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Preview of Shaded Red Concert
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Shaded Red, the band which made Java Hut must see and hear Thursday
night fare, is coming back to ORU for a special homecoming concert
in mid-September.
Despite the fact that they will be in the beginning of a three-month
tour with Petra, and that they will be set for some 250 concert
dates over the next year, Shaded Red is making time to come home
to ORU on September 12. While at ORU they will perform in the Friday
Chapel service and hold another concert that evening at 8 in Christs
Chapel.
Shaded Red is made up of brothers Jamie (‘97) and Jon Roberts
(currently finishing his degree via correspondence), and Brian Stax.
Drummer Rudy Roysten will be sitting out of the upcoming tour schedule
due to his recent marriage. This tour with the "touring dogs"
just wasn't conducive to a beginning marriage, Jamie said. The rest
of the band members are bachelors. Jamie and Jon share lead vocals
and guitars, while Brian is the bass player for the band. Jamie
and Jon are also the principal songwriters.
The group was signed last winter by Cadence Communications (a
division of Warner Brothers) and will be releasing a new self-titled
album nationwide in September. After the Fall tour with Petra, Shaded
Red will prepare for the December release of their CD nationally
by WEA (Warner, Electra, Atlantic). This mainstream release will
launch them into an intense spring concert schedule with secular
audiences. This release is also already guaranteed major radio play,
and distribution.
While there is much excitement surrounding Shaded Red's future,
Jon is quick reiterate the band's purpose and priorities. "Christ
is our first priority," Jon said. "The second is to make
good music. That helps us keep a good perspective on what we're
doing."
The band's name, Shaded Red, draws from a poem Jon wrote on Christ's
death and atonement on the cross.
"The whole reason we're so radical in our ministry is the
fact that either Jesus was real, or he wasn't," Jamie said.
"You either believe that Jesus came to a cross and he can change
your life, or he can't."
Even the official press releases for Shaded Red are resplendent
with bold and straightforward evangelism and purpose. For example
Shaded Red doesn't "want to skirt around the issue that those
in the world living without Jesus are a dying breed."
It is all too for bands to just say the right words, Jamie said.
"I pray that students will know our hearts."
According to Jamie Shaded Red's music style is top 40 radio with
acoustic and rock tones. His formula: "we write good songs."
Sounds like a good plan. The style is of secondary importance, he
said.
When Jamie was asked where he saw the band in 10 years he replied
that they would continue with Shaded Red until it was God's time
to stop. After that he said that he wanted to become a pastor with
his Dad. Jon, he said, would probably continue in the music. Jon
is a musical genius, he said.
As far as advice for other ORU students who desire to go into
the music industry: "the advice that served me well,"
Jamie said. "You either have a ministry before you sign (a
record contract) or you don't. Signing with a record company doesn't
validate your ministry."
He also warned about skipping, or despising preparation. "You'll
be out there soon enough," he said. If you skip preparation
God will have to teach you some other, harder way, in real life,
he said.
"Be patient," Jamie continued. "Do a demo tape.
Our first tape... it wasn't very good, but well the rest is history."
Jamie also commented on the growth and maturity that the band has
gone through in the past few years, including the fourth place finish
at The Battle of the Bands two years ago.
The last question Jamie was asked was the grand Ms. Universe
question. You know, the one where contestants are asked if they
had one wish, what would it be. Yeah, the one where they would wish
for peace, or that the children of the world would stop suffering,
or that they'd have a smaller (or bigger) nose. His response: "To
see every person come to Christ... That's the easiest question you've
asked me."
This is the wish, and the thing that they are putting all of
their energies into making a reality. From witnessing to major producers
in the music industry to sharing their faith with guys on Jamie's
baseball team at ORU - where five guys came to Christ - Shaded Red
is out to paint the world Red with the message of Christ's atonement.
"We're not concerned about number one hits, Jon said. "God
said the last shall be first, so we're going to shoot for the bottom
of the charts." Not likely.
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