Count Me In Concerts

Welcoming "Stars Go Dim"

2011-04-14T14:12:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow night we have the opportunity to introduce a band to Chicagoland for their first-ever concert here! Stars Go Dim will be playing at Adventure Church in Bradley, IL. Yeah, I know that calling Bradley "Chicagoland" may be a bit of a stretch, but hey, much of Illinois and Indiana are considered Chicagoland!

We're excited to bring these guys in for a lot of reasons. Of course, they make great music! If you haven't done so already, check them out at starsgodim.com. You can even download their album for FREE!

They are also very generous and compassionate guys. They told me that they like to support local organizations when they go through an area, so they will be visiting Children's Memorial Hospital in the city and playing music for the kids. What great hearts for ministry!

Some quick background: the band developed as a side project of a few guys from Pillar. And then it grew. And grew. They grabbed vocalist Chris Cleveland, who has AWESOME pipes, and shaped their unique sound. Chris and bassist Michael Wittig live in Tulsa, and Joey Avalos flies in from Phoenix. Lester Estelle does a lot of production and drumming, but doesn't travel with them.

We are looking forward to hangin' with them on Friday and we hope you'll join us! Tickets are $10 at the door. Come to Adventure Church, 235 N. Kinzie Ave, Bradley, IL.

Join the Bands. WHAT?

2011-02-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

As we've spent time getting to know the artists with whom we do shows, we have learned a lot more about their lives, their hearts, and their missions.

Contrary to popular belief, these guys' daily lives are far from the cliched "rock star" life. Many of the bands we've come to know and love spend hour upon hour and mile upon mile traversing the country in their Ford E350 vans (acting as their own drivers), pulling trailers strategically packed to the brim with gear, merch, and luggage. They sleep in Wal-Mart parking lots and eat on meal budgets of $10 a day. They clearly do what they do NOT for fame and riches and cushy comforts, but because they are called to serve God through their music.

Here's one way YOU can bless the bands: join with them on their next project!

One growing trend is the use of Kickstarter campaigns. Kickstarter.com offers a way for artists to raise money for projects by having people invest directly in them through financial pledges. Kickstarter dubs itself "the largest funding platform for creative projects in the world." Bands can register a Kickstarter project in which they set goals fundraising and offer incentives to those who partner with them. The catch is this: the band sets a goal and a dealine, and money is only collected when the goal is met.

We have two band-friends that are currently in the middle of their Kickstarter campaigns. Both are seeking to raise money for new recording projects (you know it costs LOTS of money to record, produce, engineer, print and distribute music, right?). Check out these projects and contribute if you can. All the money you pledge goes to the bands and their project. Yep. 100%! Every little bit helps! Let's keep the music coming!

Satellites & Sirens: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/satellitesandsirens/satellites-and-sirens-new-record-and-you

The Radiance Effect: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1006015639/the-radiance-effect-records-a-new-ep

Old Friends and New Friends

2010-09-20T18:24:00.000-07:00

Were you at the Guide You Home Tour show with Remedy Drive, Sixteen Cities and Made Avail? If so, you know it was an awesome night of music at CrossRoads Garage in DeMotte, IN. If not, what were you thinking??? You should have been there!

Local band Once Ascended kicked off the night with some rockin' worship and got the crowd ready for the bands that followed. Chicagoland boys Made Avail took the stage on the first night of the national tour which was sponsored by World Vision. Portland, Oregon's Sixteen Cities and Nebraska rockers Remedy Drive filled out the evening's line-up.

The Count Me In Concerts team has partnered with Remedy Drive several times in the past (one of our very first events, in fact!) and we love the Zach brothers David, Phil, Dan and Paul. There's a new Zach on the road: Paul and his wife very recently adopted an adorable little girl! We also recently hosted Sixteen Cities (at The Hub with Chasen), who are now a four-piece band. Since last time they were hear, lead singer Josiah Warkening has gotten married (and taken a 3 week honeymoon!).

Since this was our first time with Made Avail, I wanted to focus on them in this blog.(Just trust me that the music played by the bands was amazing, and you should buy all of their cd's.)

I asked lead singer Tyler Hawx what I should know about the band, and I was pleased that what followed was not the standard "we've been together since blah blah and are working on our next blah blah." Instead, he shared with me several fun band facts.

