Exclusive The Choir interivew and G21 E-news
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In this E-News update from The Choir and Galaxy21 Music:
1. Exclusive Choir interviews
2. News briefs
3. Mike Stand's new album
4. DAS press release
5. The store
Steve Hindalong, Derri Daugherty and Dan Michaels recently spent some time
over the phone with Christian music's favorite writer John J. Thompson to
talk about The Grammys, Cornerstone and what's up next for the band. You
may click on to the following link to read the interview online at the
Cornerstone Festival website:
http://www.cornerstonefestival.com/feature.cfm?FeatureID=18
Or you can read the interview in its entirety at the very end of this E-News
email - see below...
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News Briefs:
I recently spent an afternoon with Dayna Curry and Heather Mercer. They
were the missionaries that were held captive/prisoners in Afghanistan by the
Taliban for nearly 4 months last year. It was amazing and inspiring to hear
their story told at length and in person. Too much to express in an email
but I was very impressed on how they remained faithful throughout the ordeal
and that they actually want to go back to Afghanistan as soon as possible to
continue the relief work they started. Check out the "News" section at
www.thechoir.net or www.galaxy21music.com for some pictures.
Steve and Derri just finished City On A Hill "It's Christmas". Artists on
this volume include Sixpence, Sara Groves, Out Of Eden, Michael Tait, Jars
Of Clay, Third Day and tons more. And guess what? Terry Taylor wrote or
co-wrote a number of the Christmas songs on this album!
The Choir is off to Cornerstone next week. We play on Friday evening at 7pm
at the Gallery Stage (July 5th). Hope the stage has a ramp for our walkers
and rascals!
Undercover is just about done with their brand new record! I've been able
to hear 1 song from it already - it's a cover of the classic "Everyday
People" and it's sounds fantastic. I believe they just have to finish a few
lead vocals, some overdubs and mix it in order to make a late August or
September release. Keep on checking the galaxy21music.com website for
updates and song samples.
Steve and his wife Nancy just got back from a southern vacation. They
relaxed along the beach at Sea Side in Florida and whooped it up in the big
city of Atlanta, GA! Hee-Haw!!!
If you have the time or inclination - please pray for us. Specifically our
families and health. Also, that we approach the possibility of creating a
new Choir record with wisdom, forethought, fun and in reverence to that
which may be pleasing to our Father.
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Haven't stopped listening to great Christian rock? It's still out there!
Altar Boys lead singer/writer/guitarist Mike Stand has released his brand
new solo record - Full Circle. Seriously, it's his best music and
performance to date and I can't stop listening to it. CCM Magazine has some
kind words to say on this new release. Please just go to your local
Christian bookstore or Family Christian bookstore and ask for it. It's also
available online at http://www.thechoir.net/store.
"Mike Stand Comes Full Circle"
Before there was an MxPx there was The Altar Boys. That seminal early
Christian punk-rock / power-pop band truly ushered in the era of relevant
Christian alternative music in a big way. With bands like the aforementioned
MxPx as well as The Huntingtons and many more singing the praises of the
Orange County quartet, and a few rare recent live appearances in California
and at the Cornerstone Festival, their legend has only grown. Now, with his
first release since a 1995 project by his post-Altar Boys band Clash Of
Symbols, front boy Mike Stand recently unveiled his most thoughtful,
challenging and all around impressive work yet. Full Circle, originally
begun with the late Gene Eugene in 1999, features a cast of no fewer than
fourteen supporting musicians and is being released by Galaxy 21 Music. For
more information visit www.galaxy21music.com
-CCM Magazine/JJT
To learn more about Mike Stand and listen to some MP3 song samples click on
to:
http://www.galaxy21music.com/pages/mikestand.html
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G21 and DAS Press Release:
In keeping with Galaxy 21's commitment to artistic excellence and bringing
you some of the best and most innovative music and artist we are proud to
announce the addition of one of Christian music's most critically acclaimed
performers Brian Healy /Dead Artist Syndrome to the Galaxy 21 universe.
