By: Josh Gloer
 

Akron, Ohio. The former Rubber Capital of the world. It’s the home of the ice cream cone, hamburgers and caramel corn. Visitors here can see the world’s largest model train in the city that stakes claims on famous residents like Angie Everhart, Hugh Downs and Devo!

It’s no surprise that Akron, however, is not known for a budding young hip-hop scene.

“The hip hop scene is pretty dry in Akron.”

But its fitting that 24hits (Steve Bader) hails from the City of Invention. It might not yet be a household name, but its one that carries with it, a heavy message. October 20th marked the date that 24hits, along with DJ 2 Snaps, dropped his album The Grey Area – and his message was quickly downloaded to computers across the country.

“It’s basically like the elephant in the room,” Bader said of his album. “If you’ve met a Christian who really turned you off from Christ its kind of letting you know that that’s not what its about. It was something that, a topic that I felt didn’t have a representation as far as like the church and the kind of like messed up stuff that it does, and if there’s a representation that speaks out about that its not really a Christian perspective.”

His message may be controversial, but his intention was never to make waves. He’s clear about one thing – he’s trying to help.

“I didn’t want to piss anybody off and make diss records about the church,” Bader said, “but I think it covers the extremes that people get carried away with and kind of put in place of what’s really supposed to be the reason that we all get together and the reason we even congregate – just to share the love of Christ and to worship the savior.”

His goal is to reach out and grab those people who’ve been jaded, or turned off from the church.

“Anything that a non – Christian would look at the church and say this is what I don’t like about the church, I think it covers those things in a loving way. But also doesn’t shy away from the fact that we’re all sinners and we all need Christ.”

He’s constantly asking hard questions in his tracks.

“Why is it that we would get together and hurt each other?” He asked. “Why would we put laws on something that has nothing to do with what the scriptures are?”

Questions that may have no answer.

But Bader continues to ask. The producer has a unique approach when it comes to music. Raised in a home where all things secular were frowned upon, his exposure to music was very limited.

“I wasn’t allowed to listen to music,” Bader said. “It was pretty much hymnals, maybe a little Sandy Patti if I was lucky. But I ate that stuff up because I loved music.”

Bader remembers the first time he heard Hip Hop. It was during the credit sequence of a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Movie, and he listened to it over and over until he wasn’t allowed to listen anymore. He was hooked.

“Maybe it was just the fact that I had to do without it for so long that made me love it so much.”

Bader was later nearly expelled from his Christian school for having a DC Talk tape in his locker. Now, music has become his life, his vehicle to explore the deep crevices of life. He invites you to do that with him, and experience The Grey Area.

“I don’t think this is an album that everyone is going to enjoy,” Bader said. “I think there’s a certain group of people and a scatter group of people that have been turned off by the church or hurt by the church and I think if they got their hands on it they’d kind of feel that somebody else knew what they were going through. It would kind of maybe give them hope.”

For a free download of The Grey Area, go to: http://www.moongardenrecordings.com/.

For more information on 24hits, check out: http://www.myspace.com/24hits

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Josh Gloer is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. He’s written six season of MSNBC’s Lockup: Extended stay. He has also written for MTV, TLC, TruTV, HGTV and Oxygen. Josh has been a journalist for over 12 years, doing celebrity interviews with actors such as Djimoun Hounsou, Dennis Farina and James Marsden; and bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Orgy and sax guru, Carl Grubbs. Josh’s work has appeared in Filter, Car Audio & Electronics, Zink!, Item and many other publications and websites. This fall, his fiction is scheduled to appear in an anthology of LA writers, including Charles Bukowski. www.joshgloer.com

By: Josh Gloer

Haunting, dark, gritty, angry… not words that can often be used to describe a Christian album. Maybe its time. 

The Grey Area, from the mouth and mind of 24hits and Dj 2 Snaps is all of the above, shattering stereotypes as it delivers a poignant message – we’re all sinners, we all need Christ. 