Jon the bass player is homeless... by choice. When the band is not on the road, he might be found sleeping in his car or camping out under the stars. He is rumored to have been well-trained as a Boy Scout, so he has excellent survival skills.

Drummer Josh, the band's newest member (this was his 4th show with Made Avail), is still finishing high school. The guys promised his mom that they'd be sure he does his chemistry homework on the road. He was seen with a large backpack in the Green Room.

Guitar player Luke has a penchant for "Angry Birds." (While we were talking, he discovered the 'large print' edition on the iPad.) He also shared with me about a trip to England where he visited the town of Maida Vale and loved the name. (hmmm... see a connection?)

Tyler is an artist, as well as a musician. He draws (I peeked over his shoulder at something he was working on... AMAZING!), designs tattoos, and is a partner in a clothing company. (Check out grottomadrid.com for some cool stuff)

I had a great time talking to these guys; I feel like we're old friends now. And, oh yeah, their music was terrific! I listened to them again on my (2-hour) drive home; check out their self-titled EP. And you can see their smiling faces on their new music video for "Right Direction" at youtube.com/madeavail.

Hometown Music

2010-04-20T17:06:00.000-07:00

Count Me In Concerts celebrated Chicago-area roots by bringing in two Chicago-area bands for a hometown show at The Underground in Naperville. The western suburbs are home to all of the members of the David Yeager Band, and The Least of These hail from Judson College and the Elgin area. The two bands have solid local followings and are hoping to continue to grow their fan bases. This joint show was a step forward in introducing their music to new audiences.

The David Yeager Band opened the show with "Sound" which allowed Yeager to bring out his violin, one of the standout elements of a DYB set. His improvisational skills add a richness to any of the songs that feature this.

A series of "love songs" followed, emphasizing different kinds of love." "Love Rules" speaks of God's love, "Jill" is a song about a crush, and "Won't Let Go" tells of the unfailing, unconditional love God has for His people. This quiet acoustic song featured a beautiful violin interlude (ok, I admit it: I'm partial to the violin riffs!).

The DYB cover of "40" by U-2 caught the attention of those not familiar with the other songs, and showed the band's ability to make a famous song their own.

The band followed up with "Tom Bombadill," which Yeager called "a song about being a dork." (The title refers to a character from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy) The crowd fed on the energy of the band; perhaps we all could related to the dork concept! The David Yeager Band wrapped up their set with "Free Time" which featured an awesome violin/bass jam that could have gone on several more minutes as far as I was concerned.

The Least of These has opened for many big name bands like Superchick and the Newsboys, but tonight was their chance to headline. This was also the first time I had seen their new band mix: new drummer David Blascoe replaced Josh Calhoun, who has moved up front on guitar, and this new blend has added another layer of richness to their music. Their brothers, Ben Calhoun on lead and vocals, and Ben Blascoe on bass, round out the foursome.

The band opened their set with "One," a high-energy song that brought a group of fan-girls to the stage to sing along with every word.

TLOT covered "Umbrella" by Rhianna, and it's always interesting to me when a Christian band covers a secular song. I listen to the lyrics with different ears, and I love the spiritual truths I discover. "So go on and let the rain pour/I'll be all you need and more" is infused with a different, deeper meaning.

"Things I've Learned" followed, and perhaps some of the audience had heard their live rendition a few days prior on Shine.fm The band had visited the radio station for an interview and live performance, as well as recording an interview for the internet station, ShineRock.

Another cover, Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" included an AMAZING drum solo where new member David Blascoe showed off his skills and won over the crowd.

Slowing down the music a bit, Ben Calhoun soloed on "Sing, Sing, Sing" which the band had written for a movie, Furious Love (www.furiouslovethemovie.com) This was followed by special guest, singer-songwriter Becca TenHaken debuting her song "Love" from her EP. She's a worship leader at Harvest Church who brought a folk vibe to the show and was well-received by the audience.

A bluesy couple of tunes followed, the first a cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" with Josh Calhoun and "his sultry voice" (according to his brother!) taking on lead vocals. His vocal quality is different from his brother's, and the two harmonize and blend beautifully.

