By Keith Tackeberry, who became a freelance writer because he heard chicks dig guys who know all about dangling participles.

November 29, 2009

Hearts of Saints’ Dec. 6 Show Your Heart Concert

In an otherwise un-labeled YouTube video (below), the band Hearts of Saints is absolutely, utterly, unabashedly and unashamedly tearing up the stage.

Bassist Joel Purdy is slinging his instrument over his shoulder, while guitarist LJ Granstaff manically constructs bar chords with his left hand over the neck of the guitar; drummer Jason Killebrew is double-bass pedaling and I’m not even sure he has two bass drums (maybe a double pedal for the edification of us music wonks).

Meanwhile, Lead Singer Craig Felker races and prowls the stage looking a little like Pete Wentz from Fall-Out Boy.

Much to their benefit — and ours — Hearts Of Saints sound nothing like Fall-Out Boy. They are good and loud — and good — and the crowd is theirs, save possibly for a couple of people in the video, seated as passively as anyone waiting for a bus transfer; one has to wonder just what they are thinking (if indeed they can even hear themselves think). 

Maybe they expected something else, maybe they’ve seen it all before, but for those who have not, make plans now to amend that omission and stop at nothing (well, nearly nothing) to attend Hearts Of Saints’ “Show Your Heart” show, 6 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, in the sanctuary of Four Rivers Covenant Church, 1200 Jefferson St.

Oh, yeah, maybe forgot to mention that part: Hearts Of Saints is a Christian band. A more apt description is to be found on the bands website: “Merging infectious rock/dance pop amalgamations with spiritually-centered reflections steeped in social relevance, Hearts of Saints is a buzz-worthy fresh face on the Christian music scene.”

And how, brother.

With all apologies to the author of that mot, “rock/dance pop amalgamations” doesn’t completely define Hearts Of Saints. Think maybe a little of early U2, especially with the Edge-style bottom-of-the-neck/wash-boarding guitar riffs and the Larry Mullins Jr. attack on snare and bass married to Adam Clayton’s loping bass-lines on the band’s track The Secret.

Even Craig Felker’s voice is possessed by some of that same Bono-like energy and urgency that forces you to listen to what he is singing, and daring you not to be inspired by it.

Not that Hearts Of Saints is a U2 pastiche (remember: amalgamations.) Their sound is original and just as good live as on a recording, a proud boast precious-few bands can make in this studio-enhanced/created/faked world in which a lot of performers have made a happy and profitable home.

As their Web site also mentions, these guys are road-warriors. They know what it’s like to tote their own gear, set it up sans guitar tech, blow the roof off the place and then pack it all up again.

They’ve done just that with GRITS, a hip-hop duo that are also label-mates on Revolution Art. They, along with Jade Harrell, just wrapped up the Art Attack Tour this fall performing in Dallas, San Antonio, Chattanooga and even in Glendive, Montana, to name a few!

As for Hearts Of Saints addition to the Revolution Art stable, label president Mo Henderson says he strives to work with artists who are full of passion and creative potential. “As a music lover, I look for talent that is both relevant and inspiring, and I believe we’ve found the best of both worlds with Hearts of Saints. After my first meeting with the guys, it became evident that we were in for something special.”

Citing bands like U2, Switchfoot and The Killers as alternative-flavored influences, Craig Felker promises audiences something other than tear-the-roof down musical energy:
“We’re not saying we’re ‘holier than thou’ or ‘saintly’ so to speak, but rather that were striving to live a life that reflects Jesus,” he says. “Our hope is to refresh people with our musical passions and also to lend them some encouragement no matter how severe their situation may seem.”

Listeners in more than seven countries and who-knows-how many users on iTunes are creating a steady and building buzz for the band’s self-titled release on Revolution Art, set for Jan. 26. Pre-release copies are available at live shows, including at the “Show Your Heart” benefit.

Just bring some economy-sized canned goods as the Community Kitchen is in need of some inventory. Myself, I’d grab one of those six-pound cans of creamy peanut butter available at your local Megalomaniac Mart and a couple loaves of bread.

Get some for yourself too, because the energy of Hearts Of Saints live show may leave you spiritually filled, but in need of a quick nosh from all the jumping around you will be doing. Maybe even bring a snack for the couple that was just sitting there in the YouTube video: maybe they were just tired.