Something to explore and discuss...

[cilla4progress]

Attended a small music show last evening, in a ski resort lodge in our small town.

Two things happened at the same time, which may or may not be connected, of which I am suspicious, and which prompt this post.

For the 1st time, only those over age 21 were allowed in the restaurant part of the lodge where the music was being performed. This is where the alcohol (beer and wine only) were being served and ordered up by servers, although attendees could take their drinks over to the other side of the lodge, where minors were allowed, which was open, further from the music, but where it could still be heard and observed from a distance.

The performers were clearly a new generation of religious music band - folkie; every song centered on Jesus or preacher-man...references clearly to religion and specifically Christianity. Our daughter (age 20 1/2 - we complained about the new age cutoff and got special permission from the owner to stay on restaurant side...new rule was entirely arbitrary, not law-based, and explained to me by a manager I complained to as receiving "positive feedback" from many to keep kids away from the alcohol...) googled the band to see if our ears were lying or not and found info indicating a member or members having gone on missions. I am presuming they are Mormon, given our location and population here.

So the 2 things together are: religious music (even if clothed in a current style of folkiness) and new rule separating alcohol from kids. By the way, as young children came in and started enjoying the music, rule failed to be enforced. I believe it is the management, not the owner, which may be becoming majority Mormon run, like some of our other institutions around here.

But here is the question: why is it I (and I'm assuming some of you) am NOT offended when Muddy Waters, BB King, Rolling Stones, James Taylor, other blues artists and musicians reference Jesus, religion, God, etc., in their music, but AM offended in a band like this? It feels like something about the preachiness of it. The authenticity, as well. It feels like (and I'm no doubt making some unfair assumptions here) people like these band members, or other hyper-religious or pushy people think you are either Christian, and thereby pure, or a loser or wastrel. Maybe it's the conjunction of the new 21 and over only rule with the type of music that pissed me off.

I am so sick of being prodded and pushed and having their brand of Christianity forced down my throat in my conservative area! It's as if they have a monopoly on goodness and morality. I would like to see "don't ask don't tell" applied to the extremely religious - go back in the closet where you were in the 60s-80s when I was coming to adulthood. Everyone else is welcome to come out!

[Lars39]

1. Maybe because BB et al aren't witnessing and proselytizing.

And they're good musicians, not wannabees.

[Mr.Bill]

2. Sounds like a great show to not go to.

Were you there for a specific reason? Did you not know about the religious orientation of the band?

If the latter was the case, I simply would have left.

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I cringe when I hear these Christian bands.

I think that it is because they are so pushy with the religion theme. And they are intentionally trying to inspire the religious and convert the non-religious.

I don't ever get the feeling that I am being preached to when secular bands reference God or Jesus. And if artists will throw in a little "Sympathy for the Devil", I can accept it if they also have some religious reference in a song.

I would not have gone to this event if it were me. Even if it were gospel music, which I rather enjoy, it would have been ok. But Christian rock or folk music really turns me off.

[Heddi]

4. Firstly, I find Christian Rock/Punk/Metal/POp to be awful

awfully written, horrible tunes...it's this cloyingly simplistic pap. It's no different than modern "country" music, which I tend to find is only 3 Jesus's per song short of modern religious country. The metal/rock/punk Christian music sounds to me much like Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Creed...and other ridiculously manufactured bands. It's not interesting to me. It's too formulaic and contrived. "My sooooullll for yooooou, like a laaammmmbbb to the slaughterrrrrr>...." That's the type of lyrics 12 year old girls pining for the football star pen in their journals. It's not music that should be taken seriously

Edited to say: Christian music tries too hard. They copy. And they fail. They try to pull from every musical stereotype and mix it together:

Okay, so we need to be patriotic, so let's pull from Country the cowboy boots and guitar painted with the american flag.

BUT we need to be edgy, so give that boy some frosted streaks and eyeliner (but don't make it look too gay)

AND we need to appeal to the masses, so make sure the lead singer is totes hot.

BUT what about the boys? Give that girl a low-cut shirt and push them boobies up.

AND what about the outcasts? QUick...give the drummer a gothic look, including things no goth would ever wear, like a chain wallet and jeans with holes in the knees.

Okay....so we have saccharine lyrics where everything is great, you can overcome temptation by praying, the lead singer looks good after we used the cap on him and gave him distressed frosty locks, and we threw in enough "God Bless The USA" to capture the country crowd.


yeeehawww!

Christian music makes me wish I was deaf

[Warpy]

5. Well, you know enough not to go back next year

or if you must go back, research the band to see whether you'll drink in the restaurant or grab your drinks and go back to the kiddie section, where your ears will remain unassaulted.

Honestly, if people want a tent revival they'll go to one. I have no idea why talentless talent is booked at a public venue in the hopes of proselytizing the heathen. It's just not going to work.

[mr blur]

6. I've never felt that Muddy Waters was trying to preach to me,

or tell me that I was going to Hell.

When Dylan got all Jesusified in the '80s and made some of his dullest drivel ever, I couldn't be bothered with it. Thankfully, he grew up again.

[YankeyMCC]

7. Muddy Waters, BB King

and the other artists you mention and many other talented musical artists are signing about life, about their sincere love of an experience, and are just sharing their love of their talent and passion, singing and making music.

Like JRR Tolkien would say about his LoTR stories. Certainly you can read a lot into his stories and what they might say about the real world, but he always said he just wanted to tell a good story. No matter how you do it when it is a sincere and talented artistic expression it speaks to life and truth.

Bands like you saw on the other hand have an agenda. I don't know if they are talented musicians but it sounds like regardless of whatever talent they have they are primarily pushing an agenda other than just an sincere artistic wish to connect with others on a human level.

Maybe this is all a long winded way to put what someone else said about proselytizing.

[progressoid]

8. I like a lot of religious music.

Some classical, some traditional American gospel, Reggae, Blues etc. But here's the thing; I like the music first. If the lyrics happen to praise Jeebus or Bodhisattva or whomever, so be it. I'm usually ok with that on a limited basis.

There was a time in my life when it seriously bothered me. I guess I've come to a point where I can appreciate the music without the angst of fretting over the message as long as it's not being shoved down my throat.

I think it's a matter of feeling the numinous rather than the supernatural.

[cilla4progress]

9. Such great comments...

just what I was looking for! Thanks, all!

No - we did not know. Maybe I over-reacted, but along with the attitude that beer and wine would somehow corrupt under 21 year olds, it just came together in a distasteful way for me. Sometimes it's just that last thing that sends one over!

Happy New Year!

[defacto7]

10. Religious music for the last 40 years

Is trite, borrowed, stolen, cheep and uncreative. There is nothing new that comes out of that industry, it's just rehashed to the point of plagiarism. More dumbing down of America.