As we venture more and more into the digital age it seems that bands want perfection. They want to record their music all digitally and fix every last little thing. The new album from One for the Team titled “Ghosts” was recorded all on tape; I love it. Ian Anderson had this to say about the unique decision to record on tape.

“Nowadays you can make everything perfect during the recording process, but you can’t do that on tape. The way it is, is the way it is and that was really important to us as a band.”

The album opens up ‘I’ve been here so long.” Slow melodic guitar and vocals kick it off as it builds up to the perfect intro reminiscent of early Weezer and the classic 90’s alternative sound. The guitar tone is already raw and fuzzy. It sounds so real that I am willing to bet this record captures their live sound. “Every Little Thing” is simple and could easily be the background to any action movie where the hero gets the girl. It hits you hard at the 55 second mark and never backs down. The guitars, the keyboard, the drums; you couldn’t ask for more. This song makes buying the record worth it by itself. With a track written so well one knows the rest of the album must be great.

My favorite track from the “Ghosts” is “Best Supporting Actress.” The bass-line drives the verses with a wall of guitars bringing the chorus. The constant synthesizer in the background reminds me of the 80’s where the synthesizer ruled the music world. The background vocals of Grace Fiddler, who plays synthesizer and sings, bring a refreshing blend to every song on this record. Track 7, “Ancient Age” just plain rocks.

This record is fresh and a gem find for 2010. Tell all your friends or buy 2 copies and give one away. If I could get a dollar for well written songs on this record then I’d have $10.00.

Every once in a while its fun to take a step out of the musical genre I love and check out something a little different. The new Gorillaz album falls right into that category.
The album begins with the intro track “orchestral intro” where the soothing sounds of the ocean and seagulls can be heard along with a mellow string arrangement. I must say it a very relaxing way to open a record. The next track begins with a space sounding keyboard and a bass-line that reminds me of the 70’s. A listener feels right away like they are being transported to Mars. I can see the spacesuit and futuristic helmet I am wearing. “Rhinestone Eyes’ is wonderful. The vocals carry the song with a subtle selection of beats and instruments in the background. At 52 seconds in the song picks up and I can’t help but enjoy this newfound guilty pleasure.

The song “Solo” might as well be the new Knight Rider Theme Song. If you took Kit and mixed him with the submarine from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, than this is what you would get. ‘Melancholy Hill” is a true tribute to the 80’s, drum machine, synth, and overall feeling that I need to get back out my 80’s toys. It’s my favorite track on the album because it’s arrangement is amazing. The instrumentation is pure genius and gives the current radio crap a run for its money. In a weird way it reminds me of Men at Work.

“Glitter” is the perfect backdrop to play Lazer Tag too. I could picture me and the rest of the Enoch Magazine crew shooting each us with this track confusing us in the background. On track 9 “Some Kind of Nature” the vocals carry the song with a bass-line that would best be felt and heard through some subwoofers as your rolling down the streets of Los Angeles.

Overall I was surprised by this record. I had heard the Gorillaz records in the past and I wasn’t that impressed. The instrumentation is experimental but yet not too out of the box. The beats leave me walking away while still grooving in my head. After listening to this album I’d be interested in seeing them perform it all live. I must mention too, that the album artwork is designed flawlessly.

John The Baptist said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

“What should we do then?” the crowd asked.

John answered, “The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same.” (Luke 3:7-11)

As I logged on to Myspace one day, a new world was exposed to me in Los Angeles; A world where people were doing radical things to proclaim the name of Jesus Christ to the homeless on Skid Row. As i gazed at the information and videos online, little did I know that I, myself would be traveling to LA and working along side these Christians. It would be me, my friend Joe and his Senior High Pastor, (also named Joe) who would travel thousands of miles to serve in Skid Row Los Angeles.

The adventure started when Joe Barsha took over as the new Senior High Pastor at the Chapel in North Canton. At that time, I had no idea what Skid Row was, but as I was looking around a friend’s Myspace, I started watching videos about Patrick Ersig and the Jonah Project. They were a street ministry who worked with the homeless in Skid Row LA. At the same time, Joe Barsha was planning the summer’s missions trip to LA. So I decided to meet up with him and one of his student leaders Joe Furno for some delicious White Castle. Before our meeting was over, I had showed them the videos from Enochmagazine.com and the Jonah Project’s website. They were both amazed by what they saw and felt a passion to love the people of Skid Row.

Later that night, Joe Furno went home but couldn’t fall asleep. God had already put it on his heart that he should do something to help the poor and hungry around Christmas time. Joe had this overwhelming feeling that they should go Los Angeles sooner than summer. The hastened journey was initially hard to accept, but as he tossed and turned and wrestled with God, he began to feel peace about it. No longer did he worry about the danger or what it might cost him. He only wanted to do God’s will.

The next day I saw Joe at a Bible study, and he told me about what God had envisioned for them. I thought that was an amazing idea and we decided it was going to happen. However, deciding to go to Skid Row was just the beginning.

After many decisions on how to go about making the trip, we decided it would be best for just the three of us to go. Since we would be flying stand-by, our departure would have to come sooner than later with Christmas around the corner. Excited to go, we also realized we should start loving the poor and the least of these while we were still in Canton. We started to help out at the Total Living Center (yes, the TLC), as well as meet the wonderful people standing on the side of the road. Whether it be bringing diapers to dad’s who have lost their contracting jobs, or serving a hot burrito to a 60 something homeless man needing a place to stay inside at night, we meant to show the love of Jesus Christ through our actions and words.

But before the trip, Joe and I attended a potluck dinner with the new Missions/College Pastor, Clinton Lowin, who decided to put envelopes of $2,500 ($100 per envelope) on the table, saying that if anyone would like to use it to start a ministry, to take as much as they needed. Joe and I decided to take $300, and that was the start of One Coat Movement. I requested some designs from Carter at Enoch Magazine, borrowed a friend’s screen printer, and ordered 50 shirts. Before our trip, we sold a good amount of the shirts to help spread the word about the Jonah project in Skid Row, as well as help them financially.

When we finally got to LA (after many delays, due to fog), it was an amazing week. We met so many people whom we will never forget. Amazing people such as Theresa, who, despite getting attacked by a neighbor with a meat cleaver, was willing to forgive that person and show the love of Jesus Christ to him. She also told us about how she struggled with drug addiction and how she was a prostitute, until she met Patrick, who introduced her to Jesus. We also met Henry, a man from Sri Lanka, who Patrick helped get social security after he was denied because the paper work was filled out wrong. It was hard pushing his wheelchair around the city, his one wheel kept popping off. While we pushed him down the streets of Skid Row that suddenly turned into the wealthier part of the city, I realized that this is something he has to do by himself everyday. We met some other people as well, such as Bob, Oscar, Marcus, and Jedi, a spoken word poet.

Mathew, a friend of Patrick’s, also met with us that week. He showed us this vacant lot in the Hispanic district where the Jonah Project was thinking of using as a community garden. It was funny, a lot of the kids there stared at us and some took pictures when they thought we weren’t looking. They were cool though; they interviewed Mathew for a school project and talked to him about why he wanted to make a garden there. Mathew later shared some really delicious oranges with us from a tree in his backyard. Being from Ohio, we’ve never had fresh, off-the-tree oranges before.

It was an amazing experience, and I think all of us wished we could’ve stayed longer. Hopefully, i’ll be able to intern at the Jonah Project this summer. During that time, Joe Barsha will be taking the Senior High youth group to LA to show them how to love the homeless in his home neighborhood, as well as Skid Row. The One Coat Movement has been growing in order to help out the Jonah Project. It stemmed from the verse i mentioned at the top of this article. It represents a way where someone like me, who is halfway across the country, can create something that’s hands on and full of purpose. I encourage all of you to seek out people and ministries in need, lend a hand and see where God takes you.

First there was the duo of The White Stripes, two people showing the ability to make incredible music with out the tremendous need for a band. The Honesty is a brand new duo that brings youthful energy and passion made up of Tasha GilBreath on vocals and Mikey Davis on bass, guitar and drums. At first listen one would say “Hey, they sound like Paramore or Anberlin” but I beg the differ. Even though this duo currently has two songs up on their myspace page from their two son g sampler in my eyes they show an awesome amount of potential.And I don’t think it’s fair to an artist or any band to automatically stick them in the shadows of another.

I’m excited for this duo, and I’d be saddened to see them bring on new members. I would love to see them, step back, breath and not try to sound like anyone else and just continue to push the limits of creativity. The Honesty has a EP coming out THIS Spring,which will consist of eight songs produced by member of the metal act Confide, Joel Piper.Look for on ITUNES. Don’t be a stranger, go check em out!

The Honesty on Myspace

Enoch Magazine meets up with Hawk Nelson at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. Hang with Jason Dunn, Daniel Biro and the Enoch crew as Hawk Nelson takes their new album, Live Life Loud, on the road. Hear the band’s stories from recording the new album, as well as their thoughts on homeless, getting involved and who Jesus is.

Also, read the PRINT INTERVIEW we did with Jason Dunn HERE»

Enoch Magazine loves to be a part of the Skid Row Community. Every 2nd Thursday of the month Skid Row Artists display their talents at the Downtown Los Angeles Artwalk. It happens between Main and Spring in an alley on 5th street in Downtown Los Angeles.

When we see the homeless, usually our first response is to avoid them. Don’t make eye contact, don’t acknowledge them, and everything should be fine. If for some reason, an interaction can’t be avoided, give them spare change and keep moving. But when you see 10,000 homeless people on the streets of Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles you begin to think otherwise. You feel and see their pain, their struggles, their loneliness. When you set foot into a place like Skid Row, it’s easy to forget what was so important in your life and start wondering how to help these other lives.

I first met Jay in October 2009. He was standing outside the VOA (Volunteers of America center) and struck up a conversation with me while my wife was using the bathroom. Jay was quick to tell me that he grew up in the home of an addicted mother in Las Vegas. His siblings had been placed with foster parents, most of which he no longer knew their whereabouts. He came to Los Angeles for a new start.

Jay instantly began explaining his feelings toward a “loss of identity.” I asked him to share more and he told me that he had no ID, no birth certificate, no social security card. Everyone he had approached to help him with this issue had denied him. He felt like he had no reason to live, no one cared about his life and identity. “If I died tomorrow,” he explained, “no one would even know who he was.” Jay was 20 years old, had no money, and possessed only the clothes on his back. As we talked more, my heart broke for this young man. Jay was experiencing what I imagine most homeless people go through, the frustration of not having the simplest of possessions; an drivers license and birth certificate. And now I was the next person to hear his plea for help. Would I go on with my life and pray that the next person he met would help him? Or would I put his life first, before mine?

Having just met him, I decided it was important to begin the process of finding his identity. So we set up a time to meet later that week, to go get his birth certificate. When that day arrived, we met up and literally walked 2 or 3 miles to the nearest Government office to get his birth certificate. But after a lot of patience and paperwork they told Jay he was not in their system. He broke down in tears in front of me, saying, “I know I exist.” We ended up walking the 2 plus miles back to Skid Row, frustrated.

It’s not easy spending your whole day with an anxious homeless person who’s desperate for help. I know this. That’s why most people would rather not get involved. Helping people is not always easy (in fact it’s usually draining and sometimes frustrating). But we as believers in Christ, “Christians” are not your average slackers. Christ showed me patience, so what if I have to spend another day with Jay?

The next day my wife and I drove him to the courthouse in Norwalk. In 15 min., we walked out with a copy of his birth certificate. You should have seen the smile on Jay’s face. I looked at my watch and saw that we had 30 minutes until the DMV closed. With the success of his birth certificate in play, I decided to “let it ride” as we drove to get his drivers license. It was closing time we we arrived, but we got his license too!

