The Office of Youth Ministry - Music

Always Forward

Sr. M. Dolorosa — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 15:45:14 -0500

If you're looking for a new cd, we've got one just for you. Joel Stein, our former web developer, has just released a cd titled Always Forward. Check out his website for more details.

CrossRoads Catholic Music Festival 5!

Larry Nolte — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:45:05 -0500

Start: Sep 28 2007 - 7:00pm

End: Sep 30 2007 - 12:01pm

CrossRoads is the premiere, homegrown Catholic Music Festival in the Midwest! It's three days of music, food, fun, Faith and fellowship. Artists performing this year include Adam Bitter, Karl Zimmerman, Samedaykings, the Ben Slabaugh Band, Noelle Garcia, Guys with Guitars, Praz, In a Week, Chris Shepherd Band and pDUB. Only $35 a person including meals.

Info and registration are online at http://www.crossroadsfestival.com .

Location

Eagle Hurst Ranch

240 Eagle Hurst Road

Steelville, MO, 65565

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

The Pete Cornelius Band and Dr. David DenBraber

stlyouth — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:07:03 -0500

Outreach opportunity for youth, young adults, or entire parish.

On April 26th The Pete Cornelius Band and Dr. David DenBraber will travel from Michigan to the Diocese of Amarillo's (TX) Youth Rally. Along the way they are looking for an opportunity to help out local parishes that would be interested in hosting an evening event.

What started out with a few of us making music for a LIFETEEN program has turned into a powerful and professional presentation of the gospel through music/worship and preaching.

A few years ago we teamed up with Dr. David DenBraber to form what we call One Desire Ministries. One Desire Ministries has had the opportunity to share at parish youth retreats, university outreaches, diocesean youth rallies, nights of worship, XLT's, liturgies, concerts, and other church events.

This ministry is willing to put on a quality outreach night for your parish for room and board in return.

To contact The Pete Cornelius Band and Dr. David DenBraber visit www.mydesire.org

References available.

The Beatitudes at St. James the Greater

stlyouth — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:05:17 -0500

Start: Mar 17 2007 - 11:15am

End: Mar 17 2007 - 12:15pm

The Beatitudes will be in town touring St. Louis during their Spring Break from march 11-17. The Beatitudes, a men's Catholic a cappella group from Franciscan University of Steubenville, are known all over the country for spreading the Gospel through music and comedy. All concerts are open to all ages and admission is free!

The Beatitudes only come around St. Louis once every 5 years. Don't miss out on this rare chance to see them. Check out their website at www.thebeatitudes.net!

For more information, please contact:

Mike Filamor
(636) 458-2977, x248

The Beatitudes: Music. Comedy. God. What more do you want?

Location

St. James the Greater (in the Gym)

6401 Wade

St. Louis, MO, 63139

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

The Beatitudes at St. Alban Roe

stlyouth — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:59:13 -0500

Start: Mar 11 2007 - 6:45pm

End: Mar 11 2007 - 8:00pm

The Beatitudes only come around St. Louis once every 5 years. Don't miss out on this rare chance to see them. Check out their website at www.thebeatitudes.net!

For more information, please contact:

Mike Filamor
(636) 458-2977, x248

The Beatitudes: Music. Comedy. God. What more do you want?

Location

St. Alban Roe - Alban Hall

2001 Shepard Rd.

Wildwood, MO, 63038

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

An Evening with The Peter Mayer Group

stlyouth — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 17:44:19 -0500

Start: Mar 7 2007 - 7:00pm

An Evening with The Peter Mayer Group at Holy Redeemer parish on
Wednesday, March 7th at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). Tickets available at
the church office at 17 Joy Avenue in Webster Groves or by calling the
office at 314 962-0038 M-F 10am-4pm. To make after hours ticket
arrangements please call 314 962-8989 ext. 102 (Tory). Prices, before
the night of the performance, are: Children 12 and under are free,
students $12, adults $15 and families are $40. The day of the concert
all prices are $5 more, thus children will be $5. Children must have a
ticket and must be accompanied by an adult. No food and drink are
allowed in the church.

