Preaching to the Choir: Rock the Light X
While some people were up to Irish shenanigans or drunken tomfoolery at one of the various festivals happening across the metro this past holiday weekend, many Christian kids engaged in sober fun at Starlight Theater last Friday and Saturday. Mostly out of curiosity, I trekked out to the tenth annual Rock the Light Christian music festival on its second, sunny day.
Except for local rockers Life in Jersey -- and, OK, superfamous headliners (who I missed 'cause I left early) Newsboys -- I hadn't heard of any of the 20 acts booked for the event's three stages. No matter, half the fun of any festival for a scene outsider is the people-watching.
And it was good.
Jump after the jester.
Crystal K. Wiebe
As befits, I suppose, an event meant to spread a message, a majority of the attendees sported attire that said something. And I mean said something. Some of the slogans emblazoned upon people's chests were on some level witty ("jesUSAves"); some were smug (on a teenage girl: "I may not be perfect but Jesus thinks I'm to die for"); some were, perhaps unintentionally, funny (on a host of underage, awkward, obvious virgins: "Virginity rocks!"); and some were downright disturbing ("Jesus: Meant to Die," displayed in the design of a Mt. Dew label, on a very large woman).
Crystal K. Wiebe Virginity rocks.
I witnessed all of these -- and so many more -- earnest fashion statements in a four-hour period, during which I also caught parts of the following musical acts -- Jeff Chandler, Terra Terra Terra, Highland Fall, Life in Jersey, Stephen Petree and Michael Robert. That sampling was nothing if not diverse. Terra Terra Terra, a five-piece from Florida, played melodic pop with keyboards and just enough guitar oomph to justify the members' numerous tattoos. Highland Fall, a band of scrappy teenagers from Columbia, Missouri, flailed around, harmonized and screamo-d like it was Warped Tour. Former Shiny Toy Gun Stephen Petree played a whole set with a keytar. Michael Robert strummed a guitar solo like he was in a Christian coffee shop.
Crystal K. Wiebe Nope, that's not David Cook -- it's the equally slick Stephen Petree.
Crystal K. Wiebe Life in Jersey lets the light shine down.
Nothing I saw made me want to run over to the merch booth -- or convert. But the afternoon certainly held some cool moments. In particular, the huge crowd that gathered for Life in Jersey was impressive. I've always thought frontman Carson has a neat, gravelly voice, and the band's semi-slick rock seems tighter than ever. I was pretty amused when the band worked the audio of the "enemy" scene from Almost Famous into their set, complete with the phrase "pissed off."
Because even audiences at Christian rock fests deserve a little rebellion.
Post a Comment