Over the next few months Jay and I became close friends. Since I work with the homeless in Skid Row each day, i would continually see him. We enjoyed talking about video games, sports and Jay’s plans for the future. His newly obtained drivers license told me he was turning 21 soon. I decided to take him out for his birthday. Imagine what it must be like to be homeless, and have no family…and then imagine all that on your birthday. Jay loved video games and I knew the perfect place.

So a few weeks ago the Enoch Magazine crew took Jay and his girlfriend to Nickel Nickel in Huntington Beach. For those of you who don’t know Nickel Nickel is an arcade where all the games cost a nickel or 2 (i.e. “nickel nickel”). Jay was so excited. Over the next 3 hours we played air hockey, won tickets and challenged each other on every game in the arcade. I knew the time spent would cause him to miss his shelter curfue, so that night we put both Jay and his girlfriend up in a hotel. His birthday celebration would continue as we ordered pizzas to the room and watched TV. The room also offered a fresh and the opportunity to sleep in, (which is extremely rare the homeless world).

The last few weeks Jay and his girlfriend had been living in the shelter. Each day, around 3pm, they wait in line for a bus, where by they are picked up, given a bed, dinner, and then returned to the street the following morning at 5 am. Jay says the shelter smells like body odor and piss. A good night’s sleep is nearby impossible with all the homeless fighting, yelling and trying to steal your stuff. Try to imagine the daily struggles Jay faces: sleeping on the streets for weeks, fighting for placement in shelters, waking up with an empty stomach and no money. To make a difference in lives of the homeless you must invest. People must see the homeless as real people that God created individually. They come from families, they have personalities and they have dreams. And yes, in many cases, the homeless tend to have addiction issues or mental issues; maybe they haven’t been given a fair chance like you and I. But the next time you see a homeless person, remind yourself that you are the hands and feet of Christ. Bless them with a hug. Learn their name. Jesus always tended to the true needs of a person. The next time God puts a homeless person in your path, I encourage you to seek out the true needs of that person. Take a step of real faith, use discernment and step into the world of serving others. Christ calls us in Luke 9:23 “to take up his cross daily” and live like him. If you can’t love the homeless like you love your family then maybe you need to remember that we are all part of the family of God.

The lyrics of Alkaline Trio have always drawn me to their music. I remember when Alkaline Trio first started in 1996. Since then, I have followed their career, embraced every release, and fallen in love with their unique sound, dark lyrics, and overall energy live.

The first track off their new release “This Addiction” (which is also the title) reminds me of their earlier releases. The song tells the struggle of a failed relationship that one person is strongly addicted to. It’s a powerful punk rock song, and musically shows that Alkaline Trio can still deliver the best after all these years. This cd is the first album released on their own label Heart and Skull, which is partnered up with Epitaph Records. Lyrically, every Alkaline Trio song tells a story that leaves me wondering where the lyric inspiration came from. The song “The American Scream’ has every classic Alkaline Trio element. It’s based on a news story Matt Skiba, the singer and guitar player, read about a Vietnam Veteran committing suicide on his mother’s grave. Although sad, it paints an honest story of the pain and struggle that so many soldiers face after spending time serving our country in war.

Track 4, “Dead on The Floor” starts with a reminiscent sound of their earlier release, Maybe I’ll catch Fire. The guitar driven intro and duel vocal chorus is catchy, perfect, and leaves me wanting to listen to their entire discography. On “Off the Map,” I love the lyrics: “I retire to my chair, I grab my new guitar but I can’t make it sound, you could hear poisonous dreams jumping all around”. When Matt sings “I can’t roll roll roll my boat back to shore” the background vocals of Dan Andriano bring a chill to your spine. Its just sung so innocently and perfect. Alkaline Trio may have the best combination of singers for a 3 piece band.“Draculina” starts off with an Alice in Wonderland Reference that is brought about with a keyboard intro that builds into a complex array of musical arrangement that should bring these boys to the top of the charts.

Overall this may be the best Alkaline Trio record to date. The overall lyrics paint strong stories of life and struggle. They leave you feeling the pain and strife so many Americans face on a daily basis. The recording quality and arrangement is flawless. If you haven’t heard of these guys yet than this album is a great way to become introduced. With so many terrible releases being thrown at us today, Alkaline Trio is sure to come out on top with This Addiction. Pick it up at your local record store and don’t hesitate to catch them live on tour this spring.

No Use For a Name has been one of my favorite Punk Bands for many years. They were the first band that Enoch Magazine launched their live performance and interview videos with in Kansas City. It was at that show almost 2 years ago that Tony Sly, the singer of No Use For a Name, first told me that he was working on some acoustic stuff as a side project. Now, that project is completed and available for our listening pleasure

“12 Song Program” is very mellow and serious record. Tony Sly has really opened up a side of him we’ve never seem before on any No Use For a Name album. AS i unwrapped the Cd, the first thing I noticed was the lyrics book. It features Tony’s original handwritten lyrics from his personal notebook.Very Cool. It even shows where he has scratched out lines and changed his mind.

Track 1, “ Capo 4th Fret“ opens with one guitar, simple lyrics, and a story about using vices to get by. It relates playing guitar and forgetting lyrics to a baby that just learns to speak. You can easily pick up similarities from the songwriting that made No Use For A Name the band they are today. I already love that the music is simple and stripped down to reveal Tony Sly in a new and completely vulnerable way. ‘The Shortest Pier” is a definite stand out track on the album. The vocals carry the track completely and the guitar is a soft background piece of the puzzle that makes this song both simple and complex.

“Allready Won” seems like it could have been a left over No Use For a Name song. I could easily see this song played faster and turned into a Punk Rock Masterpiece. It brings an upbeat vibe to an overall mellow record. Track 11 “Fireball” is pure musical genius and my favorite song on the record. The song is mellow and melodic and shows the powerful song writing ability that has made Tony Sly one of my favorite musicians. The verses are soft enough to make you listen closely and the powerful chorus conveys a strong message from the heart. If Tony Sly ended his musical career today, this song could easily define his God given talent for generations to come.

With overall influences from Bob Dylan and David Bowie this album relaxes the soul and leaves the listener feeling a sense of Euphoria. It seems to really paint a picture of a mature Tony Sly that we have slowly seen creeping out on the last few No Use For a Name records. If you love Tony Sly’s lyrics and voice than make sure to find a place for “12 song program” in your record collection. As I once heard a wise man say “Even Punk Rocker’s Mellow Out”.

Watch the live performance and interview videos we did with No Use For a Name in Kansas City

No Use For a Name episodes 1-3

Aaron Sprinkle has produced so many great records through the years. He’s been in the music business for a long time - plays every instrument except drums, and produces bands for Tooth and Nail Records. When I had the chance to review Disappearing World by his new band “Fair,” I was ready for stellar production, catchy choruses and overall musical talent. What I received from this latest release was all that and more.

At the 1:34 mark in “Disappearing,” the music is simply wonderful. I feel the heartfelt lyrics coming to life as Aaron was belting out “His intentions were not as clear as they could be, whose reflection was not made to look like me.” The ending of this track reminds me of a well thought out daydream; It’s beautiful. “One Last Time” is my favorite track on Disappearing World. It’s a blend of Jimmy Eat World meets Sherwood. I can’t get it out of my head and it’s the perfect track to buy off of Itunes if you want to sample Fair.

“The Worst of your Wear” shares a similar sound to the earlier work of Mae. It’s an acoustic guitar driven song with piano and keyboards coming in and out to fill the sound. I usually listen to the lyrics but the arrangement was so powerful I found myself not even sure what the song was about. The music was captivating. Track 10, titled “Anymore” is a piano ballad that even Elton John would be proud of. Its simplicity brings it to a place so serene I could fall into a peaceful sleep while listening to it. At 2:48 the drums kick in and the song is in full effect; I love it. I actually feel like I’m watching a musical as I listen to this song. High School Musical watch out.

I have so much Punk Rock in my music collection, so this Cd is a perfect opportunity for me to take a break from fast drums and blazing guitars. This album gets the “Enoch Stamp of Approval” and is a treat for all music lovers. The production couldn’t get any better. The arrangements are fresh and it’s just not the ordinary stuff we hear everyday. Well done Aaron!

Imagine living in a city with the most prestigious colleges in the world, where people travel to from all over. Imagine living in a city where public school graduates have less than 10 percent chance of attending college. A city where there are numerous neighborhoods made up of multi-million dollar homes, while just three miles away, the majority of residents fall below the poverty line. Imagine living in a city where people commute to every day to go to their high paying jobs or their ivy league colleges. A city where there are more homeless people than beds in the homeless shelters. Imagine living in a city with thousands of college students. A city where gangs, violence, and drug addiction are rampant. Well this is where I live; It is better known as Boston.

I moved here three years ago for school. The first month I was here, I secured a work study job working at a preschool in Roxbury, the part of the city were folks were not living in those kazillion dollar homes. It was here that I first witnessed the great division within Boston. I would ride the bus just twenty minutes and be met by children who would come to school hungry and in the same clothes as the day before. Children who had parents who were unable to read to them. Kids who would tell us about the gun shots they heard the night before. Kids who didn’t know their dads. Children of high school students. Kids who got sick but couldn’t afford to go to the doctors. I remember the first day I got there, the children rubbed my milky skin and held their arms up to mine. It took me a few seconds to realize, but they seemed fascinated with my difference in complexion.

After doing some research, I discovered this is not uncommon for Boston. There are “white” neighborhoods like West Roxbury, made up of mostly educated, well to do folks. Then, there are “black” neighborhoods like Roxbury and Mattapan, where less than half the kids graduate high school, and less than ten percent will enroll in college. Sad when you think about it, seeing as over 300 thousand people move to this very city every year to attend college.

Boston’s colleges and universities have a major impact on the city and region’s economy, with students contributing over four billion dollars annually to the city’s economy. These facts prompted a series of questions. What if when students did more than just boost the economy? What if we “loved our neighbors as ourselves?” Perhaps students like myself have an even greater opportunity to show the residents of Boston who Jesus is by modeling His teachings! What if college students teamed up, both young and old, and worked together to see lives and communities transformed. They could be a part of something bigger: changing the lives of local residents, as well as their own.

This is where the vision for C.R.E.A.T.E. was born. I was concerned that while I was paying well over 30 grand a year for college, there were people in my neighborhood hungry, cold, homeless, neglected, and abused. What resources did they have to succeed? After some prayer, serious Bible reading and seeking advice from people much wiser and older than myself, I saw a path before me. The only way things in Boston could ever change for the better is if a bridge was built between communities. Boston has been historically separated. The privileged and educated must use their gifts and skills to serve the underprivileged and the marginalized. We must move into these neighborhoods, to stay and to integrate ourselves into the daily grind. Rather than pushing out the locals, we go to them….stay, and love.

The plan is to buy a house in Mattapan, a 2.8 square mile section in southern Boston. In fact, we have already fallen in love with a house. Although it has been empty for well over ten years now, the house is beautiful, and it’s located across the street from one of the largest housing developments in Boston. We want to buy this house, fix it up and immediately start to love the poor and the orphaned the way that Jesus has loved us. There’s a whole bunch of practical stuff to do for our neighbors, like GED tutoring, financial planning courses, free child care, and some other services that leaders in the neighborhood told us would be helpful. But more than that, we want to form relationships. We want to invite our neighbors over for dinner, we want to learn about them, we want to learn from them, and hopefully in the process, we can share the love of Christ with them.

Are there any Christians in Boston? I want to invite you to be a part of this. Give up a few years, (heck, maybe your whole life), to living simply in this intentional community so that together we can love with no limits. We have a vision of something bigger than ourselves. A vision of growth, emerging leaders and equipping more people to go out and do the same thing in other neighborhoods of Boston, New England, America, and the world. The most exciting part here is that you can be a part of this. And if spending the next few years living in Mattapan isn’t for you, we also need lots of prayer, a website, handy people to fix up our future home, and fifty-thousand dollars. That could be only $1,000 from 50 families or individuals that agree with my plea. For more details on how you can get involved, please email us as CREATEboston@gmail.com.

