This is the concert event many of you have been waiting for! Student Activities is thrilled to be the final stop of the Tour De Compadres featuring NEEDTOBREATHE, Mat Kearney, Parachute, and Welshly Arms, taking place on Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 PM in the Vines Center. If, by the time you read this, you still need a ticket, here is what you need to know:

• Only General Admission tickets remain
• $16 for Students ($26 at the door)
• $21 for general public ($31 at the door)

You can purchase tickets on our website (www.liberty.edu/sa) on the “Tickets” tab at the top of the screen. Just choose the ticket type that is right for you.

NEEDTOBREATHE has been a part of Student Activities and Liberty University for quite some time now. They performed here for the first time in 2009 and have been back several times since then, but none of those appearances have been as big as it will be with the Tour De Compadres. The first Tour De Compadres set a high standard for any successive versions as it featured, among others, Switchfoot and Ben Rector, artists that have no problem standing on their own. The Tour was such a great idea and big success, that it earned a sequel, the Tour De Compadres Dos, presumably, and it seems safe to assume that there will be many more sequels in years to come.

For NTB, this tour is all about their latest release, HARDLOVE (released July 15 of this year), their highest charting album yet; it debuted at #2 on Billboard’s Top 200, and was the top selling album the week of its release*. It has been a steady climb for them in their 15-ish year career, but certainly a difficult one, something Bear & co. talked about in greater detail in the process of making their last album, Rivers in the Wasteland**. That difficulty is reflected in the three opening tracks of their latest release. “Mountain, Pt. 1”, the title track, and even “Money & Fame” reveal in increasingly specific ways the struggles they face. Fans have always been drawn to their talent and sound, but their willingness to be vulnerable is their most endearing characteristic and something that will protect their songs from shifts in musical fads and fashions. In terms of overall sound, the latest album bends away from their brand of southern rock/pop a bit more than previous albums, leaning into obvious influence from R&B and soul, heard especially in tracks like the aforementioned “Money & Fame”, “When I Sing”, and “Happiness”. There are still plenty of the foot-stomping tracks that have been somewhat of their signature sound, as well as a couple of quite romantic ballads in “Let’s Stay Home Tonight” and “Clear”. Overall, HARDLOVE can only add to their appeal, but without losing the heart of what has gotten them this far. They are a band that is always looking for that “crack in the door filled with light” as they sang in “Wasteland”, and that hope shines through as a defining characteristic of their music.

As if they are not enough on their own, the Tour De Compadres also brings one of the artists we have received requests for most: Mat Kearney. To top it off, the show will kick off with Welshly Arms and their blues rock sound and Charlottesville’s own Parachute, who has established quite a following of their own. You get them all in one great night on the last show of this Tour De Compadres.

Check out all the details at www.liberty.edu/sa. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

*http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7446707/drake-views-no-1-billboard-200-11th-week

**https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7jbqxruhZ

Student Activities is quite happy to host the Looking For America Tour featuring Switchfoot AND Relient K, taking place on Thursday, October 20 at 7:30 PM in the Vines Center. Some of the doubters out there probably thought a double billing like this is too good to be true, and that is exactly why doubters are no fun to have at your party. Legally, however, we have to allow them at the concert, so here is what tickets look like for anyone (doubters included):

• Gold Circle Floor (front standing room) – $51 (limited quantities remain)
• Floor Seats – $31 advance ($36 at the door, if any remain)
• General Admission – $16 for Students ($21 at the door), $19 for Alumni ($21 at the door), $21 for general public ($26 at the door)

Just head on over to our website (www.liberty.edu/sa), mouse over/click the “Tickets” tab at the top of the screen, and choose the ticket type that is right for you.

