“People often talk about the future of hip-hop music like it isn’t right now. As if the future were some far off paint splotch occupying our collective imagination. On the contrary, the future is now, and some aren’t afraid to take it where it’s going.”

The above lines are the first of Social Club Misfits’ bio on their website, and they’re enough to make you want more of an explanation. What does it mean to say that the future of hip-hop is now? Who isn’t afraid to take it where it’s going and how can they even do that? It’s almost as if Social Club is asking questions that they set out to answer in their own music.

The hip-hop duo is comprised of Marty and Fern from Miami, Florida. Social Club Misfits has multiple EPs and albums under their belt by now, each one “pushing boundaries and redefining the possibilities of what faith-based music can accomplish” *. The inspiration behind the duo’s music comes from their upbringings, and this theme of “where you came from” is woven throughout each EP and album. You can hear more about Fern’s upbringing here, where he discusses negative influences and how God impacted his life and music.

The topics of negative influences and redemption are no secret in Marty and Fern’s stories, which brings about the word that they continuously discuss – “misfit”. A “misfit” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a person who is poorly adapted to a situation or environment”. The word holds a great amount of weight considering who Social Club Misfits is and how badly they strive to show that they aren’t adapting/conforming into the culture that they’re currently in. You can hear this idea of nonconformity in each of their productions as an obvious theme.

There is much more to be said about the up and coming hip-hop duo, but we will leave that responsibility to them. Listen to their music and read more about their story here!

*www.socialclubmisfits.com

Last week, we sat down with Vegan Llamas to get to know them a little better. This week, we get the chance to know more about another Block Party artist that we all love – CJ King!

Where are you from?

I am from the hectic, traffic filled city of Atlanta, GA!

Where did you get your start in music?

I started in church playing drums. My dad is a musician and plays guitar, keys, and drums so I was always fascinated with music. I started singing in talent shows but there was one problem – I couldn’t sing if my mom’s life depended on it. That led me to give rap a try at one talent show and I ran with it from there.

What has been your most exciting career moment so far?

My most exciting career moment is a tie between when my single “SWRVN” was first played at the LU football games and when my band and I did our best show ever at Liberty’s Homecoming two years ago.

Where are you planning on taking your music?

I just moved to Atlanta after high interest was expressed by a few major labels so I am currently shaking a lot of hands and seeing what happens from there.

If you could see one person/band in concert (dead or alive), who would it be?

I would have to say James Brown hands down. I love how he controls the crowd and lets the music control him.

You can find CJ’s music on platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, Google, Amazon and any other digital outlet. You can also follow him on Instagram at “cjkingmusic”!

We asked Nick Henretty, lead singer of Vegan Llamas, a few questions about the band and where they came from. We can’t wait to see this group bring rock and roll to the Block Party stage!

Who are your band members and where are you guys from?

Our band members are:
Nick Henretty, (lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, songwriter) from Mechanicsville, VA, right outside of Richmond
Jacob Tallent, (lead guitar, banjo, BGV) from Midland, NC, a stone’s throw outside of Charlotte
Connor Denton, (keys, piano, keytar, BGV) from Spotsylvania, VA, next to nothing in the boonies
Noah Felten, (bass guitar, BGV) from Phenix City, AL, just across the river from Columbus, GA
Alex Kenny, aka THE [pronounced “thee”] Alex Kenny, (drums, all things percussion) from Franklin TN, just south of Nashville

How did you all meet?

We were/are all students of Liberty University’s School of Music in one way or another. Four of us are music majors (and graduated), one is a music minor (with one year left). We had all played together in different respects before the band officially formed, but Coffeehouse is what brought the original crew together as the Llamas. At first it wasn’t really anything serious; we just wanted to have an outlet to rock out onstage. But as more and more people told us they really liked our stuff, we decided we should keep it going after school. I say “original crew” because Alex is the newest addition and just came on with us this past semester, but we’ve known him for so long that the transition was very smooth.

Where did the “Vegan Llamas” name come from?

Ok, so we actually came up with this really elaborate story about how it stemmed from a rallying cry Noah’s great uncle used in one of the world wars, but since you guys are friends, we’ll tell you the truth, which is far less entertaining. Back in February of 2015, there was a Convo speaker (cannot remember who for the life of me) who brought up distractions as part of his talk. As he was mentioning things that could be distractions, he shouts “vegan llama!” as an option. We have no idea why, and neither did he. But later that semester when Coffeehouse auditions were coming up, we thought “that sounds like a band name.” Two and a half years later, here we are.