Peter Mayer, a native St. Louisan, brings his award winning Christian
band The Peter Mayer Group for a night of uplifting music of faith to
St. Louis. Peter, the long time lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffett and
winner of numerous awards will be in St. Louis for this special event.
The Peter Mayer Group, which last played a Christmas concert this past
year at the Sheldon Theater, will be playing songs from 'Stirrin Up the
Water', a compilation of uplifting Christian songs. Peter, born in
India to missionaries, moved back to St. Louis and grew up in Crestwood.
Don't miss one of our own in what will be a wonderful Lenten concert.
Tickets will likely go quickly so contact Holy Redeemer to insure you
have a seat.

A reception is planned immediately after the concert in the church
meeting room. For more information visit the following websites:
www.petermayer.com and www.holyr.org

Location

Holy Redeemer Parish

17 Joy Avenue

Webster Groves, MO, 63119

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

Catholic Music Ministry: Amanda Vernon

Sr. M. Consolata Crews FSGM — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:22:07 -0500

Do you need a musician? Make a joyful noise and check out Amanda!

“Amanda is a young person who has recognized that her gift and talent come from God,” says Mark Mann, Director for Family, Youth, and Young Adult Ministries for Amanda Vernon’s home diocese of Grand Rapids, Michigan. “By sharing her faith and life through her music, she will inspire you to look inside yourself and discover what she found to be true - that the Spirit of God through Jesus has given each of us particular gifts meant to be shared.”

Born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, Amanda is a recent home school graduate and the oldest of seven children. This talented young singer/songwriter has sung in church choirs since age six, and played piano at church services since age eleven. She has an impressive resume in Catholic Children’s Videos, including “The Rosary for Little Children.” In the past three and a half years, Amanda has recorded three CD’s and performed many concerts for churches, youth rallies, and special events, including the Michigan Catholic Youth Conference 2003, the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa, Youth Rally 2004, the South Bend, Indiana, Holy Cross Concert 2005, and the St. Louis, Missouri, Gateway Academy Concert 2006.

“Amanda has a very unique style and she is a first rate evangelizer through music. It is her great love of Christ and of the Church that empowers this young amazing Catholic.” -Jesse Romero M.A., Catholic Lay Evangelist, Los Angeles, California.

“Her love for the Lord is contagious!” -Bob Perron, Executive Director, St. Thomas Moore Center and Office of Youth Ministry for the Diocese of Des Moines, Iowa.

For more information visit www.amandavernon.com or call toll free: #1-866-858-2036.

REAP Team Benefit Concert

stlyouth — Fri, 03 Nov 2006 11:43:02 -0500

Dear Friend of the REAP Team,

All are welcome to the REAP Team Benefit Concert on Saturday, December 9, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. featuring headliner Adam Bitter and opening band Praz. The concert will be held at DeSmet Jesuit High School Theater, and tickets are $15.00. For more details, links to band sites, and information on ordering tickets, visit the REAP Team’s website at www.reapteam.org/concert

All are encouraged to buy tickets early as seating is limited and we anticipate a quick sellout!

God Bless,

Paul Masek
paul@reapteam.org

GSP Concert

Liz Buncher — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 11:31:09 -0500

Start: Oct 21 2006 - 7:00pm

Come one come all for a FREE, no you are not just seeing things FREE CD release concert featuring he amazing Catholic tunes of GSP and benefiting St. Paul's Youth Ministry. Light refreshments will be provided by St. Paul Youth Ministry. This event is open to all ages.

Location

St. Paul's School Gym

15 Forest Knoll

Fenton, MO, 63026

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

Faith On Fire Music Festival

stlyouth — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 16:34:31 -0500

Start: Oct 28 2006 - 11:00am

End: Oct 28 2006 - 4:30pm

CONTEMPORARY, CATHOLIC, CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL

WE PROUDLY PRESENT:

MATTHEW BAUTE AND FRIENDS (formerly Dayspring)

DISCIPULUS

and MR. CHIP AWALT, charismatic speaker

Gates will open at 11 a.m. Event will begin at 11:45 a.m. with a welcome and blessing by Fr. Wesloh or Fr. Molitor of Our Lady Queen of Peace.

