A Look Back: Jason Eskridge, Mat Kearney, & M.O.C. in Concert

I had the pleasure of experiencing up-and-coming artists perform at Bethel World Outreach Center in Brentwood, Tenn. in the early-to-mid aughts during my time in membership there, especially at the young adult gatherings.  R&B/soul vocalist Jason Eskridge, folk/hip-hop (turned pop/rock) singer/songwriter Mat Kearney, and rapper M.O.C. were among them.

A Look Back: Eleventyseven Article

I covered pop/punk band Eleventyseven for HM magazine's March/April 2006 issue.

A Look Back: Eternal Return in Concert

I saw folk duo Eternal Return perform at Living Word Ministry Center in Frankfort, Ind. while I was home from college in the mid-to-late 90s.  I bought the disc above and proceeded to feature the first track, "Crawl," on my college radio station, WTHS, during my allotted on-air time slot.

A Look Back: Duvall Article

I interviewed pop/rock band Duvall for Seven Ball's July/August 2004 issue.

A Look Back: Release Magazine

As I recently noted, there is very little electronic evidence that 7ball/Seven Ball magazine existed.  There is even less online proof that its sister magazine, Release, was ever in print.  In light of that void, I am documenting photographic evidence in this post, both of the initial run of the publication (featuring Katy Hudson-soon-to-be-Perry above) and the single issue of its reincarnation, to which I contributed (see below).

A Look Back: core

For a short time, I served as the local editor for Christian Spotlight magazine, as published by The Holland Sentinel.  I covered the worship/rock band core in the January 2002 issue.  The four piece was fronted by Nate Marialke.

 Point of Personal Privilege: In 2000, I toured in Germany with the band, then known as Levite, playing percussion and singing the occasional harmony (see me at right). 

A Look Back: Code of Ethics, Newsboys, & Tony Vincent in Concert

I saw Europop band Code of Ethics (see COE frontman Barry Blaze pictured at center above) and pop vocalist Tony Vincent (pictured at center below) open for Newsboys at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Ind. in the fall of 1993.  I also saw Newsboys at least three other times, two of which I have documented elsewhere (AtlantaFest '93 and Holland Civic Center with Audio Adrenaline).  I also witnessed them headline the Festival Con Dios stop in Grand Rapids, Mich., likely on Sept. 15, 2001.

 

A Look Back: Building 429 & Jeremy Camp Album Reviews

I reviewed Building 429's pop/rock-flavored Glory Defined EP for Seven Ball magazine's May/June 2004 edition, as well as Jeremy Camp's Carried Me: The Worship Project for the March/April '04 issue.

A Look Back: 7ball/Seven Ball Magazine

My favorite music magazine during my late teens through mid-20s was 7ball.  It was my dream to write for the zine.  After the publication folded in the early aughts, it was revived -- as Seven Ball -- and I had the pleasure of writing for it, before it closed its books again for good.  I'm not certain precisely when the first iteration ceased.  However, I know that Seven Ball was in print from July 2003 through October '04.  Perhaps the saddest thing is that there is very little evidence that Seven Ball even existed, which is why I am posting this piece with photographic proof. 

Thankfully, I was wise enough to keep one copy of the 7ball CD sampler that was, at one time, a perk of the publication.

A Look Back: Across the Sky & Everman Album Reviews

I reviewed Across the Sky's self-titled pop debut for revamped Release magazine's September 2003 issue, which -- as it turned out -- would be the only edition of the momentarily revived mag.  I also reviewed pop/rock outfit Everman's eponymous freshman release for the same solo issue.

A Look Back: Burlap to Cashmere & Steven Delopoulos in Concert

I saw folk singer/songwriter Steven Delopoulos open for Over the Rhine at Nashville (Tenn.)'s 12th & Porter on Oct. 19, 2003 (as documented above).  However, the first time I witnessed him in concert was at the Allegan County (Mich.) Fair as the frontman for his world music band Burlap to Cashmere.  The show took place in 1999 and, if memory serves me, they opened for Sixpence None the Richer.

A Look Back: Maire/Moya Brennan Album Review

My first post-college journalistic/music critique endeavor included an album review of Irish folk singer/songwriter Maire Brennan's Perfect Time (see below) for West Michigan's now-defunct Fuse Magazine.  The piece was published in Fuse's July/August 1998 issue (see above).  All these years later, I just learned that Maire is also known as Moya Brennan, the first lady of Celtic music.

A Look Back: Caedmon's Call, Church of Rhythm, Eclipse/Scratch Track, & Five O'Clock People in Concert

Although I recall seeing folk band Caedmon's Call and opening folk/rock act Five O'Clock People at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. in the very early aughts (likely on Oct. 28, 2000), I do not remember exactly where or when I witnessed pop/hip-hop outfit Church of Rhythm live.  I know for a fact that I saw Eclipse at a Christian bookstore in Antioch, Tenn. (perhaps the store was called Kindred) in the early aughts.  Eclipse soon changed their name to Scratch Track, the moniker under which I experienced their acoustic/hip-hop/soul genius at Nashville's 3rd & Lindsley some time later.  As the group morphed and one of the founders, Will Gray, departed for a solo venture, I followed him, as well, until his untimely death in 2013.