You will be hearing a lot more from us over here in Boston. Thank you Enoch Magazine for helping us get the word out. We look forward to all of you being a part of this journey.

Motion City Soundtrack is at it again with a splendid release. It’s full of catchy lyrics and guitar lines that pave the way for 2010 to be a great year for music. With Every Motion City Soundtrack release they are getting better and better at what they do.

The first track “Worker Bee” features the vocal lines that made me fall in love with these guys in the first place. My favorite track is “A Lifeless Ordinary” and it definitely deserves some airplay. I love the opening lyrics “I didn’t think I would make it, I thought everybody was against me. All those conquered eyes and Christmas’ alone.” They instantly make me wonder what the rest of the song is about. As I look into the lyrics it seems to be simply a song about needing some help to get through the challenges of life. Right before the 2nd verse starts the guitars carry the vocal line until the vocals come in and it’s a change from the usual songwriting we see so often today. “Her Words” has the typical story telling that’s present in every Motion City Soundtrack Song. Justin Pierre’s lyric’s have always been so honest and seem to open up his life to our ears on every album. The lyrics of this track involve Speaking Japanese, quitting smoking weed, Dinosaurs , selling an xbox, and shaving off a beard. Could you pack more creativity in three minutes and thirty nine seconds. The album closes with the song “Weakends.” It’s a strong closer and starts off with a melodic buildup. Every time I finish this album I am instantly craving more. Hopefully this will be the year where Motion City Soundtrack becomes a household name.

“My Dinosaur Life” is 12 tracks of pure magic produced by Mark Hoppus of Blink 182. I am impressed that Motion City Soundtrack can continue to put out great albums. If their coming to your city then pony up a few bucks and check out a show you won’t regret. This is the best release I’ve heard this year.

As our enoch team is nestled away in the comforts of Skid Row Los Angeles, I got curious and opened one of our record label emails. In it, I found a promo package for this 3 song EP by a band named The Quite Revolution (TQR). They are from Israel and describe themselves as a singer songwriter folk band. In fact it’s a little more complicated than that; the email promo read as follows: ” They are a singer songwriter folk band. Think of them as if Elliott Smith meets Janis Ian; darkness meets light; simplicity meets complexity; sci-fi /fantasy inspired lyrics meet melancholic bitter-sweet melodies.” “Wow,” I thought, “I know like 5 personal friends that are singer song writers and they’re all sci-fi /fantasy inspired…So, who cares?”

So then why am I writing this review, you ask?… One reason, or rather one song, entitled: “Parallel Me.” The whole “melancholic bitter-sweet” build-up was just too much to pass up. I was sure this EP would suck, but I had to prove it. I previewed the audio tracks, and yes, 2 of their songs were useless to me, (to be fair, the genre is just too far from what I’m in to). But the third track, “Parallel Me” was impossible to ignore. As I listed to this amazing piano ballad featuring Hadar Green, I new it would be a crime not give this artist/song it’s deserved credit. Although singer song writer piano songs are not my passion, I somehow still appreciated this song’s melody. It was familiar yet surprising. By this, I mean the vocal melodies and chords are so well orchestrated, you feel like you’ve heard the song before. But once you think you know where the melodies are going, they take a turn for the better. They veer down a more unique and creative path. This song is great, and worth checking out. I don’t want to build it up too much, (i.e. my own “simplicity meets complexity” pitch), because it’s not THAT epic…but I think that’s the point. There’s something extra special about a song that is written and executed well, but still comes across as timid and simplistic. Anyway, I’m enjoying it.

Skid Row is home to thousands of homeless in Los Angeles. Along with the homeless, there are many drug dealers, prostitutes, and violent people. But they are still people. Enoch Magazine documents a group of Christians that spend the night in Skid Row.

Once again, I have been given the opportunity to interview someone from a band I grew up with. He goes by the name of Tony Byroads, he was originally from the band Crossfade. In this interview tony tells about his old life and his new life, and new band The Undivided. Tony is an awesome dude, let this be a testimony to the never ending love God has for us.

Check out the Undivided on Myspace

Enoch Magazine ) Tony, I was reading through your bio, and it mentioned that you went in and out of foster homes. Can you talk about what that was like? And has that shaped you a person?

Tony ) Well, at age 6 I had been taken to a boys home. This was after a lot of things had happened to me. I had been hit by a car that almost killed me, had boiling water poured on my skin, hot forks purposely put on me and melt my skin, I’d been thrown across the room and my skull cracked open… this is just a few. My mom had dropped me off there and said she was coming back to get me, well… she never came back. I spent most of my time thinking she was coming back and just waiting and looking out a window. It’s amazing what solid truth a child thinks the words of his parents are. Kind of like believing in Santa and the Easter bunny I guess.

The boys home was called Baker Hall, it was in Lackawanna, NY. We had house parents who took care of the kids and eventually if we were adopted by foster parents got to go live with them and their family. I went in and out of several foster homes and lived with a few different families. Some were ok but some not so good either, I had been beaten almost to death by one lady for losing my retainer. But, I moved around like this until I was 18 and then let go to be on my own. It did make an impact on who I am today. Really, your growing years as a child ends up teaching you so much, I don’t think many people realize how much of an impact those learning years have. It forms so much about a person and their personality that will carry forward into their adult years. Luckily there were also counselors at the home that helped with dealing with what went on mentally afterwards. I think they helped a lot, I could have ended up thinking that was all normal and okay. My nature is to be a people pleaser. I think that came from early years. There was always that fear that I’d be beat or tortured somehow if I wasn’t. I am however very passionate about wanting to help with others that have suffered abuse. I can’t stand to see guys hit women. It takes me back to things I experienced as a child and just really hate seeing anyone treated badly.

Enoch Magazine ) Were you raised in a Christian home? And if so has faith in God always stuck with you?

Tony ) Well Baker Hall was run by the Basilica in Lackawanna, NY which is a catholic church. All the kids attended the Basilica on Sundays. It was like you had to do it, it wasn’t something that stayed with me though, you know? None of the foster homes I had gone to were Christian homes, none of them were a believing home in any way. Really, it wasn’t until I came out of the home and was told to go be on my own did I realize that God was more real than I gave him credit for. I had tried to get to my moms house on the bus with a couple bucks I had, and when I got there she peeked out the door and said “what are you doing here? You can’t stay here!” so I ended up spending the night sleeping in a goodwill box in Buffalo in the middle of February. I thank God I didn’t die of freezing to death!

I ended up coming to a restaurant looking for food and warmth and crazy enough my uncle just so happened to be sitting there. He ended up taking me to my Aunts house and she in turn drug me to a revival at her church…you cant tell me God wasn’t working in all of this. At the revival, there was this preacher, well a traveling evangelist. His name was Ed Hollingsworth. He came up to me and said he’d been praying and knew I had been going through some troubles and asked if I would want to go with him to South Carolina where a family would give me room and board and a job. That’s kind of where I realized God was there. When I moved in with the family, they were a Christian home, they would go to church every Sunday, and expected me to go also, so it grew me a little from there. It’s like God was there the whole time and at this moment tapping me on the shoulder saying “Hello, I’m here.” But at that point I think it was still something that didn’t sink in completely.

Enoch Magazine ) When the driver of the tour bus said to you: “This isn’t where God wants you” it seemed as though a light bulb just went off in your head. What was it like telling the rest of the Crossfade members that you needed to exit the band? How did they respond?

Tony ) I should probably give some background first, there was a lot of turmoil going on in the band already when I had left. I had been with the band for years before we were signed to Columbia Records. I had actually found the band while I was living with that family in South Carolina. The rest of the guys from Crossfade and I were all really cool with each other, great friends. Actually Ed and I spent a lot of time together goofing off and hanging out, he was a really sweet guy, Id say, my best friend.

It takes time for things to start up rolling when you get signed, so amidst the label doing what they needed to, there were some unfortunate personal things happening in Ed’s life and he and I ended up hanging out even more. We started touring and the band had jumped to being one of the biggest groups and headlining our own tour in like a year, I think it went to everyone’s heads. You know, that Nickelback song, I wanna be a rockstar? Well , its all true stuff. I started seeing the rest of the band, the roadies and managers, all of them, get caught up in some things they shouldn’t have. Ed and I almost got into a few fist fights, things between everyone just started unraveling. I ended up distancing myself from them sometimes because of my choosing, sometimes by theirs. We would get to a town where we’d be playing that night and Id just take off walking. I got to where I was kind of there in body, but that was it. I was there for the show and then I’d be back on the bus in my bunk or out walking by myself.

Luckily, I met the love of my life while on tour and in the middle of all this and while everyone would be out partying and doing whatever, Id be on the phone with her. She got to hear all my frustrations, but basically she was that shoulder I needed. I was that kind of person where if you told me something and it was a lie, I’ believe it, no questions asked. I couldn’t catch it when people would roll their eyes or blow me off. She started telling me to watch for more detail. That’s when the bus driver, who are never on the bus after shows, caught me on the bus one night. He said he’d been praying for me and that God told him this isn’t where I was supposed to be. So, yea, it was kind of like a light bulb. I started putting it all together and watching, and praying. I asked God if he’d just give me a sign. He did, and I knew I had to leave.

At this point, the rest of the guys and I weren’t really speaking to each other at all. So, I came to the show at the time we were supposed to go on, played the set, and when the show was over, the guys walked their way, and I walked mine, I just didn’t show up to the next show. They didn’t respond, they didn’t call, anything. But I can say that after leaving, it was like a huge feeling of relief. I did find out in a few media posts later on that they stated I left to get married. I guess they were trying to keep everything cool.

Enoch Magazine ) So, you have a new band now, called The Undivided. What the process like finding people to join in on the new band?

Tony ) Well it’s been both easy and tough, you want the magic of talented musicians that makes the music great, but at the same time you have to find someone that wants to ultimately put in their efforts and time for the same reasons. As you can see from pictures the bands changed a little, we have new members, but we are good now. I don’t think some are cut out for all the things it takes to really dedicate to being a full time musician. It takes a lot of work. I’m really happy with what we’ve got going on right now and I think that’s the across the board with all of us. It has been an eye opener coming across all sorts of people, it’s been interesting.

Enoch Magazine ) Have you always felt drawn to creating music?

Tony ) Always. When I was in Baker Hall, they had a choir director that taught me how to use my voice, I just immersed myself in it. That’s how I dealt with all the pain from my childhood. That was my comfort blanket, I could just get lost in it. Of course it’s just a part of me now, that’s who I am.

Enoch Magazine ) I like the sound of The Undivided man, it kinda sound like trapt with a small dose of MudVayne all in one. What has been the response from people at live shows?

Tony ) Thanks man. The response has just been awesome! We’ve gotten a lot of really nice compliments and requests back. From where we’ve started from earlier last year though, I think we were still finding out what we wanted the sound to be like. We had a lot of creativeness and ideas on the table; there was a lot of experimenting going on. The full length that we are working on now will be a little different. I just hope we get the same response. We’re really trying to focus on how we want to say what we’ve got inside and mix it with a great sound. It’ll still be rockin’ but just a bit more alternative rock than aggressive/metal.

Enoch Magazine ) What bands are you listening to now ah days man?

Tony ) Actually, a lot of country. I love to warm my voice up with it. They do a lot of loops that are great and it strengthens the voice. But the radio station gets switched around all the time.

Enoch Magazine ) What would you say to someone who felt like they didn’t belong or felt welcomed in the Church?

Tony ) I have honestly been through a lot of that myself. It wasn’t easy trying to get serious about my relationship with God. You know when I first started really trying to put effort into it, I smoked, I cursed, I had bad habits. I came across some people in the church that when they saw those things. They said I wasn’t a true Christian or wasn’t Christian enough to be associated with them. What’s worse is they used bits and pieces of scripture to justify themselves in telling me off. How is one supposed to be perfect in the beginning? It’s not like poof! You wake up and all of a sudden you’re perfect. It takes time, and I’m not sure I’ll ever get to the perfect mark, but that’s why we’re all working on ourselves right?

