
- only $10 at the door!
- bands: Mercy Me, David Crowder Band, Family Force 5, Francesca Battistelli, Fee, and Remedy Drive
^^^crouton is showing off his new hair cut and somebody asked Chap to smile....that is what he did. :p
-Megan
Hello again my new bloggy friends. As promised, I shall now actually write something. I feel like we're at that point in our relationship where we can talk openly and share opinions without getting mauled, yes? Super.
DMK asked me to write a piece on... anything, really. What I'm about to type is something that's been on my heart for a while. I'm hoping that at least one person out there will agree with me on this matter. If not, oh well.
One thing I absolutely cannot stand is when people say these 3 words (or any variation of them): Christian music sucks. I’ll be the first to tell them that, yeah, some of it does. Actually, a lot of it does. That’s how you end up with the $2 rack at Christian bookstores, along with the “boring” stereotype. (I mean, we pretty much walked right into that one with the Gaithers...but hey, old people like music too). I’m also the first to (kindly) retort that most of it DOESN’T. If it all sucked, there would be no Underoath, Relient K, MXPX, Falling Up, Red, Thousand Foot Krutch, As I Lay Dying, Demon Hunter, Flyleaf, Five Iron Frenzy, and of course, Family Force 5 to name a minuscule few. Listen to any of their songs and then try to tell me Christian music sucks. In fact, most of the bands I just listed, if not all of them happen to be a heck of a lot more talented than those offered in typical mainstream markets. Suck on that Metro Station.
KIDDING...ha ha...ahem.
I’m not trying to say that "mainstream" music sucks either, my point was just that "Christian music" doesn't get the credit that's due. I was also leading up to my main point. Trust me, there is one.
Another thing I can’t stand (or understand, for that matter) is when CHRISTIANS THEMSELVES bash Christian bands (mostly adults). They’re loud, or they have tattoos, or they’re screamo or metal or punk or any form of rock, really. Does that make any sense at all? Uh...NO. The big excuse is that it’s “devil’s music.” Interesting, show me where it says that in the Bible.
That’s what I thought. Maybe you should try reading it one time. It's a good read, true story.
Oh, and you know the ones that say, "we're Christians in a band, but not a Christian band" ? That's just a really good tactic to AVOID bull from fellow Christians. Although I don't really think that's a necessary thing to do, because face it, that's kind of like saying, "this is my collection of shoes, but it's not a shoe collection," I can't say I blame them. That's how ridiculous it can get. The label of "Christian music" is a two-faced...dumb thing. But that's another rant for another time.
And then there are people who are rooting for those bands, who say that bands such as FF5, are “pushing the envelope in Christian music,” which quite confuses me. Envelope? Didn’t Stryper already push that envelope back in the 80’s? Envelope pushing should be old news by now, right?
Wrong, and here’s why: Stereotypes. They’ve been there forever, so why stop now? People are still too ignorant to see that music is music, mainstream or not. Good is good, bad is bad, and talent is talent.
Family Force 5 has immense talent. They produce awesome music and treat us to amazing live shows. But sadly, they have endured stupidity in the past and will have to continue to endure it for a long, long time. They don’t deserve it, but hey, no one does. So far, it hasn’t stopped them from being themselves and standing out as one of the best, and I doubt it ever will.
Soul Glow, Fatty, Chapstique, Nadaddy, and Crouton, I am behind you 100%. Thanks for being a huge blessing and for doing what you do every day. Ya’ll rock.
-Done Rawr Done
It’s hard to write a really good song, from the heart, that properly encompasses the feelings of more than just the writer. But when great songs are written, you can be sure that they are chock-full of metaphors and “literary devices” from English class that you never thought you would actually use. But the beauty of a great song is that the words can be interpreted in many different ways, and relates to so many different people at the same time.
When on a 1-week trip to my nation’s capital (
Now, when I listen to all of the music in my library, I take care to snap out of my monotonous drone and actually listen to what’s being said. I am not religious, but my Christian friends do recommend a lot of music to me. So, that being said, when I listen to songs from Christian bands, I tend to take them a whole lot differently than some other people. What I really like in a song is its ability to be understood by more than just one group of people. For that reason, I think that many bands need to pay close attention to what their lyrics are, and will then begin to broadcast to a larger audience.
Remember, there is a difference between hearing and listening. What you take from the music should be your own interpretations.
Move Yourself When You Hear That Sound
-- DMK
There's a reason that fans come back to a live show. And keep coming back. And it's not just the array of bands opening, new talent that will be seen, or even the buzz of the atmosphere waiting for the music to start (although that is certainly part of it). However, the real reason that fans come to a show is for the show itself. I'm not just talking about the venue and the music. It goes beyond that. There's something special about going to a concert and hearing more than just what was on the record.
A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of seeing Family Force 5 live, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (at The Opera House), and let me tell you, they definitely brought it. Although what "it" is, I cannot define. "It" could be the ridiculous costumes of fishnet tank tops, and gold football shoulder pads with matching gold (and sparkly) shoes. Maybe "it" is the super hyped-up emotion that FF5 brings to the stage, even though, at the Opera House, the crowd couldn't have been more than just over a hundred people. Even with such a small crowd, the band acted as if they were playing a huge venue, which convinced me that they were genuinely pleased to be here. Or, "it" could be there pleasant attitude towards us pesky Canadians, politely signing autographs and posing for pictures before and after the show.
