Zombies, you say? Aren't those the slowly-plodding, moaning creatures with missing limbs, of which Scooby and Shaggy were so fearful? If you've seen an Audio Adrenaline concert, you'll remember that these young men are anything but characters from Night of the Living Dead or Michael Jackson's "Thriller" video. Rather, this band is as lively as ever, living up to their name with an exuberant, vivacious recording, Some Kind of Zombie. By the way, the band's 1996 Cornerstone appearance sticks out in this writer's mind as the most energetic main stage performance of the weekend.
The Zombie concept came from lead singer Mark Stuart's experience as a kid in Haiti, where his parents had been missionaries. "He got to see how much, in a third world country, people are so poor, and in so much poverty," relates bass player Will McGinnis. "The witch doctors would use this potion to put people in a catatonic state, an then they'd have an antidote to bring 'em back. And he would kind of use that power over the village to manipulate 'em, and make 'em bow down to his god, and that kinda thing. And Mark got to see that firsthand."
Besides having to do with zombie-like Haitians, the title also symbolizes the Christian becoming dead to his or her sins. "We believe that only Jesus has the true power of resurrection," reminds Will, "and can resurrect people with dead lives into a new life again, and make a great change in their hearts."
The band has also released a single of the new title track, with other songs included -like a remix of the tune, done by Scott Humphrey, "Free Ride," from Bloom, and a "live" version of the Veggie Tales classic, "The Hairbrush Song." Will whispers to me that the Veggie tune wasn't really live at all. In fact, they recorded it with completely humorous intentions in a dressing room during the band's tour with Stephen Curtis Chapman. Then, in a Nashville studio, other dubs were added, including audience noise from a label mate (dc Talk)'s live CD.
The CD is also an enhanced CD ROM, with interview footage of the band. Also included is a preview of a project involving seven kids from different walks of life, as well as different places in their walks with Christ who went out on the road to discuss various issues relevant to today's teens. The project is called Some Kind of Journey, a book and video directed at youth pastors. With the kids went a videographer, a journalist, and a youth minister to help facilitate conversations. "We think it turned out fabulous," says Will.
The kids discuss real life issues, like drugs, pre-marital sex, homosexuality, and their views on the church in general. "Some of the conversations are very vulnerable and very real," he continues. " A lot of kids will be able to relate to these kids, and it's gonna stir some great discussions for youth leaders to build on and teach to their youth group."
Having ditched the Jesus Jones and EMF similarities long, long ago, Audio Adrenaline has settled into where they -not necessarily a marketing department -feel the band should be. "We laugh when we see our first record," smiles Will, "and the photo shoots, and how manipulated we were by the record company. They had this notion of a sound and a look they wanted us to go for. But it's one of those things that, I think, every band goes through when they first sign a record deal, because the record company is fronting the money and you have no credit with them. So we went through that whole stage on the first record, and we got a little more leeway one our second record, but not totally. Bloom was our first real record where they gave us the freedom to do what we wanted to, and to be the band that we wanted to be. We had to gain their respect, and once you grow to a certain level, they give you more credibility. Back in college, we were basically the band that we sounded like on Bloom.
"But I think the industry's totally changed," he continues. "Back then, the industry was so different, because it was more of a copycat to the secular. I think that people are realizing now that Christian music can be every bit as quality -if not more quality, because we personally know the Creator of art in general."
Anyone who's had any involvement with the industry side of the Christian music scene knows that having the right image sells records. However, image has never been high on the band's priority list. "It's hard not to get caught up in that whole thing because of business," comments Will, "and there's a fine line we walk with that whole thing. It's almost like you want to be perceived as bigger than you really are. but people are making those decisions for us. We have a great, godly management company, but from our perspective of just how we look in general, we don't really care too much about that. We just want to be known as the person that anybody could be friends with, and that anyone could get to know - just how we are in real life."
When Barry Blair left the band to do more producing and less touring, 17-year-old Tyler Burkum stepped in as the new guitarist. "He's got a sweet spirit and a youthful vibe that really rubs off on you," imparts Will. "And Tyler's a great guitar player, which is unreal, because he's so young!"
Audio Adrenaline started out touring with such high-octane notables (and label mates) as dc Talk. Now, on the band's first headlining tour, they share the stage with another youth group favorite, the Supertones, whose horn section are actualy featured on "Blitz, a' rollicking rock & roll tune on Some Kind of Zombie. "We love those guys!" exclaims Will. "They're all really into evangelism and ministry, and I think we're like that. We want to reach kids, like skater kids, that wouldn't necessarily just walk into a church. I think we're gonna target that kid on this tour, and we're gonna make it as wild a show as I can. But when they hear us talk, they're gonna hear us say something different - it'll be about God. And hopefully, they'll be blown away with these bands that can be so wild and sound so great, but still talk about God. And hopefully, that'll be what draws 'em to God.
I think it's gonna be a great combination and a real strong tour," concludes Will. 'We're ready to take it on and see how God's gonna bless it!"
