Concerts
In Which I Read Cedars and Laugh
03/28/08 10:14 PM Filed in: Academia
Tonight, Caitlin and I
sat down to read the highly anticipated and poorly
punctuated Cedars, our on-campus magazine. We flipped
to page twelve to read an article on the upcoming
event, Elliv, which is "one of Cedarville's most
popular events," claims Cedars. And, according to the
turnout and hype inspired by the event, I would have
to agree, even though I have yet to experience it.
Wouldn't you know it, they're changing it this year, much to the dismay of many, myself included. According to Cedars, "[Stephanie] Small [and] the 2008 Elliv committee want to eliminate the idea that the event is simply a popularity contest." Says Small, "We worked really hard to get a show that was for everyman, not just pointing out the popular kids but celebrating the year." In agreement with this, "Some awards have been changed, so instead of voting for the best campus artist or student athlete, students will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece of student artwork or the best athletic achievement."
"Oh, right," I said, turning to Caitlin. "Because God wants us to worship the trees instead of crediting the creator for his accomplishments."
Question. Is there something wrong with saying, "Wow, that was an amazing performance of Another Brick in the Wall. I say we give them Best Live Performance!"? Not to my knowledge. If someone does something truly spectacular, I don't think crediting them for it is a "popularity contest." And, honestly, wouldn't an award for Most Popular Student be a joke on a college campus. We're on a campus of nearly 3,500 students; anyone who sits in the balcony depressed over the fact that John Doe one Most Popular Student instead of themselves needs to be handed a band aid and shoved out of the Chapel.
God gave us all talents, some more than others in different areas. Why stifle them by not acknowledging them? So, instead, let's still have a $45,000 talent show and treat it like a Jr. High softball game; everyone's equal when Jesus is watching! After all, we wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings ...
Wouldn't you know it, they're changing it this year, much to the dismay of many, myself included. According to Cedars, "[Stephanie] Small [and] the 2008 Elliv committee want to eliminate the idea that the event is simply a popularity contest." Says Small, "We worked really hard to get a show that was for everyman, not just pointing out the popular kids but celebrating the year." In agreement with this, "Some awards have been changed, so instead of voting for the best campus artist or student athlete, students will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite piece of student artwork or the best athletic achievement."
"Oh, right," I said, turning to Caitlin. "Because God wants us to worship the trees instead of crediting the creator for his accomplishments."
Question. Is there something wrong with saying, "Wow, that was an amazing performance of Another Brick in the Wall. I say we give them Best Live Performance!"? Not to my knowledge. If someone does something truly spectacular, I don't think crediting them for it is a "popularity contest." And, honestly, wouldn't an award for Most Popular Student be a joke on a college campus. We're on a campus of nearly 3,500 students; anyone who sits in the balcony depressed over the fact that John Doe one Most Popular Student instead of themselves needs to be handed a band aid and shoved out of the Chapel.
God gave us all talents, some more than others in different areas. Why stifle them by not acknowledging them? So, instead, let's still have a $45,000 talent show and treat it like a Jr. High softball game; everyone's equal when Jesus is watching! After all, we wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings ...
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Flashing Lights and Loud Music; May Cause Seizures
01/24/07 09:08 AM Filed in: Stories
First of all, allow me
to add to the all-too-common saying: "I" before "e,"
except after "c", and in weird words like "weird" and
"seizure."
Second of all, if you have a girlfriend, boyfriend, fiance, fiancee, husband, wife, WHATEVER... that's great. Fantastic. Good for you. But nobody wants to see you all over each other in public, so just quit that right. Oh my GOSH! There were WAY too many couples at that concert last night... So please, be considerate of those around you before groping. That being said...
Who here went to the Skillet concert last night? Raise your hands. It was fantastic!! I'm currently sporting a Skillet t-shirt, with all four of their autographs on the back. I just know everyone walking by me in the halls today is going, "Ooooh, he has a sweet Skillet shirt on." And then as I pass they look over their shoulder and scream, "OH MY GOSH!! IT'S SIGNED!" I try to pretend I don't hear it, but I know it's happening. I'm still not quite as cool as you, Meagan. After all, you got to meet and hang out with them before their show a couple months ago... jealous. But I still got to shake their hands.