Event will end at 4:30 p.m. AT WHICH TIME WE INVITE ALL IN ATTENDANCE TO JOIN US FOR MASS AT 5 P.M. AND TO SHARE IN THE EUCHARIST.

Calling on all parishes and all youth groups. Come with a banner or sign representing your parish name and the words that "fire your faith."

A monetary prize and ribbon will be given to the parish/youth group for the best sign/banner AND a similar prize will be given to the parish with the most overall attendance! Judging of the banners will be done independently by Matthew Baute and Friends.

Youth Groups - ask your family, friends and other, perhaps older folks in your parish to attend. Let them witness how YOU worship Christ. Young married couples with or without children come out and listen to a different type of worship music.

THIS EVENT IS GEARED TO THE ENTIRE FAMILY THE CHURCH HAS GAINED FOR CHRIST!

There will be very moderately priced hot dogs, hamburgers, snacks and sodas, coffee and cocoa (if weather is chilly) available for purchase.

Also event t-shirts will be sold for $10.00.

In the event of very cold and inclement weather, the event will take place indoors at our Knights of Columbus Council #6435. "We will all pray to the Lord for a beautiful Fall day!"

Sponsored by: Our Lady Queen of Peace

Tickets $2.00 per person if purchased in advance. $3.00 the day of the event.

Gates will open at 11:00 a.m. Bring blankets or lawn chairs - NO COOLERS OR FOOD PLEASE.

For more information and to purchase tickets prior to the event, please contact:

Roseann Robinson, Event Coordinator

2513 Hillcrest Drive
High Ridge, MO 63049
(636) 376-2331
E-mail: faithonfire-olqp@sbcglobal.net

Location

Our Lady Queen of Peace outdoors on the athletic fields

4696 Notre Dame Lane

House Springs, MO, 63051

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

High Resolution

stlyouth — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 07:02:04 -0500

Start: Aug 12 2006 - 6:00pm

End: Aug 12 2006 - 9:00pm

Benefit concert presented by Holy Redeemer's Teen Music Group

Saturday, August 12th
6:00 - 9:00 PM

Food, Music, Fun

FREE ADMISSION

Special Guest Performance by local Christian Musician:

MATTHEW BAUTE

Donations and food sales to benefit our sister church in Haiti-St. Jean DeSud.

Call (314) 961-1879 for more info.

Location

Holy Redeemer Parish Center

17 Joy Avenue

Webster Groves, MO, 63119

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

OYM benefits with Matt Maher CD

Joel Stein — Fri, 05 May 2006 17:19:49 -0500

1) Buy the NEW Matt Maher CD Overflow AND

2) Support the OYM! It's that simple!

This is just one more way you can help support the OYM and listen to some incredible music at the same time. OCP has agreed to directly donate some of the proceeds from the CD sales to us. Check out your options on how to order as many CDs as you would like and tell a friend! Thank you for your support!

Adam Bitter CD Release Concert

stlyouth — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 16:55:21 -0500

Start: May 6 2006 - 6:15pm

End: May 6 2006 - 9:00pm

On Saturday May 6, 2006 Adam Bitter will debut "Overwhelm Me", his first CD. Adam has been waiting for his whole life! for this to happen. To share his joy, Adam will be hosting a concert at Incarnate Word Parish. The evening will include prayer praise and lots of music that is just plain fun. The concert is open to all ages, old and young alike!

Ticket prices for the concert are:

$12.00 for the concert and the new CD

$ 5.00 for the concert only

The doors will open at 6:15P.M. and the concert will start at 7:00P.M.

Extra CD's will be available for purchase that night for $15.00.

Tickets will be sold at the door or you can purchase advance tickets by calling Adam at (314)-576-5366 ex 18.