As their set came to a close, frontman Ben shared his heart with the audience. "We truly believe what we sing about. My life has been changed by a guy named Jesus. Music doesn't fulfill me...Jesus makes a difference in my life." He encouraged people to "tell me your story," saying he might even write a song about it because inspiration comes from many places.

This was a great evening showcasing some of the local talent that deserves a broader audience. Be sure to check out both bands on itunes.

Ooh Ahh!

2010-04-20T16:32:00.000-07:00

Count Me In Concerts hosted our first hip-hop show on April 8 as GRITS came through the Chicago area. GRITS is preparing to release a new CD, Quarantine, in June. This will be the group's 11th CD, showing their staying power in the volatile music industry.

Stacy "Coffee" Jones and Teron "Bonafide" Carter have been performing together for 15 years, and DJ Manwell joined the duo several years ago. The guys showed that, even though they are parents of college and high school students, they still bring it when they perform.

They opened with "High" and its catchy phrase, "Let the fire burn!" This was followed by Tennessee Bwoys, (yep, I spelled that right!), where the song asks "Where you from?" GRITS made it "personal" by asking the audience to shout where they were from, and they moved into a chant of "Where you from?" "Indiana." "Where you from?" "Illinois."

As if it hadn't been obvious, Bonafide told the audience, "We like crowd participation" and encouraged the people to loosen up, dance, and move around. The crowd obliged and remained energetic for the rest of the set.

Classic GRITS songs "Ooh Ahh" and "We Don't Play" had the crowd singing along. "Ooh Ahh" has enjoyed repeated marketing success, having been featured in The Fast and the Furious/Tokyo Drift, and as the theme song for M-TV's hit, "The Buried Life."

The guys launched into "Changes," hip hop with a twist: it finishes with spoken word. Unusual, yes, but the crowd was transfixed as Bonafide spoke: "I'm tryin' to understand God's plan for this man/ I'm happy with these changes/ Still I wonder what's gonna happen with these changes." The truths of these words rang true with all in the room; who hasn't questioned the details of God's plan as it unfolds?

GRITS wrapped up their show with "Here We Go," which seemed to be known by everyone in the audience. After the show was over, the guys graciously hung out to meet fans, talk with people, and swap stories.

Worship and Rock

2010-03-29T18:52:00.000-07:00

I've kind of stolen my title from a current tour, but the words aptly describe the Chasen and Sixteen Cities concert this past weekend. Both of these bands began as worship ensembles, but they sure can rock too!

Sixteen Cities, anticipating the release of their first full length CD on Centricity, hails from Portland, Oregon. The group began playing together back in their high school days (which aren't too long ago!) when they led worship events for teens at their school. Their hearts for music and ministry are rooted in worship, and the guys enjoy teaching kids how to praise our God.

The band opened their set with "Undivided," an energetic song that allowed frontman Josiah Warkening to work the crowd and draw them in to their music. His humble and engaging personality is the same on stage and off.

Warkening introduced the moving "Come As You Are" by sharing with the audience, "In our brokenness we can still come to God. He wants to heal your broken heart." "Moonlight Serenade," an upbeat, harmony-filled song followed, and they closed out their set with their first radio single, "Sing Along." This catchy tune inspires praise of God for His amazing creation. And additionally amazing, this song has received substantial airplay in Hollister stores! God shows up in such unusual places!

Sixteen Cities offered a tasty appetizer for the main course, Chasen. The South Carolina foursome took to the stage and was off and running. Opening with "Castaway," a track from their newest CD, That Was Then This Is Now, the band shared about second chances. Next was the familiar guitar strum that introduces "Crazy Beautiful," and the band played through their hot radio hit from their first CD, Stars Are Meant to Shine.

Chasen Callahan, who started as a worship pastor at his home church (a position he maintains today), had many encouraging words for the audience. He introduced "If It Comes Down" by reminding the audience that all denominations fade away and "we are one body here tonight."

About midway through their show, the band unplugged and pulled drummer Aaron Lord out from behind his kit for a beautiful acoustic set. I loved their version of "Drown," which was filled with tight harmonies from Evan Silver and Jared Barber, while Lord provided some simple percussion accompaniment. This song has never sounded better!

