2011 Dove Awards Interview With SideWalk Prophets

NO PRESSURE Interviewing your favorite band!!!

From LtoR Ben McDonald (Guitar),  Justin Nace (Drums), David Frey (Lead Vocals), Shaun Tomczak (Lead Guitar), Cal Joslin (Bass Guitar)

     There comes a time in our life as a Christian that certain types of lyrical compositions minister to us on a much deeper level then others. Whether it is personal growth, an experience or just simply our specific taste in the delivery of the message it holds. Sidewalk Prophets have managed to fit that mold for the majority of the Christian Music fan population.

     Being selected as New Artist of the year in 2010 and producing smash hits such as "Words I would say" and "All things new" along with their most recent radio hit,

"You love me anyway". Though they have several well-known hits off the CD, the last two are actually my personal favorites. "These Simple Truths", carries skillfully prepared messages and melodies that leaves one anticipating the groups next personal creation. I talked with them about their love for youth. I also spoke with them about their plans for the coming year and what it is like to work with the 42 Annual Dove awards "Producer of the Year" Ian Eskelin.

Dave: "I always describe Ian as crazy beautiful. He runs a hundred miles an hour non-stop, which is a good thing because he has a hundred ideas. As a band whenever you hit a wall he will throw out different directions we can go and ask our opinions of them. It has opened me up as an artist and given me the freedom to be creative. Definitely love that side of Ian and he is definitely very talented. He’s a little crazy but a lot beautiful." 

     Decade long friends, song writers and artists Dave and Ben are the elders of the band who have been joined by fellow gifted artists Cal who happened upon a chance meeting four years back which brought him and Justin into the picture.

Cal: "I have been with the band for about four years. I met up with them when they moved to Nashville. We actually met through Craigslist. They needed a guitar player and I was in college and I responded. I knew Justin and he started playing the drums with us soon after that. Shaun on the other hand has a little different story."

Shaun: "Yeah, I moved to Nashville a little over two years ago. I was playing in a church worship band. The bass player worked at the record label and they were looking for a new guitar player and he just kind of put my name in a hat and it all worked out." 

Me: "So, what do you think the next year looks like for you guys?"

Dave: "I know we are working hard on another album. That is kind of our main focus right now. We actually have a deluxe edition of our album coming out. So we are pretty excited about that. We do not know exactly when, but it is coming out pretty soon. There will be a couple acoustic songs on it. We will also be including a brand new song that no one has heard before, which we are excited about sharing."

Me: "Maybe include an extended version of Lay down my life? (Slightly hinting plea)

Lay Down My Life Video

Created by Bibin Xavier with scenes from Passion of the Christ

  

Dave: "Hey yeah, maybe you never know! We are going to be doing a lot of the summer festivals and touring as well as going to church camp. We started at camp, so our heart has to go back there at least once a year. So we have three weeks of church camp and also looking forward to an amazing fall schedule too."

Me: "I know you all have been involved in youth groups growing up and as you got older also working with the youth. It seems the band in general is geared in that direction."

Dave: "I actually taught English education to sixth and ninth grade levels and pretty much just love kids. They are so open and it was just great to teach them. Even if I wasn’t able to say that I was a Christian, to get up and share this joy and this experience. If they ever ask me why it is that I am always happy and ready to go then I can point them in that direction. That was a real blessing. Part of it is that I don’t think I have grown up from when I was a youth. I think all of us really just have a heart for kids. We love those weeks at camp and just being around the kids. They are the ones that are going to lead the next generation for Christ."

Me: "As far as mentoring certain kids do any of you feel particularly led to specific kids? Either if they have spiritual or different musical passions that they connect with you on?"

Ben: "I think we make ourselves available if there is the need. Dave is the lead singer, I think more feel pulled toward him than they do to the rest of us. Some of them get a hold of him and he keeps in touch with them, but I think that happens a little more seldom for the rest of us. So I think Dave actually does that a little more than we do."

Dave: "We actually had a group of kids at the very first camp we went to, which was actually the very first show that we did as well. We were leading worship there and those youth, still to this day are very good friends of ours. We stay in touch with quite a few of them and they come to our shows. One of them, Willie came five hours to Pennsylvania just to see us and we told him we would have come to a show closer to him. He just said he had to come see us. It was just really great. I think at those camps, versus the big tours and arenas, you actually get to be friends. You get to actually see the hearts of the kids and instead of just planting a seed, you get to watch it grow a little bit. We always hope those kids stay in touch with us and we can continue our friendship with them. It is one of the most beautiful things about being involved in the band."

 You Love Me Anyway Official Video

 

Me: "You all are all so laid back and easy to talk to, I am sure all of you have kids that want to learn from you and get to know you. They probably just gravitate to the band as a whole."                                                              

Ben: "Oh yeah, you know some are pulled toward Justin cause he is the drummer and then the guitar players are pulled in that direction, with Dave though he is very youthful in his spirit."

