John Pollard of Desert Cry
by Jessica

CS: How did your group form? Did you start out together or did you pick up players along the way?

DC: The group started with vocalist Shawn Kelley and guitarist John Pollard. After a couple of months messing around and coming up with some songs we got Jarrod K. to drum for us. And lastly we picked up our bass player, Joe Poulland, about 2 months ago. So in all we've been together about 4-5 months now.

CS: How long have you all been together? How long has the group been in existence, not counting any possible changes in members?

DC: Whoops, just answered that one on the last question. The band as a whole has been together for about 2 months.

CS: How has this affected the group? Did it take awhile to bond? What kind of relationship do you all have now?

DC: Everyone seems to get along great for the most part. Of course everyone has their differences from time to time but that's just the way it goes in any relationship. John, Jarrod, and I (Shawn) have known each other for 2 or 3 years now and we all met at our youth group. Joe is the "new guy from up north" and he just started coming to our church a few months ago and now he is in our band. I really feel like God has put this band together with His own two hands. When we were in need of a bass player He pulled Joe down here and made it obvious that he was the missing link.

CS: What kind of equipment do you use?

DC: I am the vocalist, so I'm not the best person to be answering this question, but I'll tell you what I do know. John uses a Tayler acoustic in some songs and his Fender electric in the others. As far as drums and bass go......I just don't know, sorry. For recording we use a digital 12 track recorder with built in cd burner and a Shure studio recording mic (that's my baby).

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

DC: I would have to say all of the above. I write 95% of the lyrics and my focus is just on reaching out, and that goes for Christians and non-believers alike. Everyone needs to be reached out to whether they know God or not. Our songs are very diverse - everything from what the lyrics are about to what the songs sound like - and that's something I love because I feel like we have something for everyone to listen to and relate with.

CS: What does your groups name mean?

DC: Desert Cry, and it comes from John 1:23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, "I am the voice of the one calling in the desert, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.' " What that means to us in the band is that we want to be that voice, we want to reach out and be a light for those who need it. It is our job as Christians to reach out to the lost and I am thankful to God that He has created this band to do just that.

CS: Where did you come up with it?

DC: Well here's the story......Our first name was Covenant, which just refers to the covenant the God has with man. That was a great name and we were set on using it for good and then one day John gets an email saying that another internationally known band has that name and that we can't use it. So to avoid any future problems we decided to go ahead and change it. The way we did that was by going to the local christian radio station (WMIE 91.5) and telling all the listeners our situation and asking them to call in with any suggestions or ideas. So we do that and the whole night goes by and we only get one phone call. The guys name is Shawn actually, like me, but anyways...that was the verse he quoted to me off the top of his head. The rest is history. If you know any bands that have the name Desert Cry, please do not let me know about it.

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

DC: I could see this band doing something big for God, but I just don't know right now. I know we as a band have the skills and the talent to make it, i just know we do. But what it comes down to is whether God wants it to happen or not. I feel that if we all keep our heads screwed on right and we are in this for the right reason then we are going to be hugely blessed by God. I would love to see us go huge and be on tour with Switchfoot or whoever, but it's just something we'll have to continue to pray about and work towards and whether we stay here as a local band or we get out to the whole nation, we're doing this to lift God up.

CS: Do you ever worry about getting caught up in the world of show biz? That success will change your group?

DC: From time to time, yes. Satan is looking for every opportunity to wiggle his way in and ruin this, because the fact is, this band is a huge threat to Satan, he doesn't like it and he'll do anything to stop it. Like I just said, we're doing this to lift God up, but it can be so easy to get prideful and lose focus and that is something you have to continually pray about and work on and focus on. I wouldn't say that I'm worried about getting caught up in it, it's more that I'm aware of it.

CS: What kind of relationship do you maintain with your audiences? Do you fellowship with them? Or do you remain distant as the performer?

DC: I love the fellowship aspect of it. Our first show was about 3 weeks ago at our church with about 150 people there and we did a few of our songs which are originals and no one had heard, and that was fun, and of course there is a message in each song, but when people hear it for the first time they may not comprehend what that message is. After we did our songs we went into some praise and worship songs and that was just incredible. To be up there on stage leading all those people in worship, I just feel so blessed by God to be in that position. Worship is something that is interactive, you're not just listening or just singing, but you are praising God and giving it all to Him. I'll always like doing our own songs but it just doesn't compare to worship songs that everyone knows and that everyone can sing along with you. The feeling I love most when I'm up is when I pull the mic away so that I can hear all the voices of the audience being lifted up.

CS: How would you describe your music style?

DC: Alternative rock

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

DC: Again, I am not the one to be answering this question

CS: Are you involved in any other ministries?

DC: Yes. Everyone in Desert Cry is also in the Youth worship band at our church. I am 19 so I am there as a leader now and it is going great.

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

DC: As group we don't get to spend as much time practicing as we would like. Everyones schedules are so different and it makes it hard. But when we do get together it usually goes very well. We all seem to click when we play together.

CS: Does the group come together for prayer at times other than concerts and ministry opportunities?

DC: Unfortunately, the answer to that is no. We have youth on sunday mornings and wednesday nights where we lead worship and we always pray before that, and we pray before our own band practices, but other than those times, we rarely see each other cause our schedules are don't allow a lot of time to hang out other than the time we spend practicing.

CS: Have you always had a desire to be in a group like this?

DC: For me, I would have never imagined myself in the position I am today. I grew up as a very shy, introvert type of kid and then about 4 or 5 years ago I finally started coming out of my shell. But even up until about 6 months ago, I was not the type who liked to be up on stage or in front of a big crowd and say something, let alone sing. God has brought me extremely far to be where I am today and He has definitely stretched me
in ways I didn't think possible.

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

DC: We have one cd (17 tracks) for sale right now and it's going for $10. You can get one by going to www.purevolume.com/desertcry and contact us through there to ask for one. Also go to the site if you would like to hear what we sound like. Please pray for us and for our road ahead.

CS: What's the weirdest thing that's ever happened at one of your concerts?

DC: Only one "concert" so far, and nothing too weird besides forgetting some of the lines. Sorry I don't have a crazy exciting story for ya. I could make up one if you want