Why i like heavey metal and hard preaching
I get a lot of critisism over the type of music I like. If you cannot tell from things I have written and shows I promote, I am am a huge fan of Christian metal and hardcore music ( Haste the Day, Norma Jean, Living Sacrafice, Demon hunter, As I Lay Dying, ECT).
Other Christians (especially older ones) give me a hard time about this music, some even go as far as to say that they can’t be Christian or that if you can’t understand it you should not listen to it. First off I can understand it. Most people have a problem with the fact that bands like the ones mentioned above scream most of their lyrics which is seen as angry or even evil.
I spent a lot of time trying to figure out why exactly I like that type of music. It lead me to thinking that most of my favorite preachers all scream or yell during their sermons ( John Piper, Mark Driscoll, my Pastor and many others). So I asked myself this question: What is it about the act of raising your voice ( screaming) that I like so much?
The answer I came up with is that when a person screams/ raises their voice, you can hear/feel their emotions thus their heart. In music, a scream can have a wide variety of emotions (excited, sad, mad, longing ECT). In the same way, a preacher shows his heart throught a raised voice and that action is associted with emotions ( wanting to stress a point, anger, saddness and so on). Look at the way John Piper preaches, he will talk normal then go into a wisper and suddenly, without warning will raise his voice to a yell and you can feel the saddness in his voice when he is talking about Christians stumbling.
That is why I like heavy metal and hard preaching. You can hear and feel without a doubt the emotion and heart of the singer or preacher and to me the heart is what it’s all about.
Think about the music and preaching you like. Why do you like it? I hope I am not the only person that thinks this stuff out so much.
God bless,
Anthony
Concert review
This past Fridy the 12th of September I hosted a concert at my church with Spoken, The Red Airplanes, Ilia, and One Minute Halo. Unfortunatly, Ilia’s van broke down in Las Vegas and they were unable to make it. As some of you may know, I was previously working with someone here in town to bring concerts to town but that person has recently fallen off of the face of the planet. After a failed attempt to get a concert here by myself, I figured that God was telling me I was not called to do this. Then about three weeks ago, I get a call from Extreme Faith Productions who says they have a completly set up show and all I have to do is arrange the venue.
Flyleaf is Fantastic!
So I went to the Flyleaf show and as usual, they were amazing!!
As. some may know, Flyleaf is a Christian band and they have no problems in proclaiming it. When I saw them about a year ago, in the middle of one of their songs the lead signer Lacey screamed the name of Jesus. It was cool to see a band stand up for what they believe in but this time they outdid themselves.
The very last song of their set, Lacey told a story about a woman who’s husband sang he a flyleaf song only hours before he died in a wreck. Then she said that she loves to hear about people making their songs personal but tonight the song was for Jesus Christ. Keep in mind here we are at a Seether concert (anything but Christian). I was super stoked to hear that she was still standing up for Christ. to get even better, before they ended the last song, they went into a worship song and they all bowed their heads and Lacey even got on her knees and lifted her hands. I could not believe it. It was so cool to see a very popular band not care about being famous but rather made it know that it was all about and all for Christ.
Does anyone have any other stories of Flyleaf or any other band standing up for Jesus. I would lobe to hear them.
God bless,
Anthony
Show & some info
Sorry about the lack of posting! I have been really hammered with school and such. Most of you may not know that I am working with a top Promoter in town and I am learning how to do concert promotions. As you could emagine, this eats up alot of my time that school work hasn’t already taken. The current show I am working on is Ever Says Red. Everyone in the Reno/Sparks area (sorry to those readers who are out of state) The flyer with all the info is below.
A real post is comming sometime soon
God Bless,
Anthoy
A reward for you!!
So I thought as a reward for you guys sticking it out through my four blogs on the weekend I would let you guys be the FIRST to know about a super huge announcement for my radio show
Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter is going to be on the show Sunday October 21st at 3pm!!! and he will be taking some calls… so get those questions ready. If you have one that you really want answered email me anthony@straightuptalk.org and I will add it to the ones I am gonna ask. please make the subject something along the lines of DH (demon hunter) interview questions
so be sure to listen to our show then as well as every Sunday at 3pm Pacific time and call in (646)-7160-8880 www.straightuptalk.org
Cornerstone California PT 4
sorry about the late post I am sure you guys are ready for me to be done with Cornerstone and move on to my normal topics. Here is the last installment of my weekend at cornerstone Ca.
