, as it evolves with our ever-changing music industry, only now they have what is called The Indie Bundle. I was even surprised to find my blog in it, as well as tons of listings that I had no idea even existed. Whoever runs their research department must not get much sleep. The Indie Bundle is essentially the Indie Bible E-Book, The Indie Bible Online and The Indie Venue Bible.  So, exactly what is The Indie Bundle?

In The Indie Bible, you will find resources like:

• 2500 magazines and music blogs that will review your music
• 3100 radio stations that welcome independent music
• 1800 labels and distributors that will help you to sell your music
• 1000 promotion, marketing, management, PR and publicity services
• 400 sites where you can upload your band's MP3s or videos
• 190 articles from industry pros that will help you understand the music business better in areas of marketing, contracts, touring, social media, getting airplay, copyright law, how to approach radio hosts and music editors and much more...

• And these numbers are constantly changing (increasing) as they discover new resources.

• The Indie Bible Online has the same benefits the Indie Bible does, but you can export the data into your own database. It also delivers user-friendly search options as well as hundreds of additional listings, that are updated daily. I also found it to be much faster than the E-Book because it allowed me to specifically find what I wanted using drop down menus.

In The Venue Bible, you will find:

• 7 venue directories that have 32,000 live music venues (churches, colleges, coffee shops, theaters, etc.)... as well as 3,500 booking agents in the US and Canada that cover just about all genres. This allows you to plan your tour locally, regionally or nationally. The Indie Venue Bible is in E-Book (Adobe .pdf) format and is updated daily that way you don't waste any time. 

I have personally gone through much of The Indie Bundle and I can tell you that you won't see it all in one sitting. I mean, there is so much to go through. These guys have put together a classic! And so, I am promoting this as a serious resource for serious musicians. If you want to have all these things that I've written about, then you should look into signing up for the free trial and see for yourself. And right now, they are offering all of it for $59.95, when it is usually $340 if all the directories are bought separately. Here is a link on how to get started.

ULTIMATE INDIE BUNDLE PAGE

Tim Lambesis - Murder For Hire

Tim Lambesis used to be a pretty cool dude in one of the best Christian metal bands around, As I Lay Dying. What happened? If you haven't already seen it plastered all over the news outlets lately, on Tuesday, Tim was arrested for plotting to have his wife murdered. A friend of mine who loved As I Lay Dying called me tonight with the news, and honestly, it was hard to believe, but not so hard to understand when you see the direction that Tim was going in his life. As I Lay Dying was one of my favorite bands and the reason that I ever got into today's modern screamo-type metal. I grew up with metal where they actually tried to be understood clearly, and so it was really hard for me to stomach the new metal, but somehow As I Lay Dying broke me in. Over time, I found An Ocean Between Us to be a perfect record, and ultimately led me to buy most of their early catalog. But lets go back to the purpose of this post. Why would a man that apparently gave his heart to Christ turn into a murderer that wanted to end his wife's life?
What caused it?

I think it was a slow, subtle fade.

I remember when their record The Powerless Rise came out. I did what I usually always do with a CD and went to the credits. I wanted to see who they'd thanked and various other information. I saw them thanking the Lord nowhere in there. I tried to rationalize in my mind thinking that well, some people don't need to publicly proclaim thanks to the Lord... Maybe they just did it silently. But, somewhere deep inside, I knew that was wrong and I knew that they were fading. I didn't listen to that album anymore. I said, maybe I'll catch the next one. You see, the whole idea for me, is to not let myself be a part of that potential fade.... If they made a record while fading, then I sure don't want any of that on me.

So, that is where I slowly starting separating myself from them, but I hoped they would get better. But then later on, the worst happened. I saw that they had covered Slayer on their 10th anniversary tribute album Decas. Now, I knew Slayer pretty good, having grown up in the 80's and 90's in metal. They were one of my favorite bands. But, that was a different time for me. A time, when I ignorantly followed satan and didn't know the Lord. To me, Slayer permeated evil. They sang about death, murder, hell and satan. In fact, listening to their music as kids, made us want to do evil. If you don't know about Slayer, just Google their album covers, but don't listen to their music. You'll get the picture just off the album covers alone. So, when I saw that AILD had gone that far, I went ahead and asked Tim Lambesis via Twitter why he would cover Slayer. His answer was strange. He said, "Some of their lyrics I don't agree with, but on this song (War Ensemble) I didn't mind."

