Over the weekend we had a chance to attend SonFest ‘08 (Mount Vernon, Ohio at Mount Vernon Nazarine University) part of the ShoutFest 2008 tour. We had a great time and the ShoutFest team (Go Jaime!) were excellent hosts, they really put on a great mobile tour. Keep an eye out for future dates soon.
Christopher is a Christian, husband, graphic designer, web programmer, photographer, ninja, poet, cat whisperer (though I think my own cats don't speak English). I tend to write as it comes out so I keep the editor quite busy. I have the grammar skills of a Nerf football but it makes sense if you read it over a few times.
Over the weekend we had a chance to attend SonFest ‘08 (Mount Vernon, Ohio at Mount Vernon Nazarene University) part of the ShoutFest 2008 tour. We had a great time and the ShoutFest team (Go Jaime!) were excellent hosts, they really put on a great mobile tour. Keep an eye out for future dates soon. (www.shoutfest.com)
One of the artists performing that day was Mission Six. If you haven’t heard of them, you will soon, I am sure. Mission Six is a group of five young men from Evansville, Indiana. Recently they have been featured on Radio Disney and other youth programming so when I got their CD “Superhero” in the mail to review I was a little hesitant that I would be a little bit old to appreciate the music. On first listen the CD was quite good, the songs were fun and definitely geared for a much younger audience.
As I was researching for an interview with them, I spent a bit more time listening to the CD and reading about the young men in the band. I gave the CD a few more listens and started noticing little things here and there, picking up underlying messages in the words of the songs. Musically it is a very playful, fun and carefree sound but when you read the lyrics and look into the meanings and stories behind the songs you can see a deeper side to these tracks. With the exception of a cover of the Go-Go’s “We Got The Beat” which was possibly added for some additional marketing push, each song shows Mission Six as five strong Christ centered young men.
When we had arrived at the festival, Mission Six had just taken the stage and now I was really becoming a fan. I admit I was expecting a very processed pre-recorded track like so many manufactured groups geared toward a younger audience, but they were really rocking the stage. Running around, singing and playing music (of course their age allows them to be incredibly high-energy performers.) Don’t let that fact fool you, they knew how to work the stage like pros. Lead vocalist Noah Hayden, breathless at times in between songs, spoke to the crowd like an experienced pastor, discussing the stories behind the songs and proclaiming their adoration for the sixth member of the band and first in their hearts…Jesus.
Due to some scheduling issues we were only able to spend a short time with them on their tour bus (I am totally asking for a tour bus for my birthday) but I what I came away from that interview with was an even greater appreciation for these five young men, their musical talent and their devotion to spreading the Gospel wherever they are.
Here is our quick interview with Mission Six, hopefully we will catch up with them again to spend a little more time.
Mission Six is definitely an up and coming group to watch out for and I look forward to watching as these future leaders of music and ministry hone their skills and continue to do great work. And if you are looking for a CD for your children, younger siblings, etc pickup a copy of “Superhero” for some great family friendly music that I have a sneaking suspicion that you will be borrowing every once in a while to feel just like a kid again.
For more on Mission Six visit their website at www.missionsixband.com and watch for them coming to a venue near you soon.
Christopher is a Christian, husband, graphic designer, web programmer, photographer, ninja, poet, cat whisperer (though I think my own cats don't speak English). I tend to write as it comes out so I keep the editor quite busy. I have the grammar skills of a Nerf football but it makes sense if you read it over a few times.
