'MINDY'S REVENGE' came out on Word recently. It featured 20 American alternative-orientated bands and soloists who'd made it onto CD but hadn't been picked up by a major CCM label. Mike Rimmer and Dave Derbyshire went in search of info.
Continued from page 1
Jesse's Vineyard
Jesse's Vineyard come from
Tampa. Florida but like so many budding artists have moved to
Nashville. The group's front men, Gerald Alderman and Bobby Marko,
credit their five and a half year history due to the fact that no
matter what, ministry is first. "Round And Round" is Jesse's
Vineyard's debut single but they say that "plans for a full length
album release is in the making."
Alison And The Catherine Pierce
Catherine (20)
and her elder sister Allison (22) are a living example of how strange
the route to a record company can be. They were recommended to Brent
Bourgeois when he was still working as an artist. A fan emailed him
from Auburn University in Alabama and sent Brent a tape. He remembers,
"I got a tape with no picture, no titles and it had 15 songs! It was
all wrong!" Despite this when Brent began work at Word, he set about
signing the duo. Bourgeois and veteran Wayne Kirkpatrick have just
completed producing the debut album, which is currently untitled. It's
also a first for the company since Word are planning on launching
Allison And Catherine Pierce exclusively into the mainstream. Their
album will not have a Christian industry release.
Gorgeous
Gorgeous have been together for four
years and their music is best described as guitar soaked modern rock.
Working hard mainly in the mainstream club scene, they describe the
inclusion of their song "Alien" on 'Mindy's Revenge' as a "fluke!"
They explain, "The song was first written as a silly little poem, then
put to music with strange but strong lyrics donated by a band friend.
The song looks at the strange obsession people have with aliens and
UFO lore. The song kind of lampoons the idea that people seek
salvation in the stars while dying on earth. Or you could just look at
it as a funny little song about an alien."
Chris Taylor
Born in New York and raised in
Texas, Chris Taylor fronted the acclaimed group Love Coma who split up
last year. At the same time Love Coma was coming to an end, Brent
Bourgeois convinced Chris to come to Nashville and record a few new
songs. It was the out and out worship song "Bright And Morning Star'
that was produced by Brent that was chosen for 'Mindy's Revenge' and
Chris has also just released his first solo album 'Down Goes The Day'
on Rhythm House Records.
Prophecy
Prophecy have only been together a
couple of years however they have already played support to The
Insyderz, Value Pac, Silage and Zilch! They released their debut album
'Supernatural' in 1996 and have recently been in the studio with
Mark Nash of PFR in preparation for their next album. "'Mindy's
Revenge' is one of the biggest projects we have been involved in,"
says Jason Velasquez. "We are now working on our summer schedule.
Since our drummer is still in high school we can't do anything till
then."
Vine
The band Vine as featured on this album
were only together from 1996-97 and split after the song "Soap"
appeared on "Mindy'. The band was Dan Muckala and Alex Anders. Muckala
describes the song as "a different take on salvation. We cannot do any
good works that will save us. We need the power of the cross to
cleanse us." Word A&R Brent Bourgeois heard the song through a
friend and liked it so much he talked to Vine about signing them.
However, by then Dan and Alex had split because of "creative
differences." This was just as well since another band called Vine
were unhappy that Dan had taken their name! Dan has now signed to
Essential Records and was so afraid of having the same name as another
band he has called the new line up Muckala. He says he was "pretty
sure that wouldn't be taken!" Muckala are currently on tour opening
for Plumb and then they are due in the studio where Dan will be
producing the band's debut which will be a mix of modern rock, techno
and R&B! He is no stranger to Christian music as he has already
made a name for himself as an inspirational songwriter penning tunes
for Bryan Duncan and Amy Morriss. This year his song "He Walked A
Mile" recorded by Clay Crosse is up for a Dove award as Song Of The
Year. However, the band is his main focus now!
Jeff Deyo
Youth ministries specialist Jeff Deyo
graduated in Music Business from 3 Anderson University in 1992. He
recently toured the States as a front man for Teen mania's worship
band at some selected Acquire The Fire super-conventions and he has
gained experience opening for groups like Big Tent Revival, Three
Crosses, Bleach, Five Iron Frenzy and Zilch. Jeff describes his song
"Overflow" as "a passionate modern rock Sound Garden."
Jeanette Sullivan
Jeanette Sullivan grew up in a
family of eight children in Stockton, California and moved to
Nashville in the early '90s after graduating from California State
University at Fresno. She worked in radio and marketing for a couple
of years before asking Barry Blair (formerly of Audio Adrenaline) to
produce "Up And Down The River" for her as a demo. Jeanette's husband.