That’s where being kind and loving other people comes in. You never know where a person is at in their life. Never assume anything about anyone. I had been told I had too many tattoos, I needed to wear a suit and take off my hat, then cover up the tattoos, take out my earrings, one time I even had a guy, that heard of my background in Crossfade, said that I was a rockstar so I didn’t need to be at church. He didn’t know me. But people don’t realize, comments and things like that don’t show the love of God. Isn’t that what it’s about? You don’t have to be perfect, God takes you as you are, and, He will use you where you’re at! It’s hard to want to keep pursuing anything after going through things like that.

The hardest part of it is – Don’t quit. It’s not about what others say or do or think. The real heart of the matter is about your own relationship with God. Talk to God. Whether it’s in your car, in the shower, He is that invisible person with you everywhere you go, but He IS there. Try to attend church even when you don’t feel like it. Yes, sometimes it is easier to say well I don’t go to church because…. but in the bible it says you should. It will grow you and mature you. You will end up being the bigger person and walk amongst all of them with your head high for all the right reasons and all that stuff will end up bothering you less and less.

That goes along with the don’t quit part. If you have to switch churches, okay, but try to eventually get your feet to stick in one place.. that’s when you see results. Otherwise, there are many people that can keep you away and the situations will keep coming. I would encourage people to read the bible. Sometimes it’s hard to find time to read but it’s really key to understanding better what God is saying. Don’t always take someone’s word for things, if you read it for yourself you will know if what others are saying is true or not. Let the Spirit work in everything you do… you can’t put God in a box, He’s always working in different ways, which is so cool. Scripture is there for a reason, but the Holy Spirit is doing the working. Don’t put limits on it. Mainly, don’t focus on people, just God.

Enoch Magazine ) Do you have any tattoos, if so what of?

Tony ) Yeah, a few. When I was with Crossfade we did a show with Dimebag and Vinny Paul and Vinny Paul pointed at this sun/lion sort of thing at the parlor and said “yea man get that one” so I did, Its on my forearm. I had Crossfade tattood on my other forearm when we first went out on tour, it’s in the middle of a cross with talons. I’ve got another on my shoulder that is from back in the boys home where we made our own tattoo gun, it’s of a wizard looking guy, but he’s faded a lot now. I’ve got a flame up the back of my right arm with Corissa (my wife’s name) in cursive inside of it. I kind of surprised her with that one.

Enoch Magazine ) What do you have planned for the new year?

Tony ) Hopefully a whole bunch, man. We’ve been writing like crazy and are trying to get it all recorded. So far we’ve booked a few festivals, and were really excited. We are playing at a huge motorcycle rally in Virginia along with Dokken and Great White and then we get to share the stage with The Newsboys in Alabama. We’re just taking things as they come. Thanks for talking with me.

I had the honor to talk with Ben Crist of The Glorious Unseen, it was awesome getting to see inside his mind an heart. He’s got a really big heart, and I hope you can see that through this interview. I’m proud to call Ben my brother from another monther. Enjoy.

Enoch Magazine ) With the success of your first album (Tonight the starks speak) where you ever afraid of writing the same songs over again?

Ben ) Yes, I actually was afraid of that - but that was mostly when I was sitting in my living room trying to write songs… Once we all got together as a band, and everyone started contributing ideas, things flowed much more easily… I started feeding off of the ideas the other guys were bringing, and it inspired me lyrically in ways which I had not previously written… So I’m looking forward to writing that way more next time around as well. I Want us to come up with unique and inspiring music - and that will in turn provide me with lyrical inspiration…

Enoch Magazine ) Yeah man, I can relate. I’m the same way with my own writing… You know with so many people regardless of age or gender struggle with legit sadness and or depression. How do you handle dealing with your own pains and struggles in this life?

Ben ) Well, I fall apart all too often… I think it’s a matter of surrounding myself with people who can encourage me.. Also, it’s a matter of going to God often - and with any circumstance… it’s a matter of trusting him no matter what the circumstance is.. I can find a lot of strength and hope in having a community of people around me.. People from my church, band, and other contacts I’ve made over the past few years have helped me through some very difficult circumstances.

Enoch Magazine ) What goes through your mind Ben, when you fall apart?

Ben ) Well - these days, since I’ve felt like I’ve fallen apart all too often… Usually I’ll just try to be done with whatever I’m doing for that day… When I have a really, really bad day - or really just fail at some area of my life… I usually quit being productive for that day. I just kinda “give up” on that day, and resolve to start fresh the next day… Usually when I “fall apart” I’m usually always dealing with a lack of sleep… Somehow those 2 go hand in hand for me… So I’ll just try to say a prayer asking God for help and try to just go to bed… Resolve to start fresh in the morning, and keep my mind in the right place… it all comes down to controlling the mind so often.. It’s easy to just be lazy with my mind and let it go wherever it wants to. it’s important to try to think about productive and encouraging things…

Enoch Magazine ) Yeah, I think a lot of people can relate to that. I’ve listened to both your albums at least three times a day, everyday. And I’ve read that there are some people who enjoy the music that The Glorious Unseen puts out, but are still unsure if there really is a God. How would you respond to that?

Ben ) 3 times a day every day???!!! wow… Yeah I know that even people who are not really “church going christians” enjoy our music… I love hearing about this, I had never set out to write songs “for the church”. I have always tried to write honest lyrics, that deal with questions I deal with on a daily basis… There’s so much that is impossible to even understand about God.. I feel like a lot of christian music and worship music lyrics don’t include a lot of questions that we may have… It’s like no one wants to appear uneducated - or they don’t want it to seem like they don’t know as much about God as they should - so everyone just writes really surfacy lyrics… Like regurgitating things we all learned in sunday school growing up… but it’s been my experience in the past few years - that I have learned more about God, but it has also raised more questions… So I wanted to sing about these things.. And yeah it connects with people who have also had questioning moments…

Enoch Magazine ) Yeah man, I’m not joking, I’ve become addicted to the music. What do you think Heaven will be like?

Ben ) Honestly - I have no idea… Although if God’s way of doing things on earth is only a small portion of what we will see in heaven, I imagine it to be an incredibly joyful experience… And we’ll all be rid of any imperfections…

Enoch Magazine ) The song “Wrapped up in you” is a personal favorite of mine. Two things: How in the world do you get such beautiful guitar tones? And would you say that that song is about craving eternity?

Ben ) I gotta give the credit for the guitar tones to Marc Byrd… He co-produced that record with Steve Hindalong, and they worked hard at getting SICK tones… We worked with many different pedals and several different amps… Yeah - the song does translate well as “craving eternity”… I’m not sure if I was actually thinking that when writing it, I was more just writing in terms of asking God to take me to the place where he is - more referring to somewhere on earth where I could be with him and release my burdens…

Enoch Magazine ) As of late I’ve been doing a lot of research of the impact on Physichal touch or the lack there of. I guess what I’m asking is how that translates in your life? Do you see a lot of kids on a nightly basis that really just need a warm hug? And what do you think of the ramifications of not receiving affection from anyone?

Ben ) As of late I’ve been doing a lot of research of the impact on Physical touch or the lack there of. I guess what I’m asking is how that translates in your life? Do you see a lot of kids on a nightly basis that really just need a warm hug? And what do you think of the ramifications of not receiving affection from anyone?

Enoch Magazine ) Yeah, I just think it’s so sad that so many people now a days are so un-known to something as touch. What are your thoughts on homelessness? Do you run into a lot of it?

Ben ) I come in contact with homelessness every day - living in downtown Nashville. I can say this - I WANT to help the poor and homeless. I WANT to serve the poor and homeless. The question is - is giving a homeless person $2 on the street helping them? That’s where the debate comes in… If I knew a LEGITIMATE way that I could serve in helping the poor and homeless, I would do it. But there’s just so many scam artists out there on the streets that so often I don’t know whether I’m helping anyone by giving some dude a dollar… So this is a good thing to research and find LEGIT ways of helping..

Enoch Magazine ) Yeah there’s like an entire debate going on whether it’s either good or bad to give a homeless person money. Most times people just throw money down at a person, and then go on with their day. It’s sad.. So, tell me.. What is your vision for The Glorious Unseen?

Ben ) The vision for the Glorious Unseen is to make really honest music that connects with people - and at the end of the day, draws them into a spiritual place. We want people to be drawn into either deep worship, or a place of internal contemplation. It’s not really about putting on a “show” for us, it’s more about “joining” with the audience, and to all have a spiritual experience. I believe God speaks through many different formats - music - art - beauty in creation. We want to create music that would cause people to look towards a heavenly beauty - towards a creator. Whenever I experience beauty on earth, I feel as if I’m seeing a reflection of the heavens. I want people to experience that through our music.

Enoch Magazine ) Well my friend, it’s been amazing talking with you. Thank you so much for taking time to have this conversation. Is there any thoughts you’d like to leave our readers or fans with?

Ben ) My latest thoughts on life are just to keep fighting in the midst of difficult circumstances in life. Hang on to your relationships, love people. Be faithful in working at whatever God gives you to do - be responsible with your time. In other words, don’t sit around all day playing video games, and then complain about how your life sucks. Go out and engage your culture, your community. Find inspiration in the people and places around you. There is beauty and inspiration to be found on this earth, we just have to have the mind to see it. if we’re totally wrapped up in our own self-defeat, we can’t love people around us, and we can’t be inspired by them.

Enoch Magazine meets up with Hawk Nelson at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. Hang with Jason Dunn, Daniel Biro and the Enoch crew as Hawk Nelson takes their new album, Live Life Loud, on the road. Hear the band’s stories from recording the new album, as well as their thoughts on homeless, getting involved and who Jesus is.

Also, read the PRINT INTERVIEW we did with Jason Dunn HERE»

As a fan of “real” hip hop, I should be flogged in front of the whole crew for not reviewing this album sooner. But as some of you may know, I’m in charge of all the videos for Enoch so my time is quite limited. Be that as it may, I’ve had the gem in my itunes for 2 months now, and literally each song on this album is phenomenal. Rocksteady by Jupiter 7 is everything someone like me is looking for in a Hip hop record.

Released in ‘09, this album comes from the San Francisco, Bay area. The beats are solid. They incorporate all the fundamentals that made hip hop not just a sound but a culture: Horns, heavy brass accompaniments, full drum samples w tone, funky bass riffs, vintage keyboards, classic breakbeats and yes, even harps. A lot of hip hop today ends up sounding like a beat that someone “emcees” over, but this album is different. Rocksteady’s beats and the rhymes equally respect each other, working to back up the lyrical flow. Nothing lags on the album and more importantly, nothing is rushed.

The track “Dedicated” is one of my favorites. It sounds like a heavy Beastie Boy beat mixed with a powerful Pharoahe Monch style brass melody. “Cops and Robbers” is another song that immediately caught my attention. It’s heavy bass line and hard crashing cymbals, aligns beautifully with it’s anthem-style chorus. “Move,” which is the video I’ve included below, is a faster, b-boy style joint. “Jive Talk” is the song that has the Harp samples in it, but it soon drops in with a breakbeat / raspy flute combo. Although completely different, this song is just as good and reminds me of Beastie Boy’s famous track “Flute Loop.” In “Get Down,” J7 overlays bossa nova, with a heavy rock drum beat. Then a amplified fuzz bass guitar and a backup woman’s vocal kicks in during the anthem chorus. Rocksteady reminds me of Dj Hurricane and what he was doing back in the day with all the best Beastie Boy albums.