As luck would have it, the concert started with my favorite opener, Leven. (That was sarcastic if you didn't notice.) I like metal and all, don't get me wrong. After all, Skillet is metal. But Leven... meh. Well, let's just say local. That should clear all questions that you have. Within ten minutes of Leven starting to shake the building, the fire department shows up. "Oh, GREAT! Somebody already passed out. Seriously, people, save that for Skillet or something exciting." But it turned out with wasn't anything exciting like somebody passing out, or having a seizure or a heart attack. No, all that happened was somebody from the light crew set something on fire, so it set the smoke detectors off. It was especially reassuring to know that we didn't hear any of the smoke alarms going off. Thank Leven for that one. And we weren't even in the auditorium, we were out front trying to avoid hearing the opener; and we STILL didn't hear the fire alarms! We could have DIED! Luckily, it wasn't that big of a deal.
It turns out we made it through an entire concert, to my knowledge, without anyone passing out, getting knocked out from getting smashed on the head, having a seizure from the flashing lights and bass that shook your whole body--that was lovely.
At 7:30, the lights came up and Leven walked off the stage. Fifteen minute intermission while Skillet sets up. Lights go back down and the bass starts to hum. Thirty seconds of that and we're ready for the lights on the stage to flash on and Skillet to start rocking out! As I recall, they opened with Collide. But it was the second song that really got me excited, because it was Whispers In The Dark from their newest album, which is my favorite song they've ever written!
Skillet performed an amazing show; I was really impressed! Though Skillet doesn't have the budget of, say, Green Day (who, if you didn't already know, has been said to put on the best show of any band every time), they had everything a good band needs--a vocalist who can still sing in tune when he's live; guitarists that can still rock hard; a sweet girl drummer (who is aMAzazaing); plenty of energy. Ok, let's stop right there. Any band that wants to be sweet needs to have ADHD. At least their lead singer does. And probably the drummer too. Because if you can't run around the stage looking crazy, you're not going to get your fans excited! John Cooper confessed he forgot to take his Ritalin last night. But that just made it all the better. I would also like to point out that he's the lead singer who plays bass, not guitar. Which at first I thought was kind of odd, but boy can that guy play a bass! He can scream quite well too.
So Skillet puts on a kick-awesome show. That's what it all comes down to. Their lead guitarist I'm pretty sure has the opposite of ADHD, because he basically just stands their--but he can still play amazingly. John's wife, Korey, plays keyboard and guitar, and I had to give her props for that one. Standing there, playing a keyboard with a guitar hung around your neck, and switching back and forth between the two... that takes talent!
I was most impressed with Skillet talking between songs. It sounds lame, but bands don't talk anymore! Sure, sometimes they say, "This next song is Better Than Me, and I wrote it after my girlfriend told me she hated me." But seriously, I want to know more than that. Especially if your a band who writes amazing songs and claims God as your inspiration... so what? (Switchfoot I'm talking to YOU!!) Skillet is a band that comes out and says what their songs are about--how they were inspired to write them, and how you should be living for God, not for popularity and other worldly things. I think that's awesome, especially with a group who tours with mainstream wonders like Three Days Grace, Staind, Shinedown, Saliva, Finger Eleven... the list goes on, and will continue to go on.
Probably the most impacting thing he said last night, for me, was when he mentioned being on tour with several of those groups and having people come up to him after the shows and say, "You know, I don't have a problem with Jesus... I just hate Christianity." And he said to the crowd last night, "What that says to me is Christians are failing." Because we need to show the world God's love. Not be judgmental about the way our non-Christian friends are living--they have no reason to live the way we do if they don't have Jesus, so how is it we yell at them and say, "Hey, don't use that language around me, I don't like it!"? We're not commanded to be judgmental--that's God's job! We're commanded to love. As John said, "So when you wake up in the morning and say, 'Mmm, I don't really feel like loving him or her today,' TOO BAD! Because you're commanded to." I like that. And I like how, at the end of the concert, before they performed Kill Me, Heal Me (I know, morbid song title, but it's a good song), he gave about a fifteen minute testimony!
