The Antidote fall season

After a four week hiatus The Antidote returns for the fall season on Trent Radio. I had a great summer touring both Canada and the US, checking out different bands at a wide variety of venues and music festivals. It wasn't just great hearing new music, it was also great to sit down with a number of artists who shared with The Antidote some of the details of their band's experiences.

• What kind of music does the hardcore band, August Burns Red, really enjoy?
• Why is Leanor Ortega Till, sax player of Five Iron Frenzy, better known as "Jeff the Girl"
• Is the band The La De Les really under the influence?
• What does War of Ages do when only 20 people are in attendance at a show?
• Why did Ravenhill choose the name of British evangelist for their band?
• Why does Ilia not like girl bands?

Those and other life change questions will be asked and answered on future dates on The Antidote. Dial in 92.7 FM in the Peterborough, ON area each Wednesday night from 9 - 10. Stream online at http://www.trentradio.ca/stream.htm  Find recordings of past episodes of The Antidote at http://www.christianrockfiles.com/

The Antidote - Show 44 - Soulfest Memories

My wife, nephew, and I headed off to the White Mountains of New Hampshire for the Soulfest music festival just over a week ago. This was the second music festival I'd attended in the past 6 weeks. It was another long drive to see some great bands and artists.

The highlight of this festival was having both the reunited O. C. Supertones and Five Iron Frenzy perform back to back on Saturday night. To those who are unaware of these ska bands, it may be hard to understand the extreme nature of their fan base. I meet a couple of guys who had driven two days, non-stop, just to see Five Iron Frenzy perform.

This show features a number of bands that I was able to see perform at the annual Soulfest music festival.

Check out Soulfest Memories on The Antidote

Live stream The Antidote Wednesday's from 9 - 10  EST here.

The Antidote - Show 22, Ska Lives! - Five Iron Frenzy

Ska Lives, that was the topic of the night this past Wednesday.  My son Josiah joined me in the studio as we played both current and old ska tunes. 


We also aired an exclusive interview with Five Iron Frenzy guitarist Micah Ortega.  Micah and I spoke about Five Iron being reformed and what's happening with the band.


Josiah and I had a difficult time paring down our playlist to fit a 60 minute time slot.  Did you guess?  Yes, we're going to do it again in just a couple of weeks.  Plus you will be hearing from The O C Supertones frontman Matt "Mojo" Morginsky about whats happening with the band.


Next weeks show will be "Strange Song Titles".  Have you ever wondering how bands choose some of their song titles?  Well, I won't be offering any insights, but it will be fun nonetheless.

Listen to the ska show with Five Iron Frenzy here

You can also listen to The Antidote live on Trent Radio 92.7 FM, Wednesdays from 9 - 10 EST. You can also access a live stream here.

Five Iron Frenzy Returns!

The greatest of all ska bands has returned to the studio. After an 8 year hiatus, Five Iron Frenzy has announced that they are back in the studio recording a new album. FIF initiated a kickstarter campaign to generate funds to record the album. Their goal was to raise $30,000 in a 6 week span. They raised that figure in just 55 minutes. Current tally is $109,000. All the funds the band raises over the $30K goal will be used for promotion and to enable the band to play some shows. If you want to participate click here.

Yes, I was saving the best for last. Five Iron Frenzy is offering a free download of their new song, “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night”, on purevolume.com! The track can also be downloaded through their own website.

Check out this youtube video on the recording of “It Was a Dark and Stormy Night”

A departure from modern worship

Worship music is defined in Wikipedia as "worship music involves singing, whether by the whole congregation (assembly) or a specialised subgroup—such as a duet, trio, quartet, madrigal, choir, or worship band. It is frequently accompanied by instruments—such as an organ, piano, guitar, or other solo instrument, and occasionally by a band or orchestra—but some denominations or congregations still prefer unaccompanied or a cappella singing".

What artists do you think of when you hear the words "Modern Worship"?  Chris Tomlin, Robin Mark, Darlene Zschech, Matt Redman, or Brian Doerksen?  "Worship Wars" have somtimes resulted with churches who have included contemporary worship songs in lieu of traditional hymns. Think of the mayhem that would result if your church provided music by metal, punk or heavy rock bands. It could take "Worship Wars" to a nuclear level.

All genres of music can take us to a level of intimate worship with God.  The heart of the listener, their preference of musical styles, cultural and church backgound.  What follows is a selection of music that you probably wouldn't find in your neighbourhood church, however lyrically they could bring you to the heart of worship.


