November 29, 2005

Bono: My Music Will Be Around in 100 Years

U2 frontman and social activist Bono told 60 Minutes that he wants to be remembered for his music more than his activism.

"I think my work--the activism--will be forgotten. And I hope it will. Because I hope those problems will have gone away."

He went on to predict that his music will still be around in 100 years, "explaining that his songs occupy 'an emotional terrain that didn't exist before our group did.'"

Is this rock 'n roll hubris, ego maniac lead singer, exaggeration in hopes of a sound byte--or is [insert favorite U2 song here] that good?

Posted by kevin at 7:37 AM | TrackBack

November 2, 2005

Faith, Doubt and Nickel Creek

Religion columnist Terry Mattingly covers the bluegrass band Nickel Creek and their mix of faith and doubt. It includes a great line from guitarist Sean Watkins:

"I'm so sick of sugar-coated songs from the Christian perspective," he said, in his online journal. "One of the most comforting and inspiring lines to me is from the last chorus of 'Come Thou Fount' where it says, 'Prone to wander, Lord I feel it. Prone to leave the God I love.' Not many un-watered-down songs make it through the filter of the Christian music industry mafia these days."

Posted by kevin at 9:19 AM | TrackBack

May 18, 2005

Audio Adrenaline's Tyler Burkum

When guitarist Tyler Burkum joined the Christian rock band Audio Adrenaline at age 17 he left behind a blossoming career as a busboy at a local college. But he joined a musical juggernaut and can now polish Grammys with that old dishtowel. Their last album, Worldwide, with the hit songs "Ocean Floor" and "Leaving 99", scored the band's first Grammy after five nominations. Later this summer Audio Adrenaline will crank out their 10th release, tentatively titled Until My Heart Caves In.

Was joining a rock band at 17 fulfilling your wildest dreams of becoming a rock star?
I definitely didn't want to be a rock star, and that's probably the Minnesota in me, the shy, Lake Woebegone part of me. ... I always just wanted to do my thing, I wanted to play music and do it well whether I was jumping around or not.

I'm not a rock star now. If somebody came up to me and said 'Man you're a rock star,' I'd probably be embarrassed. If somebody came up to me and said 'I dug the show, you did well,' I'd be honored. I want someone to feel like they got their money's worth, but I don't really care if they walk away thinking I'm a rock star. If they think I'm a rock star, maybe they've missed the point.

Continue reading "Audio Adrenaline's Tyler Burkum"

Posted by kevin at 12:52 PM | TrackBack