{"id":3163,"date":"2007-04-09T21:49:24","date_gmt":"2007-04-09T21:49:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/?p=3163"},"modified":"2010-12-09T16:24:47","modified_gmt":"2010-12-09T16:24:47","slug":"5506","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2007\/04\/09\/5506\/","title":{"rendered":"Up-and-Coming Band: It\u2019s About Ministry, Not Money"},"content":{"rendered":"

PADUCAH, KY (April 9, 2007) \u2013 Four members of 4 Rivers Church are looking forward to a busy summer as their band, SpecialD, tours Christian festivals.
\n
\nMaking up the band are vocalist Craig Felker, drummer Jason Killebrew, lead guitarist L. J. Granstaff, and bassist Joel Purdy (accompanying photo).<\/p>\n

\"Band\"Having produced two buzz-causing indie albums, SpecialD is ready to take the next step with its new release, Different Story<\/em>, which has been two years in the making (lower photo). The music draws inspiration from, among other artists, the Foo Fighters and Switchfoot.<\/p>\n

The group\u2019s energetic stage shows have drawn wide praise. Songs on the new album, such as \u201cCome With Me\u201d and the self-titled single \u201cDifferent Story,\u201d feature layered guitars and anthem choruses that fit perfectly in the live setting, Felker says.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just love playing live,\u201d Felker says. They will have the opportunity a lot over the summer, when they perform at many of the major Christian festivals, and will be the only indie band to take the main stage at Atlanta (Georgia) Fest in and Rock the Light in Kansas City, Missouri. SpecialD also will play at Cornerstone Festival in Bushnell, Illinois \u2013 sponsored by Jesus People USA Covenant Church.<\/p>\n

The band has played the same mainstage with the Christian supergroup Casting Crowns. \u201cThey were just so gracious and uplifting,\u201d Felker recalls. The band wants to continue playing in churches and hopes to fill in more concert dates between festivals.<\/p>\n

Felker says the band is intent on ministering and not just playing music. \u201cWe want people to take hope with them when they leave the concert,\u201d the 26-year-old explains with a passion. \u201cIf we don\u2019t have hope, what are we living for?\u201d<\/p>\n

Felker adds, \u201cWe want people to know about our freedom in Christ. Too often Christians are known for what we are against.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AlbumThe band\u2019s lyrics are unapologetic, and there\u2019s no mistaking its message, \u201cWe don\u2019t straddle the fence,\u201d Felker says. He adds, \u201cI don\u2019t want to be labeled as a good Christian band. I want to be labeled as a good band.\u201d<\/p>\n

Felker became well-acquainted with the Christian music industry while working in Nashville for CCM Magazine<\/em>, which covers the genre. He graduated with a Bachelor\u2019s Degree in Music and Business from Middle Tennessee State, and the magazine hired him to do sales and marketing. He eventually wound up writing a column on instruments and gear.<\/p>\n

The experience opened his eyes to what could happen to the band if the members are not careful. \u201cMany of the things there (in the music field) are not for the right reason,\u201d Felker says. \u201c\u201cThere are lots of good Christian people, but there are some that are just in it for the money.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band does need to make money so members can put food on the table, but they\u2019re not looking to be superstars. \u201cWe\u2019re not in it to get a record deal,\u201d Felker says. \u201cWe want to do ministry.\u201d SpecialD members certainly wouldn\u2019t complain about a deal, however, he says laughing.<\/p>\n

Felker is surprised how music reaches people in ways the band never expects. On a whim, the singer tried out for the show, \u201cWho Wants to be a Millionaire.\u201d Felker survived the first round \u2013 \u201cYou get 15 seconds, and I was a total goof.\u201d During the second round, he sang part of \u201cDifferent Story\u201d and sent an audition tape.<\/p>\n

A non-Christian working on the show heard the song and emailed Felker two days later wondering how to obtain a copy. That has led to an email correspondence.<\/p>\n

Staying rooted in the local church will help keep the band focused on what is truly important, Felker says. He credits the church\u2019s pastor, Brad Henson, as an inspiration.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrad has been real instrumental in our lives,\u201d Felker says. \u201cWe\u2019re very passionate about what our church is doing in the community. We realize we also represent 4 Rivers<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

For booking information, email the SpecialD Band<\/a>. For more information on the band, visit its regular website<\/a> or its MySpace site<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Report This Post<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

PADUCAH, KY (April 9, 2007) \u2013 Four members of 4 Rivers Church are looking forward to a busy summer as their band, SpecialD, tours Christian festivals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3163","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nUp-and-Coming Band: It\u2019s About Ministry, Not Money - Covenant Newswire Archives<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2007\/04\/09\/5506\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Up-and-Coming Band: It\u2019s About Ministry, Not Money - Covenant Newswire Archives\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"PADUCAH, KY (April 9, 2007) \u2013 Four members of 4 Rivers Church are looking forward to a busy summer as their band, SpecialD, tours Christian festivals.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"http:\/\/blogs.covchurch.org\/newswire\/2007\/04\/09\/5506\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Covenant Newswire Archives\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2007-04-09T21:49:24+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2010-12-09T16:24:47+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/VJ\/NK\/VJNK9gf5MZHVM_FVmk5RjA\/Band-top-L.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/2007\\\/04\\\/09\\\/5506\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/2007\\\/04\\\/09\\\/5506\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"admin\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/2a26f1b1df304098ad9cbae0bbf2c6e8\"},\"headline\":\"Up-and-Coming Band: It\u2019s About Ministry, Not Money\",\"datePublished\":\"2007-04-09T21:49:24+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2010-12-09T16:24:47+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/2007\\\/04\\\/09\\\/5506\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":682,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/2007\\\/04\\\/09\\\/5506\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"http:\\\/\\\/www.covchurch.org\\\/uploads\\\/VJ\\\/NK\\\/VJNK9gf5MZHVM_FVmk5RjA\\\/Band-top-L.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/2007\\\/04\\\/09\\\/5506\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/2007\\\/04\\\/09\\\/5506\\\/\",\"url\":\"http:\\\/\\\/blogs.covchurch.org\\\/newswire\\\/2007\\\/04\\\/09\\\/5506\\\/\",\"name\":\"Up-and-Coming Band: It\u2019s About Ministry, Not Money - 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