Callahan took some time to share with the crowd. "What we do we do because of Jesus. We hope you take pictures and get autographs and buy our merch, but we want you to know for sure the Jesus that we serve. We are missionaries," he continued, "and God has called us to music ministry."

The crowd instantly recognized the opening notes of " On and On," Chasen's current radio hit which stayed atop the charts in the number one spots for several weeks. "Your Name" followed and we were drawn into a time of praise as we sang, "It's all about you/it's not about me."

The band plugged back in for their remaining songs, which included "History Tonight," "Airplanes," and "Bullet." They finished up with "Eyes of a Rescue," during which Callahan came down in the crowd and fed off their energy.

Chasen Callahan has really grown into his role as frontman for the band bearing his name. He engages the crowd, tells stories, shares his heart, and gets everyone involved. The quartet is fresh off a tour with big names like Jeremy Camp and The Afters, and they head out again next week with Kutless.

Keep an eye on these bands. Both were coincidentally featured in the April edition of CCM Magazine, the online version of the former industry publication. (www.ccmmagazine.com)

My New Favorite Band!

2010-02-27T20:54:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've been excited about seeing a new band play a show, but I couldn't wait to see The Wrecking on Friday night. They've been together about 2 years but I've only just recently discovered them, thanks to my friend Amber.

The band opened with "Breakthrough," from their first album, A New Abolition, followed by "Sound of the Resistance", off of the Catalyst EP. I've heard this song on Air One...sure wish I'd been hearing it on some local Chicago radio too (hint hint!). There were also a few new songs from their upcoming CD, including "Fire" and "About To Fall." (You can find these tunes on their myspace (myspace.com/thewrecking) until the CD hits shelves later this year.)

The moment that captured me during this show was when the band moved into an instrumental segment. I noticed that drummer Darren Elder had slipped quietly out from behind his kit, and was in prayer on his knees off to the side. At first I simply enjoyed the beautiful instrumentation, but then something began to change. I felt there was something more than just music happening; I sensed God's presence in the room, being poured out on each note that was played.

There was a beautiful synergy as they all worked together, building the energy and power in this song. At various times the guys were moving about the stage, switching instruments without missing a beat, working together to create some amazing sounds.

When I discovered the song was called Prayer Language, I knew that the presence of God that I had felt was what they intended with this song. God calls us to deep relationship with Him that requires more than just words; sometimes He calls us to simply be in His presence and listen.

It was so appropriate that they followed this holy time with their song "Breathe," currently the most played song on my iTunes. "Breathe in, breathe out, touch the words that leave my mouth/Breathe in, breathe out, speak to me without a sound" is exactly what the previous song had called me to. "Breathe in, breathe out, hold me closer to your heart/ I gave you breath right from the start, so breathe in, breathe out, breathe" is a great reminder to take time to simply be in God's presence.

Before the show, I had been fortunate to spend a portion of the day with the guys, getting to know them and their hearts for ministry. It was a privilege to see how that came through in their performance. Yes, they were playing a show, but they were worshiping and enjoying themselves in the process.

They shared from the stage about Love 146, an organization that combats child sex slavery and exploitation with the desire to protect, defend, restore and empower those who have been hurt by these crimes. (Check out Love146.org)

I'm already planning when I can see these guys again. (I think I'm going to have to go to Cornerstone Festival once more!) This night was special. God was present, and He used the music to call me to sit at His feet, to breathe Him in, to draw closer to Him.

ABANDON rocks Chicagoland

2010-02-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

February 4 didn't end like a normal school day at Covenant Christian High School in DeMotte, Indiana. Instead, the students, along with the junior high classes of DeMotte Christian School, were treated to a concert by Christian band Abandon.

The band came out ready to rock, and the kids were immediately on their feet. They opened the set with "Be Alive In Me," from their CD Searchlights. "Safe In Your Arms," which has received lots of airplay on Shine.fm (89.7 fm) was familiar to many of the kids. Always a hit with the crowd is "Atmosphere," a song that features drummer Dave Vela moving to the front of the stage to showcase his skills. Bass player Bryan Fowler picks up drum duties, guitarist Stevan Vela takes on the bass, and no one misses a beat, even when lead singer Josh Engler launches himself off one of his bandmates.