This record pays careful attention to production, rendering each song to have a fully finished sound. In my opinion,this is something that doesn’t even happen with today’s so-called hip hop majors. However, due to my schedule and that fact that I only got a digital copy of this album emailed to me, I don’t know much about the artist Jupiter 7. According to mutual friends in Oakland, J7 is a Christian. His lyrics are smart and entertaining. He’ll gives props to the Creator(which I always love if it’s dont well), but no matter what topic he covers,his words deliver the voice of hip hop’s true culture. There’s even a track that scratches an old Bible story record in the “DJ Interlude” track. This is an album by a hip hop artist who loves God, not an album by an artist that loves God through hip hop….understand the difference? Jupiter’s actual voice sounds like a mix between Mos def House of Pain’s Everlast, which, how could I not love? I also enjoy his tendency to vary his vocal tone as he rhymes. The rhythmic dictation of J7’s flow also reminds me of Nas and Rakim. I feel like I can’t end this review properly unless I talk about each song in depth, but I gotta go to bed.

David Reasbeck is a good friend of Enoch Magazine. We traveled over to Scotland where he was serving as a Skateboard Missionary. Dave’s got a great spirit and he’s constantly traveling all over the world. This particular video was shot and edited by Daniel Libby. Please consider supporting Enoch Magazine with your monthly tithes, as we continue to connect filmers /editors like Dan Libby, with missionaries like David Reasbeck. Wouldn’t you love to be involved with producing testimonies like this!

If you were to look into my closet you would notice that my clothes are arranged by color. And if you were to add up the worth of all my jeans and it would round to be $1000. Throughout the past eighteen years, I have been blessed to not have to worry about much. Like other suburban families, we had two cars, a lawn service, and we always took part in the latest fads. My parents always taught me to be wise with my money and to tithe. As I was getting older, I was seeing things differently and becoming more aware of what it meant to be accepted by my peers. I found myself investing all my hard earned money into designers’ jeans, shirts, shoes, scarves, purses, jewelry; you name it, I had it.

As I was packing up all my stuff for college my mom encouraged me to donate some of my clothes. Looking down at the piles of clothes on my bedroom floor, I was overwhelmed by the amount of clothes I had horded over the past four years. I stretched four large suite cases to full capacity, and put my parents through the pain of transporting all my bags and boxes to college. I simply could not see myself going somewhere without these items I had. When I arrived at my new home, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and unpacked everything in my dorm room, I realized I couldn’t fit all of it in my room.

While I was adjusting to college life, I still found myself continuing to shop. Every weekend, I was finding reasons to go shopping for new clothes or jewelry or whatever. The girls on my floor were obsessed with the selection of things they could borrow from me. I was proud of the fact girls would come and envy all the things I had. My dorm room had become my own personal showcase, but little did I know that my prayers were going to change my perspective on life.

At the beginning of my freshman year, I prayed a dangerous prayer. I asked God for a heart that breaks for what breaks His heart. After that, I continued to pray that God would be my everything. I asked him what I needed to do in order to make him everything in my life. Everytime I prayed, unconsciously I was praying the same prayer. Desiring a heart after God’s heart became the central theme of my life at college.

One cold November day in the city I found myself at a coffee shop, broken and sad. Why was I feeling so hurt, tired and full of sadness? Is this what I asked for? Was this the heart of God when he looked down upon us and sees that we are not taking care of one another? More questions engulfed my thoughts as the days went by from the day at the coffee shop. Many of my friends asked me if everything was okay and if there was anything they could pray for me about. The sadness not only took over my heart and mind but also physically tore at my being. Was this what I really asked for from God?

My heart began to change and be softened. I realized through all of this, I had developed a compassion and love for the homeless. God was moving in my life differently than he ever had before. Could it be that God was going to use me in the mission field? Having no experience in that area, I didn’t see how it would be possible. I had never really been outside my own comfort zone.

God began to challenge me and reminded me of my prayers in the weeks to come. Soon, I began to notice my very comfortable life. I realized that the reason for my tiredness was due to me constantly hearing about how “my” generation is suppose to do something great for God… but we weren’t doing anything. If God asked us to go to the ends of the earth to spread his gospel, then why is it so hard for us to reach the homeless in the cities around us in our own country? The clock is ticking and we are running out of time. I want to do something so radical for God’s glory that the church would wake up and see that God is still alive and we still have a mission to carry out.

Now was the time for me to literally clean out my closet to make room for what God wants me to do in my life. God asked me to change the way I lived, so I went from comfortable to uncomfortable. I decided to have a “dorm sale” in my dorm room. I sold as much as I could. After the one-day sale, I still had a large amount of stuff left over. I could not handle looking at it, so I ended up just telling a bunch of girls to go through my stuff and take whatever they wanted. People asked me if it would be strange to see other girls wearing my stuff around school? I said, “No, it would not matter at all to me.” God gave me such a huge peace about selling and handing my stuff out for free. Getting rid of all the materialistic things in my life to make room for what God has in store for my life.

Each step I take, I am getting closer to what God desires me to do. Although He may ask me to do things that are not normal and make me feel uncomfortable, I will step in faith toward for his calling on my life. My heart’s prayer is to have a heart after God’s and to make him everything in my life. I want to be undignified. If everything in my life was taken away, I want to be able to depend on God alone. I want to make others around me uncomfortable by the way I carry myself in God’s glory. To my generation I say, “Wake up! Do something radical for God! Mobilize our generation to do something about the homeless in our country and in other countries around the world. What are you waiting for? Go.” Give up the securities in your life and fully rely on faith and God alone. Evaluate your life and what takes the place of God in your life. Clean out your “closet” and make room for the tools God will equip you with. Let go of your flesh, let God take control and… go.

Enoch Magazine ) As far as instruments go, are you guys constantly staying up to date on new products and models, or do find yourselves staying with one guitar or drum kit that you just love. Cause I imagine you can get new equipment whenever you want right?

Tim ) New recording and music technology is always exciting and interesting, sometimes even a little overwhelming, the options are endless it seems. Finding that middle ground between a super cool new plug-in, a micro-synth pedal, a drum sequencing program, whatever it is; and some good old fashioned creative thought is the most fun. I enjoy re-imagining a guitar solo with a Moog, or making a violin quartet out of a light generated noise machine. I wouldn’t call us total new gadget geeks, but we enjoy finding new and old noise making machines that can be controlled to make music. I will say though, there are times when all I want to write with is my Silvertone acoustic guitar that I bought right after college for fifty bucks at the thrift store, some pots and pans for a beat, and a four track. So I guess, I like it all.

Enoch Magazine ) When we heard we had the chance to interview you, we asked people what was unique about “Ok Go?” and most people said “they have amazing videos”. Even your press release calls note to this, something like 170 MILLION video views!!? As musicians, is this cool or frustrating (sometimes having your videos mentioned before your music).

Tim ) The music industry is in disarray. The old major label model is slowly crumbling, and all of a sudden the definition of what it means to be a band is being redefined. Not only do we make records and tour, but we also get to direct our own videos, write for magazines, act in films, help raise money for displaced musicians who lost their homes in New Orleans, feed the homeless, get involved in politics, produce plays. Music is a huge part of what we do, and enjoy; because of it we’ve gotten to do so many other great things. If people come to hear the music because of the video then great. If they continue to keep coming back for more, well then even better.

Enoch Magazine ) Your famous treadmill video. I imagine that would get tons of views on youtube whether you were a band or not. Was that production a calculated decision given the viral climate created by Youtube?

Tim ) We aren’t marketers, we just like to make stuff that we hope people will like. We thought after the accidental success of the backyard dance video for A Million Ways, it would be a fun gift to our fans to make another video, but ratchet up the level of absurdity. We really didn’t think anyone but our fans would see the Here it Goes Again video. It was a great surprise to see the treadmill video catch fire the way that it did. We never could have guessed or imagined the kind of success that video enjoyed. You can’t plan these types of things really, I wish we could, but we can’t. We just hope to make things that will light people up.

Enoch Magazine ) Ok, this is the biggest “loaded” question in the world, but it’s a new issue I’m wrestling with and I’d like to hear your thoughts: Our magazine spends most of it’s time documenting ministries around the country. We also live and work with the homeless in Skid Row LA. At one time…doing stuff like this… it was very acceptable or common to say “I’m doing this to create awareness,” (much like a photographer will take beautiful portraits of homeless and post them on flickr). But now with the internet, awareness is no longer the problem. At what point would you say “creating awareness” is no longer needed and instead, direct action and the restructuring of our time and priorities is what is needed to combat injustice, the poor and the oppressed?

Tim ) Well, that’s a good question. The internet has not only been an amazing way to create awareness, but also an great tool for rallying people together to actively go out and make a difference. For example, a few months ago, we reached out to our online fan base in Chicago to help feed the homeless. We got 25 volunteers to make 15 burritos a piece, and then we walked around the city passing them out to the homeless. Creating awareness will always be needed, but it’s great when you can connect it with an activity that can make a small or big difference, and hopefully do a little leading by example.

Enoch Magazine ) Most of us at Enoch Magazine are Christian. So we believe in Jesus and try to study the Bible, etc. Is there a topic or aspect to Christianity that you’ve always thought seemed weird or lame? And flip side, is there an aspect to “Jesus” that you like or respect?

Tim ) I’m not very religious myself, but I believe in the expression to each his/her own.

Enoch Magazine ) Growing up, what jobs did your parents have? And did those occupations lend themselves to any funny or unique situations that you’ll always remember?

Tim ) My father was a tax attorney, and a fairly conservative fiscal Republican. My mother was a weaver, and a totally liberal Democrat. No, I’m not pitching you an idea for a sit com, this was my life. It was kind of incredible to grow up in a household so politically divided, but as a family unit we somehow kept it together. It led to a lot of comical debates, and comedy in general. I’m here to tell you it is possible for both Republicans and Democrats to like Benny Goodman, mid century modern Danish furniture, The Boston Red Sox, and Mel Brooks, that much I know they agreed on.

Enoch Magazine ) I read that you guys testified before Congress and then played in the Senate Chambers. That seems like a very unique opportunity. What exactly were you testifying about and how did it come about that you played for the Senate.

Tim ) Damian was asked to speak before the House Judiciary Committee on the importance of net neutrality to the music community. Basically, Internet Service Providers want to charge content providers for the faster loading of their sites. Those who couldn’t afford to pay this toll would be stuck waiting for sites to load, if they’d load at all. Of course much of our bands success last album was due to the fact that everyone (relatively speaking) had access to, and could watch our video online. Many bands benefit from the fact that anyone with an internet connection can find them online and listen to their music. If Internet Service Providers starting charging for this privilege, only those who can afford to pay will benefit. During Damian’s trip to DC he was asked to play in the Senate Chambers, and so what was he gonna say, “No? When the Senate asks you to bring the rock, you bring the rock.

Enoch Magazine ) Hurricane Katrina hit a lot of people hard. Where did your passion to raise money for Al Johnson to buy a house come from. Are you guys big fans?

Tim ) We are big fans of Al “Carnival Time” Johnson. Music is such a rich tradition in New Orleans. So many musicians and cultural bearers in New Orleans lost their homes due to Hurricane Katrina and the civil engineering mistakes that caused the levies to break and flood the lower 9th ward. We work with two political organizations called Air Traffic Control and The Future of Music Coalition who for several years now have been taking musicians down to New Orleans to not only discuss political issues that affect the music community, but also to create awareness and remember the tragedy in New Orleans. We were fortunate enough to have been invited down to NOLA to tour many of the still devastated communities, and to try and help however we can. We made an EP with a New Orleans based horn rock orchestra called Bonerama. All proceeds go to help bringing home displaced musicians who want to get back to New Orleans. One of the songs on the EP, a cover of Bob Dylan’s I Shall Be Released features Al Johnson. I am happy to report we were able to raise enough money to get Al Johnson a new home in the Musician’s Village, NOLA.

Enoch Magazine ) With such a big fan following you guys really have a chance to make a difference. What are some organizations that you help out or are really passionate about their causes?

Tim ) A few organizations we work with are:

Air Traffic Control who help connect the music community to social action. They work with interested musicians on a myriad of different issues such as humanitarian relief, energy and the environment, human rights, health care…The list goes on.

