So, for those of you who know me, you know that I am obsessed with any and all things music. I live for it, breathe it, sleep it, drum it, strum it, and basically dream of having a drum lesson or two from the incomparable Mr. Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater. Now, being that's impossible and somewhat of a pipedream, I tend to pay attention to drummers whoever they are with whatever band they perform in. Be it Matt Sorum from Velvet Revolver, Jason Bonham from Foreigner, Phil Ehart from Kansas, or Rick Allen from Leppard. I enjoy watching these and other drummers play a live show. I study them, watch them, note rhythmic structure, and basically freak out. This past weekend, I had a chance to see some pretty cool live shows at a music festival called "Lifest" near Oshkosh, WI. I went with some friends and we camped out, eating expensive food, and getting little sleep. Now, I do like most genres of music (not opera, or fluffy southern gospel), and Christian rock has always been one of them. When I first realized Christ was calling me to do what I do, I got into Christian music. MWS, Amy Grant, Whiteheart, Petra. All those groups when I was a teen...man they worked on my heart. Well, now that I am older, I still listen to some of those groups, but I tend to gravitate towards the heavier Christian music of today. There are some incredible groups out there pushing the edge of lyrical and musical composition that is reaching a generation of kids unlike when I was their age. Check out August Burns Red, Skillet, Red, Staple, Pillar, or one of my favorites, Demon Hunter (www.demonhunter.net). Honestly, I went to Lifest for one reason. To see Demon Hunter play. This is one of the most brutal bands I have ever heard recorded. When they first broke onto the Christian market, their self titled CD had this huge black sticker over the cover art, and you know that people are going to buy the CD because of that reason. Their second release, "Summer Of Darkness" was still hard and edgy, but found themselves with a bit more melody and actual singing from vocalist Ryan Clark. Their third release, "The Triptych" came out last fall, and is by far their best work. Their are three different versions of the cover art for the CD, featuring the beloved DH demon skull with a bullet hole through the head. Now, I love this concept. That evil is eliminated by killing it and letting it rot. So, I was very excited to see this great band play on June 7th at the Edge Stage. Couple things about my experience. There is a guy in our youth group who just graduated from high school who is really into these guys. He and I decided to be at the very front of the crowd barrier smack dab at stage center. Well, we got there early enough, and established control of our one square foot of moshing room. Second, I noticed right away that I was surrounded by kids half my age and younger. AND, there were two little girls, like 12ish in front of my friend and I, and I thought if this crowd surges forward these girls are going to be grease spots on the ground because I am not a little guy whatsoever and I could crush them. I was worried about that. As soon as Yogi (DH's drummer) hit the first cymbal crash of "Screams Of The Undead," the crowd surged forward and I was squeezed tightly into my headbanging space for the rest of the show. It was incredible to see this band perform. They played my favs, "Beheaded," "Not I," "Through The Black," and "The Soldier's Song." Demon Hunter is all about energy. Their music does not let you take a breath. You are forced to let your lungs, head, and body enter into the music to get the full effect of their message. All five guys in this band are massively talented, and it shows in their live performance. Playing live does not allow you to be faking anything (unless you are some poppy crappy gooey radio princess who likes to dance jigs after your backtrack tells the truth). These guys are definitely worth checking out if you are into heavy music. They have sort of a Slipknot-ish sound to them but are heavy and brutal like Damageplan. The one sad thing about this experience that I realized, and it was a sad lesson for me. I am an old man. Old men like me, should not be at the crowd barrier unless we are willing to be hurt, hot, sweaty, feet mangled, the occasional elbow in the head. But, to be honest, I had fun, and that's the whole point, even though my neck is still feeling the effects of banging away. I even had a moment of worship at that show as Ryan was screaming "I'm not ready to lay, I'm not ready to fade...I'm not ready to die!" I was looking up to God, and screaming those lyrics His way...basically praying that I am here to do what I was made to do, without compromise, without evil inching its way into by being. Demon Hunter is a good wake up call to the Christian music community that music can brutal, honest, wrenching, and ferocious...as it has the power to lift up disconnected and on the fringe people where others have placed them. This music is for anyone who is struggling to see relevance in a hurt world, with lost people, and in a God who is alive and banging his head with other kids/adults who have been down the dark road of feeling lost, left behind, un-included, or brought down. Definitely music to feel empowered by. Check these guys out...you will not be sorry you did. More later...