Location

Incarnate Word Catholic Church

13416 Olive Blvd

Chesterfield, MO, 63017

See map: Google Maps, Yahoo! Maps, MapQuest

Ideas for Lent

Karl Zimmerman — Thu, 09 Mar 2006 10:23:48 -0500

Notes from the Z Files

OK, I know it’s late to plan too much, but here are some liturgy ideas for Lent, which started March 1st (Ash Wednesday):

No Gloria nor Alleluias during Lent, but you can sing “Lord Have Mercy” – Kyrie (I love Matt Maher’s) — just remember to coordinate with your priest on when to come in playing – in fact, coordinate with your priest on ALL this stuff. :)
Along those lines, we sometimes omit the opening hymn altogether and have a silent procession or sing the Kyrie as the procession. (Priest may do the Greeting from the back of Church).
For the Lenten Gospel Acclamation, I never tire of doing Michael W. Smith’s “Thy Word” (SS 211). (I’m sure there are some other great ones.)
Consider doing a different Mass setting – for example, if you have been doing Mass of Life or Joyful Heart from the Spirit and Song books, think about going back to Mass of Creation (or vice versa). If you’re looking for a new one, Christian Cosas, the Music Director at St. Dominic Savio in Affton (and also plays piano at St. Clement at Sunday 6 PM) has an awesome new setting called, “Mass for the Risen Church”. If you’re interested, you can contact him at csquared@gmail.com.
Consider doing a “theme” song – one that you might play every week during the Lenten journey. Last year, we did Matt Maher’s “Lead Me Home” and in previous years, “Sometimes By Step” by Rich Mullins, “I Will Choose Christ” (Tom Booth), and “More Than A Prayer” (KZ). There are so many great songs, talk to your youth minister, your priest, other musicians for ideas.
“CGH’s” as I like to call them – “Catholic Greatest Hits” – songs like “Prayer of St. Francis”, “We Are The Light of the World”, “On Eagles Wings”, “Servant Song”, Foley’s “Come to the Water”, etc. are great all year, but Lent may be the right time to bring some back. Even though I play two “youth” Masses each Sunday, we like to play one of those almost every week – it connects the generations, and for many Catholics, young and old, it’s just very welcoming to have some familiarity. Plus, there are some great “older” songs!
Having said that, there are some incredible P&W songs – new and old – including some from composers right here in St. Louis – but I’ll save that for another day.
In general, bring the energy level down a notch, a little more plaintive, prayerful.

Finally, take some time to pray with your music ministry this Lent. Maybe you always do, or maybe you have slacked off a little. In any case, it’s a great time to refocus on the reason we sing and play. Think of John 3:30 – ask the Lord to increase and for us to decrease. If you can get everybody together on a separate night, great, but even if everybody comes early to a rehearsal. Just ask everyone to put down their instruments and let’s take time to pray.

Catholic Rockers Podcast

Joel Stein — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Taken from their website, Catholic Rockers is “bringing you the best Catholic rock bands and solo artists today. We’ll cover hard rock, modern, alternative, rap and jam bands. The sounds you won’t find at Mass, but fill the rest of your week. We’ll share some music, interviews and a whole lot of fun.” Take a listen!

Top Music Countdown

Joel Stein — Thu, 12 Jan 2006 00:00:00 -0500

Looking for an inexpensive gift that a fellow youth minister, teacher, catechist or parent of a teen will love and use throughout the year? Consider purchasing a gift subscription of Top Music Countdown.

For over 20 years, Top Music Countdown has helped youth ministers, teachers and parents incorporate popular music into their youth gatherings, lessons and family discussions. Now, Top Music Countdown is available on the Web! A new issue of Top Music Countdown is posted online each month. Using your personal username and password, you are able to go to their web site to find the latest issue. Each issue includes a listing of 25 top songs on the charts, the issues discussed in these songs, the song lyrics, and suggested discussion questions and activities. This countdown is accompanied by articles from a variety of writers, giving you additional ways to incorporate music, movies, technology and other elements of youth culture into your programs or family discussions.

A one-year subscription of Top Music Countdown is available for only $30 per year. If you have questions, or if you would like to order a subscription for yourself or someone else, go to their Web site or call them at 707-542-8273.