As for the concert, it is tempting to say “What more can you ask for?” and then walk away. Switchfoot and Relient K have combined to make 21 albums, sold millions of them, and could probably fill a tour bus with all of the various awards they have won. Plus, who but Switchfoot have ever really been so bold in their daring folks to move, and how else would anyone even know about either a Sadie Hawkins’ dance or khaki pants if not for Relient K? However, past success does not have much to say about the future of a band, whether you think of it in terms of relevance, influence, or commercial success. And thinking of artists in terms of relevance or commercial success is probably the worst way to take them for granted and is always at the expense of their art. Thankfully, both Relient K and Switchfoot continue to create strong work, as evidenced by both artists’ most recent releases.

Once the pop-punk trend of the late 1990’s/early-mid 2000’s died down, Relient K continued on, maturing for sure, yet maintaining the overall sound that defined them from the beginning. Their latest effort, Air for Free, is every bit as fun as previous efforts, yet can very much be defined by the tracks “Man” and “God”, both of which reveal their mature songwriting and life perspective. Switchfoot, on the other hand, has evolved a bit differently. Certainly, they have a defined sound, but the tones and song crafting of the first half of their career differs from at least the last 3 albums. Their latest album, Where the Light Shines Through, picks up very much where Vice Verses left off, with many of the similar song qualities that appear there. Two big departures from that album are the tracks “Float”, a 50/50 blend of “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell & The Drells and “Dreams” by Beck, and the track for which the tour is named, “Looking for America” featuring Lecrae. Much like their tour counterpart, Switchfoot capably treads the line between the serious and the shallow, though they lean more toward serious, and Relient K toward shallow. The new albums from both artists are an excellent combination of thoughtful songcrafting and arena-ready rock, and you can hear it all on Thursday, October 20.

Check out all the details at www.liberty.edu/sa. If you have any questions, email us: studentactivities@liberty.edu.

Student Activities presents Vertical Church Band and worship from Elevation Church in the LaHaye Event Space on Friday, September 23 starting at 8 p.m. It will be a night of worship with bands from two of the most influential churches in the country today, and if you’re a student all you have to do is pay $10 in advance to be there. Tickets for the general public are just $12 in advance, and tickets for everyone will be $15 at the door. This is a standing room only show, so please plan accordingly.

Formed in 2012, Vertical Church Band is the product of Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago, IL. If you take a quick glance at the videos on their website, most of them feature the band as it will likely appear at the concert here at Liberty on Sept. 23 – Andi Rozier, Jon Guerra, Kyle Fredricks, Meredith Andrews, Lauren Smith, Tara Stutes, and Gabe Finochio, among others. Several of the videos feature other members of the worship team, which is to Vertical Church’s credit, and very much consistent with the band description that opens the website. The emphasis is not so much on “church” or even “band” in their name; the emphasis is on the nature of worship as “vertical”, about the condition and position of the worshiper in relationship to God. But it certainly doesn’t hurt them to have two signed artists as major performers in the group. One of them, Jon Guerra, performed as JAGUERRA for a time and now shares a stage at times with his wife, Valerie. The other is Liberty’s own Meredith Andrews, who is now producing top-level CCM music with Vertical Church on top of her already impressive solo material. All together, the group is now four albums into a solid career, much of their material consisting of live recordings, but all of it contributing to and elevating the worship genre “industry standard”. Where they truly raise the bar is in the aforementioned quality of performer. Whether it’s Meredith or Kyle or Gabe fronting the song, Vertical Church is equally at home in nearly any song. And that’s their other strength: the quality is consistent through the quantity. This is one of the reasons they are able to create the atmosphere they do; you could say that the horizontal aspect of the band in terms of stage presence is what contributes most to the vertical. It is a collective effort, all members working together to help minimize focus on any one person in the group for the greater purpose of pointing the audience upwards.

On Friday, April 15, Student Activities is proud to present Matt Maher, with special guestsJohn Tibbs and Clay Finnesand. Join us in the LaHaye Event Space starting at 8 p.m.for a night of uplifting and encouraging worship. General admission tickets are just $10 in advance for students ($15 for general public) and are on sale now on our website.