Bookstore Journal once called Brian's music as Dead Artist Syndrome "The
best
example of what Christian alternative music really is"
And it is clear the new album Grace & Impertinence will be in keeping with
that cutting edge spirit.
Currently Recording in Los Angeles with Jeff Elbel and Stavesacre Drummer
Sam West, Brian is putting together a more hard-hitting sound while still
lyrically dealing with many of the complex issues Christians encounter in
daily life.
As Brian puts it "Everyday we deal with the challenge of the paradoxes in
our
lives under grace and in our faith while learning how to live and grow while
bringing light to a fallen world, all of that would be impossible without
God's grace and is accomplished in spite of our own human impertinence."
Ever changing and growing both as a person and artist Brian Healy is soon to
be expanding his outreach as an ordained minister and he is guaranteed to
maintain his renaissance man status as one of CCM most thoughtful artists.
Ministry is a calling he approaches with humility and grace as one called to
share the truths of the Christian faith to the disenfranchised of our world.
With a new look and music coming Dead Artist Syndrome is hitting the road
this summer by playing a "Greatest Hurts" set from the previous four Dead
Artist Syndrome albums at this years Cornerstone music festival in Bushnell,
IL with a few old friends like Mike Roe and Derri Daugherty and Dan Michaels
and others. As well as a few other shows before wrapping up recording on
Grace & Impertinence.
We at Galaxy 21 proudly look forward to our partnership and bringing
Dead Artist Syndrome to the world.
The Dead Artist Syndrome Live Schedule is as Follows:
July 1
The Pre-Cornerstone Concert
Bethel Baptist Church
1196 N Academy St.
Galesburg, IL 61401
July 2
The Divine Cup (Unplugged)
220 S. Madison
Rockford, IL 61104
815.965.6247
July 6
Cornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Farm Bushnell, IL.
Gallery Stage
Saturday 4:30 PM
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Stop by our sites again very soon! There's news, a messageboard community,
MP3 song samples, polls to vote in and a great music store with CDs from The
Choir to 77s, Common Children to Daniel Amos, City On A Hill to Buck
Enterprises. Books, T-Shirts, Choir travel mugs and much more. Your
support of us is appreciated and NEVER taken for granted. We probably
wouldn't be creating new records if it were not for your prayers,
encouragement and support when you buy our music. We are always pleased to
hear from you when you email us!
www.thechoir.net and www.galaxy21music.com.
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The Choir exclusive interview for Cornerstonefestival.com
Not A Real Band?
The Choir That Just Wonąt Stop SingingŠ
By John J. Thompson
The Choir refuses to die, no matter how many times they declare themselves
over. This ground-breaking alternative rock band defied more than a few laws
of industry gravity during their fifteen years of active recording and
touring, but it is their startling productivity and impact since supposedly
hanging up their robes back in 1996 that defies all reason. This "former"
band released a critically acclaimed and much adored Boxed Set retrospective
last year and earned their first Grammy nomination for the independently
recorded and released studio project Flap Your Wings this year. Add the
production and songwriting prowess of founding members Steve Hindalong and
Derri Daugherty and the breakout success of their modern worship City On A
Hill series, as well as Dan Michaeląs intrepid entrepreneurial label Galaxy
21 which has brought some of the most important records of the last two
years to light, and The Choir is still setting a wicked pace in the
faith-informed musical underground.
CornerstoneFestival.com caught up with the three primary Choir-boys at
various times over the last couple months to get the scoop on the Grammy
Nod, the rumored new studio album and all other things ChoirŠ
JJT: So, tell me about this box set project (Never Say Never: The First
Twenty Years.) How did it come about, and what are your thoughts looking
back at the career overall when you see it all in one big lump like that?
