Jonah 33 Says Goodbye

Rock band Jonah 33 has called it quits. Vocalist Vince Lichlyter recently addressed the band's end with fans while announcing a brand new solo project called "Helium." Below are Lichlyter's words on Jonah33's breakup and the future for him and the other guys...

"As most of you know, Jonah33 is no longer…that season has ended. However, it is exciting because new seasons are beginning not just for me but for other members too. Below, I have shared with you why Jonah33 has ended and some of the new seasons for the members in the band. Check it out. If you have questions for me let me know by emailing me at heliumlaunch@gmail.com, and I will try to answer them and post the answers in a new blog. I am on the road with Ginny Owens and Farewell June playing some of my latest so check out the tour dates and come by if we are playing in an area near you!

Jonah33 decided to call it quits mainly because there is one solid principle in the Kingdom, and that is that everything operates in seasons. The season for Jonah33 had come to end. There are many details that need not be mentioned, but overall, we all felt like it was time. The ship had "run its course" if you will. It seemed like odd timing as we had just released The Heart of War, our 3rd album, but it just seemed natural. Of course, in perspective of God's timing, we all had other things to go to, so it was just confirmation that it was the right move. We met SO many people over the past 8 years, too many to count, that supported us, believed in us and loved us, and for that, we will always be in debt. Words cannot describe what they mean to us.

I decided to launch a solo project called Helium because I find that with everything I write, ultimately, I am trying to bring people back to God. We all know that if you let a balloon go filled with helium, it will continue to ascend. That's my desire and passion. That everything I do will cause people to always turn back towards Him.

Stage Collapses During Starfield Concert

One of the staff from Jesus Freak Hideout reported in about a terrible accident that happened at a Starfield concert in Abbotsford, B.C, Canada. JFH's Karen M, moderator of their forums wrote in about how her son Michael experienced the disaster first hand when the floor of the church showcasing the Starfield show (with Bethany Dillon and Shane and Shane) collapsed into the basement. Here's Michael's own account of the tragedy...

"There was an area in front of the stage where kids were jumping and dancing. The lights on the stage started swaying and then they fell toward the audience. The floor collapsed and sank and we fell into the basement below. I landed sort of weird and I hurt my knee and hip. Once I realized I was alive and pretty much OK, I knew I had to help, so I asked what I could do. Me and another guy were lifting pews off people. There were people with blood running down their faces and they were moaning and holding their head. Because the water manes broke, water was gushing everywhere and it looked just like a scene from a movie. It was completely surreal."

CBC News also reported on the accident. Starfield made this announcement today in response to what happened...

"As you may have heard by now, there was a serious accident at our concert last night, and many young people were injured. At this moment, we are consumed with concern and compassion for those who were injured, especially for those who were described to be in serious condition. Our hearts are with them. We ask that you join us in prayer for them. As a less important side note, none of the members of our tour were injured in the accident. The band would like to thank everyone for the outpouring of encouragement and support that we are receiving."

Joy Electric Talks About New Album

Joy Electric has a new album coming May 27th, My Grandfather, the Cubist. The brains behind the programming, Ronnie Martin, discusses the project...

"Finishing an album is a whirlwind. Last minute changes, last minute songs, last minute mixes... it's not done until you get it back from the mastering plant, and even then there might be problems... as there was with this one! Everything gets worked out in the end, but you have to learn to let go and be content with what you have before you. The alternative is...well... toiling incessantly, nitpicking excessively, and finding any excuse not to finish. At some point you have to say "enough! there's always the next one..."

I'm still too close to the record to give a balanced overview, but I will say that I'm fairly happy with most of it. It feels like the realization of something I've been pursuing for far too long and finally a sound I'd like to grow from and develop further. It's unabashedly melodic, and probably more so than any record I've done, which sounds funny to say. What I mean is that most of the musical parts are comprised of melody lines rather than sound effects or dischordant electronic textures, which is an idea I've never consciously pursued to this extent because I really like texturing. It reminds me of some of the early songs and it's hard to believe that it took me this long to be able to make an entire record in the manner with which this one was made. The question always comes back to: will anyone notice or care about the confounded method? Of course not, but for me it's about establishing my own set of challenges and then trying to accomplish them...however long it takes. Breathe out now, Ronnie, breathe out...."