Becoming the Archetype - Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore
"Self Existent"

Into the darkened tomb
I walked but only found it empty
My mind is tormented
My soul is shaken
As a flame is tormented by the wind and rain
As the earth is shaken by an earthquake
My heart has accepted
What my eyes could never have believed
I watched Him die
I watched Him die
In the silence death is defeated
In my spirit the battle rages on
And then I stepped into the light
I heard His voice, I saw His face
And then He stood there before me
A man buried but never dead
My heart has accepted
What my eyes could never have believed
I saw Him rise
I saw Him rise
HE IS ALIVE! and reigns forever
HE IS ALIVE! He'll reign forever

Five Iron Frenzy - Ska
"Every New Day"

Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again.
Jesus Christ, light of the world burning bright within our hearts forever.
Freedom means love without condition,
without a beginning or an end.
Here's my heart, let it be forever Your's,
Only You can make every new day seem so new.

Family Force 5 - Crunk Rock
"Replace Me"

Desperation
Needing U
Every last breath
I scream for you
Shatter me into a million pieces...Make me new 

Crush me, tear me, break me, mold me
Make me what U want me to be
I am ur's for U to use
Oh, Take and Replace me with U

August Burns Red - Metalcore
"Redemption"

I trust in you for life to live, and air to breath.
Purity fills my lungs.
I no longer live in solitude.
No longer bound.
My heart beats with great devotion.
This is the start to a new beginning.
On my knees praying for mercy.
Hands raised high, humble and broken. Wanting your grace.
Wanting your security.
Memories of laying facedown, motionless, with such a hollow feeling inside.
Soon I would end this life I was living.
I am just a man with a heart and sinful hands.
I am a fallen victim.
Lord, show me the way. I ask of you Father, let my words be your words.
Let my thoughts be your thoughts.
To you, I give my praise.
Show me the way. Take me in your arms. Never let me go.
Lord, show me the way, as I give myself to you.
Never let me go.
Hold me with your everlasting love.
Be my strength. Be my voice. Be my glory. Set me free

Underoath - Alternative Hardcore
"Some Will Seek Forgiveness, Others Escape"

Oh sweet angel of mercy
With your grace like the morning
Wrap your loving arms around me
Oh sweet angel of mercy
With your grace like the morning
Wrap your loving arms around me 

Hey unfaithful I will teach you
To be stronger, to be stronger
Hey ungraceful I will teach you
To forgive one another 

Hey unfaithful I will teach you
To be stronger, to be stronger
Hey unloving
I will love you
I will love you
I will love you 

And Jesus I'm ready to come home
Jesus, I'm ready to come home(home)
home (home)
I'm ready to come (home)
Hey Unfaithful
Hey Ungraceful
Hey Unloving
I will love you
Hey Unloving (Hey Unloving)
I will love you

RED - Hard Rock
"Breathe Into Me"

And this is how it feels when I ignore the words you spoke to me
And this is where I lose myself when I keep running away from you
And this is who I am when, when I don't know myself anymore
And this is what I choose when it's all left up to me 

Breathe your life into me
I can feel you
I'm falling, falling faster
Breathe your life into me
I still need you
I'm falling, falling
Breathe into me
Breathe into me

Demon Hunter - Metalcore
"Lead Us Home"

Give myself to compromise
And let the hammer fall
From blackened eyes to broken ties
I’ve bled to know them all
Driven to the brink of death
I heed deceptions call
Through bitter tears, forgotten years
I’ve come to sever all 

Lead us home
Lead us home
Our tired hearts are failing now, from the inside out
Lead us home 

Blessed hands will tear me off
And break me at the wrist
Drag me back to solid ground
And slay the fate I kiss

Squad Five-O - Punk
"My God, My Life"

A million things in this man's world.
That his life can revolve around.
A million things that'll fill him up.
Only to throw him further down.
I've seen the ways of man.
His best laid plains often go astray.
Not knowing how much time is left until his final day.
I watch him wander around.
Searching for meaning where none can be found.
He wanted a purpose to life.
But on purpose refuses the life.
But I won't trade the truth for a lie.
Or live by a false set of rules.
I'll look to God for what is right.
And fight the ways of this world.
Cause when it all comes down to it.
I'll leave this world to the one who brought me into it.
What power in this world gives you hope in the days to come.
What strength can you derive when it's out of our control.
When the rivers all run dry and every path is a dead end road.
The truth of the matter comes to light.
The truth will shatter the mold

Ryan Clark - Demon Hunter

"As sounds go, I don't think music can be inherently evil. The content and lyrics and what you propose to do with them make music evil. Certain chords on a guitar and the way something sounds do not make it evil. All different styles of music can be worshipful and rooted in Christ, (just as any style can be twisted for evil)" - Christianity Today

These songs may be a radical departure from traditional worship music, but the lyrics impart the lyricists heart towards God.