Find out more about Air Traffic Contro
.

Inspiration Corporation who help people affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives. They helped us put together our burrito project in Chicago.

Find out more about Inspiration Corporation

Future of Music Coalition is a national non for profit organization that works to insure a diverse musical culture where artists flourish, are compensated fairly for their work, and where fans can find the music they want. The Future Of Music Coalition helped us put together our benefit EP for musicians affected by Hurricane Katrina. They are a wonderful organization.

Find out more about Future of Music Coalition

Enoch Magazine ) Until a few months ago I was driving a 1991 Toyota Previa Mini van that had 339,000 miles on it. I loved it and bought one just like when I moved to California. What vehicles do all your band members drive? If money was no option what is your dream car?

Tim ) We all have piece of sh#$ cars. Between all of us we have a dented Ford Focus, a super dinged up Subaru Station Wagon, and a sensationally banged up Honda Civic…Well I think you get the idea, many of us are bad drivers, and have operated under the idea — Why have a nice car if it’s just gonna get banged up? My dream car you ask??? Hmmmmmm…The new battery powered Aptera. The Aptera looks like what Woody Allen would have thought in the 1980’s a space ship to look like. It’s pretty cool.

Enoch Magazine ) If you could meet one celebrity dead or alive who would it be and why? What are 3 questions you would ask them?

Tim )Harry Houdini because I would love to see him perform his magic live. I’d probably ask him if he thought magic helped improve the world? What else besides magic was he interested in? And you know, probably see if he’d show me how to do some slight of hand type stuff. I like magic.

Ryan Alexander is at is again. Or rather, he is continuing to stay at it. The Goal is to Raise $30,000 in 4 days with literally no plan but to trust God, ride bikes and love people along the way.

I met Ryan a few years ago. He later joined us on one of our Enoch Magazine trips to Skid Row. The first time I met him I knew he was the real deal as far as ministry is concerned. He was housing homeless in his own house and he was working on a new ministry called “Not Fashionable.” Upon our first meeting, he opened up his suitcase and gave me a t-shirt he’d made. It read, “30,000 KIDS DIE OF HUNGER EVERYDAY.” He told me that statistic was true, but that’s as far as he’d gotten with the concept. “I really don’t have a ministry or game plan behind this shirt yet,” Ryan said, “for now I think it’s just important that people know - 30k kids die everyday from starvation.”

I wore the shirt even though I knew I’d look like an activist. And ya, I did get into some discussions in the frozen food section, but I blamed Ryan completely. “Oh, it’s a shirt that a friend gave me….” But there was something really genuine and loving by Ryan’s initial act of giving me that shirt. A tip for all you beginning “world changers” out there: If you initially catch someone off guard with a gift, AND purely from the heart…

Today, Ryan is focused on that shirt more than ever. He’s going on a bike ride with 3 other friends from Homestead Florida to Key West to raise $30,000 for a farming project in Swaziland, Africa. And as you can see by the map, the rout looks like mostly water, (Christians insert Peter joke here). Ryan has no one sponsoring this event. “Just to be clear,” Ryan wrote in his last email to friends, “We haven’t raised a dollar yet. We don’t have anyone pledging to give money if we do this. We are doing this because we are believing that there is $30,000 waiting between here and there.”

They’ll be sleeping in tents along the way, not to mention - the weather looks like it might be pretty nasty. I won’t say too much more, because Ryan’s website is designed to “take it from here.” But I’ll end with these two points: 1) Based on the statistics of his t-shirt, It’s crazy to think how many kids have died of starvation since he first started asking people to wear this message. And how many kids will die each day he is on this bike ride? 2) By getting on his bike and heading to Key West believing that God with show him how to obtain $30,000, Ryan is in for a true adventure with God. This is faith, and in my opinion, one of the best things about having a relationship with Christ.

I’ve always loved the concept of Mtv unplugged. It really gives a band or artist a chance to strip down their music and bring it back to the basics. Some of my favorite Unplugged Performances include Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Dashboard Confessional, Alanis Morisette, and Hole. Mtv Unplugged really gives a chance for the bands to be creative and reinvent their songs. When All Time Low decided to release their MTV Unplugged Album with a DVD I was really excited. I love pop punk and I have always enjoyed acoustic renditions of most Pop Punk songs.

It starts off with the track “Damned If I Do (Damned if I don’t).” The voices ring out so fresh and the guitars sound splendid right away. It’s a new song and begins with a tribal hand drum sound that right away kicks into the classic All Time Low sound. I love it.
The 2nd track “Coffee Shop Soundtrack” draws me in with the sound of the guitars. The production is excellent and every time I listen I notice something different. The vocals really carry this song. I love the idea of bands taking it unplugged because I think it makes me pay more attention to the lyrics. Right after this song with true honesty the singer of All Time Low admits his nervousness. Mtv Unplugged Banter is always funny. Anyone remember Nirvana Unplugged?

Kate Vogele’s voice sounds so soothing and relaxing on “Remembering Sunday.” So many bands see Mtv Unplugged as a great place to bring in Guest Musicians to sing with them. On Weightless the tempo picks up and it seems the band is finally comfortable in this environment. The added crowd vocals and clapping give a fresh sound to this track. It gives me a feeling that I am right there sitting in the front row during the performance. This isalso the first song that I feel the crowd really gets into. My favorite track is “Maria Count me In.” It’s one of my favorite All Time Low tracks and I was glad the band decided to play it. The crowd once again gets the clapping going.

Overall I am disappointed because I was really hoping the band would have full drums, bass, and guitars filling their unplugged performance. The hand drums are not my favorite but definitely a different sound for Pop Punk. This CD/DVD is great for any Pop Punk fanatic. For All time Low its a great CD to kick off 2010.

Enoch Magazine ) You guys just released a new album. what was the recording and writing process like . also how was it different from your previous album’s?

Jason ) Live, Life, Loud was recorded in Nashville, tn. we’ve never done a record in Nashville until this one. It felt really good. We maintained our focus and our bonding as a band really grew during this project. The writing process was the same as usual. I come up with the original thought, and we just put it all together and create something.

Enoch Magazine ) “Let’s dance” is one my favorite songs. What was the inspiration behind it?

Jason ) “ Let’s Dance” is a song that talks about forgetting what you look like on the outside. Just be yourself. Let your true colors show. Forget about your insecurities and…let’s dance!

Enoch Magazine ) I saw hawk nelson at the revolve tour this past year and I saw some pretty crazed fans. What is the most bizarre thing you have ever seen a fan do?

Jason ) It’s always funny when girls start crying. Super random, but very enlightening for us guys. It’ll make great stories for our grandchildren when we’re older!!

Enoch Magazine ) If there was one family member that you could see at your concert who would it be and why?

Jason ) My family travels like a pack of wolves. I’m from a family of 8 people, so it’s very rare for someone to travel alone. If I was to reverse the question and who would be a no-show, I’d go with my brother Caleb!

Enoch Magazine ) Our magazine just recently moved to Los Angeles so we could focus on helping the 10,000 to 15,000 homeless people they estimate to be living on the streets of skid row. What can we do to help the homeless and have you had any experiences with the homeless?

Jason ) As a Christian guy in a Christian band, I am destined to be the hands and feet of Jesus. Going to the streets of skid row and feeding and ministering to homeless people is exactly what Jesus would be doing if he was walking the earth today. Mad props to you guys. You are such an inspiration for us. You lead by example and I want to do what you do, except in my hometown. It’s contagious and I know it’ll catch on!

Enoch Magazine ) Everyone grows up hearing about and having a perception of Jesus. What is your perception of Jesus and why?

Jason )When I think of Jesus, I think of someone who maybe didn’t catch the attention of big wigs. When I picture Jesus, I picture a raggedy, homely-looking guy that just wanted to change the world. He was probably a guy that most middle-class Americans would avoid (oh the irony)!

Enoch Magazine ) My favorite color is red because it reminds me of life. What is your favorite color and why?

Jason ) My favorite color is red because my favorite hockey teams jerseys are red!

Enoch Magazine ) Being in a band means you have a lot of time on the tour bus or in the van. what do you find yourself doing to occupy the time?

Jason ) I spend a lot of time writing, playing video games and watching hockey!

Enoch Magazine ) Where do you write most of your songs and what inspires you to create music?

Jason ) A lot of my inspiration comes while I’m flying somewhere! I don’t know why, but I’ve always got a notebook and pen ready to go as soon as I board a flight!

Enoch Magazine ) If you weren’t playing music what would you be doing?

jason ) If I wasn’t playing music, I’d probably try to make it to the NHL.

Also, WATCH the video we did with Hawk Nelson while on tour HERE»

Photos by Edwin Medina

Shot by Edwin Medina Hawk Nelson Flickr.

Enoch Magazine ) The Punk Rock Music style seems to change and redefine itself through the years. What is your definition of Punk Rock and has the original message changed from back in the 70’s?

Jordan ) Punk Rock to me is a kind of music that isn’t afraid to ask questions and make changes. There will always be a breed of people putting their minds outside the box and finding common ground in a place smaller than the popular. There will always be an underground and a good set of beliefs amongst the right people. I don’t think much of the message has changed, a message that is a very positive one when stripped down, it has only gone on to inspire others to spread the same words or to even expand on the ideas the bands and artists who came before them had. Musically, I’ve enjoyed seeing it grow from the mid 90s to present
year, and learning / listening to the decades before. I hope to see it always shift and take on new influences, timbre, and feel. Some of my favorite current artists doing this / currents bands to get into: Hit The Switch, Hostage Calm, Title Fight, Fireworks, The Swellers, Make Do And Mend, Paramore, You Me At Six, Four Year Strong, New Found Glory, Smartbomb.

Enoch Magazine ) Set your goals put out their new record, “This will be the death of us” this past summer. Tell us about the recording and writing process. Looking back is there anything you would do different.

Jordan ) The recording was an intense 7 weeks with but 3 days off and no less than 8 hr a day studio sessions. Serious bootcamp. It was incredible though. Everyday was like a creative workshop class. We got to build, re-arrange, write, layer all kinds of things together. Though stressful at times, it really was just a whole lot of fun at the end of the day. Mike, our producer, became a 7th member of the band and you can find him in a group shot of all of us (taken in front of a mural outside his studio in Los Angeles at Pico and Fairfax) in the CD tray. One of my favorite weeks was week 5 or so, too. We did gang vocals for a couple days and all our friends were in town. It was just a good place and time in all our lives, the recording was. Something we all really needed.

Enoch Magazine ) As your band has traveled on tour I am sure you have had the chance to interact with homeless people outside your shows or at various stops along the way. What are some of your experiences and what can we do to help the homeless?

Jordan ) I went on a field trip of sorts my sophomore year of high school. We went to the San Francisco Tenderloin District (sketchy crack, homeless, corrupt police) and to a church that served lunch and dinner to the homeless. They told us we couldn’t eat that day before going and we had to spend a full work day at the church before we could have dinner. Then we stood in line like everyone else to eat, took about 2 hrs. The whole thing was cool cause you were integrated into their society whether you wanted to or not, and forced you to see how life is for them daily, on the inside. Not just what we see driving around at night. I met a lot of cool people, heard a lot of cool stories. Same has been true on tour. I like meeting nomadic wanderers, not so much
homeless, people in europe and places super foreign to America. Everyone’s story is different. I think just by being good people towards anyone, no matter who they are, we are helping the homeless by helping humanity in general. To make someone feel good, special, important, that matters more than money or food to me.

Enoch Magazine ) With the rise of online media musicians have a stronger voice in other outlets besides just their music. What are some things you are passionate about and are there any organizations that you support and why?

Jordan ) Check out this organization: www.ncadp.org - we wrote a song for the record about our views of the death penalty system. A good film to check out is ‘At The Death House Door’ by IFC films. It’s a horrible, torturous system and it’s infamous. How this kind of cruelty is still happening is beyond me, especially after I saw this documentary here. I’d like for the band / label to become more involved with the song and it’s meaning. Hopefully everyone will check that out. It’s track 10, Flawed Methods of Persecution and Punishment.