A Look Back: My First Concert

If I remember correctly, I experienced my very first live concert in the fifth grade when my family and church friends went to see Carman at Kokomo High School in 1986 or '87.  I witnessed his live show at least two other times in my life -- once at an arena that I do not recall and once at AtlantaFest in 1993.  The photo above was taken by my friend Julie as Carman (center) was departing Market Square Arena in Indianapolis, Ind. on Sept. 8, 1994.

A Look Back: Bloodlined Calligraphy

I saw female-fronted metalcore band Bloodlined Calligraphy in concert at Rocketown in Nashville, Tenn. on Apr. 22, 2005, after covering the band for HM magazine in a story published in the January/February 2005 issue.

A Look Back: Big Tent Revival & The Elms in Concert

Thanks to my autographed mementos above, I can confidently say that I saw the Southern rock band Big Tent Revival in concert at least twice and rock outfit The Elms at least once.  I know for certain that I witnessed The Elms open for BTR at Hope College in Holland, Mich. sometime between the fall of 1999 and the spring of 2000.  I remember seeing The Elms years later at Nashville's Exit/In but can't recall -- or find evidence of -- when.

A Look Back: All Star United

I experienced the Brit-flavored pop/rock band All Star United at least once in concert.  I believe it was at the Fold Zandura/All Star United/Kosmos Express show I witnessed at The Underground in Jenison, Mich. on Apr. 27, 1997 that the band signed my All Star United (self-titled) CD booklet (pictured above).  I recall also seeing ASU open for Third Day at a Grand Rapids-area church (perhaps at Sunshine Community Church) at some point.  I am certain, however, that 10 years later, I interviewed the band's founder and frontman, Ian Esklelin, for HM magazine for a story published in the May/June 2007 issue (pictured below).

A Look Back: The Benjamin Gate in Concert

I saw South-Africa-based alternative rock band The Benjamin Gate in concert at least twice.  I know for certain I witnessed them perform at the Donelson Free Will Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn. because I reviewed that show for Seven Ball magazine in 2003 (see below).  I also recall experiencing their live show at ResLife Church in Grandville, Mich., as well as at the Festival Con Dios stop in Grand Rapids, Mich., perhaps on Sept. 15, 2001.  However, my memory is not as reliable as it once was and I have no ticket stubs for those concerts to prove my attendance.  Regardless, at one of those Michigan gigs, the band signed my ["Untitled"] CD booklet (see above).

A Look Back: Audio Adrenaline in Concert

As best as I can piece together, the following list represents a portion of the Audio Adrenaline concerts that I experienced.

• A Park Somewhere in Indiana, Explosion '93* - Sometime in 1993
  
• Anderson University Auditorium, Anderson, Ind. - Feb. 17, 1994, with dc Talk & Out of Eden
• Allen County Memorial Coliseum, Fort Wayne, Ind. - Apr. 23, 1994, with dc Talk
• Holland Civic Center, Holland, Mich. - Sometime Between Fall 1994 & Spring 1998, with Newsboys

NOTE: In addition to the autographed items shown here, I had an autographed Don't Censor Me poster for many years before recycling it in an attempt to downsize my collection.

* Due to flooding and mud on the premises, the outdoor event was moved into a picnic shelter, where I danced on the concrete with frontman Mark Stuart, who borrowed some of my moves.

A Look Back: Meeting Dakoda Motor Co.

When I met the members of Dakoda Motor Co. at AtlantaFest on June 18, 1993, their first record, Into the Son, was not yet available.*  However, I had been following news re: their forthcoming album and was stoked about their female-fronted debut and entrance onto the music scene.  The DMC bandmates were all very kind, gave me a flyer (pictured at left), signed it, and presented me with a touring memento that I still have to this day (pictured at right).  Sadly, I never had the opportunity to see them play live.

* According to the Internet, the record was released on June 15, 1993.  That being the case, I had not yet had the opportunity to buy it at a Christian bookstore, or purchase it from a mail-order music company, before traveling to Georgia for the festival.

A Look Back: AtlantaFest '93

I am not a "festival person."  However, in 1993, I was young and excited to experience a slew of my favorite bands in one place.  I was thrilled to travel to Alpharetta, Ga. with some friends to attend AtlantaFest in June that summer.  There, I witnessed Audio Adrenaline, Carman, dc Talk, Jacob's Trouble, Newsboys, PFR, Two Hearts, and White Heart live, as well as a host of others I can't seem to remember.  Although I did not see Dakoda Motor Co. (pictured) in concert, I did spot them in the crowd and introduced myself to the brand-new surf-pop band.

A Look Back: Kevin Max in Concert

Growing up, I was one of dc Talk's most ardent enthusiasts.  Once the trio went on hiatus, I continued to follow each of the fellas fervently.  Velvet-voiced Kevin Max served as my vocal crush for many years.  After moving to Nashville myself, I seized on a few opportunities in the early aughts to experience a solo K-Max show -- one at The Slow Bar, another at 12th & Porter, and a third at Bongo Java's After Hours Theatre (on Mar. 8, 2003) -- but not before witnessing him in his own hometown, Grand Rapids, Mich., at Calvin College (as pictured above), on Oct. 21, 2000.

Note: I was pleasantly surprised this evening to find that I had safely stored my Bongo and Calvin ticket stubs in my Stereotype Be CD booklet.