A lot of emphasis is placed on awards, especially when it comes to music, and Matt Maher has certainly received his fair share of them. When you see Matt perform on April 15, you will be looking at a Grammy Award nominee and Unity, Covenant, and Dove Award winner, which covers just about every significant award a worship artist can win in North America. Though he has been nominated for Dove Awards in the past, winning in 2010 for his work on the compilation albumGlory Revealed IIand sharing that award with Kari Jobe, 2015 was somewhat of a culmination for him as an award-winning artist, as he took home Dove Awards for Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Honors like that might easily be seen as icing on the cake, especially since Matt was selected to perform in front of the Pope not once but twice, most recently in 2013 at World Youth Day in Rio De Janeiro where his Song of the Year work “Because He Lives (Amen)” was heard by an estimated 3 million people.

However, as is almost always the case when an individual wins an award, Matt Maher pointed to others. In his acceptance speech for Song of the Year at the 2015 Dove Awards, Matt suggested that he needed to make 8 more of those awards to give to the others who contributed to the song. Additionally, he drew attention to the significance of an individual’s talents as they impact “the church”, acknowledging both that it is church folk who allow his and other Christian artists’ careers to flourish and that the true value of those careers is in God’s use of them in service to the church.

This is why Matt Maher is a welcome addition to the top of the CCM charts. He is a talented musician, trained in jazz and holding a degree in music from Arizona State. As such, he capably carries on the tradition of many great worship artists of the past like Keith Green and Michael W. Smith, but also regularly shows the breadth of his musical influences on such songs as his hit “All the People Said Amen”, or the tracks “Sons and Daughters” and the beautiful “Rest” from his latest album Saints and Sinners. But more than this, he has a broader vision for his music, aware of the immediate impact of what he is making, and yet, able to fix his gaze on the horizon. He has a long perspective that, regardless of award and accolade, reveals he understands he is an instrument to be used for God’s glory, the most significant contribution of which is his desire to impact the unity of the body of Christ.

For more information about Matt Maher’s concert, other upcoming concerts on our calendar, or any other event offerings, check out our website or follow us on Twitter for the most up-to-date information.

Atlantic recording group NEEDTOBREATHE has announced early details of their forthcoming new album. “H A R D L O V E” arrives everywhere on July 15th.

“H A R D L O V E” is now available for pre-order, with all purchases accompanied by instant grat downloads of the lead single, “HAPPINESS” as well as the album track “MONEY & FAME.” Exclusive album pre-order bundles that also include limited-edition merchandise will be available at the band’s Official Online Store (store.NEEDTOBREATHE.com).  “HAPPINESS” – available on all streaming services and DSPs along with “MONEY & FAME” – impacts Hot AC radio outlets in early May.

“Up until now, I think we made people climb in through the window to really get into our band, but this record is about leaving the front door wide open.  It’s very different and adventurous for us, but I can’t wait for the fans to hear it,” explains lead singer Bear Rinehart.

NEEDTOBREATHE will celebrate “H A R D L O V E” with “TOUR DE COMPADRES 2016,” an epic US headline run kicking off August 17th at Raleigh, NC’s Red Hat Amphitheater and then traveling through a November 12th finale at Lynchburg, VA’s Liberty University (see attached itinerary). The second annual “TOUR DE COMPADRES” sees NEEDTOBREATHE bringing along some of their closest musical friends as support, including special guests Mat Kearney, John Mark McMillan (Leg 1 only), Parachute (Leg 2 only), and Welshly Arms. Highlights include a massive hometown concert at Charleston, SC’s 10,000+ capacity Volvo Car Stadium on August 19th as well as performances at such legendary venues as Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre (September 10th), Morrison, CO’s Red Rocks Amphitheatre (September 15th), Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom (October 30th), and New York City’s Beacon Theatre (November 2nd). Presale ticketing for “The Insiders” – the official NEEDTOBREATHE fan club – begins April 4th followed by an additional presale for mailing list members and Facebook Event followers on April 11th; all remaining tickets will then be released to the general public on April 15th. For complete details and ticket information, please visit www.tourdecompadres.com.