I had heard from friends and various reviews that Family Force 5 brings a great stage show as well as music, making concert-goers remember their shows as one of the best. However, up until I saw them, I had always thought that these remarks were large exaggerations. Let me tell you, even for a tiny stage, this concert was amazing. The great stage presence possessed by Soul Glow Activatur, Chap Stique, Crouton, Fatty, NaDaddy and Xanadu made me want to stay there all night long! There was tons of energy shown on stage, and it translated into the crowd. This will definitely be a concert that I will remember for a long time.
If there’s one show that you are going to see this year, Family Force 5 is it. Make sure to get a good night’s sleep before, though, because you will need all the energy possible for this massive dance party!
Move Yourself When You Hear That Sound
-- DMK
Review: Here marks the adventure of Soul Glow and...umm, err, I mean Crouton, no, wait, Soul Glow... well, whoever is the lead singer and the band. This is where we first meet the boys, in Chattanooga Tennessee, where we know each band member. This is the first time we get to see Crouton and Soul Glow in their active attept to be top dawg, learn that Fatty is an accountant, then a bassists, Chao Stique is a sweety, and Nadaddy is really bad at pull ups. We also get to meet Zip Loc, their old Tour Manager, and Xanadu, everyone's favorite and most gangster dancer ever. There is also a guest, The brother's Momma! The woman who fortunately raised our favorite band' o brothers!
Funny subtle points: -Right at the 0:08 mark, Chappy yells out "Noogie!", it's hilarious.
-at 1:11 Crouton sighs the funniest sigh I've ever heard, I crack up every time I hear it!
- at 1:30 Crouton attepts to close the door and it hits Souol Glow, you can here Tubo go "OH!"
- 2:38 Fattys phone goes off, the ring is "When the saints go marching in" haha!
- from 4:35- 4:37, Crouton falls, it's hilarious!
- 5:25 you can hear foot steps, by that you can tell Nadaddy isn't really doing pullups, whoch makes trhe fall at 5:54 even funnier!
- at 6:18 someone comes out of a room, and notices the camera, feels bad and goes back into the room so he doesn't mess up the shot!
- at 6:39 Crouton smells a shoe, not SUBTLE, but funny!
Famous RRS1 quotes: - Crouton: What are we doing, talking about the band or somethin? Cause I am the band.
-Crouton: I mean, Soul Glow he says, 'oh, oh, I'm a singer, I've been, I've been singin since I was 5' Soul Glow Activatur: I've beend singin' since, I don't know, I guess I was 5. Crouton: well you know what? I've been doing this since I was 3. He was 5 I was 3. So as far as I'm concerned, I'm the singer...*sigh*
- Mama Olds: Oh! A gold rose, to go with ma jacket!
- Soul Glow: C'mon, mom! Harp the Harold!
- Crouton: For the lsat time will you get that camera out of my mothers FACE!
-Fatty: I try not to give merchandise to my family, nothings free in this life, mom.
-Fatty: I'd more or less say I'm an accountant, not a a bass player.
-Nadaddy: Coolness...ready to rock your face off?
-Xanadu: I am the man, who drives the van.
Viewer Comments: surraaaahh89 says: " Family Force 5 are amazing guys. Fell in love with them and not about to fall out of love... I guess you can call me a LUV ADDICT! =D
ILUVTAIWTK says: 1:35 OH! A GOLD ROSE TO GO WITH MY JACKET!! You can[']t keep it tho[ugh]. [WH]Y?!?
menzerrss22: crouton "i am the band." silence......haha!
Get season one at concert shows or at:
http://store.ff5online.com/product.php?productid=16147&cat=248&page=1
Stay Fly With Yo' Black Hair Dye,
Alyssa Brite
Stay Fly with Yo' Black Hair Dye,
Alyssa Brite
So believe it or not, there is actually another band that kills it (almost) as much as Family Force 5. That band would be Fireflight. You may recall the Scars Remain Tour that FF5 and Fireflight were both on. Musically, Fireflight is a little different than FF5, but spiritually, they both are on the same page. I am constantly searching for bands that have music that edifies what they say they believe and bands that show a true passion for their music to become a ministry instead of having the whole “rock star” image. That is what Fireflight does. I have had the opportunity to see them twice and both times they were at my church. During their live show, they are amazing!!! Rockin out like there is no tomorrow. One thing, that stands out about Fireflight, is the fact that at every show, they read the bible and take the time to make it known that they are there to glorify God and not themselves. If you go to a Fireflight concert, you will get to see them after the show and before the show if your lucky. They are always nice to you and very down to earth. When they have come to my church, I have had the opportunity of helping them set up the stage, merch booth, etc. and they act the same way when no one is around. Fireflight is a group who truly have a passion to reach souls and to throw a party at the same time. So if you get a chance, go see them. Or pick up their newest CD “Unbreakable.” You won’t regret it.
~Fitchfoot