What has been your best moment as a band so far?

Coffeehouse was always a big highlight for us in years past (especially when we covered “The Grinch”), and there’s still really no comparison to that high you get when you gel as a band in front of that big a crowd. But as we’ve grown, we’ve discovered there are different kinds of “best moments.” We had a best moment when we got to headline our own SA show last semester; we had a best moment when we recorded our EP in Michigan; and we anticipate many more best moments to come (this upcoming Block Party hopefully one of them!).

Where can we find your music?

We are on most digital platforms. iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon, Google, and SoundCloud. We will also have physical copies available at the show!

Check out Vegan Llamas music here, and follow them on Instagram at “veganllamas_band”!

Try as we might, Student Activities cannot possibly prepare you for Oh, Sleeper on Friday, April 21 starting at 7:30 PM in the LaHaye Event Space. Oh, Sleeper will be joined by The Death In Me and BoughtXBlood, and all three are ready to rock the roof off Green Hall and potentially make working out that night just a little more intense. Your other option is to just stick your ear against the wall in Green Hall Chick Fil A, or do the right thing and buy tickets, which are on sale now like this:

• All tickets are general admission, and this show is standing room only.
• Are you a student? Your tickets are $12 in advance, $17 at the door.
• Are you a general public person? Your tickets are $17 in advance, $22 at the door.

Look, if you do not already like metalcore and/or Oh, Sleeper, we are not going to be able to convince most of you. You probably have a strong opinion one way or the other already; when we ask students what music they like/dislike, the two most contentious styles are “screamo” and “country”, eliciting the strongest love/hate reactions of any genre. Therefore, we expect that any favorable arguments for shrieking metal will fall on deaf ears either because your mind is already made up or because your eardrums have disintegrated. But we think it is possible that some undecided person out there has an open mind enough to try something new, and Oh, Sleeper is as good a place to start as you can find. Taking their name from Ephesians 5:14*, they are an explosion of guitars and drums that are relentless to the point of actually waking the dead. Existing Oh, Sleeper fans should be excited because you are guaranteed to hear new music from their upcoming album Bloodied//Unbowed, which, as Oh, Sleeper Zac said in a recent Facebook post*, has “100% chance of double bass.” As the post also says, they decided to make a full-length album instead of releasing another EP, which is usually preferable. Incidentally, that EP, The Titan (2013), is a great place to start if you are new to Oh, Sleeper, as it is just five songs that give shape to the direction the Shane Blay, Micah Kinard, and Zach Mayfield are heading as a band. One thing is certain: their concert here on April 21 will have no shortage of heavy, heavy, heavy metal, as we are excited to include Lynchburg natives BoughtXBlood and regional artists The Death In Me as well. So hey, undecided guy or girl out there, just open your mind to the possibility of having Oh, Sleeper melt your face off. You may like it more than you think.

Resources

*https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ephesians+5%3A14&version=ESV

**https://www.facebook.com/ohsleeper/posts/10153822159938771

Student Activities is proud to present for KING & COUNTRY with special guest Meredith Andrews in concert! Join us on Saturday, April 8 in the Vines Center for what will likely be the largest number of drums you will see on a stage that doesn’t have Rush on it. Doors will open at 7:30 PM and tickets are on sale now and priced as follows:

• Students – $12 in advance
• Public – $15 in advance
• Door price – $18 for everyone

Just go to our website, click the “Tickets” tab, and choose the ticket that is right for you.