Co-produced by NEEDTOBREATHE and recorded at their very own Plantation Studios in Charleston, SC, “H A R D L O V E” follows the band’s blockbuster album “Rivers In the Wasteland,” which made a stunning chart debut upon its 2014 release, topping Billboard’s “Top Rock Albums” and “Top Alternative Albums” charts while also entering the overall SoundScan/Billboard 200 at #3. What’s more, the album’s stunning “Multiplied” earned NEEDTOBREATHE their first ever GRAMMY® Award nomination.

The album’s breakout single, “Brother (Feat. Gavin DeGraw),” proved to be the highest charting single of their career. The RIAA-certified Gold hit song became a Top 10 rock smash, Top 20 CHR/Hot AC favorite, as well as NEEDTOBREATHE’s first-ever entry on Billboard’s “Hot 100.” The track’s companion video – directed by independent filmmaker Jared Hogan – has drawn close to 10 million views at NEEDTOBREATHE’s official YouTube channel. In addition, NEEDTOBREATHE and DeGraw rocked New York City’s Times Square with an unforgettable performance of “Brother,” live on ABC’s Good Morning America.

NEEDTOBREATHE premiered “TOUR DE COMPADRES” in summer 2015, visiting over 40 US markets accompanied by special guests Switchfoot, Ben Rector, Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, and Colony House. The aptly named tour was a massive popular and commercial success, with highlights including a sold out date at Colorado’s legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre, captured exclusively by TIDAL in the just-released mini-documentary, “NEEDTOBREATHE The Road to the Red Rocks.”

On Friday, April 1, Student Activities is proud to present theAs Family We Go Tour featuring the return ofRend Collective, with special guestsUrban Rescue. Join us in theVines Center starting at8 p.m.for one of the most enjoyable nights that pop worship can offer. General admission tickets are just $10 in advance for students ($15 for general public), floor seats are just $18 in advance, and all of them are on sale now on our website.

Aside from dropping the “Experiment” from their name, Rend Collective haven’t changed all that much since the earliest part of their career. This might be taken as an insult when it comes to other bands, since change and progress are often seen as synonymous. But with Rend Collective, it is not so much unchanging as it is a very intentional commitment to their musical style. It is ingrained like DNA, as bandleader & percussionist Gareth Gilkeson might say. He elaborates: “We would far rather be defined by joy, fun, freedom and laughter than anygenre title or pop-culture label.” Joy, fun, freedom, laughter – if these are Rend Collective’s goals, they are certainly successful. The continuity of their sound revolves around major key tonalities, driven by upbeat melodies, and powered by the energy flowing out of the surging success of folk rock that has been going on since roughly 2008. “Foot-stomping” is a commonly used adjective when it comes to their music; in many ways, they function as a CCM version of the first two Mumford & Sons albums. And though they dropped the “Experiment” from their name, it doesn’t mean they avoid the experimental. They are not afraid to play any sound making thing, whether hurdy gurdies or the so-called “Jingling Johnny” wielded by Gareth, not to mention the likely hundreds of gallons of bubble solution they have gone through at their concerts. All of this flows out of the virtues they named and that they want to define them. In short, they make celebration music, because what other reaction should we have in the face of God’s grace?