Relief for Music Resources

Joel Stein — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Many of the churches and schools affected by the hurricanes lost all of the hymnals and music books. If you know of any parish willing to donate used accompaniment versions of Gather, Ritual Song, or Spirit and Song, please contact Trish Foti Genco at (504) 887-2699, and she’ll put you in touch with a deserving musician or parish. Also, St. Mary’s Dominican High School in New Orleans lost their entire Choral Room and Band Room. They have the oldest all girl marching band in the city. They are in need of everything… instruments, music, stands…

Matt Maher MP3s for Disaster Relief

Joel Stein — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Catholic recording artist and LIFE TEEN music minister Matt Maher wrote and recorded two songs that he is selling on lifeteen.com to help disaster relief in the U.S. Gulf Coast and earthquake victims in Asia. Every dime from the purchase of these two songs goes directly to helping those in need, through the organizations Project Starfish and Catholic Relief Services. The songs are called Here and Now and Unwavering, and you can purchase them here.

Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert

Joel Stein — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 23:00:00 -0500

Some may say, they’ve been given enough, but there is no human perspective on the devastation, the multitude of people affected at all levels of life. It is said, “…that in giving you receive…” If you give a bit of money to buy a ticket, you will receive an amazing day of grace-filled music. The Holy Spirit has driven the planning process by sending more musicians than we could use to be a part of this benefit concert. Four of these artists are nationally known, two of which were personally affected by this tragedy. Come to hear their testimony of relying on faith as they journey through their struggles. Let it be a day of reflection and thanksgiving for the blessings God bestows on us, each and every day.

Where: John F. Kennedy High School
When: October 15, 2005 from 3 - 10 pm
Cost: $15 advance / $20 at the door
Flyers: big & little

For more information, click here or check out this Friday’s St. Louis Review. Proceeds will benefit Catholic Charities.

Musicians Needed Monthly

Sue Brandt — Mon, 03 Oct 2005 23:00:00 -0500

St. Raphael the Archangel Parish is seeking a guitarist and drummer to assist us once a month at a parish weekend liturgy where our teens are present, to enhance that liturgy with some more contemporary Christian music. We currently have an organist/pianist and a cantor, but we are looking for a guitar player and a drummer who could possibly work with our current musicians, or perhaps a musical group that could lead our congregation in praise and worship.

Our teens gather at our 11:00am parish Mass on the second Sunday of each month. We are willing to pay a stipend for any musical assistance you could offer on a monthly basis. Besides assistance at Mass, if you would be playing along with our current musician and cantor, there would probably be some practice time involved.

If you are able to offer us any assistance, or if you are able to refer us to someone who is, we would love to hear from you. Please call Mrs. Sue Brandt at 314-352-8100, Monday through Thursday, or reach her at straphaelarchangel@sbcglobal.net.

Choose Christ: Contemporary Songs of Faith

Joel Stein — Thu, 26 May 2005 23:00:00 -0500

Designed to serve as a stand-alone songbook for special occasions and to add contemporary songs to your existing repertoire, Choose Christ suits the particular needs of your community! When combined with the contemporary titles in your missal or hymnal program, Choose Christ provides a comprehensive repertoire of popular, recently written songs and psalms for a variety of liturgical and non-liturgical celebrations. Perfect for use in LIFE TEEN XLT, devotions, small prayer groups, youth group activities, confirmations, retreats, and much more. A smart choice for communities that value today’s music!

A total of 54 songs, including the best music from Spirit & Song and Spirit & Song 2
Keyboard and guitar accompaniment editions available
New songs by fresh and familiar artists, including Matt Maher, Curtis Stephan, Angus McDonell, Ceili Rain, Jesse Manibusan, Sarah Hart, Greg Walton, Tom Booth, Steve Angrisano, and many others
Assembly edition with the “supplement cover” fits easily into OCP’s large missal covers and hardcover hymnals with plastic pockets on the inside back cover
Assembly edition with the “standard cover” has a full-size back cover and is designed for use as a stand-alone booklet

Danielle Rose Weekend

Michael Miller — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 23:00:00 -0500

A weekend of discussion, reflection and music is planned for April 22-24 featuring World Library Publications recording artist and Catholic Music Missionary, Danielle Rose. Friday, April 22, Youth Ministry Workers are invited for an evening of discussion, story, prayer and meal. Saturday, April 23, local sixth, seventh and eighth graders can explore their faith in “Express Yourself”, a day of music, art and prayer, also featuring Danielle Rose. Sunday, April 24, Danielle Rose will appear in concert at 2:00 pm. All events will be held at St. Margaret of Scotland Catholic Church, at 3854 Flad Avenue, in the Historical Shaw Neighborhood. Learn more in this flyer.