1. Victorian Intuition / Father Winter Replies
2. Rudimentary Animation
3. Draw for Me, M.C. Escher
4. Four Gone Pierre (or What Electricity Made)
5. The First Time I Loved Her it Was Here
6. I Recall the Telephone Booth
7. On Being Principally Utopian
8. Whether By Horse, or Horseless
9. Only Copernicus
10. Prelude to Cubism
11. My Grandfather, the Cubist
12. Cubism Interlude

A Word From Anberlin About Their Album

Anberlin has a new release looming, singer Stephen Christian had the following to say about the album's title, New Surrender...

Hey guys, Stephen wrote a description on the album title, check it out below:

we will all come to the point in our life where we have to admit that we
feel defeated, that something has conquered us.
we must change, not because we want to, but because we desperately
have to. we can not take life in its current suffocating state, even to
admit such desperation shows that we are feeling deserted,
wandering the barren desert,
a shell of our former selves.

it is only up from here, it is impossible to sink any lower into ourselves
or our circumstances.
but we can be salvaged, a deliverance.
no vice can stand, no fix can take.
the thorn in the side can be removed,
but you have to be willing to admit and surrender.
surrender your habits,
your lifestyle,
your past,
your present,
and your future.
this is your new surrender.
the new surrender.

new surrender.

A Member of Showbread Says Goodbye

Not only is Showbread's double album project Anorexia Nervosa being released May 13th... but one of their own is saying goodbye. Here is the announcement...

As many people have already heard, John Giddens (aka JG) has decided to leave Showbread.

Living in a van, being poor and sleeping on floors for six years makes people go a little crazy. JG has decided to leave behind the life of the traveling circus in order to pursue some kind of normalcy (a "real" job, a family, etc.)... On april 6th, John was present for the filming of a Showbread music video, which was his last activity as a member of the band.

John has been part of the insanity that is Showbread since 2003… He's seen and experienced more bizarre and wonderful things than a lot of folks, and here is where he takes a bow and rides into the sunset.

There were no bitter words and no regrets; JG knew his time was up, as did we. We love him like a brother and remain dear friends to the end.

Showbread exists because of a very personal and divine calling to bring something strange and beautiful into the world. The entity that is Showbread is much, much bigger than any one person participating in it at any time… Showbread is about a very personal truth that is very real to us and manifests itself in the form of bizarre music... not about a band member or "keytar". We'll miss JG on the road dearly, but we know his decision is in the best interest of himself as well as the band.

This is the most exciting time for Showbread… we have completed our best work ever and God is preparing us to unleash it on the world by rebuilding and strengthening us. Believe me when i say this is the best place the band has ever been, creatively and spiritually... We will very much appreciate the loving support of the Raw Rock community.

In the mean time, we'll have someone else along playing synthesizers on the YOU CAN'T SAVE YOURSELF tour, which begins, may 16th…

Both of the new records come out in a little over a month…

Jars Speaks on Recent Album...

Jars of Clay have released their first ever official hits compilation, entitled Greatest Hits. Guitarist Steve Mason reflects on the project, while looking to the future...

"Hey friends –

You’re friend Steve here. We have some exciting news for you. Just released to the masses is the new collection of songs they call the "Jars of Clay Greatest Hits." I am a bit in shock that we’d ever have something like this released, but it returns us to gratitude for all of you that have listened, followed the band, and come out to the shows…further encouraging us to make more music! It’s a story that continues into its 15th year.

We’ve tried to get the highlights – the songs you’d hear on the radio, and most importantly…include a newly recorded song! We wrote "Love Is A Protest" as a hopeful signpost in our musical journey. That’s what we want to continue to be about in all that we do.

Now, it should be noted that these albums are typically released at the end of a recording career. This is certainly not the case! We’re headed into the studio in April/May of this year to begin a new full length album. Stay tuned for more fun..."

For more info on Jars of Clay, check out www.jarsofclay.com.

NeedToBreathe Has a New Music Video

Saturday, April 5 marked the world premiere of NeedToBreathe’s highly-anticipated video "Washed By The Water" on JCTV’s monthly Top 10 countdown show Xtreme Video Zone.

Currently a Top Ten radio hit, "Washed By The Water" now has over 2 million audience impressions weekly. From their sophomore release The Heat, "Washed By The Water" is the follow-up to the group's recent No. 1 single, "Signature Of Divine (Yahweh)."

For more info, check out www.needtobreathe.net or www.myspace.com/needtobreathe