The album comes in two different forms – in a hand made sleeve or as a free download – but don’t for a minute think that signifies lack of talent or authenticity. These tracks are raw, real and ready to turn heads. Tracks roll from monastery like drones to the screams of heavy metal and back again. Just when you think you feel the onset of predictability, it changes – never failing to surprise.

One thing doesn’t surprise – each track is more passionate than the last, too dark and disturbing to turn off. 24hits’ desire and drive seeps through the speakers with every thump, making the entire album have more feeling than anything I’ve heard in a long time.

Well worth the free download: http://www.moongardenrecordings.com/

By: Josh Gloer

It’s February, almost a full calendar stretch until Christmas. Stockings are packed in boxes, next to bubble wrapped nativities and knotted strands of twinkle lights. The holidays lie dormant, waiting to be unearthed ten months from now. Right?

Wrong.

For Family Force 5, February was the time the band decided to start working on the most upbeat and unconventional holiday album to hit the shelves since… ever.  And in early October, the band’s hard work paid off as their Christmas album, Christmas Pageant finally hit the shelves.

“We decided to make a [Christmas] record because we were tired of listing to the same old Christmas music that we’ve always listened to for the last 80 years of our lives,” Solomon “Soul Glow Activatur” Olds, the band’s front man, said. “This one you pop in, and I think its very unexpected and refreshing to hear.”

Recycled, remixed and revamped, holiday favorites like “Angels We Have Heard on High,” “Carol of the Bells” and “T’was the Night Before Christmas” fill the track list along with a FF5 holiday original entitled, “The Baby.”

“That track originally developed from trying to do a version of ‘We Three Kings,’” Olds said. “We thought why not do it our way and make the kings gangstas from ATL, bringing silver and gold and have them talking about it in their Cadillac.”

Appropriately, Christmas Pageant was born in motion. The band recorded tracks while on tour in Atlanta, Nashville and  the UK. Some of it was even laid down in a portable recording studio in the back of the band’s tour bus. It’s a blend of dance, “ghetto”, upbeat and infectious twists on the timeless tracks American’s associate with Christmas. But, get one thing straight — this isn’t your momma’s Christmas album.

“We wanted to create a Christmas album that you could throw on at a part, or rock at a club,” Olds said.  “Have a Christmas dance party with eggnog and all that – all the Christmas shenanigans that go on.”

According to Solomon, the album gets back to the band’s dirrrty ATL roots, straying from the dance licks of their last album, Dance or Die. But that doesn’t mean this album is falling back into old and stale territory as they boys of FF5 combine gangster and grunge.

“A lot of people expect us to do different twists on music,” Olds said. “Our fan’s are loving it. We’ve got ‘glee’ and ‘jolly’ written all over us.”

And keeping with the Christmas Spirit, Christmas Pageant is a family affair. Of course, the ranks of FF5 posess three brothers, but several tracks boast Jerome Olds, the Olds brother’s dad, Olds’ wife under the moniker “Lalipop,” and his baby exercising his young vocals on “The Baby. 

For more info on the Christmas Pageant show schedule, check out the band’s MySpace page at: http://www.myspace.com/familyforce5.

And remember, for FF5 fans, it’s never too early for Christmas.

“It’s been Christmas all year for us. It’s an overload on Christmas, but it was a very fun album to make.”

By Andy Dudynsky

Revelation Generation 2009 provided an awesome venue for non-profits to get their name out to a receptive Christian youth audience. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit that is quite popular amongst modern day music fans, as many of today’s most popular acts promote the brand in various ways.  Frequently attending Warped Tours and music festivals all over the country, TWLOHA is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. I sat down with James, a representative, to learn more about TWLOHA.

How long has TWLOHA been around, and where did it all start?
-It all started on MySpace in 2006, where a group of individuals wanted to sell shirts to raise money for a friend who needed treatment. Quickly, it resulted in many individuals responding and sharing stories of their own.  Before we knew it, we had a huge network of people who were able to give each other advice and hope.