Steve Hindalong: Itąs kind of fun to see it all. And at this point we have a
sense of humor about the past and we can enjoy it, you know? When something
is ten years old it never sounds good but when itąs about fifteen years old,
you go, "okay" (laughs). Iąm a guy who just never looks back. I donąt listen
to anything once itąs done; I donąt listen to old records. Iąve havenąt
heard any of our albums for years. So, to revisit it was pretty cool. We are
fairly proud of everything we have done. Even though we wouldnąt be
considered commercially successful itąs great to have a body of work that we
are proud of. Itąs always been about the creative process all along the way.
For me, it was a chance to look back, which is something I usually donąt do.
Derri Daugherty: I was pretty proud of everything. You spend so much time
over the course of your career worrying about tours and record deals and
whatever, that to finally look at the body of work and realize what youąve
been able to do is really a good feeling. Thereąs humility too. We realize
how fortunate we were to be able to stay doing it for so long. It was pretty
shocking to see everything down together and to listen to it all together
and then realize youąve made music that has had an impact.
JJT: When did the inspiration for a project that sweeping come about?
Dan Michaels: The idea behind the box set originally came after Derri and I
were talking one night right after we released Flap Your Wings. We were both
like, "man, we should do a box set. Everybodyąs done one, letąs do one." We
thought maybe one with three of four CDąs with the little slip card folder
and put the four Myrrh releases in there. I work a lot with a guy named Andy
Conant and he was going to do the design work and ended up being the product
manager for it all. We wanted a discography, some history- stuff like that
in there. Maybe a little 5x5 insert with 15-20 pages, like some of the more
inexpensive box sets put out by record companies. But Andy is a nut. Heąs a
lunatic, and when he dives into stuff, man, he goes insane.
I am the keeper of the archives; I have all the old awards, mail, news
clippings and stuff in a shed at my house. He came over one day and wanted
some images to scan and when he found out I had everything we had ever done
Andy thought we could do a full 100-page book. So he became the cheerleader
to make it into a big deal. We were wondering what we should call this
thing. We realized we had been around for like 20 years and thatąs a pretty
good thing to be able to say. Our publishing company is called "Never Say
Never." So we decided to call it "Never Say Never; The First Twenty Years."
That meant we had to include every single studio release we had ever done.
It just grew from there. Andy did the research on the boxes, and put in so
much time that his wife was ready to divorce him. That book is not simple-
with the chronology and all the quotes from people about their thoughts on
the band. It was a monumental thing, and he put it all together. Literally,
everything we have released, except for Flap Your Wings, is out of print.
All the early Maranatha stuff, all the Word stuff, even the stuff on Tattoo
Records with Provident, are all out of print. So we decided to make this a
one-stop. Everything we have ever done, except for the two live records that
we made, and the most recent record.
JJT: Did you go back and listen to the old stuff, in the process of that?
Hindalong: Yeah, I was the one who put together that extra CD with the
outtakes and stuff. So I had to go back through the old (material.) But you
know, to tell you the truth, I still havenąt listened to the whole thing.
Iąm not going to listen to some of those albums. I donąt know, I just donąt
have the time.
JJT: (laughs)
Hindalong: No really, itąs true, I donąt. Iąm more focused on what I am
doing right now. Iąm always that way, just looking ahead.
JJT: In the process of those Śleftovers,ą were there one or two things that
struck you as being better than you remembered or that made you smile?
Hindalong: Yeah, one that struck me was "Wilderness," the acoustic version.
We did that in a day, and at the time, I was apologetic about the lyrics
because they were so honest. In fact, I didnąt even write it for a Choir
record. We ended up doing an electric version, but that acoustic version was
like one of the best things, if not the best thing we have ever done. I was
staggered by it, and really proud of it. So, yeah that kind of thing
happens. That was probably the only one that did it for me. It kind of stood
out among the rest.
Daugherty: I had forgotten some of the things I really liked on Wide Eyed
Wonder. "To Bid Farewell," for instance, listening back to it I had
forgotten what a good song it was and how much I enjoyed doing it. There
were also some things I was really proud of how the guitar sounded or the
vocal.
JJT: Is this something that you plan to have available for a while, or is it
a one shot deal? I mean, is it going to go out of print like everything
else, or are you going to keep it available?