For King & Country have rocketed to the top of the Christian music scene in just 5 short years. No wonder, though, since their style blend is what you would get if you brewed Delirious? in an Awolnation filter and poured it into a Bastille mug. At least that is how we see it. The way American Songwriter sees it, fK&C is “Australia’s answer to Coldplay”*, an obvious comparison since both bands have a sound built for big spaces and radio replay. But you can hear just about any of those bands in their music, or just about any of their major influences: U2, One Republic, Goo Goo Dolls, and sometimes even Mute Math.** With such arena-rock sensibility, it should be no surprise to learn that in 2016, they played more shows (150), sold more records (600,000), and had more song streams (150 million!) than ever before.***

However, it is easy to see that fK&C have gravity far beyond their style, a depth far beneath the big production and polished sound that define them. Two songs illustrate this perfectly: “Light It Up” and “Without You”. “Light It Up” came directly from a close friend’s battle with debilitating depression*. Though it came from a place of individual difficulty, the song has generic encouragement value, an important characteristic since it addresses an issue that affects so many. Beyond this, their repeated lyric “It could be a beautiful morning” expresses optimism without claiming to be “the answer”; this, in light of the rest of the song, allows the listener time and space to toil and struggle through but with a forward-looking, hopeful eye. “Without You”, as Luke Smallbone tearfully addresses at the start of the song’s video****, is deeply personal for him. Health issues a few years ago became a matter of life and death, and this song, which he sings with his wife, Courtney, address the hardest questions anyone can ask: What if I do not get better? What if these are the last moments I have with the people I love most? This is the depth that draws fans to for King & Country and that will give them longevity more than any trend or style ever could.

Resources

* https://americansongwriter.com/2011/11/live-at-american-songwriter-ken-will-morton-for-king-and-country-jack-tempchin-garland-jeffreys/

** https://americansongwriter.com/2012/02/writer-of-the-week-for-king-country/

*** http://forkingandcountry.com/bio

**** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_zcjxDdZ1s

Student Activities is excited to present An Evening with Ellie Holcomb on Friday, March 31 starting at 8 PM. Join us in the LaHaye Event Space as Ellie performs with special guest (and veteran of Student Activities concert events) Nicole Miller.

Tickets are on sale now on our website and are priced as follows:

• Students – $12 in advance
• Public – $17 in advance
• Door price – $23 for everyone

When you visit our website, just click the “Tickets” tab and select the type of ticket that is best for you.

Ellie Holcomb’s star has been steadily rising since the debut of her Magnolia EP in 2011. Of course, fans of Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors have heard her since their formation in the mid-2000s. However, her feature tracks such as “The Wine We Drink” (from Good Light) or “Magnolia” (from A Million Miles Away) have always begged for her to go solo. Her vocals are light and pretty, recalling Leigh Nash at times, elsewhere reminiscent of Metric’s Emily Haines, and occasionally approaching the sacred CCM ground of early Amy Grant. However, singers with nice vocals are a dime a dozen these days, which is why Ellie sets herself apart as an outstanding songwriter. To put it in that very Christian way of describing art, her songs are not just excellent “worship,” they are excellent songs that happen to have a very worshipful tone. It is no wonder, then, that she received the Dove award in 2014 for New Artist of the Year.

We are looking forward to hearing her latest effort, Red Sea Road, performed live. She describes it as her declaration of God’s faithfulness, a faithfulness she says both “surprised” and “delighted” her*. It is a faithfulness, she explained, experienced through her father’s cancer diagnosis prior to the recording of the album, and is most certainly the source of the deep and weighty lyrics throughout the album. She further describes it as “sing(ing) the truth into the dark”, and songs such as the title track are her declaration of the truth that God is near regardless of circumstances. Another theme throughout the album is that of worth, the reality that one’s value is nowhere but in Christ, having no basis in performance or other human measures, a message heard especially on “You Are Loved” and “Wonderfully Made”. The highest praise we can give to her work is that it is Psalm-like in the quality and content of the lyrics. It is a patient work, allowing for four and five minute tracks such as “You Love Me Best” and “Man of Sorrows”, as though allowing the truth to speak as it heals and mends each struggle she presents. Red Sea Road, like much of Ellie’s other music, is a beautiful, truth-saturated work, and we cannot wait to welcome her in concert on March 31.

Resources

*https://www.ellieholcomb.com/news/2016/11/8/about-ellie

We had the opportunity to ask a couple of questions to Vacation Manor’s bandmates, Cole and Nathan. Read the conversation about music, inspiration and advice below.
Student Activities: What made you want to be in a band?

Cole Young: Personally, my initial draw to being in a band was simple: I wanted to play and write music with dear friends for a long period of time. Playing music is only so fun by yourself, and we all want to belong to a community of sorts. As far as artists that I wanted to be like, as a kid, I always dreamed of being in a band like Kings of Leon. Right when they first got popular in the US I used to sit around by my radio in our kitchen and wait for “Use Somebody” to come on. I think they were the first band I fell in love with. They have had such a steady progression over the years, which is why they’re still making great records. It’s so important to look up to bands who have consistency and a longer shelf life.
SA: If your band could style your career after one group, who would it be and why?

