Plumbline: Californian worship band with a mainstream persona, Fin

Sunday 23rd September 2007

The lead singer of Southern California's PLUMBLINE explained to Tony Cummings how the band also have a presence in the mainstream as Fin.

Plumbline
Plumbline

Such is the modern worship explosion in America's churches coming in the wake of Delirious?, SonicFlood, Passion et al that there re today untold hundreds of bands adding rock 'n' roll to their worship of God and releasing CDs. So it takes an exceptional act to find its way through the teetering piles of CDs on Cross Rhythms' auditioning shelf to climb to the heady heights of the Cross Rhythms playlist. But that's what's happened to Southern California's Plumbline who are currently getting mucho airplay with their "May Your Spirit Fall Upon Us" and a marvelously fresh rendition of Redman's "Let My Words Be Few". Plumbline consist of Joseph King Barkley (lead vocals, guitar), Jason Bouma (guitar), Oscar Interiano (keys), Jerry Motto (bass) and Jesse Carmichael (drums).

Joseph King Barkley, who as well as singing is also the band's main songwriter, gave Cross Rhythms a band history. "The band formed in the summer of 1998 as a collection of several worship leaders from local churches. We were all mutual friends, but had never formalized as a single entity like Plumbline. In response to several bookings that were being requested for the individuals, we pooled efforts, named the thing and launched as Plumbline in the fall of that year - playing several shows a month springing out of personal relationships that we all had. In this same season we completed a demo cassette tape at a local, independent studio in Southern California with that lineup which included myself (lead vocals, guitars), Jerry Motto (bass), David Vance (guitars, vocals), Tony Green (guitars, vocals), and Phil Esquibel (drums). It was this tape of original performance-orientated music that garnered the attention of Pamplin Music and Delganey Street Records - a small, indie label out of Colorado. For the next 18 months we hassled through negotiations and recordings to eventually release the debut record in the spring of 2000. During THAT process, we recruited Jerry Motto's cousin, Oscar Interiano for piano, synth, and vocals and lost bandmates David Vance and Phil Esquibel before the record was ever released. Using session drummers, we began touring to support the record which became Pamplin's number one selling product in its first quarter - with no advertisements, no radio play, no festivals. It was just the five guys, passionate for what God was doing in us and through us, beating the street selling 20,000 units."

Gradually as the band played more and more gigs, leading in worship became a greater and greater part of their musical armoury. Said Joseph, "We felt as though we have always had a gift in bringing people into an experience of acclaim with the Creator. It was this portion of our ministry that birthed a CD 'Live:Worship' - an attempt to capture what we were doing live on a single night at a church in Denver, Colorado. As that recording was being released in the spring of 2001 we were distancing ourselves from our label - eventually deciding to completely cut ties, buy up existing product and go do it independently - a choice that proved incredibly difficult and time-consuming, but ultimately more honest and lucrative. Our wholly-owned debut project in hand and the release of 'Live:Worship' allowed for us to go full-time as an independent artist, playing over 200 dates a year."

In the middle of touring with 'Live:Worship' Plumbline got a major break when they were asked to join the Planet Wisdom conferences with Mark Matlock which were proving extremely popular and helped make MercyMe's 'Almost There' album such a huge hit. Joseph took up the story. "At this time, we were writing both worship and performance pieces to try and bridge what God was doing in our own hearts. The result was the independently produced, completely original 'Freedom To Move' record, originally released in the summer of 2002. 'Freedom To Move' was a crucial time for us as artists. We did not see successful bands that were able to support both worship and performance endeavors. We felt anointed and called and gifted in BOTH. 'Freedom' was our first attempt - and one of the few on shelves at that time - of a band living a double life in public. It was produced and marketed to the Christian AND general market - catching attention in both arenas. 'Here Is My Life' became a theme of sorts during our time with Planet Wisdom and other songs like 'Cry' and 'Before I Drown' started to get us into seminal clubs and bars in Los Angeles - not as a worship band, but as a BAND."

