A Look Back: P.O.D. Concert Review

I reviewed a P.O.D. concert held at the Gaylord Entertainment Center in Nashville, Tenn. for Seven Ball magazine's May/June 2004 issue.

Concert Cataloguing

Since I began this blog, I have endeavored to capture the concerts that I have attended.  However, I enjoyed many, many shows prior to the birth of this blog in early July 2006.  I have also inadvertently failed to properly record performances, here and there.  In an effort to catalog each concert I have attended, I have located ticket stubs for shows that I have not yet posted on this blog and listed them below.  There are, of course, countless concerts for which I have no stubs or evidence of attendance.  In the days ahead, I will attempt to compile memories, as well as physical memorabilia (photos, autographed posters, autographed CD booklets, etc.) and log the missing shows as best I can.  The following, previously-omitted concert listings appear in alphabetical order, by artist.

dc Talk - Wings Stadium, Kalamazoo, Mich. - Mar. 12, 1996
dc Talk - The Delta Plex, Grand Rapids, Mich. - Oct. 27, 2001

Gavin DeGraw - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Feb. 6, 2004

Eisley - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Mar. 24, 2006

Patty Griffin - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. - May 14, 2005
Patty Griffin - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. - May 1, 2007

Alison Krauss & Union Station - Sommet Center, Nashville, Tenn. - Aug. 25, 2007

Lifehouse - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - July 7, 2003

Sarah McLachlan - Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville, Tenn. - July 28, 2004

Mute Math - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Apr. 20, 2005

P.O.D. - The Orbit Room, Grand Rapids, Mich. - Oct. 29, 2001
P.O.D. (opening for Linkin Park) - Gaylord Entertainment Center, Nashville, Tenn. - Feb. 29, 2004

Regina Spektor - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tenn. - Nov. 14, 2007

Sixpence None the Richer - Exit/In, Nashville, Tenn. - Feb. 16, 2003

Sufjan Stevens - Mercy Lounge, Nashville, Tenn. - Sept. 23, 2005

Switchfoot - Rocketown, Nashville, Tenn. - Oct. 28, 2003

Top 10 Songs of 2018

My Favorite Songs of 2018:
~ in alphabetical order, by artist ~

  1. Forgive You - Leon Bridges
  2. Money - Mat Kearney
  3. Naturally Pretty Girls - Elle King
  4. The Majesty of Love - Lenny Kravitz
  5. Purple Snowflakes - John Legend
  6. Happy, Happy Christmas - Ingrid Michaelson
  7. I Like That - Janelle Monae
  8. Rockin' With the Best - P.O.D.
  9. Freedom - Jussie Smollett
10. Speed Queen - Thunderpussy

Hot Pick: Out Today

P.O.D. : Murdered Love

 

Top 10 Songs of 2008

My Favorite Tracks of the Year:

~ in alphabetical order, by artist ~

1. Cold Shoulder - Adele
2. Viva la Vida - Coldplay
3. Somebody's Baby - Jon Foreman
4. Say Hey (I Love You) - Michael Franti & Spearhead
5. Will You Marry Me - Lenny Kravitz
6. Wake Up - Leeland
7. The Best Thing - Ray LaMontagne
8. Falling in Love in a Coffee Shop - Landon Pigg
9. Kaliforn-Eye-A - P.O.D.
10. Riu Riu Chiu - Sixpence None the Richer

I Am Not a Purist

Blame it on Toby McKeehan (at right), the "musical gumbo" king who forever ruined my tastebuds for "the straight and narrow." I rarely like any pure genre -- I don't like straight pop, I like pop/rock. I don't care for straight alternative, I like alterna-pop. I don't like straight folk, I like folk rock or pop-flavored folk. I don't enjoy straight rap or hardcore, I like rapcore. I don't like straight bluegrass, Americana or blues, I like bluesy, Americana-tinged pop/folk/rock with hints of bluegrass. I was reminded of that this week, while spinning Alison Krauss & Union Station's So Long So Wrong (which I borrowed from my manager's manager, Linda) in preparation for the show I am to see (for free) tomorrow night. I generally get bored with "the straight and narrow" (as it's used in this context). Perhaps that's why some of my favorite artists are Mat Kearney, Over the Rhine, P.O.D., Sufjan Stevens and, of course, tobyMac.

P.O.D. Announces New Label Partnership

Just released last night, the rapcore rockers of P.O.D. have formed a partnership with INO and Columbia Records, with a new project to drop late this summer.

So Long, Farewell

According to ChristianMusicToday.com, bassist Phil Joel has retired from the Newsboys and P.O.D. guitarist Jason Truby announced his departure just two weeks following official word that the rapcore's original axeman, Marcos Curiel, had returned to the Payable On Death lineup. For more, click here.

The 411 on P.O.D.

Rapcore rockers P.O.D. released the following to their fans via e-mail this morning:

Over the past few weeks, P.O.D. have teamed up with Rhino Records to release a 'Greatest Hits' record simply titled, "Greatest Hits - The Atlantic Years"...Early reports are that this will be a 17-track record. But P.O.D. wanted to make this even more special, so they are including two NEW songs! One of the new tracks will be a never been released song from the Glen Ballard "Testify" sessions. The other new track is being recorded this week with producer Travis Wyrick. Chris Lord-Alge is scheduled to mix the song next week in Los Angeles. Rhino have set a Nov. 21 release date.

P.O.D. Parts with Label

P.O.D. released the following to fans early this morning via e-mail: Warriors - IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT P.O.D. have left Atlantic Records. We've been proud to be Atlantic Recording Artists, but it's not the same place anymore. For most of our stay, we were blessed by a staff that was gracious towards our vision, faith, and love of music...resulting in more than 7 million records sold. It's time to dream again with a new staff and we leave with grateful hearts. by the people, FOR the people - P.O.D. - Aug. 2006 Personally, I am excited about this move. I look forward to the return of the "real" P.O.D. Time will tell. To Atlantic Records, "good-bye for now, so long," indeed.

P.O.D.: EP vs. LP

I was saddened early this year after P.O.D.'s latest LP, Testify, was released, having LOVED The Warriors EP Vol. 2, which hit stores in late '05. The EP represents everything that I love about the boys from Southtown -- raw passion, reggae, rap and rock. So, when I spun Testify, I was disappointed to find that the "wildfire" seemed to have been subdued. The disc is not a total wash, however, thanks to notable moments with Matisyahu, etc. While Testify has been back on my shelf for some time, EP numero dos remains in my car, ready for rotation and rawk.

Note: You'll notice that Testify is in the running for my five favorite albums of the year (see the Albums of the Year: The Halfway Mark post), despite the lack of wildfire.