Allowing everyone to catch their breath, the band slowed it down with "Hero." Josh reminded the kids that "the hero is our savior, who came to give all He had."

The band started "Hold On" with the familiar keyboard phrase, and a few energetic sophomores took it upon themselves to be "hype men" and get the crowd worked up. And the band appreciated the crowd's reaction. "This was a great group to play for, and the kids were really enthusiastic," said Bryan Fowler.

The students also clearly enjoyed the band's performance. According to one, "I think this concert was a great opportunity because it was something different from a normal day of school. And the music was awesome!"

The band left DeMotte for a quick trip to Minneapolis to play an Acquire the Fire conference on Friday, then hustled back to Chicago for an outreach event at The Underground in Naperville on Saturday. Thank goodness for no snow delays!

The Saturday night show included several youth bands opening for Abandon, with the hope that their friends and fans who might never have been in church before would enjoy Abandon and be inclined to return again on Sunday morning as the band led worship.

As expected, the Saturday night show was great, and Sunday offered us a peek at another side of the band. The guys have hearts for worship and story-telling, but they don't always get the chance to at regular concerts. Besides leading the congregation in some standard worship tunes, like "Mighty to Save," they also played some of their original songs and shared the stories behind them. Josh Engler told how the song "Providence," (my personal favorite!) emerged from Dave Vela's thoughts and journals about the story of Peter's denial.

Abandon will continue to travel the US with "Acquire the Fire" as they also gear up for what will surely be a busy summer festival season. Rumor has it that we may see them at Ignite Chicago. Stay tuned!

Got Hope?

2009-11-14T18:39:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week in Count Me In Concerts world: the LOVE CAN Tour last Sunday, and the SONGS OF HOPE Tour this week. But it's been all good!

Songs of Hope featured the Robbie Seay Band, Bethany Dillon, and Caleb at The Underground at Alleluia! Lutheran Church in Naperville. Opening artist Caleb, featuring Caleb and Will Chapman (yes, that Chapman family, as in Steven Curtis), played three songs that showed the family talent. But this was not their daddy's music. Caleb features a fresh voice and perspective. Look for more to come from this yet-unsigned artist.

Bethany Dillon brought her guitar and beautiful voice, accompanied only by her drummer. She mentioned how some major life changes (marriage to Shane Barnard of Shane and Shane, and relocation from Ohio to Texas) inspired some of her newest writing. A mix of old and new songs followed. Her earlier songs "Beautiful" and "All I Need" are still among my favorite tunes of hers.

Robbie Seay had been fighting flu-like symtoms all day, but rest and good home cookin' seemed to energize him. He and his 3 bandmates opened their set with new tune "Love Invades," followed by one of my all-time favorite songs, "Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down)." I was not disappointed!

The band covered the Jon Foreman song "Your Love is Strong" which I enjoyed more than the original (perhaps because I am tired of Foreman's version). Current radio single "Miracle" was next, and this song is poised to be another RSB classic. Speaking of which... Seay introduced the next song, which wasn't on the original set list, saying, "We were told if we didn't play this we would not be welcome back here!" So came hope, coffee, melody in the form of hit song "New Day." (Why wouldn't they have played it, anyway?)

I was especially impressed with by the talented new guitar player, Matthew "Frodo" Kidd, who bears a striking resemblance to the Elijah Wood character for which he is nicknamed (penetrating blue eyes and all!) The entire band played a tight set and, in spite of being under the weather, Robbie Seay pressed on and even stuck around to meet fans, as he always enjoys doing.

Count Me In Concerts loves doing shows at The Underground; the atmosphere and the people are very inviting, and the artists agree. Who would you like to see there?

Love Can!

2009-11-14T17:46:00.000-08:00

The LOVE CAN Tour, featuring DecembeRadio and Sevenglory, made a stop in St. John, Indiana, last week. This was Count Me In Concert's first show at Suncrest Christian Church, where several hundred fans filled the worship center and rocked out!