March Music Madness

Joel Stein — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500

March is all about college basketball… brackets, winners, close calls, excitement, pools and polls, and the occasional prayer that our team wins. Now it’s time to stimulate your ears, your heart, and your faith with spiritandsong.com’s March Music Madness. They’re starting with 64 of today’s best songs by Catholic artists. Vote for your favorites. The winners will advance to the Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final Four, and Championship. You can win spiritandsong.com music and merchandise too. Check it out!

Righteous B

Joel Stein — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Who can ignore the juice and jurisdiction of rap music’s influence on popular culture? In the last 5 years, hip-hop albums have dominated year-end sales, music awards, and radio stations. It’s magnetism is manifest in everything from commercials, to fashion, to film stars. Hip-hop’s powerful sway finds it’s hand in all genres of modern music- from rock to country. And no matter how remote, rural, or suburban a place might seem - there are always traces of hip-hop influence to be found. Regretfully, in a culture of young people starving for hope and truth - most of hip hop’s influence leaves this generation with hearts that are hungry. Yet, as a hip-hop junkie, Righteous B cherishes the channel where he can unleash the passionate, confrontational verses that charge his music.

Now, every artist’s bio boasts transparency in his music - however Righteous B punches it up a notch on the “keeping in real” meter, as the rawness of his music captures his heart. Says Righteous, “My music is a reflection of my personality. My life is there in the groove… my struggles, my emotions, my passions, and my stupidity are tucked into each album”. However his CD’s are sizably more than autobiographies. With an energy level on target to turn clubs topsy-turvy, plus lyric after lyric of bonafide truth - his music brings a freshness to the stale, zestless scene of hip-hop today. One of the fortes of the B’s technique is his ability to blend different breeds and brands of hip-hop together into one traffic-stopping, head-bobbing hit. His sizzle-sick loops and meaty hooks serve up many unique creations - from bangin club anthems to the foot-stompin’ pop fare.

View his electronic press kit online. He is currently booking shows for this fall / spring, which usually includes a concert and a talk. Consider it, yo! BOOKING PHONE: 704-873-7877 PorchRocking Records

Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert A Success

Joel Stein — Fri, 18 Mar 2005 00:00:00 -0500

On February 19, three St. Louis area Catholic bands coordinated with the Office of Youth Ministry, the Office of Stewardship and Development, and CBC High School to host More Than a Prayer: A Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert. Despite snow and sleet, over 300 people turned out to sing along to great contemporary Catholic music, worship God, and contribute to a very worthy cause. Through ticket, compilation CD, and T-shirt sales, nearly $7,000 was raised, all of which is going straight to the tsunami relief effort through Catholic Relief Services.

There are still compilation CD’s for sale online, where you can learn more about the concert, the musicians, and hear the global broadcast of the CD over EWTN’s network.

Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert

Joel Stein — Wed, 16 Feb 2005 00:00:00 -0500

As you know, the disaster caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Asia and east Africa has called for a great relief effort from those of us who can help. A recent article in the St. Louis Review outlines the generous response of area Catholics to this invitation. However, the damage is monumental, and the need is still great.

Realizing this, three St. Louis area Catholic bands have coordinated with the Office of Youth Ministry, the Office of Stewardship and Development, and CBC High School to host a very special evening of music in an effort to raise money and help our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world.

The event is called “More Than A Prayer: A Tsunami Relief Benefit Concert”. It will be held at CBC High School in St. Louis, MO this Saturday, February 19, 2005 from 7-10 pm. The bands featured are Adam Bitter & Friends, Karl Zimmerman & the Big House Band, and Dayspring. Tickets will be $10 in advance or $12 at the door.