Nathan Towles: John Mayer. Although he’s a solo artist and not a band, I think the way his career has played out has been such a good balance of artistic and commercial brilliance while never sacrificing the integrity of the music. I think anyone with a sustainable career will always be holding those two in tension.
SA: We remember your band name used to be Native Spirit. How did you decide on Vacation Manor as your band name and why is the name meaningful to you?

Cole: We decided on Vacation Manor for many reasons but most of which is that we thought the name suited our music and ourselves well. The inspiration for the name actually came from a house our buddies lived in right when our band started. Back when Nathan lived in DC, he would travel to Lynchburg to hang out and write with Dane and I – after awhile, our time in the house started to feel like a vacation from our jobs and day to day lives. The house is really close to all of us; we had some of our first band practices there, wrote most of the “Girl, Say” EP in there. It felt fitting to inspire our band name after that experience.
SA: Could you walk us through your writing process for your music (does one person write most of it or is it equal collaboration)?

Nathan: I typically write all of the lyrics, but musically I’d say it’s a fairly even contribution from everyone. Songs have come about in different ways, but most often it’s just all of us playing until we find a hook or a beat that feels like it has potential and then following it until it comes to life or we hit a wall.

SA: As a band, what are some of the greatest challenges you’ve had to overcome? With that, do you have any advice for people who want to do what you do who also might face these challenges?

Cole: It sounds cheesy, but as a band, our greatest challenge has always been us not challenging ourselves and each other enough. A great way we’ve started to challenge ourselves is to be in the same room together playing music multiple times a week. It’s foolish to underestimate the importance of being in the same room together, and as of late, we’ve begun to use that time wisely. We’ll always get our best work and songs out when we’re staying inspired and challenging each other.

Now if I had to give any advice to someone trying to start their own band, I’d say this: love the music you play, and love the people you play it with. Every musician’s nightmare is to play music they don’t love. Allow yourself to enjoy the time it takes to write fantastic music. Also, never forget to be a good friend first- being a good friend first has probably saved our band a time or two. And eat your vegetables.

Come see Vacation Manor with Joel Kaiser and Trouvere for FREE this Friday in the LaHaye Event Space at 7:30 p.m. – get info about tickets here!

Student Activities invites many artists and performers to come to the World’s Most Exciting University, but getting a “Yes!” from Ben Rector made us happier than usual. Join us on Saturday, February 18 in the Vines Center to see Ben perform with special guest Brady Toops. Here is what you need to know about tickets:

• Tickets are on sale now. Just visit our website, click the “Tickets” tab, and choose the option that is right for you.
• For you students, general admission tickets are just $15.
• If you happen to be part of the non-student general public, tickets are $20 in advance.
• If there are tickets left at the door, the price will be $25.
• There was a time when you could get floor seats, but that time is past. Floor seats are sold out.

Ben Rector is a nice man with a nice voice. He makes nice songs that are nice to listen to. His style, in his own words**, is “just kinda like pop”, which is true because like most piano/acoustic guitar/possibly an electric guitar pop, it is as easy and light as a spring breeze. The nice thing about Ben Rector is that he is casually self-aware, as evidenced by many of his videos, especially his self-deprecatingly endearing “Ben Rector Hits the Streets” album previews***. That aspect of his personality drives his musical style and allows him to move easily between topics and themes on his 2015 album, Brand New, his biggest release to date. (It debuted at #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 that August, but beat all challengers on the folk album chart, reaching all the way to #1.) Yes, the album is predominately light, but there is plenty of space on the album for introspection and reflection, or in the case of a song like “30,000 Feet”, reflection on another character’s introspection. Brand New is much less love song-y than previous efforts and is more of a musician’s travel diary, recalling events and experiences but always with an eye towards goodness that can effect positive change. There is a John Mayer-like quality to Ben’s music, but more of an alternate timeline John Mayer who went through abstinence-only education and actually stuck with it. That is to say, Ben comes across as pure but without necessarily coming across as overtly “Christian”; his lyrics are honest enough to reveal a heart that truly desires change, without stooping to use that honesty in a heavy handed or manipulative way. In a word, he is really nice, and we cannot wait for him to finally headline a show here at Liberty.

