Crisis
http://www.angelfire.com/oh2/crisis/
by Trisha Bleau

CS: Please share with us how your group formed and any changes it went through after forming.

DIANA: Following a special music presentation I did at our church's 8 a.m. service one Sunday morning (one I had never before attended since it involved getting up before sunrise!), I was approached by a young man and his wife. The first words out of the man's mouth were: "When are we going to play music together?" Slightly nervous, I asked who he was and what he played. As he introduced himself and his wife and told me he was a drummer, my brain started spazzing through thoughts like: "I'm an folk acoustic guitarist--what am I gonna' do with a drummer?? Hey--wait! My husband plays bass...maybe...?" So we sought out a more competent (lead) guitarist we already knew and the four of us began "makin' noise" together.
Since that 1998 beginning, we've gone through three different lead guitarists in four rotations. Justin served as our second and our now current (fourth) guitarist.
GLEN: We started by getting together when we could but then got serious after getting Justin...the rest is "history"...
JUSTIN: *

CS: What is the main focus in your ministry? Teens? The lost? The hurting? Why did you decide up on this as a focus?

TIM: We started as a church band where evangelism was the focus. Jesus' call to the growing of the fellowship is still strong. Our focus is toward the unchurched or the church "newbie"--AND it's a lot more fun than preaching to the choir!
DIANA: We have fans of all ages, but we seem to especially appeal to the "church disenfranchised" Baby Boomers. During their teen and young adult years, there hadn't been a lot of music within the church that reflected their musical tastes, so they're very receptive to find it there now. I also get a lot of feedback from people of all ages who say they appreciate the joy of Christ echoed in our music. Christians who have grown up with rigid dogma and strict rules, or those who perceive the Church as a place of condemnation and inherent guilt, tell us that our music teaches about Christ's hope, promise, freedom and love. This wasn't something we intentionally orchestrated (no pun intended)--but it's something that God has used to minister to these people.
GLEN: I shoot to reach everyone...that's just me.
JUSTIN: *

CS: What does your group's name mean? Where did you come up with it?

TIM: We have smart-aleck teenagers at home who thought that their parents being in a band was simply a manifestation of mid-life turmoil...
DIANA: We needed a name for a rapidly-approaching church talent night. Our kids suggested "CRISIS". We said, "OK". (We've always had a sense of humor about our music!)
GLEN: Mid-life crisis (thanks to the Tyler girl...hah-hah, Stepho!)
JUSTIN: *

CS: Where do you see the band in five years? Ten? The future?

TIM: In a rest home for senile musicians.
DIANA: Eh?? What's that? Shpeak up, shonny!
Seriously, I never play that game. Life is a journey--and God's drivin' so I just sit back and enjoy the ride! I NEVER try to second-guess what God's got in store for me around the corner. I just hang on and go with it!
GLEN: Let's just see what God has in store for us...
JUSTIN: *

CS: Do you make it a goal to use your music to minister to people? Or do you just write for the sake of writing and performing?

TIM: Yes. And yes. The ability to do these things at any level is a gift from God.
DIANA: I began writing because of my love for music--I just wanted to see if I could do it. But the music that began coming out became very therapeutic for me in terms of expressing my faith and my fears. The most incredible joy, however, was when my church family began sharing what some of my songs meant to them, and how the music touched their lives! As a result, I now feel an incredible, happy marriage of desire and purpose in my songwriting.
GLEN: I try to tell a story to show that there are many ways or roads one can take.
JUSTIN: *

CS: What is the message you are trying to get across with your music?

TIM: That being a Christian can be fun!
DIANA: Christ freed us from religious legalism and meaningless ritual. He showed us how to love. He bridged the gap to heaven on our behalf. ISN'T THIS GOOD NEWS?? Well, then--ACT LIKE IT!! ;)
GLEN: There is no one way to find God, only the way that works for you.
JUSTIN: *

CS: Do you write your own music? Where do you get ideas for your music?

DIANA: We do a lot of originals and some jazzed up versions of well-known hymns and camp songs. The originals come from a variety of sources--life and the people we see inhabiting it ("Love Somebody"), scripture ("Mary"), and sometimes our pastor will ask me to illustrate a sermon text. Sermon text songs I've written include the very goofy "Jonah", the warning of "Pilgrim's Pride" and instructive or tribute songs like "Do the Right Thing" and "Only Joseph".
GLEN: I don't write much.
JUSTIN: *

CS: How would you describe your music style?

TIM: Pop
DIANA: Eclectic! (Rock, pop, jazz, blues, folk, alternative, Americana, country, praise & worship...)
GLEN: A mixture of pop, folk and blues.
JUSTIN: *

CS: Who, or what, are your biggest musical influences?