This remains true for their most recent release for which the current tour is named:As Family We Go. Gareth breaks the four word title into two parts to explain the idea behind the album. “As family” is the reminder of our place before God the Father as sons and daughters and therefore our unity with one another in collective purpose. “We go” is the reminder to be active, moving past either fear or comfort towards God’s purpose for our lives. Interestingly, none of the songs on the album have much to do with the actual going part of this. Thematically, the songs have more to do with the steadfastness and faithfulness of God in our lives, which makes the album more of a soundtrack to the going. The songs generally fit the aforementioned foot-stomping style that fans are accustomed to, with a few moments of variation, such as “Never Walk Alone” or the outstanding “Your Royal Blood”, a variation on the great hymn “Nothing but the Blood.” Regardless, the true draw of Rend Collective is the live performance of these songs, so the catches of the album will be in the joy, fun, and laughter brought on by the first three tracks of the album: “Celebrate”, “Free as a Bird”, and “You Will Never Run.”As Family We Gomay not be breaking any new, musical ground for Rend Collective, but it is very much to the high standard already set by the band with their earlier works. It maintains all of the energy and excitement that defines them to this point, and we are excited to see that translate to the stage on April 1.

Be sure to keep up with our concert calendar (and other event offerings) on our website, or follow us on Twitter to the most up-to-date information about upcoming concerts in the Vines Center or the LaHaye Event Space.

The Devil Wears Prada formed in Dayton, OH in 2005. Though they have changed a bit since those early days, they have risen to become one of the top names in metalcore, Christian or otherwise, and have toured with almost all of the other top names in the genre. And you thought nothing good could come from Ohio.

Their name comes from the novel by Lauren Weisberger released in 2003, and though there is information out there suggesting that their name is a statement against materialism, band members have stated publicly that this is not really the case. The truth is much less glamorous – basically, they named their band after a popular book at the time and it stuck, whether they like it or not. In fact, this is a nice reminder that not everything needs to have a greater significance or deep, deep meaning in order to be good, and in that sense, their name is quite fitting. They are who they are, and you can like them or not.

Who they are, currently, is Mike Hranica, Jeremy Depoyster, Andy Trick, and Daniel Williams. The most significant of the aforementioned changes came this past year when one of the founding members, guitarist Chris Rubey, left the band to pursue other interests. In terms of the band’s sound, you can hear their maturation over the course of their 5 full-length albums, 1 live album, and 2 EP’s, culminating in the 2013 album 8:18 and their latest release, The Space EP. And it is a good thing, too. Jeremy Depoyster talks about cringing at the thought of some of their older works. To us, this is one of the most interesting things about bands who last more than a few years and/or albums: there is always a desire to change, improve, and evolve, yet you can never really outgrow the past and what got you where you are. At their core, though, The Devil Wears Prada remain true to themselves and their roots, maintaining their faith and the essentials of their style. It is an interesting juxtaposition to hear a band so heavy with songs titled Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over, This Song Is Called, and Danger: Wildman, such as they had on their earlier albums, a lightheartedness that extends to their Zombie EP release from 2010. Yet, at the heart of the band is also a seriousness and introspection, evident on their album 8:18, taken from Romans 8:18 and focusing on various manifestations of suffering and misery in the lives of believers. “I’m always hoping to maybe change,” they say on the track Sailor’s Prayer from 8:18, a line that in some ways summarizes their career to this point, whether as a band or as individuals. They are navigating the difficult waters of “real life”, of maturation as people and as artists, finding their sound while growing in popularity. A difficult task to be sure, but despite these challenges, they have handled the difficulties well, and we are excited to see where they end up.

Tickets are on sale now and are just $12 in advance for Liberty students. Check out all the information at www.liberty.edu/sa.

Sources

• http://www.billboard.com/artist/400338/devil-wears-prada/biography
• http://www.songfacts.com/blog/interviews/mike_hranica_of_the_devil_wears_prada/
• http://www.fuse.tv/videos/2013/09/the-devil-wears-prada-bible-verse-8-18
• http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/interview_the_devil_wears_prada_vocalist_mike_hranica_on_his_new_book_one_a
• http://thatmetalstation.com/toms-spotlight-band-the-devil-wears-prada/

Student Activities is proud to present John Mark McMillan with Kings Kaleidoscope and Citizens & Saints in concert. Join us in the Vines Center on Saturday, February 13 starting at 8 p.m. for an incredible night of music. Tickets are on sale now: student tickets are just $10 in advance, public tickets are $15 in advance, and floor seats are $18, with all prices going up at the door. All ticketing and other information can be found on our website.

