Kingdom Bound 2015 ~ In Pictures

I've talked a lot before about my love of concert photography. Big concerts have a lot going on. There are countless great shots to get in all the chaos of lights, people and sound.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from Kingdom Bound 2015.
I'm a little mad that I didn't get more of for King & Country. I wanted to enjoy the show (which I did) with my eyes and not my lens. In retrospect I succeeded... but missed out on a lot of cool pictures.

Aside from that... enjoy the shots!

For King And Country 

Michael Tait and Newsboys... but mostly Tait...

Kutless (who didn't perform Sea of Faces...)

A crowd rocking out to Disciple. Really dig anything with hands in the air. 

I know it's not the fanciest photo, just love the lighting/ crowd.

Casting Crowns. This captures the sea of faces (mmmm) watching the show.

My friends in AFT rocking out!

I'm not sure if getting that much lens flare is good or not... but I like it. That's all I care about.

Not a great picture for being close, but again, that lighting!

Did I mention Kutless didn't do Sea of Faces?

For King & Country

I was hanging out at Kingdom Bound last week. It's one of my most favorite events to do at LIFE. You're surrounded by some of the biggest and best in Christian music for 4 days in a different country. It's just so cool!

The first year I came, I saw a band called for King & Country on the"Park Stage." That's where up and coming bands play, usually rock. They weren't really a rock band, but man, they were so good. I actually felt bad for them. They put on this amazing show and there were only about 20 people watching.

That must be discouraging.

You take all of this time to write songs, record them, fit them into a live set and then hit the road to tour them... and 20 people half listen at a festival.

It would certainly discourage me.

Fast forward a few years and now they are opening for a bigger band. Their on a bigger stage now, more musicians. Good on them.

Wednesday night they opened Kingdom Bound as the headliner. Wow. I've never seen anything like that in my life. 6 drum kids. SIX. Chimes, a glockenspiel, two horns, cello, guitars, bass, everyone doing vocals... oh, and by everyone, I mean the 7 members. That's right, all those instruments are getting played by 7 people. It must be exhausting for them to run around between them for an hour!

Anyway, all of that wall of text to say this - Don't get discouraged.

I imagine at some point they thought "this music thing is really hard." They could have folded right then and there. But, they knew what they were capable of. What they were called to. They stuck with it. They've "made it." If we throw in the towel, we'll never get to see what God had coming our way. What his master plan was.

Also, go see for King & Country. Seriously. Just do it.

Into The Silent Night

Every year there's one album that becomes that year's "Definitive Christmas Album." It's the one I listen too driving home from work, my go to for Christmas inspiration and the one that I wish I had written all the songs for.

In the past it's been Down Here's "How Many Kings" and Jars of Clay's "Christmas Songs". Not to mention Future of Forestry's "Advent Christmas Collection" (Which just seems to be a constant favourite with me).

This year, it's for King and Country's Into The Silent Night.

Love it.

In the past, I've had a lot of love to give these guys. They sure aren't giving me any reasons to stop yet either!

In fact the only thing I don't like about Into The Silent Night is the length. It's only 4 songs long (plus a live version of Baby Boy).

By the time the ep is over... it's just getting started! Where's the Christmas LP? Oh well. Whatever. At least we get 4 songs of awesome.

Baby Boy and Into The Silent Night are my favourites, but Angels We Have Heard On High is a great imagining and Little Drummer Boy is enjoyable (making Little Drummer Boy enjoyable isn't the easiest thing to do either!)

For me, well worth the 5 bucks!

Happy Christmas!

Top 10 of 2012

It's that time again! Where I give you what I loved in 2012. Before you start asking where x, y and z bands are on this list, this is only stuff that I've heard. I know I will likely love Fireflight's new one, Flyleafs, Future of Forestry's, The Classic Crime's and Anchor and Braille (Anberlin's side project) however, I have yet to hear them.
This is my list based on what I have heard.
If you should feel compelled, leave me your list in the comments.

