So Erin and I went to see Jars of Clay tonight. I’ll admit that while I’m familiar with the name, the only song of theirs that I knew prior to this event was “Flood.” Not a bad song, but as I pointed out to a wife who wasn’t happy with my review of the concert, Jars of Clay are mostly just okay to me. Growing up, I was never into “Christian” music, mostly because at the time I thought if it was Christian it had to either be gospel choir type stuff or bluegrass. A pretty shallow view, I realize, but it’s all I had at the time. When I got into middle school, I made an attempt to get into Christian music when I learned of “contemporary Christian” and was turned away because almost all of the bands I listened to really lacked anything original and they all had that Jars of Clay sound. All I walked away with was the Newsboys and MXPX, a band I didn’t even know was Christian until years after I was introduced to punk. Years later and I’m now a fan of a lot of Christian music, but I’m very picky and selective about what I’m hearing. For lack of better term, I really need a band that has balls and doesn’t sound like something you would hear on the radio. The few exceptions to this rule are the Newsboys, DC Talk, NEEDTOBREATHE and Casting Crowns, and even then I’m pretty selective on the choices just within those few bands.

Different bands and different sounds move different people. Music moves me like nothing else and is the greatest way I know how to give praise and be filled with joy, reminded that the Holy Spirit resides within me.

Some of the more tame selections first:

Jars of Clay “Flood”

NEEDTOBREATHE “Something Beautiful”

Newsboys “The Breakfast Song”

Casting Crowns “Until The Whole World Hears”

And now the stuff with “balls”:

Showbread “Nothing Matters Anymore”

The Chariot “Daggers”

Underoath “Writing On the Walls”

Emory “Walls”

Norma Jean “Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste”

Enjoy today’s haiku:

It’s now time to say
Nighty night to all of the
terrible children