The show opener came from Chicago's western suburbs to play their first high-profile rock show. The David Yeager Band has a solid Chicago-area following, and this was their first venture into the NW Indiana area. Their indie/folk sound was well-received by the audience even though most were unfamiliar with their tunes. Opening with "In Your Sight, I Am Sound," the title track from their cd, they drew the audience in with their solid blend of rock and worship. My only disappointment is that frontman David Yeager didn't bring his violin out for a song. (As the opener, the DYB was only able to play four songs) Don't miss these guys when they do a full set.

Area favorites Sevenglory have been on the LOVE CAN Tour with DecembeRadio for the past months. After a weekend of planes, trains and automobiles (they had been playing a weekend retreat in Ft. Wayne, concluding with a morning session followed by quick flight to the Griffith airport), the band brought a great set infused with a few new songs. Unfortunately, bass player Gabe Johannes wasn't able to join the band on stage due to technical difficulties. But DecembeRadio's keyboard player was on hand to fill in the notes.

After a Compassion International appeal, DecembeRadio took the stage by storm. "Love Found Me" led off their set and got everyone up and rockin'. The band brought songs from their self-titled first cd and current release Satisfied.

After a solid rock set, frontman Josh Reedy took it down a notch to a more intimate set, humorously called "songs we wish we'd written." Reedy paid tribute Michael Jackson with "Man in the Mirror," and encouraged everyone to listen to the great message of this song. "Higher Love" followed, and Reedy challenged anyone under 30 to name the original artist (Steve Winwood). During this song, guitarist Brian Bunn was featured on mandolin and then banjo, showing his musical versatility. The next cover, dubbed their "guilty pleasure," was "The Climb" (do I even need to mention Miley Cyrus?) . I liked it waaaaaay better than Cyrus' version.

"Drifter, ""Everlasting God," and "Be Alright" rounded out the set, and brought the tempo back up to finish out the evening with the rock tune, "Gasoline." These southern rockers definitely left the audience Satisified!

A Great New Discovery- David Yeager Band

2009-06-03T19:58:00.000-07:00

Backthird Audio is a well-hidden spot in Aurora, but my trip there was certainly worth the three times around the block to find the building (which is nestled in an alley). I was headed to a Songwriters' Showcase to check out some aspiring musicians, including the evening's featured artist, David Yeager Band. David Yeager was the winner of last month's showcase, thereby earning the band the spot as the next featured artist.

It didn't take long to see why Yeager was the winner. His music combines substantive songwriting with memorable hooks, and excellent musicianship with intricate musical detail. In their 30 minute set, the band played 6 songs from their upcoming release. (Plus, the audience wouldn't let them leave without an encore!)

Yeager's songwriting reflects his deep spirituality and the many paradoxes of the Christian life. In Giving It Up he acknowledges, "The battle ends in surrender/ but surrender is the start," and "I'm ready for my sentence/ It begins when I walk free. " The lyrics of Won't Let Go include deep spiritual truths ("I sought you/ I caught you/ I spent my blood and I bought you"), while Light of the World the ponders the challenges of being a Christ-follower ("How can I be the light of the world/ I stumble in dimness and dust").

Soaring violin riffs, passionate vocals, and tight harmonies are all hallmarks of the music of DYB. Yeager switches effortlessly between lead vocals, guitar and violin duties. The other highly-skilled band members include Matt Chandick (drums), Jon Chavez (bass, bgv's), and Steve Wick (guitar, bgv's).

Here's hoping David Yeager Band will soon be playing a Count Me In Concerts show. The band's CD releases later this month. Check davidyeagerband.com for details.

Nashville Meets the Count Me In Concerts Team!

2009-05-29T18:34:00.000-07:00

Seven days, hundreds of artists, dozens of concerts, lots of coffee and little sleep can only mean one thing: GMA Week in Nashville. On April 17 the "six chicks" of Count Me In Concerts headed to Nashville for a week of music, worship and laughter. (GMA Week is the Gospel Music Association's conference for artists, promoters, managers, media and anyone else involved in the Christian music industry.)

I can't count how many concerts we saw, but here's an incomplete list of artists we enjoyed, in no particular order: Matthew West, Natalie Grant, Francesca Battistelli, Rush of Fools, Downhere, Remedy Drive, Seabird, Sanctus Real, Tenth Avenue North, Aaron Shust, Mercy Me, Chris Sligh, Group One Crew, Sonicflood, Abandon, Michael Sweet (of Stryper fame), Reuben Morgan (Hillsong), Mandisa, and many more.