What gave you the idea to promote with musicians?
-Because MySpace is so integrated with music, what happened is that musicians started taking notice, and were some of the first to buy our shirts.  Our biggest help was word of mouth advertising.  People would see guys from their favorite bands wearing the shirts, and start talking about it to friends.  Also, our message connects with a lot of the lyrics that bands write, so they can relate to what we’re trying to say.

Do you promote outside of the music industry?
-While we mostly attend music events, we try to make as many appearances we can each year.  We also frequent charity events and any festivals that share a similar message.

What has made TWLOHA so successful? 
-To tell you the truth, we’re such a real organization, not just another non-profit that is asking for money.  I think our message hits home with everyone.  We’re all about encouraging people to talk about these issues, and that it’s ok to talk about tough stuff.  We encourage everyone to “be yourself,” and we’re a very open community. People feel comfortable talking with us about getting help.

Thanks to James and all of the TWLOHA crew! You can learn more about the organization and buy apparel at www.twloha.com.

By: Andy Dudynsky

Emery was one of the first bands to hit Tent 7 on Friday at Rev Gen 2009- which attracted a small group of lucky fans who got a chance to learn about how the band came together, and what it means to have Christ in their lives.

The guys from Emery started in Church choir, growing up in a Christian atmosphere and singing through high school. “We didn’t start playing guitar until college” mentioned guitarist Devin Shelton.

Toby Morrell (Bass/Vocals) helped explain Emery’s message. “We write about relationships with family, God, and people you dislike.  It’s usually a whole bunch of things that can happen in relationships. You can be blessed, hurt, etc.”

When asked about their main influences, the guys mentioned “50′s and 60′s rock n’ roll”, which had deep meaning with the lyrics.  They explained how the music from this time period generally came across as happy, but there was an undertone that not everything was necessarily going to last.  Toby mentioned that he enjoys finding multiple meanings in music.  Also on their list were Queen and Weezer, and a lot of indie rock.

Now in their ninth year as a band, one fan asked how they stay creative while creating new music. “We rely on each other” mentioned Toby.  He went on to say that they all contribute to writing, and if one person is stuck, they might ask another for help, or to hear some old stuff they’ve written for inspiration.  Their main motivation to write music is that they love it, and want to be real for their fans.  They feel a need to be honest with people – and to be able to relate to them, which is why the focus on relationships of all kinds.

“We get caught up in our lives, and there’s constantly a daily struggle of “Jesus is Lord vs. ME.”  Toby added that last week he dropped his brand new iPhone, and he and his wife both screamed and looked at one another. “I wish I could be as devastated about a homeless person, or something that really matters.” He closed by saying that “Everything gets better with Jesus in my life.”

Emery shared similar messages to their fans, drawing a huge crowd in a lively set that include both new and old material.

You can check out Emery and their new album “…In Shallow Seas We Sail” at emerymusic.com.

By: Josh Gloer

With a guy like Sareem Poems, you never know what you’re going to get. Sharlock Poems or The LA Symphony, an emcee or poet, hip-hop or rap… While the man continuously reinvents himself, one thing is redundantly clear – you know you’ll get something worth listening to.

“Enter…” The challenge echoes in track one of the Renaissance musician’s latest endeavor, Black and Read All Over. A repetitive drone, it’s an invitation to experience life through lyrics that pour from the mind of a man who’s been there, lived it and come out the other side with a story to tell.

Black and Read all Over is an aggressively gritty trip back to the artist’s roots, the album like a punch in the face to remind fans that Sareem has yet to go soft. Angry yet thoughtful rhymes cause speakers to ache, humming the tracks as though this album, after a long wait, has fulfilled their purpose. Old school gangster laid over church organs, the vocals are the real star as this no flair, stripped down track list are reminiscent of Biggie and Busta rolled into one.