WAY to go John! I'm proud of you for not letting the popularity and the fame sink into your head. You're getting to be one of the best hard rock groups out there, and you're staring to get very well known, but your songs still have meaning, and you're still living your life as a witness for Christ, even in front of 10,000 people with the guys from Saliva standing just off stage waiting to follow up your opening act. Christians can have fun, and they can have talent too. And as John said last night, "Yes, we can wear black!" It's not all about the rules. It's about the love. For those around us, and for our Savior, Jesus Christ. That's what life is all about!
"There's something deep inside that keeps my faith alive. When all you can do is hide from the fear that's deep inside of you. Something... to hold me close when I don't know." - Collide
"No. You'll never be alone. When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars… When darkness comes you know I'll never part. Hear my whispers in the dark." - Whispers In The Dark
"The older I get, will I get over it? It's been way too long for the times we missed. I didn't know that it would hurt like this... What I was waiting for? I should have taken less and given you more. I should have weathered the storm. I need to say so bad: What were you waiting for? This could have been the best we'd ever had." - The Older I Get
"I'm stretching but you're just out of reach. You should know: I'm ready when you're ready for me. And I'm waiting for the right time. For the day I catch your eye. To let you know that I'm yours to hold." - Yours To Hold
"Do you remember in December how we swore we'd never change? Even though you're leaving that our feelings would always stay the same. I wish we could be laughing
Instead I'm standing here asking: Do we have to end this now? Can we make it last somehow? We both know what we've gotta say, not today. Cause I don't wanna leave this way... And if it's over, it hurts but I'm giving you my word. I hope that you're always happy like we were." - Say Goodbye
"Let the world crash, love can take it. Let the world come crashing down. Love can take a little. Love can give a little more." - A Little More
Second of all, if you have a girlfriend, boyfriend, fiance, fiancee, husband, wife, WHATEVER... that's great. Fantastic. Good for you. But nobody wants to see you all over each other in public, so just quit that right. Oh my GOSH! There were WAY too many couples at that concert last night... So please, be considerate of those around you before groping. That being said...
Who here went to the Skillet concert last night? Raise your hands. It was fantastic!! I'm currently sporting a Skillet t-shirt, with all four of their autographs on the back. I just know everyone walking by me in the halls today is going, "Ooooh, he has a sweet Skillet shirt on." And then as I pass they look over their shoulder and scream, "OH MY GOSH!! IT'S SIGNED!" I try to pretend I don't hear it, but I know it's happening. I'm still not quite as cool as you, Meagan. After all, you got to meet and hang out with them before their show a couple months ago... jealous. But I still got to shake their hands.
As luck would have it, the concert started with my favorite opener, Leven. (That was sarcastic if you didn't notice.) I like metal and all, don't get me wrong. After all, Skillet is metal. But Leven... meh. Well, let's just say local. That should clear all questions that you have. Within ten minutes of Leven starting to shake the building, the fire department shows up. "Oh, GREAT! Somebody already passed out. Seriously, people, save that for Skillet or something exciting." But it turned out with wasn't anything exciting like somebody passing out, or having a seizure or a heart attack. No, all that happened was somebody from the light crew set something on fire, so it set the smoke detectors off. It was especially reassuring to know that we didn't hear any of the smoke alarms going off. Thank Leven for that one. And we weren't even in the auditorium, we were out front trying to avoid hearing the opener; and we STILL didn't hear the fire alarms! We could have DIED! Luckily, it wasn't that big of a deal.
It turns out we made it through an entire concert, to my knowledge, without anyone passing out, getting knocked out from getting smashed on the head, having a seizure from the flashing lights and bass that shook your whole body--that was lovely.
At 7:30, the lights came up and Leven walked off the stage. Fifteen minute intermission while Skillet sets up. Lights go back down and the bass starts to hum. Thirty seconds of that and we're ready for the lights on the stage to flash on and Skillet to start rocking out! As I recall, they opened with Collide. But it was the second song that really got me excited, because it was Whispers In The Dark from their newest album, which is my favorite song they've ever written!
