Music Minute

Hey guys! It's July, the Tour de France is on TV every night, and here in Nashville we've had record cold temperatures at night, and lovely warm days that remind me more of my native Michigan than summers in Tennessee. Hope you're enjoying your summer break!

If you live in Nashville, you know that "Belmont University" is practically synonymous with "music business." It's one of the top colleges for recording-industry management, production, and A&R, the cryptically-named people at a record label who look for new talent to sign. And naturally, Belmont also has a lot of talent brewing under the surface.

Mikeschair is no exception. These Belmont guys got their name from a chair they bought for their friend Mike, who was the only one in the group that didn't live on the same floor. (They thought he needed his own piece of furniture there.) Mike wrote his name on it in capital letters and the chair sort of became a thinking-cap (well, not really a cap). The band decided to name themselves after it "as a reminder of [their] humble beginnings." The guys performed for Belmont's Christian Music Showcase, and eventually got a record deal.

So what's the music like? Think along the lines of Fee or Rush of Fools. It's strong, guitar-driven rock with solid vocals and kind of an epic sound (if I were comparing them to a secular band I'd say they like Sigur Ros a lot). Mikeschair is also using their success to do good things; you can find a table promoting their favorite charities at every concert, and they say they're making every effort to be the Gospel in action. (We like that goal.) Preview their self-titled album here. As for singles, we like "Can't Take Away."



We especially like that Mikeschair is trying hard to keep it all in perspective. It's very easy for the thing that takes up the most time in your life to become a sort of idol, and we Christians can and should work hard to put God first. Being a musician is harder than you think. You have the usual creative differences, plus long nights, day after day filled with strangers, the often-baffling behavior of fans, hard work in the studio and at practices, and lots of time away from family and friends. Putting God first isn't just for famous Christians, though. Let Him color everything you do this week, and help you keep your life in perspective.