With Akil of Jurassic 5, Oddisee, Pigeon John and Lmno (to name a few) lending a hand, Sareem has given his fans something to think about. Stand up, be yourself, see the light, see the world through different eyes… in these 14 tracks, Poems proves that good lyrics don’t have to be polluted with negativity to be good. There’s a message here, and it’s positive.

It doesn’t matter what style he chooses or under what name he goes… Sareem Poems delivers.

By: Josh Gloer

About 50 miles south of San Jose is the home of the Spirit West Coast Christian Music Festival – Monterey, California. Less than 24 hours from the show, Family Force 5 is in a van, headed for the show.

Dance, Rawr, Dance 3, an official tour, starts in September, but until then, FF5 is playing festivals like Spirt West, averaging 250 days on the road for the year.

“We’re a bunch of road dogs,” Derek “Chap Stique” Mount, the band’s guitarist, said. The band is dedicated to its fans, constantly playing shows and actively communicating with MySpace, Twitter and an open phone line fans can call and leave messages on. “We have incredible fans. We have a great relationship with them, too.”

But it’s a double-edged sword, as many of the band members have wives and families they leave behind every time they hit the road. So for their latest creation, a fantastic video for their song “Dance or Die,” they decided to get creative.

“We’re trying to make sure we put our families first,” Mount said. “So instead of trying to shoot on our time off we decided to shoot it on the road.” The band brought Director Steven Shultz, a lighting rig and a green screen made from bed sheets to shoot between rehearsals, sound checks and shows.

“We have a blast. We’re a very visual band and love the escapism element of videos. It’s a lot of fun, just a nice change of pace from writing recording and touring.”

And the video, something Mount said the band is very proud of, is out of this world.

“Its very Captain EO influenced,” Mount said. “It’s very Neverending Story-esque. We’re real excited about that. We got to feel like we’re on a different planet.”

And the video has been well received. An mtvU video of the week winner, the video has been featured on AOL and has kids mimicking dance steps. “Everybody’s loving it. All the kids are just really excited.”

If festival dates, and a brand spankin’ new video aren’t enough, the band is still finding time for the studio, and their new Christmas album will drop October 6th.

“Writing Christmas songs has been a hilarious process,” Mount said. “You’ve got really, really tough competition. You might write a killer song, but it’s definitely not as good as Jingle Bells.”

While Mount jokes about wearing Santa hats and breaking out the fake Christmas tree in July for inspiration as they work on the album, its clear that for Family Force 5, the real inspiration comes from a deeply rooted faith.

“We’re very much Christians, it’s a huge part of our lives,” Mount said. “A lot of our songs are about our spiritual experiences and its something we’re very passionate about. We want this band to mean something to everybody. We try to spread fun and hope and escape and joy.”

According to Mount, its an allegory best seen in their album, Dance or Die.

“You have life, and you choose what to do with it,” Mount said. “You can either sit on the wall watching every one else, drinking some punch, or you can dance and enjoy it.”

And FF5 is definitely not sitting any numbers out. Hard work and dedication to their fans is making this group of “robot” rockers a force to be reckoned with.

“There some thing much deeper than just trying to get up there and be famous,” Mount said. “We’re trying to hopefully touch people’s lives.”

For more on Family Force 5 or their up coming Christmas album and tour, check out www.modlife.com/familyforce5.

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Josh Gloer is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles. Currently he’s a writer on his sixth season of MSNBC’s Lockup: Extended stay. He has also written for MTV, TLC, TruTV, HGTV and Oxygen. Josh has been a journalist for about 12 years, doing celebrity interviews with actors such as Djimoun Hounsou, Dennis Farina and James Marsden; and bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Orgy and sax guru, Carl Grubbs. Josh’s work has appeared in Filter, Car Audio & Electronics, Zink!, Item and many other publications and websites. This fall, his fiction is scheduled to appear in an anthology of LA writers, including Charles Bukowski. www.joshgloer.com

Stephanie Smith “Not Afraid” from Gotee Records on Vimeo.