We also found some new artists that you should get to know. Bluetree is a worship band from Northern Ireland whose current hit , God of This City, is getting tons of airplay. These guys will be touring the US a lot in the coming year. Press Play is a high-energy ministry band hailing from California. Check out their songs Life Is Beautiful and I Give My Love which debuted on itunes last week.

MIKESCHAIR, known for their song Can't Take That Away, impressed us with their passion and talent. Stephen Petree, formerly of Shiny Toy Guns, makes his solo debut and will rock your socks off. Another new solo artist to be watching for is Danyew, a great guy out of California with a fabulous EP recently released on itunes. Check out Beautiful King.

We also enjoyed some memorable moments: playing ping pong with Remedy Drive, sharing a snack at Panera with Chewbacca, bowling with Jordan Mohilowski (of The Afters), and hangin' with friends from Shine.fm.

After a week of fun with friends, we had to return home to our families, but we brought back some great ideas for future Count Me In shows... keep checking the website for upcoming events.

Worshiping with Chasen

2009-03-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

Last Sunday I got up for church, but instead of heading to my home church, I decided to drive 1-1/2 hours to worship at my friend's church in DeMotte, IN. Why? So I could enjoy the band Chasen leading worship.

After the pastor welcomed the congregation, Chasen launched into some familiar praise tunes, including "All Because of Jesus" and "Everlasting God." They also played some original music from their CD, including "Doubts and Disbeliefs" and "Drown." Lead singer Chasen Callahan shared about writing the latter song in a time of being overwhelmed, and how God redeemed him in that situation.

I enjoyed this opportunity to experience the band as they shared their musical roots. They got their start in the church, writing praise and worship choruses for Sunday services and youth group events. Lead singer Chasen Callahan pulled in friends Evan Silver and Aaron Lord to help him with worship at a summer camp. With the addition of bassist Stephen Adkisson on this Sunday morning, it was obvious that they genuinely love bringing people closer to God with their gift of music.

Kudos to First Reformed Church of DeMotte for bringing in these talented musicians and worship leaders to offer something different to God's people on this Sunday morning.

All 4 Love Tour Rocks Naperville

2009-03-25T05:23:00.000-07:00

I have been anticipating this tour for months! Ever since I heard from Article One that they were heading out on the road I have been anticipating seeing one of my favorite bands play more than a 15-minute set (which is all they were alloted on the Rock What You Got Tour, much to my dismay).

The All 4 Love Tour hit the midwest last week, and I took advantage of both the Kankakee show and the Naperville show (2 are better than one...). Julian Drive and Article One each played 45-minute sets at both venues. The added bonus in Naperville was the addition of local favorites, The Least of These, who opened the evening with a great 30-minute set.

Julian Drive followed TLOT with their energetic rock and worship music. I wasn't familiar with them before this tour, but I am a new fan. I love their cover of the Hoobastank hit, "The Reason," which I always thought was a very spiritual song. Lead singer Shane Bowers explains that he sings the song to God, our reason for all we do and have. Their current radio single, which I wish was played in our market, is "From Your Hands, " a powerful song reminding us of Jesus' constant love for us, even in the midst of His suffering. Check it out at myspace.com/juliandrive.

Article One opened with their hit single, "Without You," with Nathan Piche's strong vocals and brother Matt Piche's amazing violin skills, which continued to be showcased throughout the evening. The man never stands still! And he sings while he plays! Bassist Mark Laidman and drummer Dave DeSmit round out this amazing quartet.

The band played mostly songs from their current cd, Colors and Sounds, but there were also a few tracks from their first cd, including crowd sing-along favorite "Say It Again." And no Article One show is complete without Matt Piche's lead vocals on the playful "500 Miles."

This was the first show for The Underground at Alleluia! Lutheran Church, and it's only the beginning for this venue. The youth center was designed with a stage surrounded by a coffee shop-lounge-gameroom-internet cafe, so it's a very inviting venue. There are seats and there is standing room, so everyone can be comfortable. Look for more shows to come to this new hot spot.

