Shop 11 Phoenix
By Nelson Garcia

CS: What does your groups name mean?

Shop 11 Phoenix: It's a long story, but basically, it represents the Church, our faith in Christ, and salvation.

CS: How would you describe your music style?

Shop 11 Phoenix: Aggressive melodic skate punk.

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

Anthony: Any band that I can tell puts their whole heart into every song they write. Brandon: Frank Sinatra and '80's metal bands.
Aaron: The Dixie Chick and the Police.

CS: Who, aside from Jesus, has been the biggest influence in your life? Anthony: My parents and teachers.

Brandon: My mom, dad, and brothers.
Aaron: my father and mother.

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

Shop 11 Phoenix: Our goal as a band is to reach the lost and encourage other believers. It's what God called each of us to do.

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

Shop 11 Phoenix: We try to keep things as personal as possible. It's always fun to visit and build relationships with them.

CS: When did you feel called to perform in a group like this? Have you felt God's hand guiding you towards this all along?

Anthony: When I started playing guitar about 3 and a half years ago.
Brandon: My parents raised me to be a performer.
Aaron: I felt God calling me into ministry after my first drum lesson from an elder in the church I was attending! To this day she's still rocking it!

CS: Where do you get ideas for your music?

Shop 11 Phoenix: We all listen to so many different styles of music that it's hard to say where certain ideas come from...

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

Shop 11 Phoenix: We're bringing hope in a hopeless world by letting everyone know that Jesus is the answer...

CS: Do you make it a goal to use your music to minister to people?

Shop 11 Phoenix: Most definitely!

CS: Do you ever feel fear when you approach someone with the Gospel?

Shop 11 Phoenix: No way! God hasn't given us a spirit of fear!

CS: What is the most fascinating piece of Scripture you have studied?

Aaron: every single piece of scripture is awesome, but the scripture that has stuck out to me the most at this time is Romans 12:9-21! *
Anthony: I don't have one favorite scripture, but i really like Romans 5:1-5. **
Brandon: Psalm 1. ***

CS: Please share your testimony about the biggest thing that God has done during one of your concerts.

Shop 11 Phoenix: We played a show at a bar in Roseville, Ca once, and there was a woman there who came up to us after we played. She asked us if we were Christians and when we told her we are, she got all excited and said that she could tell even before we played. We ended up getting into a deep conversation about God with her and her husband, and it turned out that she had been raised in the Christian faith and fell away. She started crying and confessed to needing God back in her life. So right there, in the middle of people drinking (and even offering us pot), we formed a circle and prayed over her and her family. The whole experience was something none of us will ever forget.

CS: What is the latest news on your group? Any new CD's to be released soon or is there any plans to sign with a major Christian Record Label in the near future?

Shop 11 Phoenix: We just finished recording our first full-length record for Bettie Rocket Records, an independent Christian record label based in the Santa Cruz area. The CD is scheduled to be out Jan. 29th 2002. Also, we're in the process of recording some songs for a split e.p. with a band called Hanover Saints, another Christian band from our area. That should be out early January, and will be distributed through Revolution Ink Records.

CS: My last & final question is this, what advice can you give to the youth of our world?

Shop 11 Phoenix: Whatever you do, do as unto the Lord. This is the best way to live your life.

*Romans 12:9-21
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. 20Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

**Romans 5:1-5
1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

*** Psalm 1
1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners,
Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; 2But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. 4The ungodly are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.