(THIS POST WAS EDITED AT 5:26PM CST MONDAY SEPTEMBER 5)
I don’t get Christian rock shows. Too much talk. Not much rock. Even less fun.
I talk at my solo shows. I confess. When the crowd hunkers in close, squints their eyes slightly as if truly pondering the lyrics, savoring the thoughts buried in melody. I do that. Coffee shops. Small clubs. College theaters. Small churches. Anytime it’s just me and my guitar and I’ve been brought in specifically to speak and sing.
But with a band, guitars spitting distorted angst, drums beaten within an inch of their life - well, a band should play music. Shut your face and rock mine off - I think.
But that’s me. And maybe only me - at least among Christian concert goers. Christians like “ministry”, which they seem to define as talking. It’s as if a singer who doesn’t actually say “Jesus” or “God” between songs probably doesn’t like either one all that much. So talking about them both often in concert is a good idea. It proves one’s entire belief system is what you claim it is and using these words might just be the best proof available that a musician is “saved” at all.
It’s not the concert goers fault really. Christian kids are sheltered. They watch MTV as if it’s the Discovery Channel. TRL is ogled and studied like a page from National Geographic - another planet’s National Geographic. And like a suburban soccer mom dropped into the wilds of uncivilized Africa, these kids wind up driven to Christian-sudo rock shows by their youth ministers only to self-consciously bob slowly all night, unsure of whether they should be enjoying themselves in the first place - and if so, how? “How did the pagan kids on TV do this again?”
Sad really. The only experience many Christian concert-going kids have with concert-going is the likes of me. Yikes. Just once I’d like to take every rural Southern Baptist high schooler on a field trip to a Green Day or Foo Fighters show. Not to taint their shiny souls with the inherently harmful music of the world’s whores, but to show them how it’s done. How fun is done. “This is fun,” I’d say to them. “See that guy over there, the one with his shirt off and his moppy head ricocheting again and again off of thin air? That’s a good time,” I’d instruct. “Do more of that. Lots more. And stop biting your bottom lip.”
And they’d notice there isn’t much talking at real rock shows. There doesn’t have to be. See, music actually says something. That’s what lyrics are for. My parents, for instance, didn’t want me listening to “bad music.” Why did they think it was “bad”? Because they heard the artist talk? Because the artist articulated his band’s hedonistic doctrine thoroughly between ditties on the Grammy’s? No. The music said it all. Their lives said even more. It still can. So why can’t Christians judge (not eh best word) Christian artists in the same way?
I’m there in your church, at your college, playing songs that are openly about my faith or because of my faith. Do you really need me to talk about God and Jesus between every song before you can feel safe with me? To feel like something of value to your soul has been uttered? To understand what I’m about, who and what I love?
Tonight I played a 40 minute set. Before me was a speaker and after me was another artist who likes to talk a lot. I knew both of these folks would often be mentioning both “Jesus” and “God” in their monologues. So I rocked for 35 minutes and talked for all of 5 while my band tuned and prepared to rock some more. Afterwards I was approached by a college student, a counselor at this event, who had seen me play before. “It was great tonight, “she said. “But I liked you better the last time I saw you. You just ministered more then. You just played tonight.”
So I asked her if she’d like to see Green Day with me.
I’ve officially played in Boone more than any other city in the US. It’s a long drive by rented van. We leave this morning at 6AM from a Kroger parking lot, the band, Brian, me and lots of guitars and other tools of our trade. We’re bringing the rock power from on high to a youth conference. Glamorous. WIth all the gigs canceling this week I’m just glad to have one on the Southeast still on the calendar.
Pics and more after the show.
-SG
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Those pics I promised:
"It is a zoo out there though, make no mistake. It’s the wild kingdom. It’s Lord of the Flies. That doesn’t mean there’s murder on every street corner. But what it does mean is that the rule of law has collapsed, that there is no order, and that property rights cannot and are not being enforced. Anyone who is on the streets is in immediate danger of being robbed and killed. It’s that bad.”
This is just some of the first-hand reporting/blogging posted in cyberspace from New Orleans by “The Interdictor”.
GRACEFEST, a music festival held in Pensacola, FL each year has officially cancelled this year’s events. I received the following e-mail this afternoon since I was slotted to play there along with many other Christian artists this month. Thank you GRACEFEST leadership for putting your resources behind hurricane relief efforts instead of a show. If everyone who would have attended your festival helps out instead, makes a donation the size of your ticket price, many needs will be met and lives saved. Thank you for your example.