John Mark McMillan has been a frequent guest of ours in the past five years, going from opening act with David Crowder in 2011, to the LaHaye Event Space in 2014, and now a headlining concert in the Vines Center on Saturday. He remains true to his original sound, a Bruce Springsteen by way of Ryan Adams, rootsy, American rock and roll, yet continues to show his progress and maturity as an artist on his latest album Borderlands. Commenting* on the album’s concept, John Mark said that it basically has to do with living in two places, existing as he says in the title track between “holding on to love” and “the law of the jungle.” It is a nod to the theological concept of already/not yet, with the album’s emphasis leaning towards the “already” side. Tracks such as Love at the End, Monster’s Talk, and Visceral address the hard truths of the here-and-now: that “life is hard, brutal”**, relationships are messy, and that we need help to make it through. However, John Mark wants to keep the “not yet” of our existence in permanent and prominent perspective. We may or may not owe a debt to “the repo man”, but the same cannot be said for our debt to “the reaper” (Love at the End). As he says in the track Monster’s Talk, “we are fragile creatures on collision with our judgment day.” But musically and conceptually, Borderlands is anchored by the beautiful track Future/Past, which is ultimately an elaboration of Philippians 1:6. John Mark McMillan confidently expresses the truth that our hope and our help, before us, now and forever, is in Christ’s hands, while still honestly addressing the role and consequences of our weakness.

We are particularly excited to see how Kings Kaleidoscope translates from studio album to live concert. This is a rare group, and not just for groups that are considered Christian. Their biography draws a comparison, at least in energy, between them and The Mars Volta. Anyone familiar with The Mars Volta knows what high praise that is, and likely raises a skeptical eyebrow. But one listen through their EP’s, particularly songs like Confession and What Have We Done on the Sin EP, and you can hear the expert musicianship and experimentation that characterizes the best names in alternative rock, maybe even more comparable to the best names in art and progressive rock. You can easily hear fellow Seattleites Minus the Bear all through their sound (Felix Culpa, Joy Has Dawned, and Seek Your Kingdom, to name a few), and tracks such as I Know on their latest album Becoming Who We Are call Bloc Party to mind. Lead singer Chad Garner is exceptional, part Bear Rinehart from Needtobreathe, part Corey Glover from Living Colour, with drama and power that at times even gets into Jeff Buckley territory. Their songs are skillfully and carefully crafted, but capable of grandeur and beauty (listen to Defender), equally true of their re-creations of established worship songs and their original music. Though they certainly can be called a “worship band”, it would be better to say of Kings Kaleidoscope that they are rare and gifted artists in a band that happens to make worship songs. We cannot recommend them highly enough.

Rounding out the night will be Citizens & Saints, bringing even more of Seattle’s influence to our neck of the woods. It is probably no coincidence, then, that you can say many of the same things about Citizens & Saints that you can say about Kings Kaleidoscope, though perhaps not to the same instrumental degree. Theirs is a more electronic and synth-infused sound, upbeat and full of energy, much more along the lines of Passion Pit, MGMT, and Foster the People.

It is going to be yet another amazing night of music, so don’t miss it. Be sure to get your tickets while they’re still available, and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and our other social media outlets to keep up with everything else we have coming up.

*Commentary track for Holy Ghost on The Borderland Sessions

**Commentary track for Monster’s Talk on The Borderland Sessions

Student Activities is proud to present The Vespers in concert, featuring Joel Kaiser with Native Spirit, on Saturday, February 6 in the LaHaye Event Space starting at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance for Liberty students, $15 for general public ($18 for everyone at the door), and are on sale now at the ticket link above.

