Love these shredders. They were one of the first bands I worked with when I was hired on at Davdon. They were super young at the time - I think the singer Ryan was 14 when they started up. His mom was their manager. We had to book shows around their school schedule, although eventually Ryan dropped out to do the band full time. This was mid-90s and pop-punk was hitting big.
Slick Shoes was a band that could hang with their peers "chops"-wise. The first thing that always comes to mind when a song from them comes up is "my favorite little shredders." I only got to meet up with them and see them play once here in Nashville. Definitely wish I could have seen them play more. They just reunited for a show last August with MxPx and Five Iron Frenzy, and they're either about to play or just played w/Zebrahead.
Rich Mullins was the realest. In 6th or 7th grade a missionary came to our church and introduced me to Christian music. I wasn't really looking for it, and I didn't really have any limitations on what I could listen to from my parents - but I dove in. Maybe because it was a small, more exclusive community where I fit in - as opposed to the bigger world out there. Thinking back...there's something to that - something that's off.
Anyway, this tape was included among the tapes this guy gave me to go home and dub. I liked the melodies and feel of the music. In the late 80s this had kind of a Paul Simon/Billy Joel/Singer-Songwriter vibe that I was into. Musically this is very 80s - echo chamber drums, spacey-sounding keyboard bits, bass line that flows but seems more treble than bass.
Back to Rich being the realest. This guy kept making music and was part of the "Ragamuffin" community that embraced grace and simple living. He even had his accountants figure out the minimum amount of income he could live on and donate the rest to charity.
Unfortunately Rich died in a jeep wreck in 1997. I'd be curious to see what part of the faith community he'd be in today. I have a feeling he would shun the evangelical title just as I have.
This band was my jam all through high school. Still love this record. This was from a time when there were folks making "Christian" music but its quality and creativity matched their "general market" counterparts. IMO the 90s were a golden age for music and the same goes for "Christian" bands from that decade - stuff like Adam Again and The Prayer Chain.