This is the third gig I’ve had cancel for the month of September. The first two were churches converted into refugee housing. It’s oddly good to lose work because the Church is doing it’s job.
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Shaun,
Due to the catastrophic effects of Hurricane Katrina along the Gulf Coast, the decision has been made to cancel GraceFest for September 16 & 17.
This decision was a difficult one to make and was based on the following factors:
1) Governor Bush has appealed to the citizens of the State of Florida to conserve resources, particularly fuel and utilities. Due to the fuel shortage, he has asked for employers to allow for four day work weeks or for employees to be allowed to work from home if necessary. Our county commission has also requested citizens to conserve gasoline and not make any unnecessary trips.
2) Hotel Availability- Our area now has almost 10,000 evacuees from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and 2/3 of our hotels rooms are housing them as well as in multiple shelters. As an organization we do not want to risk evacuees being displaced.
3) Resources Diverted to Relief Efforts - We have a shortage of volunteer manpower for the event as many of our volunteers are involved in the continuing relief/recovery efforts. Our military/uniformed security volunteers have all been reassigned to relief efforts. Other infrastructure such as communications and generators have been sent for use in relief efforts.
4) One third of our GraceFest market in the past years was from Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Naturally, none of those attendees will be coming.
5) The largest Christian Radio station for the Mobile/Pensacola area, that has driven ticket sales in the past, was taken off the air by Hurricane Katrina with no indication of when they will return to the air.
6) The Northwest Florida area has been through Hurricane recovery of Ivan, Arlene, Cindy and most recently Hurricane Dennis and is now poised to reach out and help those to the west of us with all available resources.
We feel that with the critical basic human needs that need to be met, it would be irresponsible for us to go ahead with an event that would further deplete both physical resources and volunteer manpower.
Our prayer is that you will not only understand our need to cancel but to join in the relief efforts in any way that you are able. In a few months we may be in a position to produce a fundraising concert event and would welcome your participation.
May God continue to bless you all individually and in your ministries.
The Executive Committee
GraceFest
THIS IS THE LATEST E-MAIL UPDATE FROM DON DONAHUE ON BEHALF OF THE FOLKS PUTTING TOGETHER THE SLIDELL LOUISIANA RELIEF TRUCK. IT WAS SENT TO ME LAST NIGHT (9 1 05). FOR MORE INFO READ THE TWO POSTS AFTER THIS ONE.
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I wrote most all of you earlier today to tell you of a need that has come in today for some friends who are desperately trying to set up a shelter at a church in Slidell, Louisiana for refugees of the storm. At 11:30am this morning my friend Jay Hall from Maxx Technology got off the phone with the sister of one of his artists who both had lost everything in Katrina’s wake - and still there desire is to have their church building be a refuge even though that building itself doesn’t have power or water - 200 people can have shelter there - but they need everything. I am very happy to report that not quite 12 hours later there is over $25,000 in donations that have come in (someone even gave me cash at the titans game tonight after reading the earlier email!) Laura and I went by the warehouse at 9:30 tonight [9 1 05] and were overwhelmed by what we saw. Palate upon Palate of water, diapers, blankets, pillows, food, clothing, medicine and so much more. They were getting the 18 wheeler ready to load. It’s quite an organized operation over there—very inspiring. BUT THERE’S STILL TIME. They’re planning on holding the truck until 11:30 or 12 tomorrow [actually today, 9 2 05]. Contrary to my earlier email if you can still bring supplies by take them Straight to MAXX’s Warehouse. It’s on Crossroads Blvd in Cool Springs [that’s in Franklin, TN]. Suite 111 of the Brentwood South Warehouse district. (For those of us who have kids it’s about 10 doors to the left of Pump it up.)
One more need, and that’s prayer. The Maxx team has been advised from very top sources that they will have plenty of hurdles to clear once they get on the road. They need to talk themselves across the boarders of both Mississippi and Louisiana - if they make it into the states (they have some names to help them get in), they have been advised to make the delivery into Slidell after nightfall - drop the supplies into the church under darkness and get out of town. Supply trucks are very vulnerable to attack, highjacking and worse. It is beyond a desperate situation. Pray for safety for our friends, the drivers and all who are going on this mission trip. Remember, this is 8 hours south of Nashville, not Africa. Amazing.
Thanks for your amazing support in such little time...and remember, there’s still time in the morning. Call me if you have any questions.
Don
I don’t get Christian rock shows. Too much talk. Not much rock. Even less fun.