Sisters Phoebe and Callie Cryar were The Vespers prior to meeting brothers Taylor and Bruno Jones in Nashville, Tennessee in 2008, but it wasn’t until the brothers and sisters joined in 2009 that the group became the band-on-the-rise they are today. The Cryar sisters have the musical pedigree and experience, as they are the daughters of 80’s & 90’s CCM star Morgan Cryar, and had the privilege of working on various professional music projects even as young girls. Their experience in the music industry certainly contributed to their polish and professionalism, but there is no denying their talent, both as vocalists and instrumentalists. The collaboration between siblings produced three albums. The first two, Tell Your Mama (2010) and The Fourth Wall (2012), are squarely in the indie folk/Americana vein. Both have lighter, pop moments, such as the songs Not So Nice and Flower Flower. However, for the most part those albums are more delicate, folk-influenced songs, led more by the subtle vocals of Phoebe Cryar, whose voice is reminiscent of Sixpence None the Richer’s Leigh Nash or even Alison Krauss. Callie Cryar, described by Phoebe as “a vocal powerhouse”, certainly makes her presence felt on those albums, but it isn’t until their most recent effort, Sisters and Brothers, that her vocals take center stage. And yet, despite Callie’s power, the dynamic relationship between the sisters’ vocals remains strong throughout, their respective ranges providing a perfect balance to one another. Their contrasting yet complementary styles are also what allow The Vespers to tackle a wider range of musical styles on Sisters and Brothers. The album’s first track, Break the Cycle, is appropriately titled, as the introductory drums alone represent a stylistic departure from their previous works. Where their first two albums fit more comfortably in the Americana box, drawing direct comparisons to groups like The Civil Wars or The Head and the Heart, Sisters and Brothers maintains that original sound while drifting towards pop country (think Little Big Town) and even R&B on tracks like You Leave Me. Still, with all the variety, the album closes with the track Thirst No More, what can only be described as a worship chorus, revealing that they remain grounded in both the sound and faith that got them where they are today.

Be sure to check out all of The Vesper’s albums, as well as the music of Joel Kaiser and Native Spirit, in advance of the show, and keep up with us on Twitter and on our website here for information on all of the great concert events Student Activities has for you this spring.

Band Facts

• Formed in Dayton, OH in 2005
• Named for the novel by Lauren Weisberger
• Current members – Mike Hranica, Jeremy Depoyster, Andy Trick, Daniel Williams
• 5 full-length albums, 1 live album, and 2 EP’s

The Devil Wears Prada has changed a bit since their founding in 2005. From those early days, they have risen to become one of the top names in metalcore, Christian or otherwise, and have toured with almost all of the top names in the genre. Internally, the most significant change came this past year when one of the founding members, guitarist Chris Rubey, left the band to pursue other interests. In terms of the band’s sound, you can hear their maturation in albums 8:18 and their latest release, The Space EP, compared to their first two or three albums. At their core, however, they remain true to themselves and their roots, maintaining their faith and their style. It’s an interesting juxtaposition to hear a band so heavy with songs titled Dogs Can Grow Beards All Over, This Song Is Called, and Danger: Wildman, such as they had on their earlier albums. But this silliness and light, revealed for example on their Zombie EP release, is as much at the heart of the band as the seriousness and introspection of the album 8:18, which is taken from Romans 8:18 and focuses on various manifestations of suffering and misery in the lives of believers. For Student Activities, The Devil Wears Prada has been one of the most requested bands in their genre for several years now, and we are happy to present them in concert for the students of Liberty University.

Sources

• The Devil Wears Prada Biography
• Metal Outfit The Devil Wears Prada on the Bible Verse That Inspired ‘8:18’ Album
• Interview: The Devil Wears Prada vocalist Mike Hranica on his new book, One & A Half Hearts
• BCPOD 39 Mike Hranica from The Devil Wears Prada
• Tom’s Spotlight Band: The Devil Wears Prada