Bob Herdman of Audio Adrenaline, wrote this song. While he was playing
it at home. Jeanette decided she really liked it and so recorded it.
It appeared on 'Mindy's Revenge' but Jeanette's debut solo project,
'Planet', was released independently in December. The entire album
again produced by Barry Blair.
According To John
The four members of the
Fayetteville-based band According To John tour extensively playing to
youth, colleges, churches and conferences. They have ' opened for Jars
Of Clay. NewSong, Rebecca St James. Skillet and Audio Adrenaline.
Currently they are touring America, supporting the hugely popular girl
group Sierra. The song "Follow" is a personal testimony for According
To John that they have "decided to follow Jesus, no turning back, no
turning back."
Kings Road
The songwriting duo of vocalist Eve
Marie Selis-De La Isla and guitarist Marc Intravaia first collaborated
while touring Europe before forming Kings Road! The band have made a
name for themselves playing locally in the San Diego area.
Intriguingly, all of the band members also play in Top 40 cover bands
to earn a crust or two. Their previous attempt to get wider exposure
was in 1994 with the release of their debut album 'Where Angels Walk"
which was released on Broken Records. 'Mindy' features "Mary Mary"
which is taken from 'Heaven And Earth' which was released
independently last year. Eve jokes about the band's songwriting, "I
live it and Marc writes it! Our songs are about our life experiences.
We write what's inside."
Dog Named David
Two college graduates Andy
Cloninger and John Wallace, who was bound for Episcopal seminary,
began as an acoustic duo in 1995. Dog Named David now alternate
between the original duo and working as a full band, including bass
and drums. They have quickly gained the reputation as one of the
finest Christian acts in the Southeast States. The track on 'Mindy's
Revenge', "It's Alright", is the title track from their debut
independent album released in February 1997.
Thread
Eddie Willis, Steve Rude, Scott Leger,
Nate Navarro and Curtis Ryker were just five guys with different
occupations and backgrounds, serving together in their local church
worship team in Marysville, WA in the US. Since performing together at
the 1996 Northwest Talent Contest they have now played at churches,
community events and festivals including opening for such names as All
Star United, Cyndy Morgan. Carolyn Arends and Susan Ashton. The song
"Let Me Out" is also available as a single and Thread hope to have an
album out next year.
Human
This five-piece band came together
gradually between 1992 and 1997, deciding on the name by the flip of a
coin! Human have opened for Petra, Audio Adrenaline, Geoff Moore And
The Distance and gone against the modern rock trend by developing
elaborate stage shows. "You can take any bad situation and make
something good out of it," says Vic, explaining the meaning of their
song "Lemonade" which was featured on the 'Mindy' album. "When life
hands you a bag of lemons, make lemonade."
The Nobodys
Coming from the Pacific Northwest,
Scott C Riggan grew up in northern California, Ben Bauman on a small
farm in Oregon. They met and both graduated from Boise Bible College
in Idaho. Recently in a bid to develop their music they relocated to
Nashville. Ben has spent a number of years as a youth minister. Scott
has worked as a programme director for Christian Radio in Idaho and
together they have received songwriting and talent awards while
performing and ministering in churches, coffee houses, youth rallies
and other community festival events. About their song "Talk About
Love" they say, "There is no love greater than that which would lay
its own life down for someone who doesn't even yet love in return."
The Forty Days
The Forty Days were playing for
their church youth group and slowly finding other churches opening
'heir doors to them when they were asked by former White Heart
guitarist Brian Wooten to record their first album. 'Downpour'. The
band consists of lead singer and primary lyricist Christopher Martin,
with Heath Migliore and Tom Robson on guitars. Stephen Sisk on drums
and Jody Spain on bass. It was Chris who dipped into his own past to
come up with the song "Why?" which the Forty Days describe as "a
musical interpretation of one boy's struggles with his parents'
divorce."
Sacred Sky
Genie and Troy Nilsson are Sacred
Sky. The couple have been making music together since 1988 and married
in 1990. In the past they have worked with Bobby McFerrin. Michael W
Smith and DC Talk. But they are best known for their children's
lullaby albums for Everland Entertainment, Angels All Around'. Perhaps
it's no surprise that Everland have signed the duo for their adult
project which they have recently finished recording. Reverting back to
their own names rather than continuing as Sacred Sky, Genie And Troy
Nilsson will release 'Whisper' in April. They are currently touring in
the Northwest USA and have been recently nominated for a Dove Award
for one of their children's recordings. 'Scripture Rock' which they
recorded for Brentwood.