Skillet performed an amazing show; I was really impressed! Though Skillet doesn't have the budget of, say, Green Day (who, if you didn't already know, has been said to put on the best show of any band every time), they had everything a good band needs--a vocalist who can still sing in tune when he's live; guitarists that can still rock hard; a sweet girl drummer (who is aMAzazaing); plenty of energy. Ok, let's stop right there. Any band that wants to be sweet needs to have ADHD. At least their lead singer does. And probably the drummer too. Because if you can't run around the stage looking crazy, you're not going to get your fans excited! John Cooper confessed he forgot to take his Ritalin last night. But that just made it all the better. I would also like to point out that he's the lead singer who plays bass, not guitar. Which at first I thought was kind of odd, but boy can that guy play a bass! He can scream quite well too.
So Skillet puts on a kick-awesome show. That's what it all comes down to. Their lead guitarist I'm pretty sure has the opposite of ADHD, because he basically just stands their--but he can still play amazingly. John's wife, Korey, plays keyboard and guitar, and I had to give her props for that one. Standing there, playing a keyboard with a guitar hung around your neck, and switching back and forth between the two... that takes talent!
I was most impressed with Skillet talking between songs. It sounds lame, but bands don't talk anymore! Sure, sometimes they say, "This next song is Better Than Me, and I wrote it after my girlfriend told me she hated me." But seriously, I want to know more than that. Especially if your a band who writes amazing songs and claims God as your inspiration... so what? (Switchfoot I'm talking to YOU!!) Skillet is a band that comes out and says what their songs are about--how they were inspired to write them, and how you should be living for God, not for popularity and other worldly things. I think that's awesome, especially with a group who tours with mainstream wonders like Three Days Grace, Staind, Shinedown, Saliva, Finger Eleven... the list goes on, and will continue to go on.
Probably the most impacting thing he said last night, for me, was when he mentioned being on tour with several of those groups and having people come up to him after the shows and say, "You know, I don't have a problem with Jesus... I just hate Christianity." And he said to the crowd last night, "What that says to me is Christians are failing." Because we need to show the world God's love. Not be judgmental about the way our non-Christian friends are living--they have no reason to live the way we do if they don't have Jesus, so how is it we yell at them and say, "Hey, don't use that language around me, I don't like it!"? We're not commanded to be judgmental--that's God's job! We're commanded to love. As John said, "So when you wake up in the morning and say, 'Mmm, I don't really feel like loving him or her today,' TOO BAD! Because you're commanded to." I like that. And I like how, at the end of the concert, before they performed Kill Me, Heal Me (I know, morbid song title, but it's a good song), he gave about a fifteen minute testimony!
WAY to go John! I'm proud of you for not letting the popularity and the fame sink into your head. You're getting to be one of the best hard rock groups out there, and you're staring to get very well known, but your songs still have meaning, and you're still living your life as a witness for Christ, even in front of 10,000 people with the guys from Saliva standing just off stage waiting to follow up your opening act. Christians can have fun, and they can have talent too. And as John said last night, "Yes, we can wear black!" It's not all about the rules. It's about the love. For those around us, and for our Savior, Jesus Christ. That's what life is all about!
"There's something deep inside that keeps my faith alive. When all you can do is hide from the fear that's deep inside of you. Something... to hold me close when I don't know." - Collide
"No. You'll never be alone. When darkness comes I'll light the night with stars… When darkness comes you know I'll never part. Hear my whispers in the dark." - Whispers In The Dark
"The older I get, will I get over it? It's been way too long for the times we missed. I didn't know that it would hurt like this... What I was waiting for? I should have taken less and given you more. I should have weathered the storm. I need to say so bad: What were you waiting for? This could have been the best we'd ever had." - The Older I Get
"I'm stretching but you're just out of reach. You should know: I'm ready when you're ready for me. And I'm waiting for the right time. For the day I catch your eye. To let you know that I'm yours to hold." - Yours To Hold
"Do you remember in December how we swore we'd never change? Even though you're leaving that our feelings would always stay the same. I wish we could be laughing
Instead I'm standing here asking: Do we have to end this now? Can we make it last somehow? We both know what we've gotta say, not today. Cause I don't wanna leave this way... And if it's over, it hurts but I'm giving you my word. I hope that you're always happy like we were." - Say Goodbye
"Let the world crash, love can take it. Let the world come crashing down. Love can take a little. Love can give a little more." - A Little More