So, today I am surprised, saddened and more aware than ever about the power of music. It's no secret that satan was a musician and still is. He uses it because it's a universal language. And it's not just metal. I heard one member of the satanic church (it might have even been Anton LaVey, the founder) say that Frank Sinatra's song "My Way" was one of the most satanic songs of the century. My stepfather Kenny quoted it better than anyone I have ever heard when he said that,

     "Words and thoughts are seeds. Combined with music, they're a powerful force. They may seem very small and insignificant, but can grow into a great influence in our hearts and lives and may possibly govern our future actions as their influence grows."

My purpose in writing this is to encourage my readers to understand the power of music and be careful with what music you listen to and allow to influence your thinking. After all, this is why I started this blog so many years ago. I am not saying that listening to Slayer is the SOLE cause of his actions, but what I am saying is that musicians at that level, or any level, need to set up boundaries, set up accountability partners and most of all, stay so close to Jesus that a piece of paper couldn't fit in between you both. If Jesus asks you to walk away from music, then like David Morrisson (For Today) did, do it. All satan needs is a slight crack to crawl in through, and then once he is in, will wreak total hell in your life. I once heard that some peoples lives are for warnings and some are for examples. Let your life be an example, but learn from those that are warnings. God Bless. Peace.

Hear 2 Heal

This morning I was going through my list of reviews and I finally got to Eliot Sloan's interactive performing arts project called "Hear 2 Heal". You may remember Eliot from being the founder and lead singer of the platinum-selling band, "Blessid Union Of Souls". Well, Hear 2 Heal involves him going into schools and helping the students to create their own performing arts adventure to the music of his band, and then playing that experience out on their school stage to friends and family. Quoting from his website,

"This will give the students an opportunity to be heard and address their issues through the music of Blessid Union and their media of choice (choir/band/theater/AV/dance...), and then heal through the process of expression and opening lines of communication."



I honestly felt moved when I learned about what he was doing. He seems like a caring person that really does want to help kids, and we all know that kids really need good mentors early in their lives, especially during their high school years. I encourage you to get your schools involved and learn more about what Eliot is doing. And please watch this video because it helped me understand it better.

FACEBOOK PAGE

YOUTUBE PAGE



 

Redruth - Origins

I want to make mention of a band today called Redruth. They are one of the great many Australian bands that are putting out awesome music these days. In fact, I was so thrilled that I tapped into that scene, that for a while, that's the scene I was searching through fairly exclusively. December of last year, they put out a new album called "Origins", and it has well-produced music on it that has a nice edge to it. If you ever got into Depeche Mode or the new wave music in the late 80's, then you will really like this band.

Their music has a nice drivin' beat and sound to it, and has a "fresh breath of air" vibe to it that leaves you feeling good. Oh, and these guys are sold out to Jesus, so you won't be lacking there. By far, Redruth is a band that you should have in your collection.

Band Page

Redruth YouTube

Redruth Facebook Page

To Leave A Trace

Every now and then I will come across a band that sets itself apart from the pack. Today, I heard a band from Ukraine called "To Leave A Trace". What I liked most about their song Aokigahara was the total and complete sludginess of it. I mean, it is absolutely HEAVY. The guitarists' in this band really know how to write heavy guitar parts. Overall, this is a band that (if you like metal), you shouldn't miss. They also have a kickstarter for their new album. If you want to support them, please go ahead and contribute.

SUPPORT (Indiegogo)

An Interview With Gabriel Rock

I recently discovered an artist that goes by the name of Gabriel Rock, and I was pleasantly surprised to hear that his music was different, in the sense that it was moody, memorable and reminiscent of some bands you would hear in the 70's and 90's (my favorite eras in music). The music that he has available right now is acoustic and really showcases his ability as an artist to create and stand on his own, but he also desires to collaborate with like-minded Christians in his dream of being a musician. After conversing with him via email, I learned that he is a pretty intriguing person as well, and so I sought an interview with him. Here is the full spread below.




