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Praise and Worship Beat
Archives
July - September 2006
Kind of Like the Early Church
A
radio station that plays inspirational music celebrates 15 years on air:
''It's kind of like the early church,'' he said, referring to
first-century Christians who met in their homes to encourage each other.
''There's a need for the local ministry first. That's what KCRN is all about
- reaching people at their spiritual, physical and emotional needs.''
September 27th, 2006
What's It All About?
"It's not about being a super Christian," said Rick Heil, lead singer
of the band
SONICFLOOd. "It's about being involved in other people's lives."
August 30th, 2006
Towering Figure Gives a Satisfying Concert
Great
concert review in the Louisville Courier-Journal:
He’s a towering figure on stage, as well, and his well-attended free
Kentucky State Fair concert Monday night at Cardinal Stadium was the most
satisfying Christian rock concert I’ve heard in nearly a decade of reviewing
the genre.
Check it out to see who was performing.
August 23rd, 2006
Inspiration
Lovely story in the Dallas Morning News about how faith music - and
in particular the music of Mercy Me - inspired a
teenage girl dying of leukaemia, and how this girl in turn inspired
those around her.
August 12th, 2006
The Eschatology of Bluegrass
David
Crowder has a new book coming on September 12:
His second book "Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, But Nobody Wants to
Die: Or (The Eschatology of Bluegrass)" explores, “The relationship between
death, life, grief and a community – a quest that was compounded by the
sudden, accidental death of his friend and pastor, Kyle Lake,” according to
a press release.
The book that he co-wrote with band mate Mike Hogan isn’t his first literary
foray, with the book Praise Habit already under his belt.
The bluegrass reference goes well with his most recent musical project B
Collision (… The Eschatology of Bluegrass). He uses bluegrass "as a means to
discuss our grief and the resulting hope that is born out of it."
August 5th, 2006
Latest
"Taking a deep breath and singing with their passionate, classic
three-part harmonies, INO Records' artist
Phillips, Craig, & Dean
prepare to release their 11th studio project aptly titled Top of My Lungs on
September 26."
On the same day, Chris
Tomlin will release his fourth album, "See the Morning."
Jeremy Camp and Delirious? headline Rock the Desert's United 2006
three-day contemporary Christian music festival.
July 25th, 2006
FFH - Letting God Take Over
Lovely - and lengthy - feature on
FFH in their local
newspaper. An excerpt:
They’re coming back to Rawlinsville for two weeks of camp in August.
But after that, they’re not sure what the future will hold for FFH.
“In October,” bass player Brian Smith said Friday, “we’re going to be taking
a six-month break.
“... We’re at this point where we’re tired and a little burned out from the
traveling and the constant pressures of the music business.”
...“We got so caught up and lost in the pressure of trying to stay at a
certain level,” Smith said, “… we kind of lost our focus on why we got into
this in the first place.” In a way, leading worship at Rawlinsville in
August will bring FFH full circle.
“God is moving FFH into a new season of ministry,” said Bishop Michael
Sigman, the spiritual director of the camp, “and returning to their roots
was part of his plan.”
Maybe it will be the end of FFH. Or maybe not.
“We’re just going to let God take over,” Smith said.
July 24th, 2006
Ferocious Energy and Infectious Hooks
The Dallas Morning News reviewer likes "Jesus
Is" from Hillsong London:
The far-off offspring of Australia's Hillsong Church and its equally
famous praise teams, Hillsong Australia and United, this latest incarnation
does the family proud.
Displaying ferocious energy and infectious hooks that grab the 7,000
worshippers at its home church in London's West End, Hillsong London
combines the virtues of its Aussie antecedents with a Brit-pop sound.
Opening with "Lord of All" and riding a snaking bass line reminiscent of
Frankie Goes to Hollywood's "Relax," "Jesus Is" rocks powerfully for the
first third of the 14-track CD, pulling the congregation along with one romp
after another.
The pace slows with "Hosanna," featuring Delirious? guitarist Stuart Garrard,
but the more plaintive music actually is more arresting. "Till I See" has a
wonderful tension, and "I Lift" builds from a softly strummed beginning.
Pre-eminent British praise leader Matt Redman joins in on the lovely
"Greatest Gift," a song he co-wrote.
July 20th, 2006
About as Much Joy as You Can Expect from a CD
Lovely review of "B Collision" in the
Lexington Herald-Leader:
To call David Crowder a praise and worship artist is almost to sell him
short. That's not to diminish praise or worship, which are exceedingly high
callings, but the P&W label implies you simply make catchy songs people can
sing along to. Crowder is doing so much more....The result is a short but
transcendent album, much like the early 2005 release Sunsets & Sushi. The
final cut, a rendition of Light with Shane & Shane and the Robbie Seay Band
is about as much joy as you can expect from a CD, and as much musicianship.
When you call Crowder a praise and worship artist, emphasize the word
artist.
July 17th, 2006
You Can Only Do This Once
Michael W. Smith's movie "Second Chance" comes to DVD next week, and the
Chicago Tribune carries a sympathetic report, featuring an
interview with director Steve Taylor:
Take it from Steve Taylor: Sometimes, all it takes to get a "Second
Chance" is a second mortgage.
The first-time film director put his home on the line to finance "The Second
Chance."
..."The budget was $1.2 million, and it was tight because I wanted to shoot
it on 35 mm," says Taylor, a Christian music luminary known for offbeat
songs such as "I Want to Be a Clone" and "I Blew Up the Clinic Real Good."
The loan covered a third of the cost "and it looks like we'll make that
back. My wife said, `You can do this, but you can only do it once.'"
July 12th, 2006
Christian Artists Reach Fans
I must admit, I'd never heard of Xianz,
which claims to be the "MySpace alternative for Christians." A press release
from the company
says:
Xianz.com provides a rapidly growing outlet for Christian music artists
to reach their fans.
The online gathering of thousands of believers has provided the perfect
environment for MercyMe, Sonic Flood, Chris Rice, Darlene Zschech, Hillsong
United, and a host of other Christian bands and artists. Xianz.com, the
faith based social networking site is attracting multitudes who want an
alternative to Myspace. As a result, hundreds of Christian artists of all
genres are finding it a perfect fit for reaching the core audience.
July 8th, 2006
Compliments to the Chef
Check out the Delirious website for their latest
Cybersmalltalk:
Well, here we are with another update on the life and loves of Delirious.
We’re another year on, a decade since the band went full time and a
seemingly endless number of days left in the tank. If the life of Delirious
is an all-you-can-eat buffet, it’s always good to be reminded to pass our
compliments on to the chef.
July 1st, 2006
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