Dave: "I think I am the one that just mixes it up the most."

Ben: "Dave is the one that still watches cartoons I think that is what it is."

Me: (Laughing) "Nothing wrong with cartoons."

Ben: "Oh, I think there is. (Laughing) I don’t even know the last time I watched a cartoon."

Dave: "I am a Disney fanatic. I think they pick up on those things."

Me: "How difficult has it been for you all to rehearse around family time?"

Ben: "It’s really hard actually because we are on the road so much, there is usually just one day a week that we have to practice. A lot of times we just do it on the fly. This past week we just got together for a couple hours for an acoustic performance over in Santa Rosa. We had come off of Winter Jam where we were playing a fifteen minute set so we were in the mind set of that. From that, we are going to a forty-minute acoustic set. So first off it is a longer set than what we have been used to. Then on top of that it is acoustic. So it’s totally different then what we have been doing. We just make do and go with it. When you are preparing for a tour you might have a chunk of time that you say hey this week we are going to practice three days. Unfortunately right now we just don’t have the time."

     As a top-selling Christian Artist, I thought it might be interesting to find out what kind of music they tune their ears to. I asked each of them if I was to get inside their vehicle what Cd would I find in it?

Ben: "My car is actually the band van. (Everyone laughs) I actually just cleaned it out yesterday so there is no CD’s in there except for one of ours that we signed for a fan that they forgot."

Dave: "I actually have some demos for our upcoming album. I also have a Big Daddy Weave album that was given to me and I was listening to it. So demos and Big Daddy Weave. "

Cal: "I just bought the new Foo Fighters album last week so that is what I am listening too."

Shaun: "Yeah it’s Foo Fighters for me too, pulled up on my phone. I think in my car it’s actually Francesca’s new record that was given to me."

Justin: "I have a two year old son, and he loves our music so our CD is in my car."

Me: "Your music obviously displays your heart and your desire to minister to people. If you could pick anybody in the public eye and have an open window to minister or reach out to them who would it be?"

Shaun: "I would say Tiger Woods easy. I am a huge golfer and I know a lot of people don’t like him or don’t like his personal life, but I still cheer for him every time I see him in a golf tournament. I just think that would be the coolest opportunity if that window ever opens to speak to him."

Ben: "I think for me it’s more questions that I would have for a lot of people. Take Katy Perry for example, she got her start in Christian music. I am just interested in what changed in her life that caused her to go the other way. I think for a lot of people it is money, fame or other things, but I am just interested to ask questions. People who have once been on this side of the music industry and have for some reason switched over. I know that does not really answer your question, but I think that would be interesting to find out. I wonder if she would be honest and say what it was really for?"

Me:"That does answer my question yes!  Because trying to find what caused her heart to drift, to witness to her about coming back is definitely a bridge builder back to the Kingdom."

Ben: "Well, I think she is a Pastor’s kid, so she is obviously well versed in the Bible so it just seems weird that you would have to witness to someone like that. It’s just different, you can still witness it just seems they would already know enough to know what is right."

Me: "Sometimes people like that are the most difficult to minister too." 

Ben: "Yeah I think that would be really challenging so that is what I would want to do."

Dave: "That is a tough question. I just read a book called the son of Hamas, and he talks about how his Father started this Muslim organization. It gave me a good perspective of the beliefs of the Muslims and of the Koran. It gave me a deeper understand why Jesus is so amazing. There is so much that set Him apart from what they have been taught. This book made me think about how amazing it would be to talk to someone that is from Al Qaeda. I know that is incredibly dangerous, but there is just this fervor that they have to destroy innocence and it just breaks my heart. When God calls us to love our enemies that is what set Jesus apart. I think people take that for granted so much. We still harbor those resentments. Loving your enemies is what changes lives sometimes."

     The Bible says in Matthew 7:16 "Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?" 

     I believe Sidewalk Prophets are producing fresh fruit everyday with their gift to all people being genuine in their faith and in their purpose.

L-R Ben, Me, Justin, David, Shaun and Cal

God has anointed them for such a time as this and it is meant for them to share their faith with the world. With a deluxe edition album in the works and a new album on the horizon, I asked if they felt they were being led in a different direction as a band.

Dave: "Our band has not changed direction. I really feel our direction has been just to be regular guys. God has given us this gift of music. I think we take that for granted a lot. What we do is not just entertainment. It’s trying to look at the gospels in a different way. Each song has a message all its own and they speak to people. It’s awesome to see God take a song that I intended to speak about my Grandfather and use it in a hundred different ways. I guess that is just our goal, to be men that are truthful and follow God wherever He calls us to go. We did some live shows in the Congo last year, which changed our lives. Then last week we were in California, so it’s amazing the places He is taking us. We just hope to be faithful stewards of the gifts He has given us."