The Best Is Yet To Come

2009-03-04T14:14:00.000-08:00

What a perfect song for Sevenglory to open with last Sunday. It's a great song in itself, but there were even more to follow, and the band lived up to this promise that the best was yet to come.

Sevenglory, the four-piece rock and worship band out of Valparaiso, IN, had a great show in Naperville last Sunday night. Playing to a crowd of youth and parents, they provided something for everyone. Radio hit "Let It Be Love" inspired a sing-along, and current Shine.fm spin "All of This for You" was a crowd favorite. But the evening's most powerful moment came mid-show when vocalist Fred Butson led the audience...no, the congregation...in a beautiful time of praise, singing "Everlasting God" and "Mighty to Save." With voices and hands raised, everyone was drawn into worship.

Sevenglory's cover of the Newsboys' "I Am Free" did the Aussie band proud as they continued the worship mood, but transitioned back into more rockin' music to finish out the night with "Just Me' and "The Hope."

I was a fan of Sevenglory's music before seeing them Sunday (and also Friday at Illiana Christian High School for their 30 Hour Famine), but their live show increased my respect for these great guys. Butson, guitarist Josh Parsons, drummer Gabe Johannes (yes, he's 6'8"!) and his brother, bassist Caleb Johannes are young men with hearts for God who are called to preach the Gospel through music. They are genuinely nice guys who love what they do and are thankful for opportunities to minister in Jesus' name. Don't miss them next time they are in the area (which I hope will be soon!).

Forefront Records Tour with Shine.fm

2009-02-18T18:47:00.000-08:00

What did you do on President's Day? I was at an amazing rock show. Three fabulous bands --- Philmont, Abandon and This Beautiful Republic --- brought their music and message to Crown Point Christian School. Hopefully, the concert put CPCS on the map, or at least on the GPS. Those not familiar with the area had a tough time finding the place, but the effort was worth it.

This was the first stop on week-long radio tour of new music released by Forefront Records. Abandon opened the night with their energetic blend of a driving rock and pop punk. Lead singer Josh Engler pours out vocals that rival those of The Killers . The San Antonio boys delivered a driving melody and powerful lyrics of Peter's denial of Jesus in the song "Providence." (This is my favorite song on their 5-track EP.) Keep your eye on these guys from San Antonio...they are ones to watch. (Attention all Abandon fans: they'll be coming back through Chicagoland in May!)

Next on the stage was Philmont, a North Carolina-based band with sounds reminiscent of Relient K and Nevertheless. But these guys are no copycats. They put on a high energy power pop show with original songs such as "The Difference" and "I Can't Stand to Fall." Fresh off a west coast tour with my friends, Capital Lights, these guys are fine-tuning their stage show. Drummer Todd Davis, who was sick as a dog, rose to the occasion and banged out amazing beats. (Hope you feel better, Todd!)They have a 5-track EP out now, with a full CD due to release this spring.

The final act of the night was Toledo's This Beautiful Republic. They played a hard-rockin' mix of songs from their first CD, Even Heroes Need a Parachute, and recent release Perceptions. Even though Aaron Gillespie (The Almost and Underoath) sang bgv's on cd track "My God," the live show didn't miss him. (In fact, a glance at new drummer Cameron Toews caused a double take. )

Count Me In Concerts was thrilled to work with these three amazing bands for our first full rock show. Watch for more great events to come.

All-American Line Up!

2009-02-13T12:18:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!
We're really excited about our upcoming show this Monday, Feb. 16. Since it's President's Day, we're giving you to 3 bands for $7! That's better than a bailout!

Come rock with us as we welcome This Beautiful Republic, Abandon and Philmont. Listen to Shine.fm on Monday morning as all of the bands will be live at the station. If you haven't heard their music, check out their my spaces for samples of their great music with a great message.

www.myspace.com/thisbeautifulrepublic
www.myspace.com/abandontx
www.myspace.com/philmontrock

Come to Crown point Christian School in St. John, IN. Tickets are available for $7 at the door. That's less than a cd...and you'll go home with a music sampler featuring all the bands! Doors open at 6pm, show starts rockin' at 6:30pm. Don't worry...you won't be out late on a school night!

Bring your friends! Bring your youth group! Bring everyone!
We want to Count YOU In!