Enoch Magazine ) Growing up in the Midwest it seemed that I had religion and Jesus being pushed upon me. What is your perception of Jesus and how did you get that perception?

Jordan ) I believe Jesus was someone who had a very spiritual experience and wanted to share his peace of mind and love of life, all life, unconditionally, with all those who would listen. I don’t think he ever pushed himself on anyone and I don’t believe he ever truly said, I am the one true light and son of god. Only through me will you be saved. None of that sticks with me. That’s just ego and he wasn’t about ego. He was about peace and wisdom. He was a hippy, not a bad thing! But some obsessed Jesus fan took it another level and started a cult (religion) out of it. I hate talking this harsh and I gotta tone it down. I have a lot of close friends. I do believe in Jesus, I just have a very different take on god and higher power (and those who have been prophets to this) than most people my age do. I have a lot of christian friends who are completely open minded and grounded. Their religion gives them a
strength and a peace and they don’t take it to anywhere that would stress someone out. It’s a personal relationship, it should always be just saw that. Something for yourself. I don’t follow any religion but I have become very spiritual. The hard part is staying grounded and choosing when to talk about things and when to leave it out.

Enoch Magazine ) I have a strong passion for music and my dream as a kid was to tour and take over the world. I ended up working for Enoch Magazine, where we spend a good bit of our time working with the 10,000 to 15,000 homeless that live on Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles. What would you be doing if you weren’t in a band and why and what do your parents do for a living?

Jordan ) My Dad works with new media at a medical center that comprises most of our county’s hospitals. I live in a valley in the east bay of san francisco. About 20 minutes from oakland. My mom works for the county’s unified school district. They seem to enjoy what they do. Love music, too. If I wasn’t in a band, I’d be helping other bands out and staying involved in live music. Listening, playing, moshing. F@#& it man. It’s the one place I really want to be. I also enjoy helping people and it is nice to hear someone say you have inspired them. I respect what you do a lot in your work and we would love to help where we can.

Hopefully this interview will help spread awareness more, too.

Enoch Magazine ) With the music industry changing so quick there are so many genres and different artists to listen to. What were your top 7 releases that came out in 2009 and who are your favorite bands to tour with?

Matt ) These are probably my top 7 releases for the year. I think my favorite band to tour with has to be Fireworks. They are some of our best friends and there’s never a dull moment when they’re around. Pretty much every other band on our “Gig Life” tour last summer as well: Four Year Strong, The Swellers, Grave Maker, etc. New Found Glory and Saves The Day are also a blast to tour with and watch every night.

1. The Swellers - Ups And Downsizing
2. Mayer Hawthorne - A Strange Arrangement
3. Animals As Leaders - Animals As Leaders
4. Mew - No More Stories Are Told Today, I’m Sorry, They Washed Away
5. Fireworks - All I Have To Offer Is My Own Confusion
6. Trapped Under Ice - Secrets Of The World
7. Converge - Axe To Fall

Enoch Magazine ) Epitaph records was one of my favorite labels growing up and continues to be today. What are some Epitaphs bands of past and present you enjoy?

Matt ) Ditto! Converge, Bad Religion, The Offspring, NOFX and Rancid have all put out records on Epitaph that have influenced me greatly, and I still enjoy immensely to this day.

Enoch Magazine ) As you travel you have the opportunity to eat and enjoy many different foods and restaurants. Where are some of your favorite places to eat and what do you order there?

Matt ) If I could fly around the world in a jet all day to eat my favorite foods, I’d start my day off right in England. My favorite breakfast in the world is probably the Veggie Breakfast from Popina’s in Leeds. For lunch I’d go to Melbourne, Australia and get a veggie burger and fries with some interesting sauces from Lord of the Fries. For dinner I’d go home to the Bay Area and order a veggie burrito from Taqueria Cancun in San Francisco.

Enoch Magazine ) If you could be one superhero who would you be and why and what superhero would you want to fight?

Matt ) I’d want to be Superman because, although he isn’t even close to my favorite superhero, he seems to have the best powers. I’d want superhuman strength and the ability to fly, even into outer space. I’d probably fight Robin, I never liked him much.

FireFlight is a band that has had a roar of success. Their first two albums had great appeal in Christian and general markets alike. After two hard rocking albums, how does a band continue to keep the fire burning and ears open?

When I received the advanced copy of their new album “For those who wait” I saw that the disc was purple and so full of colors. The band wearing all black, which would make Johnny Cash, the man in black, proud. This album has great progressive energy, and very encouraging messages in every song. It could very well be an album for those who like a band that blurs the lines between heavy and pop rock. Dawn’s vocal range stretches pretty far and carries a sense of urgency that is very contagious.

I like this album but I’m afraid that its more of the same sound as their previous albums with different song names. While I don’t mind listening to this album, in my eyes it falls short of any kind of new creative direction. The songs seem so toned down and I kept turning up my stereo just so it could get louder. And with songs like “Permanent Addiction” it reminds me in all honesty of just another version of “My Obsession” or “Better than Drugs by Skillet.

I know there is a lot of pressure to stay relevant as artists, but I think FireFlight should seriously go back to the drawing board and bring back a sound that can really set them apart from the other bands in their genre. It seems just as I get into the album it’s all ready coming to a close. Overall, this would be a great album for teenagers who just want something to relate to.

Tabitha Lynn is a young and inspiring singer/songwriter/tap dancer from Portland Oregon. I met her just the other day, while having coffee with a really great friend of mine. At first glance she seemed very “at home” in her own personality and skin. She carries inside her a powerful story and a musical talent that in my mind needs to be given quick attention. After talking with her you realize very quickly that she’s not in it for fame or record sales. I could easily tell in her music Tabitha is carrying inside a bridge between her and so many teens searching for love and a life to call their own.

Her first album is called “In The Begining She Planted”. It was recorded in a small Church in Wyoming. The sound quality is actually pretty good, but the main thing that catches my heart is how she crafts her faith into her music. While she is bold, it is still refreshing and will keep the listeners attention. And while her heart floods emotion, the music is in no way manic. It’s fairly up tempo the entire album. I find that her style reflects something one might hear in the movie Juno, or at least something out of a love story. It’s hard to toss her music in any one genre. This album is stripped of any mass production; just one hungry soul with a piano. Tabitha Lynn is sitting on a gold mine, with more fine tuning and sharpening of her skills, she is bound to sweep music lovers off their feet. Until then check out her Myspace Page and enjoy some authentic tunes that will softly move through you.

Check Out Tabitha’s music on Myspace”

Someone stole my iPod from my car the other night. To say I was upset would be quite the understatement. I felt angry, violated, and frustrated that at the end of a 10 hour day at school, someone felt that my three year old iPod, cracks and all, was worth taking.

My one hour drive home was rife with vitriol thoughts of downright hatred. I flopped down on my couch with my laptop and angrily smashed at the keyboard to update my Twitter with the news and added two words to the end that were not necessary to share before heading to bed. Imagine how small I felt the next morning when I awoke to check my comments on Facebook, which pulls new status updates from my Twitter, to see a comment from a dear friend, a youth pastor from southern Jersey, that simply said “who are you?”

I sank. Who AM I?

A year and some change ago I could have told you exactly who I was. I was coming off of touring for a nationally known non-profit organization that ended not so well; a a missions trip in South Dakota that crushed my spirit and my thirst; and a tour with a band of friends that opened my eyes to the brokenness of what I had aspired to be.

Upon my return home, I was a crushed man. My soul was crippled and my heart was bitter against the church. Looking back over the last 18 months I had become someone who was nothing like the man typing this article right now; and that scares me. We often hear in church sermons, bumper stickers, and t-shirts that “life is hills and valleys.” You peak one minute and sink the next. The climb up is hard and rewarding, the fall is fast and easy. But when you hit the ground, the sudden impact is excruciating.

The past 15 months have essentially been the time line for my fall. I crashed and burned, and then began to accept my “failure” and “unworthiness.” I tend to make unwarranted excuses and justifications in an attempt to allow my faith to conveniently fit my life as I want it to. But inside I still feel the guilt and shame. Barely does a day go by that I don’t want to bury my head in the ground and pretend that the atheists are right. Pretend for a moment that there is no God that created me, loves me, cares about me - a God who knows what I am compared to what I could be.

It’s amazing how my bitterness against the church, led to a turning away, which led to feeling the guilt and shame of abandonment against my Father. Self realization is the catalyst to righting the ship and correcting the course. I could quote scripture about running races, enduring pain, allowing the world to hate you, not belonging here, being held to a higher standard, etc., but all I really need to remind anyone reading, anyone struggling, anyone trying to hold on, is that no matter what you do, how bad things get, it’s never too late. Grace abounds.

Identify, act, and grow. Do something to enact a change in your life that causes you to move forward with your walk in Christ – or in my case, my stumble. Grace is sufficient. Peace be with you.

“There are days where I’m right where I’m supposed to be
But mostly I am far away
I’m learning to live the way I should
I’m learning to love the way you would
And today it’s been made clear that I’ve walked so far alone
It’s easy to want something more.

But I will dive, closer to you.”

Life in Your Way – Threads of Sincerity

Enoch Magazine ) When I first heard your cd I was impressed with the quality of musicianship and lyrical poetry. Can you please tell me about the writing and recording process?

Jacob ) Each song I write seems to have its own unique process. I am often influenced to write a song when I see or hear an amazing story or performance in music and film, and also by the consequential (good or bad) actions of people. But a lot depends on my mood and I where I’m located at the moment. If I can get to a piano I sit down and just play whatever seems to match what I’m thinking… If I am energized it tends to be upbeat… If I am feeling reflective and emotional, you’ll probably hear something that matches that feeling. I take my love and frustration out on the piano and when something sounds right then I’ll start figuring out the key, where I can go from there, and ask questions like, should it sound simple… or “big” next? I then start singing nonsense words over it to create a vocal melody (which is always fun for the neighbors to hear). Once the song is in place, I dig deep to find lyrics that relate to what is happening in my life at the moment. I enjoy writing words that require a little thinking to fathom, yet are not entirely abstract to where the meaning seems completely skewed… it’s like a teacher leading his students to find the answer on their own.

The recording process is where the envisioned final piece starts revealing itself. In songs like “All That You Have,” “Antarctica,” and “Jonah’s Dream,” I gathered singers and musicians to practice ideas I had written out. When the recording was finished, it was a huge victory for me, my band, my manager, and my recording engineer. It always seems great on paper, but when the final project comes together like an enormous jigsaw puzzle, the satisfaction can’t be beat (as well as the relief!).

Enoch Magazine ) Who was an influential person in your life that exposed you to music or playing music?

Jacob ) Hmm… well I can tell you that as a child, I, nor my siblings, couldn’t shut our mouths to stop singing… not even real songs, but sort of like a improv musicals where we would just sing whatever…I don’t even know…. I guess singing in church, and also the fact that my parents forced us all to take piano lessons as kids, planted a seed that actually grew into something for me. I didn’t really ever practice my pieces, because I just liked making up my own stuff. In terms of musical influences, Ben Folds’ music saved me from giving into the peer pressure of quitting piano and picking up guitar so that I could be cool again. He showed me that you can really rock out on a piano but also play it with great sensitivity.

Enoch Magazine ) As we take a closer look at many of the cities in America you realize that we have a huge homeless population. What can we do to help the homeless and have you had any experiences with the homeless.

Jacob ) I’m intrigued by the homeless. I feel compassion for them, but I am also interested in their story. What led them to this point? Have they gotten a second chance? And what could I do to help them, but KNOW that it will help them get out of the hole they’re stuck in? I’m pretty sure I have given more food to the homeless than money… while I would love to aid their escape from poverty by handing them cash, I also don’t want to help them dig deeper into it by having them use it for the wrong things. This where organizations like the “Jonah Project” and missions trips I have been on seem to work best… I KNOW the money and service will surely be used for their good. Essentially, give food/clothing on the street; give donations to projects which will do even more when at home.

