June 20, 2005

Brian Welch Opening Orphanges in India

Brian ‘Head' Welch, former guitarist of Korn, has begun a project to assist India's orphans. “Throughout all of my life I have always had a heart for people that are hurting especially those that have no one to help them. My eyes have been opened to children on the street and I feel like for me that is who I want and need to help!” Welch said.

He is partnering with Steve Delaportas, of Fortitude Films, to start his Head Homes through Good News India, a company that houses and educates 1,600 school children in the country. Welch will be targeting his Head Home towards helping introduce leper children back into the community, and assisting child slaves sold into brothels by their families. “ I am so excited to be helping Head in his mission to assist those in need world wide! Head has brought so much to the table with new ideas and solutions to help in the fight to help with the next generation. These children are wanting for little and Head is wanting to give so much! I stand in amazement,” declared Delaportas. He and Welch will be traveling with Welch's documentary film crew to Bombay, Kolkata, Balasore, and Kurseong.

Besides funding Welch's India project, Delaportas is serving as Welch's new manager and developing his musical career and upcoming life documentary. Welch is currently working on his first solo album, which is rumored to be titled, This One Drive Home. "I'm gonna finish my record quick and then sell it on my website," Welch explains. "That way, there are no hands on the money that I make, so I can give it back to my people by building something positive, like a skatepark or something."

Welch reports that one song will be an instrumental guitar solo with background piano called ‘A Letter to Dimebag.' Dimebag is the nickname of fomer Damage Plan/Pantera guitarist, Darrell Lance Abbott. "It is written in guitar language, and I did it because he [Dimebag] used to tell me we needed to put guitar solos in Korn. So, this song is for him, and to him. It's saying how much I miss him. Even though we weren't too close, his very friendly personality had a great impact on me,” explained Welch. "This CD is full of heart-grabbing music, man! I can't wait to get it out!"he continued. Welch maybe in the midst of recording another album, but he hasn't fogotten about his passion for getting kids off the streets. "Every dime I make is going back to the people in a positive way," he said . "I'm gonna change the world or die trying."

June 14, 2005

PAX 217 CALLS IT QUITS

PAX 217 has called it quits. While the band will finish out the pre-scheduled tour for 2005, they have officially ended their ten year run. The band made the announcement last week at Spirit West Coast which came as quite a surprise to the "PAX Family" or fans of the band. Leader singer, David Tosti said after a few songs into their set that the band was calling it quits as PAX 217, However, the vision of musical ministry had not vanished. He commented, "Today is a bit of a sad day for the four of us, PAX 217 has been able to do great things over the past 10 years. The vision of this band is to access the hearts of the world through our music and although the four of us are laying 'PAX 217' to rest, the vision is not dead."

During the band's set David added on the end of PAX 217, "I can honestly say that I never thought this day would come,' remarked David, 'but we are at peace and yet feel as though we are grieving the death of something great. We are so grateful to have been able to do this. We have experienced God's love and grace from our family, fans, and people in the music industry, it is just time to lay this band down,' said David. 'Each individual in this band has brought a lot of heart and soul to make up PAX 217 and we are ready to move on in our lives to new things. We thank you, all of you who have given us so much. We are truly, truly blessed to have been a part of your lives in so many ways."

Signs of the end were visible back in February. The band had recently cancelled a spring tour with Jupiter Sunrise because they were to continue working on their new record to follow up the independently released Check Your Pulse EP. According to their website news entry dated February 15, 2005 and written by Josh Auer,   'We were looking forward to going out with JS," says David,  'But we must stay true to the course of writing new songs and pressing towards the making of a new album.' The band misses the country wide connection with so many of their fans, but is committed to staying home and writing."

Including finishing the festival dates slated for PAX 217, David Tosti will also be doing speaking engagements with XXXChurch. Check out his website for all the details.

June 10, 2005

XXXChurch Goes Hardcore Against Pornography

Pillar frontman, Rob Beckley just completed a charity golf event to raise awareness about the destructiveness of pornography and the online ministry XXXChurch.com. Among those who participated to help raise awareness of pornography addiction were band members from popular groups including Audio Adrenaline, Disciple, MercyMe and Spoken, among others. XXX Church has called itself, "The #1 Christian Porn Site" on the Internet and has seen many in the porn industry get free from their sexual addictions. Founded by "the Goofballs," Pastor, Mike Foster and Pastor, Craig Gross, XXXChurch confronts the pornogrpahy industry right in its own backyard. When the porn industry has it's conventions, XXXChurch is there with their booths and an uncoventional yet evangelistic call to repentance to those gripped by the darkness of pornography. Mike and Craig with their wives set-up booths and share messages of Jesus and his love for his creation. Using puppet theatre, shocking media messages and campaigns, irreverent humor, dynamic video and alarming statistical data to back-up their message, Mike and Craig have had an impact that cannot be measured. Their latest campaign features Wally The Weiner asking porn addicts at these conventions, "Do you have the balls to stop watching porn?" They have been equally represented in mainstream media by Fox News, ABC, NBC, LA Times and CBN as well as in Playboy, Penthouse and Sex TV.