10. KJ-52 - Dangerous 

We get things rolling with some rap...and rock...and techno...and dubstep. This album really is all over the map stylistically, but, it never feels out of place. My only grips are the second and third song. I know they probably sound good to a fan of heavy rap, I'm not much of a fan of heavy rap. Too rappy, not enough singiness. Otherwise, I have no complaints.

9. Owl City - The Midsummer Station

Listening to this album in the middle of winter is kinda funny considering the name... seriously though, back to the review... If you've been looking for some Christian Top 40 dance pop, this is your album.
It wont be everyone's cup of tea, but if you like to pound your foot to a four on the floor kick with synths all over the place, check 'er out!

8. Thousand Foot Krutch - The End Is Where We Begin

This was a Kickstarted album. I expected it to look and sound like it was. Thankfully, the guys made good use of their goal smashing $100,000. Not only is the album art worth the price of admission, the cd ain't so bad either. It's not constantly profound or cutting edge, but it is a good album to throw on and unwind with.
Besides, Be Somebody may have been one of my favorite singles of the year. War of Change is also really good.

7. For King and Country - Crave

I saw these guys at Kingdom Bound last year. After just one song, I was hooked. The band is a duo of brothers (who are also the brothers of Rebecca St. James). Not only are the harmonies really good, the lyrics are AMAZING. The Proof of Love is a great example of that. Taking 1 Corinthians 13 and making it more accessible and relatable. Also of note is Fine Fine Life and Pushing On A Pull Door.

6. Children 18:3 - Always on the Run

I love how fun these guys are. Nothing overly professional, just good old fashioned rock punk. It's not so much an album to listen to during the winter, but come summer.... It will be cranked!
Check out tracks like We'll Never Say Goodbye, Always on the Run and Why Are You Afraid of the Dark.

5. Andrew Peterson - Light for the Lost Boy

I love vivid lyrics. Especially when they deal with weighty subject matter. Throw in really ambient music some folk roots and you get Light for the Lost Boy. It deals mostly with straying from God and then returning. Great images. Come Back Soon, Cornerstone and Day By Day are all great to relax to or listen to if you feel like chewing on some lyrics. Plus it may have the best artwork of the year.

4. David Crowder* Band - Give Us Rest

This album got the year started in awe. It's a work of art from start to finish. Classical piano thrown into a fray of guitars, synths, drums and moving lyrics. The sequence tracks alone make it worth buying. Plus the fact it's not one but TWO(!) cds long. Check out I Am A Seed, Blessedness of Everlasting Light and Come Find Me. The only reason this didn't hit #1 was the overuse of bluegrass. I like it, just not on half the second disc.

3. Anberlin - Vital

Don't tell Scott Jackson, but I love this album. It's wrapped not only in soundscapes of soaring guitars and vocals, synth rifts, ambient pads but, lyrics that are cleaver and sometimes
(by sometime, I mean almost always) cryptic. It's Anberlin almost at their best.
The main problem with it is the fact it can be a little too cryptic and "muddy" sounding at times. If you can get past the "mud" on the songs. You'll love it.

2. Paper Route - Peace Of The Wild Things

No, not the book (or the too freaky for kids movie). This is a triumph in pop. It's not their debut Absence, which turned me off on the first listen. However, upon countless repeats, I realize it's special in it's own way. While Absence was mostly about toxic love, this is about redemption. Seeking forgiveness when we mess up our relationships. Plus it's uber catchy. It's not the most "Christian" album on this list, however Glass Heart Hymn and Calm My Soul still give me chills/encouragement

1. House of Heroes - Cold Hard Want

This album was everything I wanted it to be and more. A foot stoppin' rock fest with awesome lyrics and a lot of grit. It's not "The End Is Not The End" but I doubt anything ever will be. This is a great album. Look for highlight tracks Remember The Empire, the single Touch This Light and the chilling Suspect... plus everything else