Kutless
Jon Micah Sumrall – vocals
James Mead – guitar
Ryan Shrout – guitar
Jeffrey Gilbert – drums
Dave Luetkenhoelter – bass
After three full-length albums, several countries, hundreds of shows, thousands of miles and 1.6 million faces rocked, Portland, Oregon-based fivesome Kutless has decided it's just as great to give as it is to receive. They are doing so this year with the forthcoming release of the band's fourth full-length album, Hearts Of The Innocent. With tour dates ahead, Kutless looks to contribute its part in giving back to the world that has been so kind to them over the past six years. In fact, the rock act already started linking up with charities last year, performing a benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina victims and raising over $50,000 in one night. And, according to Kutless vocalist Jon Micah Sumrall, the Katrina benefit was just the start, as the band anticipates teaming up with other charities in the near future.
Such goodwill will also be spread through the band's music, most notably their latest effort, Hearts Of The Innocent. Produced by Aaron Sprinkle, Hearts Of The Innocent was assembled sporadically throughout 2005. While most artists would see such intermittent recording schedules as an obstruction to a creative process, Sumrall actually saw the time between recording sessions as a positive aspect. "I think it even helped with the overall diversity of the record, as we weren't in one mindset throughout the entire recording process," he says. "I'm very excited about it and am very pleased with the way it turned out."
Hearts Of The Innocent fires off with the propulsive single, "Shut Me Out."
"We kind of wanted to put out the first single with an in-your-face rock 'n' roll song," says Sumrall, "to be like, 'Hey, we're back and we're rockin' it.'" As for the single's meaning, Sumrall says that Christian artists sometimes receive flack for being bold in their faith and sharing what they believe. But, he says, "For us, it's always been important that we don't change what we're saying simply because of the pressure from people around us. We want to be real." The song is based on the Biblical story of Paul's determination in spreading the truth. "This whole song is a little in-your-face perspective in that we have things in our hearts that we believe are right and true, and in the same nature that Paul did a couple thousand years ago, we feel like you can ridicule us, point fingers at us, yell at us and do whatever to us, but we believe in this and you can't make us stop," says Sumrall.
Hearts Of The Innocent's title track is a message of awareness, of which Sumrall says is a wake-up call to the generation of adults to take closer look at the neglected youth across the world. "Our whole focus is to reach out to young people and traveling around, you see a lot of hurting people," he continues. "It seems like it gets younger and younger every year. Ten-year-old kids are dealing with stuff that ten-year-old kids shouldn't even know about. It's really sad, I think. We need to make a difference. We're pretty young, still, but we've tried to set a standard and do the best we can."
Hearts Of The Innocent marks the recording debut of the band's newest members, drummer Jeffrey Gilbert and bassist Dave Leutkenhoelter, both formerly of Seven Places. Launched by original members Sumrall and guitarists James Mead and Ryan Shrout, Kutless formed while still in college in 2000, signed to Tooth & Nail/BEC in late 2001 and had released its self-titled debut the following year. 2004 brought the band's sophomore effort, Sea Of Faces, and a year later, Strong Tower, was released.
Kutless had persevered from its initial rough road, eventually sustaining themselves with their musical talents, and today, are giving back to the community. "This year, we've been reaching out a little bit more," says Sumrall. "We've got three records out now and we've kind of solidified the band, so to speak. It's been fun, because now, this past year and this coming year, we'll be able to branch out and team up with other organizations and partnerships to try and make a difference in the world and in individuals' lives."
Disciple
Kevin Young – Vocals
Brad Noah – Guitar
Tim Barrett – Drums
Joey Fife - Bass
"We feel like we're just getting started", says Kevin Young, lead singer of Disciple. Yeah, right. Just getting started. Disciple has been together for over 10 years – since the band was in high school - having played over 1,200 concerts to hundreds of thousands of hard-core, devoted fans. They released 6 albums, their last one selling 35,000 independent units, garnered 6 number one rock hits and received 4 Dove nominations for Best Hard Rock Song and Album of the Year. They managed and booked themselves. Their email database goes on for days, and they have thousands of fans post to their message board every week. In their free time they head for Europe to headline tours. These are the kind of statistics that many major label artists would be proud of, but Disciple is that rare band that has done it on their own with little help from the machine called the music business.
Drummer Tim Barrett and vocalist Kevin Young started playing music together in their early teens. The pair met guitarist Brad Noah in December 1992 and assembled Disciple as a three-piece band. In October 2003, the trio added bassist Joey Fife to the ensemble, rounding out the current Disciple roster. "We are brothers in the truest sense of the word. We have loved each other, argued, fought, made up and done it all over again to the point where we know each other so well. We have sharpened each other over the years, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for us."
Disciple went into the studio in early 2004 to record their next independent project with long time producer and friend Travis Wyrick (POD, Pillar). "When we made records in the past it was all about how fast we could play, how hard, how much can I scream", says Kevin Young. "But this time we were listening to a bunch of different music. We felt like we could keep our edge, but sing melodies. We felt like we could write a hook. We sat down with Travis and asked him to really dig in and help us. We were blown away by the results." Those results are bold choruses, rapid-fire drum rhythms, huge guitar riffs, and passionate vocals – a 14-song combination of true progressive rock tunes. Well, a lot of people were blown away. Tim Barrett says, "Some of the stuff we were recording started to get out. All of a sudden people were calling us. We signed with a management company and found ourselves sitting in record label meetings with guys that we had heard about for years, but never had the opportunity to talk to." Shortly thereafter, Disciple signed with record label S/R/E. "Our managers had a relationship with them and introduced them to our music," Young says. "They liked what we recorded and when we had the opportunity to meet them they really made an impact on us. I think we knew relatively quickly that this was going to be our new home."