TIM: Wilson Pickett, Howlin' Wolfe and Gentle Giant.
DIANA: Everything I've ever heard, though I lean more toward my folk roots (Peter, Paul & Mary) and acoustic folk rock (Joni Mitchell, Crosby Still & Nash). I also love rock and blues but I particularly appreciate the melodic strengths of country and classic musical love songs from the '40's, etc.
GLEN: Jazz and hard rock (but I'm a drummer--what do I know??)...
JUSTIN: *

CS: Have you had the opportunity to do much traveling yet? If so, what groups have you had the opportunity to play with and what were your thoughts on them?

TIM: We have traveled a bit but our appearances have been mostly of a solo, "featured artist" nature.
DIANA: I love road trips! But they can be really time-consuming!
GLEN: We have seen many different types of groups. They prove that there is no one right way to go musically to reach hearts for Christ.
JUSTIN: *

CS: How did you get the role you have in your home church in leading worship? Did you approach the church or the other way around? How has it affected the group's popularity?

TIM: After having appeared at a few church talent shows, we were approached by the pastor about our interest in helping lead a new, contemporary worship service the church wanted to begin. We were thrilled!
DIANA: Being connected with the church has given us "credibility" in our music ministry but we, in turn, credit our congregation (the North Eaton Christian Church) and our denomination (The Christian Church [Disciples of Christ]) for our joyful theological perspective. Our ministry within the NECC congregation has definitely gained us support there. But our popularity outside of our congregation is due to the message our music--and our stage shows--carries; and that is the message of God's love through Jesus Christ.
GLEN: The church approached us.
JUSTIN: *

CS: Are you involved in any other ministries?

TIM: As one of Jesus' disciples, I view our entire lives as a ministry. Sometimes we perform a better ministry than at other times. Our goal is to do our best.
DIANA: I'm a member of our traditional worship choir and am also currently involved in securing musicians for special worship services. I'm also a member of the Promotion (publicity) Team, and will be teaching a class in the Spring of 2002 on being a Disciple. I've also served as Christian Education Director, Worship Committee Chair, Vacation Bible School Director, teacher, and a whole bunch of other stuff.
JUSTIN: *

CS: What is your musical background? Did you take lessons to gain the musical skills you have now?

TIM: I've had musical training from the age of 9, off and on, until around age 20.
DIANA: I've sung in the church choir since I was 5. The summer before Tim and I were married, I borrowed his teacher for about 4 months before we mutually fired one another due to my aversion to practicing! But, in the words of one of the knights from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail": "I got bettuh..." I've also read every book on songwriting in the Elyria Public Library and am a member of Songwriters and Poets' Critique, a Columbus-area songwriters' association.
GLEN: Hard rock, metal, and marching, with just a few years of lessons.
JUSTIN: *

CS: How much time do you spend practicing as a group? How much time do you practice individually?

TIM: That varies depending on our schedules.
DIANA: We'll generally practice 2-3 nights a week before a concert...or take months off at a time when the contemporary service isn't running or during farming season (farming is one of Glen's passions and we try to respect the time he needs to devote to it).
GLEN: A few hours a week.
JUSTIN: *

CS: What is the latest news on your group? Any new CD's to be released soon?

TIM: Glen and his lovely wife, Cindy, had a baby boy (Matthew) in late June.
DIANA: Yay!! Besides the exciting baby news, we're talking about doing some recording near the end of this summer (2001). I wouldn't hold my breath for a cd release date yet though...but we'll be working toward that goal.
GLEN: The news for this summer (2001) is: The drummer took it OFF!!
JUSTIN: *

CS: Any plans to sign with a major label in the near future?

TIM: No!! (However, if you're reading this and you happen to represent one of those labels, our email address is: moldread@alltel.net...)
DIANA: What label in their right mind would put its cash behind a band of geezers with mortgages, responsible day jobs, and a non-trendy image??!! (No, Justin, I didn't mean you...you're not a geezer!) Sadly, that's just the way the music industry works...
GLEN: Yes!! Pleeeze...!!
JUSTIN: *

CS: Do you have any advice to give to the youth of our world?

TIM: Don't become a musician!! Seriously, love one another as Jesus loved you--then you won't have to tell people you're a Christian. They'll just know.
DIANA: Follow Christ. Then follow your heart...follow your dreams...but don't be an idiot about it!! Reality is a good teacher, knowhutImean?
GLEN: Be true to yourself. You can still be an individual while following God's chosen path for you.
JUSTIN: *

*(Note from DIANA: Justin doesn't say much...)