Enoch Magazine ) Often in America we have religion pushed upon us but these are the very same people aren’t living what they preach. Jesus often spoke about this in the Bible. What’s your perception of Jesus and how did you arrive at it.

Jacob ) Well, I grew up in a loving and Christian family. I was raised knowing Jesus at age 5 when I had little knowledge of any other perceptions. But as I am sure many people like myself know, teenage years can bring an abundance of questions that can only be answered by faith. Currently, I struggle with my faith, but believe that the Christian ideals I was brought up with have shaped who I am today. But, honestly, it’s hard for me to appreciate those who force feed Christianity to others (although this may be the minority… many unbelievers don’t see it this way). I have even been on the receiving end of it many times in New York, and it also frustrates me that some people think that condemning others is the key to showing them “the way.” Who are we to judge anyone, right? So it’s hard. My perception of Jesus is twofold… Psychologically, I understand what it’s like to be on both sides… It seems that love would only prevail when there are no sides at all.

Enoch Magazine ) I’m always hearing about the power of prayer and I believe in it? Do you believe that prayer actually is a means to communicate with God why or why not?

Jacob ) I’m not sure of any other way. It all comes back to faith. If one’s faith is strong, the belief that prayer is a means to communicate with God will be strong as well. In my 22 years time, my strongest moments of faith have come during amazing acts of love between people and prayer.

Enoch Magazine ) I love the imagery painted in Jonah’s Dream. Can you share with Enoch Magazine the inspiration and story behind this song?

Jacob ) I call “Jonah’s Dream” my U2 song for world peace… sort of. One night I just stared into the blackness of my room and imagined if we all spent our time and resources on giving instead of taking. We are bred with opinions on other nations without formulating our own. We are all human, we are all living on the same planet, and we all feel love and pain. What is keeping us from eliminating the hate? Our own stubborn and misinformed opinions and the seemingly unchallenged belief that the human-invented idea of humans owning the world is what is right and natural. Now I’m not promoting anarchy, just the idea that it is possible for all of us to love each other since we’re really not different at all. I wrote it from the perspective of a child because, before a certain age, children wouldn’t understand the reasons behind hating another nation… they just know love and how to avoid the feeling of hurt. The less we “know” the more we would love.

Enoch Magazine ) You’re a young musician, what are your plans for the future.

Jacob ) The only thing I have set in stone is going to the World Cup in South Africa when I graduate from school in May. I honestly don’t plan on getting a 9-5 job. I can’t really handle the same routine day-in and day-out. As my brother defined it, I’d rather live my life in projects. So for the time being, those projects will entail taking the musical leap when I graduate school and we’ll see what happens. I’m in the middle of solidifying some new band members right now so that when May comes around we can be on our feet and ready to do the whole shebang. Talk about faith, huh?

Enoch Magazine ) Every Musician has a favorite line of lyrics they have written. Can you please share these lyrics with us and explain what they mean.

Jacob ) Oh man. Although I love several of lines in “Jonah’s Dream,” I’d have to say my favorite line is tucked within “Antarctica.” Right before the chorus I say, “I stand upright and upside down / at the same time to shake my thoughts out.” Sometimes it just blows over a listener’s head, but a few people have caught what I meant. The whole song is about going to Antarctica to escape the troubles of one’s life and the troubles of the world itself… it’s about erasing stresses and hate and finding clarity on one of the most desolate places on Earth… Antarctica. So if you think of Antarctica as being the “bottom of the world” you would be standing “upside down” per se and also upright at the same time. All the thoughts that need clearing out filter “down” through the top of your head as if you were “standing upside down.” Coincidentally, it was the first line I wrote for that song.

Enoch Magazine ) What’s an up and coming band that you’re currently listening to and why do you like them?

Jacob ) I’m currently listening to a few songs from three different up-and-coming bands, which are Phoenix, Passion Pit, and Kings of Leon. I know that they are almost to the point of being past up-and-coming, but they are at least newer to national attention. I dig all of them because each one has a fresh and unique sound that you don’t hear much of these days, but they all still grab you with their hooks. More and more musicians and bands are finding new ways to portray “pop rock” in their own unique styles.

Enoch Magazine ) If you were stuck on a Desert Island and could only have 5 cds or records what would they be.

This is really unfair to the rest of my music (and some classics), but these are the ones that I don’t really get sick of too quickly….

Ben Folds Live – Ben Folds.

Come On Feel The Illinoise – Sufjan Stevens.

Transatlanticism – Death Cab for Cutie.

Third Eye Blind – Third Eye Blind.

Rush of Blood to the Head – Coldplay.

My favorite label of all time has always been Fat Wreck Chords. They’ve put out quality Punk Rock Records since I was a teenager and still continue to do so. I left the 1997 Warped Tour in Lawrence, KS with my first 2 Fat Wreck Compilations. It was my first Warped Tour experience and I feel in love with so many of the bands on those early comps. Excitedly, I still head to the local record store when A Fat Wreck Band puts out a new CD.

When Fat Wreck released “Wrecktrospective” a 3 disc set, all I could do was grin with a huge smile. This 3 disc set features 88 songs, including 27 unreleased demo songs, The Fattest Hits, and the entire Fat Wreck 7″ Series. For every Punk Rock Kid this is a must have. The artwork alone is worth the money. The lyric book has a fold out poster with a picture of every release Fat Wreck has ever put out. It also has photos of old flyers, a hand drawn piece, and other treasures. The lyric book also tells the stories of why bands signed with Fat Wreck and other great tour stories.

This 3 cd set is a great way to introduce the younger generation to the Punk Rock they may have missed. It’s also important to note that they put out almost all of their releases on Vinyl and they always have. They introduced me to Lagwagon, No Use For A Name, Good Riddance, Tilt, Strung Out, and too many other bands to name. Every Kid needs this in their stocking!!!

It’s 2:45 AM, and I am still awake. Every so often, I think about things, and when I do, there’s one question that comes to mind. This question never seems to have an answer. It’s not that I don’t know the answer, but it’s that I haven’t seen the answer come into fruition. The question is this: What would happen if we took Christ at His Word and truly lived out what He’s asked us to live? What a great change we would see!

As easy as it is to pawn the blame off on other people, I am just as guilty. We are not doing anything to solve the riddle that plagues my mind. The question is simple, and I don’t claim to be the first to ask it. I believe many men and women have asked it, begging God for an answer.

What if our nation, who once claimed to be a Christian Nation, opened our eyes and realized that we have turned our backs on God. For the life of me I do not understand, why he has held back His wrath and extended us great grace. People’s lives would be turned upside down. No longer would people look at the Church, the assembled body of Christ, and say that they want nothing to do with her. Instead, they would beat down the doors to be a part of the great works I believe God desires to do through the church. For the first time in a long time and maybe ever, I believe that God would allow the American Church to take part in both the persecution and wondrous works He’s allowed the Churches of Asia and many others to experience.

If we got off our pews and stopped going to Church just to be entertained for an hour out of our week, I believe that we would see an amazing, life-altering change take place. If we took Christ at His word and truly started living out His mission I believe, no longer would the world see us as hypocrites, but as maniacs who have something they want.

The things we’re called to do include bringing good news to the poor, binding up the broken-hearted, comforting those who mourn, and encouraging (not tearing down) fellow believers. How often do we do these things?Christ has called us to a life of selfless love and we must remember that we will answer for every person we’ve turned away by not following his word.

There’s a pretty clear picture of that in Ezekiel 9, in which God tells Ezekiel to gather up executioners to go through the city and put a mark on everyone who sighs and groans at the abominations in the city. Next he tells them to kill everyone who does not bear the mark. The kicker, which hurts me the most, is when God says as his last instruction to “Start at My sanctuary”.

If God were to place Ezekiel in this country today and give the same command, would we get the mark or would the world’s perception of who we are be justified? Would God’s house be filled with the slain bodies of dead and fruitless “followers” that didn’t take Him at His Word? What would happen if we truly took Christ at His Word? The answer lies in you and in me. Let’s do it. Dress for battle, gird your loins, and put on the armor of God.

This video is the first of many, we hope. One of our goals is to help the residents of Skid Row in sharing their talents and dreams. Bobby Lee wanted the world to hear his voice and we weren’t sure how to proceed with that. But we filmed what we could and released the video and ALREADY recording studios and record labels are asking to record Bobby Lee. We’ll let you know if anything happens…

Downloading Tips: If you are on a mac you’ll need to go through Firefox. Safari doesn’t do it. Just click “Download,” wait for the Quicktime file/bar to load the whole song across. Once the song is completely loaded, select the drop down arrow on the right side of the bar and click “Save Source.” The Quicktime file will be on your desk top and then drag it into itunes.

Enoch Magazine) Where does the influence for the music and lyrics of 12 stones come from?

Justin: All of the songs come from different places actually. Most are from different experiences we’ve encountered through the years. Some are from relationships, some from heart ache and some just from living life. A lot of the songs on this last album came from me, Paul and Skidd ( the co producer of this album) just sitting down in a room and writing. We wrote for quite a few months everyday in a studio in Memphis before recording them.

Enoch Magazine) Depression is major factor in so many high school kids lives? What would be your advice for these kids and have ever struggled with this?

Justin: I think we all experience some sort of depression in our daily lives. Especially in such a learning point in our lives like high school. Everything seems like it’s such a big deal when you’re in high school, but in actuality most of what is going on is never going to matter when you get out of school. My advice is to stay focused, driven and goal oriented. It’s so easy to get caught up in all the clicks that come with high school. Be yoursef. Follow your heart. And stay true to yourself.

Enoch Magazine) I’m always hearing about the power of prayer and I believe in it? Do you guys believe that prayer actually is a means to communicate with God why or why not?

Justin: I personally pray everyday. Whether it’s just to get me safe to the next city or praying for someone I know that may be going through a very trying time in their life. For me the power of prayer is strong.

Enoch Magazine) What’s an up and coming band that you like? Why?

Justin: There’s so many, it’s hard just to pick one. Really love the Sick Puppies latest album. The songwriting is amazing. There’s a band on tour with us called Royal Bliss right now that is really up and coming. Check em out!!

Enoch Magazine) As you tour a lot I am sure you see that Homelessness in America is a real problem. How do you feel about homelessness and can you remember any specific experiences with the homeless you may have had?

Justin: We do see it everyday actually. I don’t like seeing it. But I also believe that a lot of these people just don’t care enough to get up and do something about it. If you’re physically and mentally able to go out and hold a job and take care of yourself, then you should. I personally have a homeless friend that I talk to almost everyday on the phone for the last 10 years. He calls just to check on me everyday to make sure I have made it to the next city. It’s truly unbelievable. His outlook on life is one that most of us could never hope for. He is diseased in quite a few ways and unable to hold a job, but his spirit on life is a big lesson for all of us.

Enoch Magazine) The prices of gas are rising quickly. Would you ever consider touring in a vegetable powered van or bus? Why or Why Not?

Justin: I would love to. I’m all about any ways to cut down on gas usage.

Enoch Magazine) What was your high school experience like? Would you do again if you could?

Justin: My high school experience had lots of ups and downs. I was def. not the role model student by any means. I always played in bands and was very driven to get out of school and go to music college. I went through lots of hard times and got through them and stayed focused. I don’t think I would change anything about my experience because it got me exactly where I want to be. Bottom line for me is, no matter how hard things may seem, they’re going to get better and you’re going to get through the tough times. Stay focused and driven!!

Enoch Magazine) If you could play music in a dream band who would it be and why?

Justin: I would have to say my dream band has always been Metallica. They’ve always been such a huge influence on me and gotten me through tough times. I would love to rock with them someday!!