Joining him will be former The Bachelorette (season 11) contestant (is that what they’re called?), Brady Toops, whose soulful and smooth voice alone should have been able to woo Britt, but that is just our opinion. Be sure to check out his worshipful album, conveniently self-titled for your iTunes or Spotify searching needs.

Questions? Check our FAQ page to find answers. If that doesn’t help, send us a nice email: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

**From “Ben Rector Hits the Streets with Brand New”, 2:36 mark – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFSxM4V–jU

***https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPmg7G0GTmmeLXthfcWO-k7KNOpvMml-i

As you all (hopefully) have heard by now, your favorite guy Ben Rector is making an appearance at our very own Vines Center on February 18^th. We’re pretty pumped for his visit – not only does he make “Hot 100” type of music (according to Billboard), but he also seems to be a pretty cool guy. Here are some things you may not have known about him prior to this moment:

1. He fulfilled his dream of becoming the “world’s greatest one-man Huey Lewis and the News cover band”

Dan Millice wrote on his website about how Ben Rector recorded and sang three Huey Lewis and the News classics – “Do You Believe in Love”, “I Want a New Drug” and “Power of Love”. For those of you who may not know who Huey Lewis and the News is, you could perhaps ask your parents, or you could check this out. This is an example of one man having a dream and chasing it, and we have to applaud Rector for the hope he inspires in us all.

2. He walks on the streets asking people if they care about his music

Ben Rector has no shame in not being the most well-known artist alive. He documents himself walking up to strangers on the street asking them “Are you excited about the release of Ben Rector’s new music?”, and when most of them say they have no idea who that is he simply laughs. Rector’s good-natured personality is made apparent in these videos, which you can find here.

3. He used his “Brand New” music video money to take fans to Six Flags

“My label and management felt strongly that I needed a music video for “Brand New”, so I spent the money on flying six fans to Six Flags, because…roller coasters.”
BONUS: If we have yet to convince you that the Ben Rector show isn’t something you want to miss, watch this and you’ll probably purchase your ticket pretty quickly.

We’ll see you soon, Ben!

The night of Tour De Compadres began just the way it should – with our Student Activities staff being notified from the Ticket Office that the show had sold out! Selling out meant a lot to us here at SA, but first and foremost it meant that the night would be at the maximum capacity of not only people, but also excitement.

And exciting it was! From the moment the doors opened to the Vines Center, you could see people scurrying down the aisles, trying to find the closest seat they could to the stage. There were a few “No running!” yells and some people who weren’t the happiest that they didn’t find the closest seats to the stage, but any feeling of negativity was slung into the void as Welshly Arms opened the show. Their alternative rock sound was the perfect way to open the show and pique the interest of anyone who didn’t previously know their music.

The next act to come on stage was Parachute – and yes, there were tears when “She is Love” played. Quick fact: did you know “She is Love” was released in 2009? All those years ago, the song was released when you were a teeny-bopper and it still brings you to tears when Will Anderson softly sings “She is love, and she is all I need”. After an around 30-minute set from Parachute, the way was made for Mat Kearney.

Mat Kearney made his entrance singing hits like “Air I Breathe” and “Nothing Left to Lose”. It was clear that a crowd goes pretty wild for a man in an all-white outfit and a fedora as Kearney stepped off the stage and walked through seats. Fans were screaming and reaching out for him, and this excitement carried all the way through his performance until the end when he sang his hit song “Ships in the Night”.

After Kearney wrapped up, everyone was caught up in anticipation for the headliner of the show: NEEDTOBREATHE. Around 10pm, the band reported to the stage as the crowd’s enthusiasm was at an all-time high. A room full of people screaming NTB’s hit song “Happiness” together is something that one must experience at least once, and for over 6,000 fans, this experience happened on the perfect night.

At the end of the show, all of the artists from the Tour De Compadres were together on stage, singing “Brother” as the crowd was singing along with them. And in this moment, the epitome of the Tour De Compadres was shown – the feeling and definition of community, which we all long for, was found in the finale of the show. This moment and the show as a whole will surely not be forgotten by any fan who attended.