Learn more and help promote this effort by downloading the flyer. We are convinced that we will raise exactly the amount of money the Lord is asking if we simply respond to His invitation with generous hearts.

Culture & Cosmos

Joel Stein — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 00:00:00 -0500

Important New Book Explores Problems for Children When Parents are Absent

Today’s rock and rap music provides a telling picture of the damage and destruction caused by divorce according to a controversial new book that examines the negative ramifications absent parents have on their children.

In “Home-Alone America: The Hidden Toll of Day Care, Behavioral Drugs, and Other Parent Substitutes,” Mary Eberstadt takes on familiar topics - day care, divorce and an overabundance of childhood Ritalin - but in a new way. Rather than looking at the long-term effects of single mother homes and institutional childcare, Eberstadt explores what kind of “immediate emotional experience” these things cause for children.

In one chapter called “Ozzie and Harriet, Come Back!’: The Primal Scream of Teenage Music,” Eberstadt takes a deep look at some of the hottest musicians on MTV and Top-40 radio and discovers that many of today’s most successful songs are anthems of despair and anger fueled by resentment at fathers who were not present in the singers’ lives.

Controversial rapper Eminem is Eberstadt’s prime example. Since his first album, Eminem has made the rage he feels towards his absent father a central theme of many of his songs. At other times Eminem sings at length about his drug addict mother and her cohabiting boyfriends. Eberstadt does not excuse Eminem for his lyrics in which he fantasizes about killing his ex-wife or insults his mother. But she notes that they are “not the expression of random misogyny but, rather, of primal rage over alleged maternal abdication and abuse.”

What makes this significant to Eberstadt is not just that musicians are writing about the unhappiness that results from being raised in a broken home but that the message so clearly resonates with teenagers. After all, Eminem is the most commercially successful musical artist of the last several years. Eberstadt writes that members of Blink-182, a very popular punk rock band, have commented on the huge response to their song, “Stay Together for the Kids,” which laments divorce. “We get e-mails about ‘Stay Together,’ kid after kid after kid saying, ‘I know exactly what you’re talking about! That song is about my life!’ And you know what? That sucks. You look at statistics that 50 percent of parents get divorced, and you’re going to get a pretty large group of kids who are p*d off and who don’t agree with what their parents have done.”

Other bands who have climbed the charts with songs chronicling the pain of being a child of divorce include, Papa Roach, Everclear, Good Charlotte, Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam, Kurt Cobain and Nirvana, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Doggy Dogg. Eberstadt notes that it was Vedder and Cobain who in the 1990s emerged as two of the best known musicians for people under 30, a phenomenon that even Vedder recognizes to be troubling. “Think about it, man. Any generation that would pick Kurt (Cobain) or me as its spokesman - that must be a pretty (expletive deleted) generation, don’t you think?”

Eberstadt concludes the chapter, which is also featured as a stand-alone-essay at policyreview.org, by noting that today’s popular music should serve as a wake-up call. “Meanwhile, a small number of emotionally damaged former children, embraced and adored by millions of teenagers like them, rage on in every commercial medium available about the multiple damages of the disappearance of loving, protective, attentive adults - and they reap a fortune for it. If this spectacle alone doesn’t tell us something about the ongoing emotional costs of parent-child separation on today’s outsize scale, it’s hard to see what could.”

GlennonSongs

Joel Stein — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500

The GlennonSongs Project is a musical project based almost entirely of St. Louis area musicians. The “core band” has eight members, but during the recording process we utilized the talents of over twenty other musicians. All of the proceeds go to Cardinal Glennon Childrens Hospital.

The recording process alone took about 150 hours. Additional mixing and mastering required another 80. It’s worth noting that everyone gave freely of their time and talent to the record. Additionally there was an ever-present spirit of camaraderie during the sessions. Everyone knew we were focused upon a common goal. We all wanted to create the best CD possible. (How better to represent the care given by the hospital staff?) The sessions often ran into the wee hours of the morning. Quite a feat for folks who also have day jobs to hold down. Such is the power of believing in a cause (and the power of caffeine).