Where are you originally from, and where are you based out of now?
Dover, NJ ...based out of Randolph NJ now


What was life like growing up musically as a kid? Is your family musical, or did you get interested by hearing mom and dad's records, etc...?

I found my inspiration through family records.

How old were you when you realized that you wanted to do music?
I was nineteen when I realized I wanted to do music for my profession.

You go by Gabriel Rock. How did you come up with your name?

Yes, I go by Gabriel Zeldis, which much of my writing is under, and Gabriel Rock. I came up with my name from Gabriel in the Bible.
The last name was just taking up letters to fit criteria.

Where do you get your inspiration from when you write music?
My music is outreach music, meaning it's to bridge the gap between the secular world and the church.

What is your songwriting process? Some people write licks first, then lyrics? 

I have recently experimented with how to write music, but for legal reasons I find it's best to write my own music. I am also open to buying songs outright. Typically, I try to come up with a pretty chord progression, then I try to come up with a pretty melody. The words usually come to me during this process.

How often do you practice and write music?

I practice and write my own music either everyday or according to how much my body and voice will hold up. On the days that I have to rest especially my voice I enjoy writing poetry that I can later use for song ideas.

How does Jesus Christ fit into your life and music?

Jesus Christ in my inspiration for my life that I have dedicated to music. When I consider love, I realize that Jesus is an integral part of my music, and music can be a beautiful form of prayer.

Do you play live shows? If so, where do you play, or have played?

I started playing hand drums on the streets of Colorado... From that point I met other hand percussionists and musicians and eventually started gigging and creating my own bands and composing. I played mostly in Northern Colorado. Now I basically spend time networking and talking to people in the industry in order to fulfill my never ending dream of getting signed.

Besides music, what do you do with your free time?

In my free time, I write ideas about films that I can use to put music to.

You're also an Author. Tell us about that.

Well I've written about ten books, and have recently published the second editions. My book writing has gone back and forth between secular and religious. But I was able to weed out the parts that I felt were more secular and for a secular audience, and bring the books to a more of religious experience. I shuffled them into four books, one preliminary book and then a trilogy. These are available on Amazon, or if you follow my work online you can find them for free. My writing helps me to stay creative usually when I'm resting my voice or if I lose my voice for an extended period of time.

What is the last book you read?

The Writer's Market 2013

So you said that you were a monk for two years. Tell us about that.

I believe in being kind to all creatures. I joined monastic life because I needed to know in my spirit that I wasn't harming living things with my everyday employment. I wanted to live a life of giving and learning the word of God. Inside my spirit, I felt being a monk was very fulfilling based on the amount of prayer that was incorporated into daily life.

Do you have a band website? Where can readers go to get or hear your music?

I am all over the web under the name Gabriel Zeldis or more recently Gabriel Rock, which is my stage name and will be the name that I solely use for music. You can find me at Reverbnation, Sound Cloud or YouTube for example.

Anything you would like share with your readers?
The writing and songs I have on the web are merely ideas, they are rough sketches of my vision. I am looking to work with professionals, other musicians and to get more studio time to begin to create a larger repertoire of original music and to start polishing songs. 

Thanks for your time!




You can find links to Gabriel's tunes and more here on:

Reverbnation

Soundcloud

Youtube

Joe Miralles - Under The Sun

I really dig it when I come across an eclectic artist who plays music that reminds me of the 90's. For me, it seemed like that was an era when "alternative" was still a baby and music was experimental and emotional. Couple that with his obvious sincere devotion to Jesus, and you have great music. Meet Joe Miralles. Having written 4 albums, Under The Sun is Joe's latest release which features 5 tracks, and I must say, this is one well-recorded album. My favorite tracks are "Under The Sun" and "Do You Still Believe" with it's driving tempo and edgy guitars. Joe is a great songwriter and an artist that you should definitely know about. He is based out of Philadelphia, so if you're ever in the Northeast, be sure to look for his live show. I am sure it's unforgettable.

Band Page