Michaels: Well, itąs a limited edition. Itąs a confusing thing, kind of.
They are expensive to make. The minimum you can make on most runs of music
is 1000 units. So, if you do the math, it just sort of prohibited us from
doing anything more than that, and there arenąt many left. But we did
license it out to BMG Direct who just did a small run of 500. Unless we come
up with a big stack of dough or something like that, there will probably be
no more than 1500 or so.
JJT: So, itąll be like all the other Choir records.
Michaels: It will be. If the demand is there weąll make more but it looks
like itąll be a collectorąs thing right now. Itąs a high-ticket item, so you
really have to be into it. It costs seventy bucks or so for the whole set,
because it has eight CDąs. Itąs all about economics. Not everyone has close
to a hundred bucks to spend on music from one group. But if people want
more, weąll figure out a way to make more.
JJT: What are your thoughts on the Flap Your Wings Grammy nomination?
Hindalong: Oh, it was definitely a great thing. Itąs a fun thing that was
totally unexpected. Weąre having a lot of that with the Choir. Eventually
most bands die a death out of necessity. Weąre not really Śdoingą The Choir.
Weąre not really a band. We donąt rehearse; we do maybe a few gigs a year. I
work in music every day of my life but itąs not The Choir. We are still
friends, but we had to let the band go. There seems to be a real legacy and
a real respect for our body of work. Itąs an indie record, of all things.
Just a handful of them were sold. How that got a Grammy nomination, I have
no idea. I donąt know how those things work. But I am really proud of it,
because we had a great time doing it. It took a couple of weeks to make. We
didnąt try very hard but we had a lot of fun. To get these little nods or
accolades after itąs all said and done is a great reward.
JJT: What about you, Dan?
Michaels: Pure astonishment and fear.
JTT: Fear? Why fear?
Michaels: I thought it was a mistake. I just thought that somebody made a
mistake, being an indie record we just did on our own. Weąre really proud of
it and we count it as one of our best records, but usually you need more
attention nationally to get that much recognition. Yeah, I am a member of
the Grammies, and I submitted it from the label. I also sent the 77ąs,
Common Children and everyone else in for consideration. "Yeah, somethingąs
gotta be wrong," I thought. I got a call a few weeks later from the
Grammies, and I was like, "Well, here it is."
JJT: (laughs) "The jig is up!"
Michaels: Yeah, itąs over. And the girl said "No, no, we just need your
address so we can send you the invitation." She congratulated us on it and I
was really taken aback. We were astonished that it happened, you know, weąre
not allowed this kind of recognition.
JJT: What was the trip out there like?
Daugherty: It was great. We all took our wives and stayed in a pretty nice
hotel. Walking in there and sitting there through the awards it was pretty
overwhelming to think we had actually been nominated for that. We didnąt
really think we would win so none of us were really shocked when we didnąt.
I think Dan was the most upset about that, heąs the eternal optimist.
JJT: What is your career about at this point, since itąs not so much about
The Choir?
Hindalong: Well, I am doing a lot of producing. I see myself as a lyricist,
primarily. Itąs all about the words. I am making most of my living by
producing. To me itąs about participating in the creative process and in the
songs themselves. I see myself doing this long term. I can see myself at 85
years old, still writing words to songs. And as far as being a producer, I
got real busy all of a sudden. I have been busy for a while, but right now
itąs going well for me. I could do that for another 3 to 4 years, but itąs
still about the song writing to me.
Daugherty: Iąm mostly doing producing and engineering. Iąve always done
engineering, but now Iąm getting more able to do producing on my own. I
enjoy it a lot. I am getting ready to work in the studio with Steve on the
City On A Hill Christmas project right now.
JJT: Do you feel artistically satisfied in that role?
Daugherty: I miss being a musician. There are times I really miss being in a
band which is why the Lost Dogs thing is enjoyable because I can just go
do some shows and thereąs no pressure. Weąre looking forward to the Choir
show this summer at Cornerstone too. I miss playing, but at the same time at
this point I realize Iąm not going to make a living at it.