In the post-production period, contributions of talent to the project spread far beyond our metro boarders. Many “big-name” music industry people came on board. I mixed six of the songs in San Francisco with Louis Biancaniello. Louis is a noted producer and composer whose credits include Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Kelly Carpenter and countless others. The other five songs were mixed in Nashville with Shawn Simpson. Shawn’s recent mixing and engineering credits include The Dixie Chicks and Faith Hill. The entire CD was mastered by Roger Nichols. Roger has worked with almost everyone in the business, including Steely Dan, Yo Yo Ma, and The Beach Boys. Combined, these three guys have more Grammies and Platinum Records, than I’ve got fingers and toes.

Money raised by The GlennonSongs Project are given to the hospital’s ER. There are so many disadvantaged children who have no family doctor and have no insurance coverage. At Glennon, they are welcomed, and given world-class care, regardless of ability to pay. The respect and loving care given to all who enter those doors is not constrained by social class. We could learn much from them.

CDs are $15. They are available at about ten local retailers now. But after Thanksgiving they will be available at all 21 area Dierbergs stores. They may also be ordered online.

Your Name - Karl Zimmerman

Karl Zimmerman — Wed, 17 Nov 2004 00:00:00 -0500

You might recognize the hockey mullet or his smooth voice, but it’s Karl Zimmerman’s passion for Jesus Christ that makes his music special. Karl has played in the house band at Steubenville the past few years and has been doing music ministry for teens all over south county, including helping to get XLT started there. Now Karl has completed his second CD, Your Name. The CD has twelve songs, most of which are originals. Many of these songs are used at noon mass at St. Catherine Laboure or at St. Clement’s Life Teen. Your Name, a rock song praising the many names of Jesus, the upbeat sounds of Blessed Be Your Name, Spring Training, a song about getting in spiritual shape, and St. Catherine’s 2003 Jubilee song about faith and works, More Than A Prayer, are some of the songs on this CD. The album is a little edgier than Karl’s first CD, Friends3, with more guitar band arrangements, sequenced loops, and rocking praise and worship. Check out Karl’s website.

samedaykings

Will Molstad — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 23:00:00 -0500

Let this declaration rise across the world that the samedaykings (sdk) have arrived by the goodness of the Lord. Sdk, one of the new hot local Catholic Christian Rock bands, has risen from the ashes of secular sounds and accepted the challenge of ministering the Lord’s message via music to the masses. It has been said that people with dreams and ideas more often than not fail to act upon or achieve those dreams. It takes a special kind of person(s) to find the strength and energy inside and heart and soul to match. Sdk is just that, a special collective of spiritually grounded, faith based Disciples of Christ who have done exactly what they set out to do, reach their dreams. sdk have just released their freshman CD effort of 10 all-original rock Catholic Christian songs.

The album, “Places We’ve Been”, is covered in an alternative-rocky feel with a pinch of passion and a dash of faith, hope & prayer. Upon listening to the CD, you instantly sense the heart-felt pain and struggle of having a daily consistent relationship with God on songs like, “I do not understand” and “Heal me”. However, songs like, “I know”, a hook-laden uplifting tune, make you feel like they were the kind of songs you could have heard on Ed Sullivan in the 60’s. There also is a nice change of pace with just the piano and vocals in, “You are my love”, that is refreshingly pleasant and gives a really clean crisp feel in juxtaposition with the other pieces of the CD. Lyrically, it is about time that an artist shares with the world that it is ok to be human and have faults. Their special blend of lyrics and music truly tells a story that can reach even the deepest recesses of darkness.

Personally & spiritually, it takes a lot of guts to put yourself out on the line with something like this. Thank God samedaykings took that risk. Some have asked just who the samedaykings are… well I can tell you that they are 4 men, willing to take the risk to wake up not just the Catholic Youth and communities but the youth and communities of the world, God willing…

Visit sdk at their website to order their CD, check out photos or to find out when they play next or email them at sdk@samedaykings.net with any questions or comments.