21 M E T R O S P I R I T A U G 1 2 0 0 2
Arts
& Entertainment
Summer Jam Tour Makes Christian Music Accessible
G
uitar-driven rock, smoldering Latin dance rhythms and lifting female pop vocals. No, it’s not the remainder of the lineup for the On the Bricks concert series; it’s the sounds behind Summer Jam 2002, and it’s coming to Bell Auditorium Aug. 3. "We started doing Summer Jam about four years ago," says Eddie Carswell, one of the founding members of NewSong, the band that hosts the tour. "We do a big tour called Winter Jam, when there’s not a lot of tours out." Following the success of Winter Jam, NewSong decided to put together another annual touring act, and they’ve been compiling diverse multi-artist tours twice a year ever since. And oh, yeah – did we mention Summer Jam features music with a message? "We do a night of music and fun and ministry," says Carswell, speaking by cell phone from Fayetteville, N.C., and gearing up for the third night of the tour. "It’s really a lot of fun." But Carswell also wants people to know that the Summer Jam tour is easily accessible, both in terms of audience diversity and in terms of the logistics of attending the show.
"It’s a diverse crowd; the age demographics are pretty broad," says Carswell. "It’s not one thing aimed at a very select crowd. We make sure the lineup is pretty diverse. "From the very beginning, there’s never been a ticket. Anybody can come, not just contemporary Christian, not just that crowd." Carswell says you just show up at the door and pay there; it’s only $10 to see the five performers that are taking part in Summer Jam 2002. "We’ll do our best to get everybody in the building," he says. Other performers include Rachael Lampa, a female pop vocalist who’s only 17 and has a hauntingly beautiful voice; Brother’s Keeper, a three-piece band with pop-rock sensibilities; and Freddie Colloca, Argentina native and one of the only Latin pop sensations in the Christian music world. "It’s a fast-moving concert, going from one artist to the next," says Carswell. "It’s great for the audience – basically greatest hits." And the teamwork between each of the bands needed to make Summer Jam successful isn’t the only teamwork behind the tour. "We’re all there together, and it’s just a great situation," Carswell says. "We believe God led us to start doing these tours." From Top Left-Clockwise: Brothers Keeper, NewSong, Freddie Colloca, Rachael Lampa
M U S I C
BY LISA JORDAN
Local Pastor Releases Second CD
"This is the second CD of worship music that I’ve been a part of," says local worship leader and Vineyard Church executive pastor Reese LeRoy. He’s talking about his new album, "Generous God," issued last month. Though LeRoy says the process that produced "Generous God" was very different than the one that bore 1999’s "Passion," he admits that making both of the albums was an enjoyable experience. "It was a lot of fun for me, because this is not something I do every day," says LeRoy. "I had a blast doing it. It was just really exhilarating." That exhilaration comes through in LeRoy’s songs, from the quiet reflections in "You are Faithful" to the uplifting, full sound of the title track – a song, LeRoy says, that came to him while he was running on a treadmill at the Y. "It just sort of hit me," he says. Music, however, has always been one of LeRoy’s pursuits. "I started taking piano lessons when I was 7," he says. "And my family was always very involved in church. "Music’s been a wonderful, rich part of my life." In melding the two, LeRoy is hoping that his music and his words that address God directly will become an important part of others’ lives – as a tool for worship. As a parent, he says, "I’m thrilled about hearing from people who’ve gotten the disc that their kids really like it." Though LeRoy’s looking to record more songs of worship in the future, he acknowledges that’s not entirely up to him. "We’re looking to do one every year to 18 months," says LeRoy. "As long as God keeps giving the songs."