JJT: What about the long alleged and never delivered Derri Daugherty solo
record?
Daugherty: Itąs still long alleged and still never delivered. I hope to have
time to finish it. But now the songs are so old if I wanted to do it Iąd
probably want to start fresh. I think Dan will probably sneak something out
of me and press up a bunch of rough mixes.
JJT: Does this flourish of encouragement for The Choir have any voice in
terms of encouraging you guys to maybe want to do another full-blown studio
record, or is that just nostalgia?
Hindalong: Well, just because there are awards or accolades, doesnąt mean
that it pays. Dan Michaels still paid for that record and I donąt know if he
was repaid his investment. So, The Choir is a loss. It is no means making a
living, it never has been, and thatąs not going to change. So, if we did
another record, itąd have to be low budget and just as quick. Thereąs a
little talk about it, but weąre just so busy, you know? Trying to survive,
take care of our family. And if we do The Choir, itąll just be for fun or
artistic purposes.
JJT: What do you think, Dan? Do you think the recent resurgence of interest
in The Choir be parlayed into a new studio project?
Michaels: I do, actually. It was a real morale boost for the band. When the
box set came out it gave us a real accomplished feeling. The Grammy thing
just kind of topped it off. None of us have any plans to Śgo for itą with
The Choir. Weąre busy with other things; running a record label, producing
records, running a studio. We all know that The Choir is not our future. But
it gives us good motivation to maybe figure out how to make another record.
Depending on where one of us is in our lives, it might not make the most
sense. Steve is so overwhelmed with production work right now, that it
doesnąt make sense for him. Heąs probably thinking, "naw, I donąt see us
ever doing another record." But that may change within eight months. Thatąs
why we called the box set "Never Say Never." We quit in ą96. Since then, we
put out a live record, a studio album, and a box set.
Daugherty: Weąre talking about doing a record at some point this summer.
Thereąs definitely a renewed energy and interest in doing new songs. All of
us are definitely interested in doing it, itąs just hard to find the time.
JJT: Steve, tell us about the new City On A Hill sequel (Sing Alleluia.) How
do you feel about how that came together?
Hindalong: I really am happy about that. It had a lot of continuity from the
first word. We went about it with a lot of confidence and I feel like itąs a
real cohesive album, I love the songs just as much or more. I donąt think I
have worked on a project that I am more proud of than this one.
JJT: Have you seen any resurgence of appreciation for the At the Foot of the
Cross records since the success of the City On A Hill project, or are those
still sitting in obscurity?
Hindalong: Oh, I donąt know. Individuals have talked about them for years,
and I donąt understand how they know about them. You know, you would think
that they sold a lot based on what I hear from our peers, but I donąt know
where anyone would find it. I talk about it a lot too, because I feel it was
a predecessor to City on a Hill. I wouldnąt have done City On A Hill if it
wasnąt for those records, that we did ten years ago.
Daugherty: At the Foot of the Cross had some pretty obscure artists and
wasnąt even close to being mainstream. City On A Hill has these great
artists at the peak of their career. I think Steve really nailed the concept
of the community vibe as well. Itąs exciting to see success like that. The
artistic integrity is pretty high, but it managed to be very successful.
Itąs something Iąm very proud to have been a part of.
JJT: I really see that as a precursor to a lot of the "modern worship"
stuff. I look at it as a Velvet Underground situation. You know, not very
many people bought the albums and they were not a big deal at the time, but
everyone who did eventually started a band. I think that everybody who had
At the Foot of the Cross was absolutely inspired with what worship could be,
compared to what it had been.
Hindalong: We feel that way. We feel that it was the first modern worship
record. There was an obvious void in the Christian market. Thatąs why we
started the Glass House label. I like to think that it was influential. You
know, I think somebody should leak that phrase, that The Choir is the Velvet
Underground of Christian music.
JJT: Oh, I have said that (laughs).