AudioA's Mark Stuart, Mike Foster, Craig Gross and Rob Beckley at the Golf Tournament at Battle Creek Golf Club in Broken Arrow, Okla.  (GateCreative.com Photo)

XXXChurch views the culture of America as being attacked on all fronts by perverse images on TV, video games and even cartoons. The blatant targeting of teens and young adults is what they have waged their offensive against. On Octobere 9, 2005, XXXChurch is sponsoring the National PornSunday which is written up on their website:

XXXChurch Awareness Poster.

"Why National PornSunday? For some it is ludicrous to link three X's with church. For others it's long overdue. The one undeniable truth that we can't ignore is the blatant push for all things sexual in our society. It is out of control, from Saturday morning cartoons to the prime time line up on the networks and cable channels. PornSunday seeks to drive the conversation about pornography in our churches, families and lives. PornSunday wants to bring healing and recovery to those struggling with pornography."

"National PornSunday is One day. One message. Your voice. And a great film! XXXchurch.com brings you the best resources that deal with pornography. Hundreds of churches across the country will become the strength and hope for those struggling with the dirty little secret of pornography. Imagine the impact. Hundreds of churches addressing the issue of pornography all on one day. PornSunday is simple. Spend the morning services at your church hashing out the issues of pornography. Sunday night, screen the film Missionary Positions. Be the first people in the country to see the feature length documentary revealing the true story of XXXchurch. The film documents Craig Gross and Mike Foster's journey into the world of pornography. On October 9th, you will be equipped to talk about pornography and be prepared for the events that follow after addressing your congregation and viewing Missionary Positions."

To become a part of XXX Church or to participate in National PornSunday go to XXXChurch.com

June 2, 2005

This August, Switchfoot will be releasing their follow-up to The Beautiful Letdown. The band is currently doing the final tracking to the new project entitled, Nothing Is Sound. The album was recorded pretty much while they were on the road all during 2004 when The Beautiful Letdown turned out to be an uplifting rock n roll surprise. With encouraging songs like "Meant To Live," "Dare You to Move" and the recent, "This Is Your Life," the record became double-platinum and the secret of Switchfoot was unleashed on the world. Nothing Is Sound is more organic in the process of a band learning their new songs and recording them. Jonathan Foreman recently explained to MTV News' Corey Moss, "We wanted to release a record this summer, and we were trying to figure out when in the world we would have time to record it. So we took out a second set of gear, tiny drums and amps, and set up in the dressing room every day and got songs ready. While the opening bands were playing, we were in some tiny room trying to make a record."

The record was made in places like South Africa or Foreman's bedroom at his San Diego home as well as throughout the USA. Nothing Is Sound comes at a time Foreman refers to in the MTV interview as " a very volatile stage, with war, how fast things are changing, but deeper than that, the idea that there is an instability within myself and humanity as a whole — that's where these songs are coming from. Maybe that has a lot to do with being on the road." He added, "A lot of times you know a song is good but not how it's going to translate live. "Something might be good in the studio, but you have to change a lot of things to make it work live — stretch this part out, shorten this out, whatever. These songs were developed for the live show. I've heard that's how, back in the day, whether it was Cream or whatever, that's how they used to do it."

The band will be playing many Christian music festivals this year including Creation East, Cornerstone and Sonshine. In August and September the band seems to be on a tour of state fairs traveling to the West VA, Indiana, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa and the Jackson County Fair in Michigan. If you want to know how your music will capture an audience, there is nothing like the world of a state fair for a testing. There is also nothing like the "diego rock" experience while eating your funnel cake and caramel corn.

June 1, 2005

Surfing For Viva Voce's Gear

Kevin and Anita Robinson, a.k.a. Viva Voce, have been over in Europe promoting their latest release for Minty Fresh Records, The Heat Can Melt Your Brain. The husband and wife group have had rare opportunities to record at the infamous BBC 1 or "Blue Room" where bands like Led Zeppelin, Cream, The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and many others made great recordings. BBC 1 was the broadcast home of the British Invasion of the 60's and very early 70's. The band also was featured on MTV Europe.

However, not all has been rosie according to the e-blast that came from their laptop while in Vienna, Austria. Apparently, while in London during the first week of shows, every bit of their gear was stolen. According to Kevin's letter, "All our gear got stolen. Everything. Every last drop. All of Anita's guitars (yes, even the double neck), electronics, keyboards, the whole she-bang. The real purpose of sending this email is that my hope is that some or most of you are somewhat familiar with our sound and maybe have seen us live at some point. If you live in the London / Kings Road area, watch eBay religiously or can otherwise recover any of our gear, there will be a handsome reward of some sort. Haven't figured it out yet....but I'll make it worth yr time. Greatly. The real ones that we're having the hardest time losing are two of Anita's guitars: A Danelectro Double-neck white guitar - Baritone & Standard / white with a custom gold-ish psychedelic pickguard and a mid-60's Hagstrom strat style guitar. Lavender/white in color with a non-removable tremolo bar."

Obviously, the couple is hoping to recover their gear. Furthermore, Viva Voce is still doing their full show. If you have not seen them perform live, it is quite a feat for the duo. Kevin not only plays drums but simultaneously operates and orchestrates the keyboards, effects and loops as well. Anita is an accomplished guitar player who also plays keys and various other instruments as the music calls for them. A Viva Voce show is a powerful display of talent and passion from a husband and wife that are comitted to each other and their musical vision.

If you discover any information on their gear or can help them out - go to their website. Here are links to the full size pics of the guitars: Danelectro - Hagstrom