David Crowder had so much more to say!

When Emily Cole, ec's production editor, talked with David Crowder for this month's issue of ec, he had so much to say that we couldn't fit it all on page 51 of the issue! So, we thought we'd let you read everything he had to say.

Ready? (And yes, you're very welcome!)

ec’s production editor Emily recently chatted with David Crowder, front man of the David Crowder* Band. They talked about his latest album, putting legs to our faith, and how pesky inspiration can be. Here’s what he had to say:

ec: Have any interesting stories of service that have come from your listeners responding to your challenge to be the remedy in a hurting world?
DC: It was amazing for us to be able to experience the music in a way that was deeper than the music. We had everyone show up at the venues with towels and socks for the local homeless shelters. Each night, the local homeless shelters would show up to pick them up and I’d get to chat with them. I listened to these folks who work with people who live on the street night after night talk about how crazy it is to them that folks coming to a concert would care about the plight of folks they’ve given their lives to serve. It affected us way more than we even thought it would. We were braced for it, and excited about it, and thought, This is going to be the best part of the tour. We came away from it really empowered. Like, ‘My goodness, we can really make a dent in things when at times it feels really bleak and hopeless.” Simple things can make a big difference is what we walked away with.

ec: Why towels and socks?
DC: That’s kind of strange too, isn’t it? We were hoping for something pretty grand. But as we called each city, overwhelmingly, as we asked “What do you guys need”?, [the answer] “towels and socks” kept coming back. And it was, “That’s so unglamorous, man.” But it was just something they’re constantly in need of. But it turned out to be something really dramatic in the sense that when everyone’s getting there, they’re piling them up. There’s this big pile of towels and socks. Everybody that’s coming into the venue passes by this visible thing. It seems really simple, but you see the exponential growth that happens when we all pitch in to something. You feel empowered. You think, Wow we can do this. We can make a dent and change things. It’s fun to have something provoking in front of people as they came.

ec: Which song on Remedy is especially relevant for teens?
DC: The whole theme of things being impacted, at the very end, is “Surely we can change.” Especially as these social concern issues have been put in front of us, not just from our church settings but in mainstream media even—there’s those conversations that have been going on the past couple of years among us. What do we do with all the stuff we’ve been given? We’ve been incredibly blessed; what’s our responsibility? How do we care for each other and our neighbors, as well as the planet? At times, it feels really daunting. Things seem really bleak. The other side of the world seems really close, but at the same time, how do I affect it and cause real change? This song puts words around that struggle and hopefully causes our feet to start moving.

ec: What ministry is the band currently focused on and passionate about?
DC: Mission Waco is a place that we’ve been really connected to. They do “Church Under the Bridge” where every Sunday, they meet under the I-35 bridge. All the homeless show up, and they feed them and have church together. They do amazing things. They’re good friends doing great stuff.

ec: Where does inspiration strike you most often?
DC: I don’t have any control over it, it seems like. It’s always at the most difficult place—it’s usually while driving, which is the most annoying part about it. You know, when you should not be looking for a pen and paper. It’s always that moment when I should have my attention elsewhere. I’ve caused danger on the streets, I’m confident, by trying to write and drive at same time.

ec: Besides music, how do you connect to God?
DC: Through my relationships. It seems like [through] the people that God has put around me, I find Him in really tangible ways. I think that those are the moments that to me, are most trustworthy, too. The way we interact with one another, the way we treat one another, the way we see forgiveness, and the way see grace expressed. It’s most powerful when it’s in a physical form from somebody you know and love.

ec: I know you read a lot, so what’s your favorite book right now?
DC: That’s actually a difficult question. I just got through reading this economics book, called Naked Economics. It was really enjoyable. I hadn’t read anything that was both educational and easy to read. But I came out on the other side better understanding a little bit more how our economy works, and it made me a little less cynical about things, which was good. Less in cynicism is always a good thing.

ec: Are you normally a cynical person?
DC: Yeah. I’m a contrarian. I like to take the other side of the person that’s across from me, just for fun. I’m kind of annoying that way.

ec: What’s your favorite verse of Scripture?
DC: One that sort of encapsulates a lot of what we do is Psalms 98:4, which is “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.” And then it goes further when it says “Make a loud noise, sing praise, rejoice.” We kind of like that.


David Crowder* Band released Remedy in 2007. It is their 11th studio project and challenges listeners to be the remedy in a broken world by taking action. The band believes that even simple actions, when done collectively, can make huge differences. David Crowder and his band want to encourage you get moving. You’re completely capable of making a big difference, even if it’s just through a small action that you take collectively with others. What can you do today to be a part of the remedy?