Hindalong: (laughs) I love that! I think itąs true.
JTT: Iąve said it several times. I donąt know whoąs listening, but the
people who are listening have never even heard of the Velvet Underground.
JTT: So what do you guys have in mind for Cornerstone?
Michaels: Well the way that Iąd like to see it go is to play the classic
Choir stuff. You know, they want to hear three or four songs from Circle
Slide, four or five from Chase the Kangaroo, and they want to hear some of
the new material from Flap Your Wings. Iąd like for Steve and Derri to do
some of the worship material theyąve been doing for so long. With Steve -
City on a Hill, and Derri with the solo record, Iąd love for them to just
play the things theyąve written for other artists and kind of mix things up
a bit. Maybe play an unplugged section during the middle of the set, like
the City on a Hill stuff and worship. Those are good songs. Theyąre not
Choir songs, but their written by the guys from The Choir. I would love for
people to hear Derriąs voice on it.
Daugherty: Weąre going to try to play some songs weąve not played very
often. We always say that, but when it gets down to rehearsal we just say,
"We know this one, lets just do this one." Hopefully weąre going to have a
good week of rehearsal and play some new stuff and maybe surprise some
people with some things. Weąll hopefully play some more things off the last
couple records more than we have in the past.
JJT: How has Cornerstone played into the history of The Choir?
Daugherty: No doubt about it, Cornerstone has had a big hand in not only our
band, but also a lot of bands like us continuing to be able to survive-
especially early on. They were the festival that would book a band like us.
No one else would. Maybe Creation every few years, but Cornerstone was the
place. It was the place everyone who listened to the kind of music we did
went to. It had a huge impact on our career, Iąm positive about that.
JJT: What changes have you seen in the fest and the culture for better or
worse?
Daugherty: I think itąs all been pretty much positive. Itąs continued to
grow. They could have gone the route of only booking the top-draw bands but
they have always maintained this experimental edge and thatąs a great
tribute.
JTT: Dan, whatąs the inspiration behind Galaxy 21?
Michaels: The whole thing with Galaxy 21 is to provide a way for my friends
and their bands to release their music. Most of them are from the California
days, Mike from the 77ąs, The Choir, and newer friends, like Buck and Common
Children; Artists that canąt necessarily get the huge gig from EMI anymore.
There are not a lot of independents that have a love or understanding for
the kinds of things that I do. But these artists are still very productive
and they love what the do. Doggonit, I have been in this industry long
enough that I can do something about it. I just wanted to start a business
model that is truly artist driven. They do their own records and I do my
best to help them out with distribution and marketing. Itąs small, but itąs
an outlet. Itąs a way for people to still hear the music that is viable and
important. Roe, Derri, Steve, Terry, all these guys have something important
to say, and this summer weąre releasing new records for Undercover and Mike
Stand from The Altar Boys.
JJT: So Galaxy 21 is something you see as a continuing vision- instead of
winding down a stretch, its gathering speed?
Michaels: I think itąs there and I think itąs available. On the commercial
side of things, it gets tough. Itąs hard to find these people that I grew up
with and their bands. A lot of people have grown older and are doing other
things and moved on and lost contact with these bands that have inspired
them. So, I have a goal to find a lot of these people and itąs going to be a
long stretch and a long road. Thatąs why I spend a larger part of my days
with a record label called INO, which hosts Sonicflood, Mercy Me, and Sara
Groves. All these guys in other bands have regular day jobs, they donąt make
their money off of The Altar Boys or Undercover, theyąve got jobs. Steve
produces, you know, they do other things in order to subsist but they still
want to do music. Thatąs what I am doing with Galaxy. My career is in
Christian music at INO, and they are great people. But itąs totally separate
from Galaxy. Thatąs what I do. Galaxy is something that my wife and I ought
to do. Not begrudgingly, but we ought to do it. We ought to have a place
where if Mike Roe makes another 77ąs record, somebodyąs has got to get this
out to people. It might be a loss to us, it might not be.
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