Jon Guerra is the front man for Chicago based band, Milano. He and his compadres also lead worship for a new church plant on the North Side called The Line. Here, interviewed by The Free Road Scholars, he talks about how understanding God helps us understand the nature of beauty.

The 930 Art Center | Sept. 17, 2009

My friends and I filed into the 930 Art Center in Louisville’s Sojourn Church, chatting about how Derek Webb would pull off a concert supporting his new album, Stockholm Syndrome. Filled with electronic beats and synthesized sounds, the album is very different from much of Derek’s earlier work, which tended to be more acoustic-based. How would he handle mixing songs from the new album with old stuff? How would he replicate the sound of Stockholm Syndrome live? Like so many others there (most of whom were much younger), we were excited to have these questions answered.

First, though, we were treated to Sandra McCracken, who continues to be one of the most underappreciated voices in Christian music. To hear such a powerful and beautiful sound project from a tiny, delicately-voiced woman is nothing short of amazing. She belted out stellar songs like “Thy Mercy,” “The Tie That Binds,” and “Halfway,” among others, even utilizing some programmed beats of her own, care of Josh Moore (former Caedmon’s Call member who produced Webb’s album). McCracken was an excellent opener again, and made me wonder again why I don’t own more of her albums (with I shall have to remedy).

After a short break, it was Webb’s turn, and it was quickly apparent that we were in for a rock show. In such an enclosed space, when Josh Moore dropped the programmed baseline for “Black Eye,” we felt it. When the drummer came in halfway through the song with the live drums, we experienced it. For the next 25 minutes or so, Derek and his mates played beefed-up versions of songs from Stockholm Syndrome, displaying a little rust and uncertainty at times (this was the first date of the tour), but also showing their professionalism by quickly finding their rhythm. The inclusion of a live drummer was fantastic as it was layered over the programmed sounds and really got the place moving. Also, Josh Moore is incredible. He played seemingly every instrument throughout the show and seems to really be the engine that runs the whole show.

Halfway through, Moore and the drummer left Webb alone on-stage with his acoustic guitar. Webb proceeded to ask for requests, and did his best to accommodate amongst the yells for numerous different songs. He played “Lover,” “I Want A Broken Heart,” “Savior On Capitol Hill,” “Wedding Dress,” and “Reputation.” I loved this part, and I think it was genius to split up the show this way, appeasing fans that would not have gone home happy without hearing “Wedding Dress.”

The other members returned, and they played the rest of Stockholm Syndrome, leaving out no song. Fans of the album will no doubt enjoy hearing all of these live, but I think it’s pretty ballsy to play an entire 14-track album live. I don’t love every song off the album, but I didn’t find myself bored by their inclusion, either. My only real criticism is that Derek spoke very little between songs and didn’t explain any of them. With so much surrounding the album, I would have loved to hear where he was coming from on some of them.

Overall, I came away very satisfied with my decision to make the two-hour drive to Louisville for the show. Derek’s music is entertaining and challenging. So are his words, which are intended to spur actions, as is his inclusion of people from Blood-Water Mission on the tour, as they try to raise money to provide clean water to people in Africa. For all the controversy surrounding this man and his new album, the bottom line is this: he makes interesting music and knows how to entertain while at the same time maintaining a social conscience. I’m not a Webb fan-boy who thinks Stockholm Syndrome is the greatest album of all-time, but I enjoyed it, and I definitely enjoyed the live show to support it.

-
Matthew is a follower of Christ, husband to Leah, and father to Seth as well as Baby Robbins 2 due in March. He works for a business consulting company in Cincinnati, OH, blogs at Chosen For Grace, and has an unhealthy obsession with books (mostly theology ones) and Atlanta Braves baseball.

Rethink Mission is about the intersection of the gospel, the church and culture. Weekly, we feature reviews and other interactions with artistic expressions of the culture around us.

All comments during culture week will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of Andy Crouch’s Culture Making

Jonathan describes how a review of Wilco’s “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” helped him better study the Bible.  How has your favorite music influenced you?

Wilco’s seventh studio album, the self-titled Wilco (The Album) (Nonesuch Records, 2009) begins with an unusually optimistic declaration of love toward their ever-growing fan-base. Wilco simply promises to “love you” right in the midst of your trying circumstances.

For those familiar with the band, Wilco (The Album) stands as a study in contrast to the previous six studio albums. The band started as front-man/songwriter Jeff Tweedy and bass guitar player, John Stirratt moved on from the groundbreaking alternative-country band “Uncle Tupelo” in 1994. Since that time, both Wilco’s lyrics and music have steadily chronicled Tweedy’s loss of love, friendship, sobriety, and at times, sanity. It is a welcome sign, then, to hear in their latest album a man who has dealt with his issues, admits his struggles and has welcomed a degree of peace into his life.

The highlights of this particular album are without a doubt, the fourth and fifth songs. “Bull Black Nova” is a song written from the perspective of a killer whose past is quickly coming to the surface. Before you dismiss this song, remember, Jesus called you and I both murderers (Matthew 5:21-22). Have you ever felt your past bearing down on you so quickly that you could feel your stomach at the top of your throat? This song lyrically and musically captures that fear into five-and-a-half minutes that Tweedy himself has likened appropriately to the sound of “a phone off the hook.”

The fifth song, a duet with the extraordinarily talented Leslie Feist, is a beautiful picture of a long-term relationship (Tweedy has been married to his wife, Sue since 1995) hampered only by the two parties’ inability to fully understand themselves or each other. This song is a yearning to know and to be fully known, as well as an acknowledgment of our broken humanity. The vulnerability in both singers’ voices highlights the song’s intimate content.

For those looking back with nostalgia to the days when Tweedy was a self-loathing anti-hero, this album may disappoint. Top to bottom, Wilco (The Album) is actually quite approachable, both lyrically and musically (with the exception of the aforementioned fourth track). While the band has certainly not lost its edge, Wilco’s rough style has simply smoothed out with the age and recovery of its front man.

The song that stands out to me each time I listen to this album is the ninth track, “I’ll Fight”. Tweedy pledges his loyalty to his beloved in a string of promises. Beginning with the very human desires to go, fight, and kill for his beloved, Tweedy eventually pledges a type of love that will die for the one he loves. He is willing to sacrifice all he has and indeed, all he is, to convey his love. The song ends with the words “If I die, I’ll die alone like Jesus on the cross/ My faith cannot be tossed/ My life will not be lost/ If my love comes across.” The greatest display of love inspires Tweedy to show his commitment and passion in the same way, namely by laying his own life down for the one he loves. The listener may remember Paul’s words in Ephesians 5:25, which calls men to love their wives as Christ loved the church and laid down his life for her.

As you listen, look for a man who has been through the fire of human existence. This album speaks to the human condition. It gives voice to the victory that can be had as we trust in the One who died alone, to get His love across.

-

Casey is a displaced Northern Californian who is presently a seminary student and a restaurant server in Birmingham, Alabama. He is involved in a community of Christ-following sinners known as Tapestry of Hope and has a blog where he chronicles his adventures as a spiritual waiter. In addition to Wilco, he welcomes any well-written song from the Beatles to the blues.

These are his thoughts; what are yours?