As for the songwriting, most of the music was a collaborative effort by all Disciple members, while Young took care of the lyric duties. "Some of the songs were very personal," Young explains. For example, "Stripped Away" is a song he wrote about the pressures of being placed on a pedestal, and the difficulties of living up to the standards that are placed on people. "There have been many times that I felt like I should be the one being guided by someone else instead of being someone who is guiding others," says Young. "Worth" is a song that makes light of the fact that even though there have been many hard times that people face over the years, it's worth it all just to see someone's life impacted and changed. "Backstabber" is a very personal song about a relationship that ended rather bitterly. "It shares a lot of negative emotions that have never really surfaced before in Disciple songs," Young admits. "Disciple has always wanted to be more than just music. I think that our songs are a direct reflection of what is going on in our lives, and we share our experiences with people in hopes that we can relate to our audience on a deeper level."
Disciple is seeking to spread their message and music to as many new faces as possible. "We want to play for more people than we have ever played for," says Young. "We have never been in this thing for money and I hope we never will be, but at the same time we want to reach as many people as we can with our music. We feel that our songs are more than just music – we've seen them have a positive impact on people's lives. As a band, we feel like we have had the opportunity to do more and be a part of more than we ever dreamed. We are thankful for that. But we feel like we have so much more to give. Things have fallen into place for us. We've got the right team around us for the first time in our careers and we think we've made the right music. Again, I feel like we are just getting started."
If this is "just getting started," then Disciple's future could be quite a ride.
Red
Anthony – Guitar
Randy – Bass / Vocals
Michael – Vocals
Jasen – Guitar
Hayden – Drums
Passionate vocals. Gnashing guitars. A potent message.
These are the elements that make Red — both live and on their mighty debut, End of Silence—one of the most buzzed about bands to crash through the Christian rock world in recent memory.
"We're passionate about our live show, but sometimes we get a little too excited," says bassist Randy Armstrong. He's just stating the facts. Or more to the point, the injury report. Head contusions. Emergency rooms. Stitches. And that was just their last tour. "Anthony swung his guitar around his body and smashed it into Michael's head causing the guitar to break and Michael to get seven stitches."
It's more than just good theater, though. There's conviction fueling the onstage bonfire, an inferno that burns brightly on the band's first proper album. "We're intent on connecting with the crowd," Armstrong explains. "We're there for them. They're not there for us." One might disagree. After all, over 21,000 MySpace "friends" in just over a year online speak to a devoted following of fans. One that should only grow with the release of End of Silence.
It's a long way from their days growing up in Pennsylvania playing to area youth groups, performing popular contemporary Christian music covers. "We were pretty sure we were breaking copyright laws," says Randy Armstrong with a bit of a laugh. "It was fun. But for me personally, you grow out of pop music. I mean, you always like it, but something about somebody screaming in your face gets people pumped up and makes them want to listen. Something about that edge makes you feel a certain way."
As contemporary Christian rock continues to push boundaries of what a band can say with its music, bands like Red are on the forefront. Having personally dealt with tragedy, regrets, addiction, and a litany of past mistakes, Red looks real issues right between the eyes on End of Silence and refuses to blink. Guitarist Jasen Rauch hopes his past difficulties can have a positive impact on listeners. He wants to remind everyone that, "No matter where you've been, the endgame of salvation is still the same."
"People are hitting on subjects that are deeper and darker," Armstrong says. "I think it's just a sign of Christian music evolving. But at the end of the day, no matter what the message is wrapped in, the music is still about redemption. How people got out of their struggles and into their relationship with God."
First single, "Breathe Into Me," perfectly sums up this approach. Armed with angular, staccato riffs and Michael's throat shredding yet melodic vocals, the song is a fierce lament about looking back and not liking what you see. "This is where I lose myself when I keep running away from you," Michael's shouts. His redemption comes in a chorus backed with mournful strings and a yearning, almost pleading cry for God to "breathe your life into me—I still need you."
Such heavy messages risk being overpowered and singed by the churning, often brutal instrumentation, but it's a risk the band was willing to take. "Rock bands aren't always very well received in the Christian world," says Armstrong. "But you look around at what bands are popular right now, and I think the kids are paying attention. It's a fine line, but I think we walk it pretty well."
Red's duality—fiery, yet poignant—is best exemplified in the flip-sided duo of songs, "Already Over" and album closer "Already Over, Pt. 2." The first version is led by a dark, lilting piano and relentless snare before exploding in pure metal fury. Lyrically it documents a downward spiral, a running or falling away from something good. "Pt. 2" is the antithesis. A stripped down happy ending of sorts, where the lost soul finally finds its way home.
After so much angst and upheaval, it's a fitting final resting place for what should go down as one of the most powerful debut albums of the year.
Run Kid Run
David Curtis - Vocals, Guitar
Neil Endicott - Guitar, Vocals
Lyle Chastain - Bass
Matt Jackson - Drums
Hailing from the state of Illinois, Run Kid Run is a 4 piece pop rock band with huge hooks, infectious melodies, and uplifting lyrics. Their debut full-length, This is Who We Are, was produced by James Paul Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever, New Found Glory). "This Is Who We Are is about finding your true sense of self, and then holding on to that with all you have," says guitar player Neil Endicott. "We want people to have something they can listen to that makes them feel better about whatever is going on in their life." With a record that is guaranteed to make you sing along, don't pass up the chance to experience Run Kid Run for yourself. Look for This is Who We Are to hit stores in Summer 2006 on Tooth & Nail Records.