Plumbline: Californian worship band with a mainstream persona, Fin

In the spring and summer of 2003 Plumbline recorded a new album, 'Burn', and also decided to make their dual identities as worship and mainstream band official. Explained Jospeh, "'Burn' was our first recording after we decided to split our efforts into two bands - existing of the same members. Our other project Fin took the reins of writing, recording and performing original performance music in the general market and Plumbline carried the torch - now more focused than ever - in the ministry of lead worshipping. We purposed to aid churches and para-church ministries in providing worship education and leading through music. 'You Lifted Me Up' is a highlight for me from that record."

Joseph continued the intriguing history of a two-bands-in-one. "This past year, after focusing a lot of attention on the launch of our alter-ego, Fin, we returned to produce (independently again) 'Burn2: Louder Than The World'. I had been called back into local church ministry by this point. Plumbline had intentionally backed off on touring while many of us began our own families, and we were writing for more Fin releases as we were playing more and more on the West Coast. I was writing a handful of songs for a church that my wife and I helped plant in Hollywood and thought that it would be worth putting out this music in a global sense, to see if it would connect with souls outside of our own immediate fellowship. So, together with my favorite musicians, we produced another Plumbline release - almost as a net to cast. We had several small dates in different areas around the US, but were not sure if there would be a connection with people outside of these personal appearances. During this time, we had signed with GoDigital Records to independently and ambitiously push our catalog - both Plumbline and Fin. Through their efforts we are seeing a somewhat surprising resurgence of God's work in this aspect of our ministry. We have sold a few thousand in the first few months of release and are planning to ramp up touring again and record another record in 2008.

"The idea for 'Recollection' really came from our friends at GoDigital Records. Since Plumbline is intently focused on worship ministry, we had decided to discontinue our first three records after selling out. GoDigital recognised that some of the songs written since 2000 still had an audience to be introduced to and convinced us to release the record - highlighting some of the best moments from those three albums. It has proven effective as new listeners who never got the chance to see us from 2001-2004 are being turned on to these creations."

In our interview I observed that America seems awash with modern worship bands. I asked Joseph whether he thought this was a phenomenon driven primarily by CD sales or did he think that something deeper was going on spiritually? "I would like to say that it is always something deeper. But, sadly, personal experience has proven otherwise in many cases. The modern 'worship movement' of the last decade has bred some incredibly great opportunities for writers and worship leaders, but it has also eased the 'entry fee' for this position of leadership. The Bible is SO clear about teachers and leaders - and isn't that what each worship band is ultimately claiming to be? The writer of Hebrews talks about how each leader has to give an account (chapter 13). Paul is adamant about carefully stepping into leadership and teaching. Even more-so, the apostle warns about false teachers on numerous occasions (II Corinthians 10:10, Galatians 5:8f, I Timothy 6:3f. . .). So, I have to suspect that if I get up there in front of people - which is a test of my humility and confidence in Christ to begin with - God has a purpose for those moments. That purpose can only be satisfactorily addressed if I am pursuing a deeper understanding of the investment of worship - not simply the sound of my band. The more that I get to know the vastness of God, the more carefully I assume his pulpits - TEACHING people to worship in my song, word and deed. At the same time, this new evolution of sacred song has connected and invited a dark and cynical generation into the holiest place. I revel in that." CR

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.
About Tony Cummings
Tony CummingsTony Cummings is the music editor for Cross Rhythms website and attends Grace Church in Stoke-on-Trent.


 

Reader Comments

Posted by Paul Wichtendahl in Minnesosta @ 01:11 on Jun 18 2018

Plumbline is an INCREDIBLE band. I was introduced to them by Mike Delaney of RadRocker fame many years ago at Cornerstone and I have almost worn the only disc of theirs I have out. The song "She Fades Away" speaks so directly to my heart. It has touched me more ways than I can count. Thank you Plumbline



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