So after watching Death is not welcome here I walked around and talked to vendors. there were some really cool booths there. there was one lady that did what i call Christian abstract art. It was like a bunch of abstract style dots and then in the right third of the canvas she painted a picture of Jesus with the crown of thorns it was way cool! I ran over and watched this band Showbread play, I had never seen or heard of them before but let me tell you they were freaking amazing… so much energy and one of the guys who plays one of the keyboard/guitar type things was throwing the thing around and dancing all crazy it was way cool. The lead singer had green makeup on his eyes and on the sides of his face… it was kinda weird at first but their music was great! After their show i went up to the lead singer and introduced myself, I told him that I had never heard of the band before and I was defiantly going to have to buy their CD because they had a phenomenal show. He said thank you and I asked him if the band would be willing to do an interview with me later that nigh. He said sure no problem and told me to find the band later after they had loaded their equipment and changed. I ate dinner to the soundtrack of Falling up.. they were pretty good but I was really hungry. at dinner, I sat next to the lead singer of Anberlin and had no idea (I had never seen him before). after dinner I went and watched Project 86 play for a few minutes (good but not as much energy as i had been accustomed to for the day) I ran back over to the VIP dinner area where a majority of Showbread was and once they finished eating conducted my final interview of the night. At first I was weary of asking them my questions because I thought I was going to get some crazy answers but they were actually well educated in the Bible and Josh th lead singer had a great sense of humor and had no problem saying what he believed (again, you must listen to the show to hear the interviews). Once finished with the interview i went and watched Anberlin play (good but a little too soft for my tastes but got some decent pictures) it was only then did I realize that during dinner I had sat next to the lead singer (felt retarded!) A little more than half way through their set I ran over to the other stage to claim my spot in the press area for Underoath. There were so many camera people over there waiting to take pictures of the band (everyone but the drummer hid in their bus all day so i did not get to meet them) 
After getting hassled by security who was checking our press passes, we were told that after three song press would have to leave the area. I thought it was dumb but according to a woman that does concert pictures for a living, she said that most big bands limit press to three songs for pictures. the band came out and let me tell you they were so good (I personally liked Demon Hunter better but both shows rocked.) I was so close to the stage the lead singer hit may camera with his hair (so cool!!) Once our three songs were up I dropped my stuff off at a merch booth that I had made friends with the staff and then ran into the mosh pit. Underoath put on such an amazing show I was so excited that I got to see them. as soon as their set was over I ran back stage to see if I could meet them but the stupid event staff had added another berrier so not even the VIPs could get back to see the band and they ran back to their bus (I was kinda mad).
Well, overall i had the time of my life! Saw some of the best shows ever, meet some awesome people and got to interview some cool bands and spent way to much $$ on T-shirts (got some real cool ones… might have to blog about those later) I would have to say it was an utter success. I am hoping that next year the lineup is just as cool and that the radio show will be big enough for me to get my own booth or at least a quiet area to interview bands. next year I am also looking for people to come down with me!
so thats it for my long weekend at Cornerstone California… thanks so much for putting up with my rambling and be sure to leave some comment love
Anthony
Cornerstone California PT 3
On Saturday I took the back way and headed to the event. about 3 cars past me and I was kinda bummed that no one offered a ride but right after they past a vendor stopped and picked me up.
I walked around and talked to a lot of the vendors…. some of them remembered me and asked about my camping experience. I also talked to vendors about why i was down there and some of them gave me their cards and said they would love to call in and do an interview. Transistor radio was the first band to play and they were really good. after they played I went and confirmed all my interviews for they day. Come to find out Dakota Motor Co. didn’t show because of a scheduling conflict so that was one interview down. I ran over to the stage to see Redcloud, a Cristian hardcore rapper he put on a really good show… I don’t usually like those type of shows but he was really good and his DJs were cool to watch and with my press pass I got to walk up on stage to take pictures of the DJs…. it was way cool. At 1 I had an interview with Transistor radio. they were really cool guys. We sat down at some picnic tables and had the interview. After, the guys said that I asked some of the toughest questions they have ever gotten in a interview and that they thought it was awesome that I had the guts to ask the questions that really matter and didn’t dance around them. I have to say that made me feel really good. As soon as i got done with that interview i had to run and do an interview with Redcloud he was pretty cool nice guy (gotta listen in to the show for anything on the interview tho). I was so stretched for time that i had to run over to the stage to catch Here I Come Falling (one of my interviews) they are a hardcore scream band and it was an amazing show… so much energy and they had taped signs on the back of their guitars, one said ‘hi mom’ it was pretty funny. as soon as they were done I ran to the merch tent and interviewed 2 members of the British band Death Is Not Welcome Here. They were nice guys but it was kinda hard to understand them with their accents (you will see what I mean when I play the interview). I had just enough time to eat lunch then ran over and interviewed Here I Come Falling. These guys were your typical emo looking guys but they were really nice and had good answers. I had some down time so I had a chance to get a funnel cake…. YUM! I then went and watched Death is Not Welcome Here play they were cool too (some sweet mic throwing).
I think my blog is long enough for this installment (i told you it was a busy weekend) I will get on tomorrow (Thursday) or Friday and finish up everything that happened that weekend (I hope)
Anthony
Cornerstone California PT 2
So I told you i would get on and write about the rest of my day Friday so here it goes:
After my sweet turn in the day of meeting Demon Hunter I walked around looking at the few booths that were up (the even still didn’t start for like 2 hours) I pretty much did nothing until the shows got under way. The first band was Fireflight and let me say they were amazing. The lead singer was sick but she still had a beautiful voice and they had a lot of energy. Wavorly played after them.. they were decent. Then next band that played was Seventh Day Slumber… they were ok but the main reason I bring them up is that the lead singer shared the gospel in the most awesome way I have seen. He read letters sent to the band and shared his testimony then he shared the Gospel…. I am talking the full Gospel not some God shaped hole in your heart deal it was sweet. At 5:30 i interviewed Fireflight for the radio show I asked some really hard questions but you will have to listen in once i get the interviews all edited I don’t want to spoil it. the band was very nice and they made my first interview really easy. during the interview i missed Dizmas and Disciple (I was way bummed about missing Disciple) but i did hear them and they sounded good. Emery played they were pretty cool. Then came the two shows I was really looking forward to. Thousand Foot Krutch played and they were sooo good. I have seen them before but they were even better. the mosh pit was pretty sweet too. If you have heard our show you know that i said you cant worship to rock music but i saw something and experienced something really cool. TFK has a song called breathe you in and the words are very worship like but I never really thought about it. They played that song and the lead singer was raising his hands and the whole place was no longer focusing on the band but on God. The entire mosh pit stopped and sat down and bowed their heads and raised their hands….. it was crazy! so of course no surprise my highlight of the night was Demon Hunter and because I had a press pass I got to stand right in front of the stage with all the photographers and I took like 70 pics and a lot of videos (on the way). I wasn’t in the pit but i was rockin out with the lead singer and the bassist I was freaking out…. it was so awesome!!! that was the last big band to play but there were some small ones that played so I hung around and at 12 didn’t want to walk back to the campsite so i hitched a ride….. overall the day was crazy! it started bad but I had the time of my life.
Saturday to come tomorrow (Wednesday) or Thursday at the latest. I have so much to write about that its defiantly gonna be at least 2 more blogs. ( I will probably write another one on all the cool companies I found while I was there)
Anthony
PS click on the blogrush widget on the side so other people can view my blog through the blogrush ads
My awesome weekend at cornerstone California!
Cornerstone California was crazy!! I have so much to talk about that this may be two blogs (my visits have been dwindling so hopefully multiple posts will increase it) So I got into the air port in La and got my bags without a problem and headed to the taxi bay cuz thats the only way I had to get to the show. The cab driver had no idea where Irvine lake was and the only address I had was to the event and not the cap ground so he headed there. I got to the venue at like 930 and the gates weren’t supposed to open till 2 but thats where the driver took me (IT COST $60!!!). I checked in for my VIP and Press passes and got my wristbands. I still had all my stuff so I asked the girls doing the check in where the camping was and they said it was aways back the way I came. The concert website said it was a decent walk to the campground…. I want to meet the psycho that thinks 3 1/2 miles is a decent walk! I had to walk the whole way with my bags… in the rain… it sucked. To make my day even better I got to the campground and the person said that there weren’t any opening because they had a fest of their own on Saturday and that the nearest campsite was 2 miles farther from the concert. They manager came out and at first was telling me that I could not stay but as I explained that I had talked to someone on Thursday from the campground and now I was stuck. The lady took pity on me and put me way in the back and showed me how to cut through another private park to get to the concert (it took out about a mile and a half.) I set up the tent and got situated (found out i didn’t have a rain cover) so I decided to go back to the concert area. When I got there the girls that were doing check in let me stand under the tent. I sat and talked to them for a while until i herd Demon Hunter practicing their set for Friday nights show so I walked down to the rear of the stage to see if I could sneak a peak at my all time favorite band. It was so cool to stand at the side of the stage and watch them play.. It was so cool. I hung around and just kinda watched them as they were talking with some of the staff. I was wearing my Blessed Resistance t-shirt (its the members only Demon Hunter fan club) and it defiantly paid off. One of the management staff came over and asked if I wanted to meet the band.. I was thinking uhhh DUH! but I just said yes. the guys were really cool and the bassist said that he had to move his car and he had the new CD (which dosn’t come out till nov. 8th) he said I could ride with him and we would listen to a couple of tracks I ABOUT LOST MY MIND!!! I of course said yea but I was pretty much in shock… I listened to the first two tracks and let me tell you they were freaking sweet.
I didn’t do much until the fest started but i think i will leave that for tomorrow cuz like i said i have so much to write about I am gonna have to write it in at least two blogs (at this rate it looks like 4). I will get on tomorrow night (Tuesday) and write my next part… pics coming soon
Pray for me please
So as most of you know I have a internet radio show called Straight Up! Talk. I am flying to LA for Cornerstone, CA and I have 6 interviews with bands that are playing there. I am kinda nervous bout that but what I really need prayer for is I am also planning on doing a ton of evangelism down there so I need tons of prayer. I may find some wireless but idk so i doubt I will be able to write until I get back on Monday but i am gonna try to find someone to write for me that way you guys have something to read off here. I will have a ton to write about when I get back cuz Demon hunters playing their only show of 07 and they are debuting some new songs plus like I said I have 6 interviews and I am hoping to get some more impromptu interviews while I am there (I am pretty sure I get a press pass!!)
later guys and please click the widget on the side some of the blogs on there are very interesting (I found one yesterday talking about writing new commandments) not only can you find some cool stuff you also give me a credit for my blog to show up on someone else’s blog. You can spread my blog around the world just by clicking a link (sounds like a good deal to me)
