Revelation Generation 2009 provided an awesome venue for non-profits to get their name out to a receptive Christian youth audience. To Write Love on Her Arms is a non-profit that is quite popular amongst modern day music fans, as many of today’s most popular acts promote the brand in various ways. Frequently attending Warped Tours and music festivals all over the country, TWLOHA is dedicated to presenting hope and finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury and suicide. I sat down with James, a representative, to learn more about TWLOHA.
How long has TWLOHA been around, and where did it all start? -It all started on MySpace in 2006, where a group of individuals wanted to sell shirts to raise money for a friend who needed treatment. Quickly, it resulted in many individuals responding and sharing stories of their own. Before we knew it, we had a huge network of people who were able to give each other advice and hope.
What gave you the idea to promote with musicians? -Because MySpace is so integrated with music, what happened is that musicians started taking notice, and were some of the first to buy our shirts. Our biggest help was word of mouth advertising. People would see guys from their favorite bands wearing the shirts, and start talking about it to friends. Also, our message connects with a lot of the lyrics that bands write, so they can relate to what we’re trying to say.
Do you promote outside of the music industry? -While we mostly attend music events, we try to make as many appearances we can each year. We also frequent charity events and any festivals that share a similar message.
What has made TWLOHA so successful? -To tell you the truth, we’re such a real organization, not just another non-profit that is asking for money. I think our message hits home with everyone. We’re all about encouraging people to talk about these issues, and that it’s ok to talk about tough stuff. We encourage everyone to “be yourself,” and we’re a very open community. People feel comfortable talking with us about getting help.
Thanks to James and all of the TWLOHA crew! You can learn more about the organization and buy apparel at www.twloha.com.
Emery was one of the first bands to hit Tent 7 on Friday at Rev Gen 2009- which attracted a small group of lucky fans who got a chance to learn about how the band came together, and what it means to have Christ in their lives.
The guys from Emery started in Church choir, growing up in a Christian atmosphere and singing through high school. “We didn’t start playing guitar until college” mentioned guitarist Devin Shelton.
Toby Morrell (Bass/Vocals) helped explain Emery’s message. “We write about relationships with family, God, and people you dislike. It’s usually a whole bunch of things that can happen in relationships. You can be blessed, hurt, etc.”
When asked about their main influences, the guys mentioned “50′s and 60′s rock n’ roll”, which had deep meaning with the lyrics. They explained how the music from this time period generally came across as happy, but there was an undertone that not everything was necessarily going to last. Toby mentioned that he enjoys finding multiple meanings in music. Also on their list were Queen and Weezer, and a lot of indie rock.
Now in their ninth year as a band, one fan asked how they stay creative while creating new music. “We rely on each other” mentioned Toby. He went on to say that they all contribute to writing, and if one person is stuck, they might ask another for help, or to hear some old stuff they’ve written for inspiration. Their main motivation to write music is that they love it, and want to be real for their fans. They feel a need to be honest with people – and to be able to relate to them, which is why the focus on relationships of all kinds.
“We get caught up in our lives, and there’s constantly a daily struggle of “Jesus is Lord vs. ME.” Toby added that last week he dropped his brand new iPhone, and he and his wife both screamed and looked at one another. “I wish I could be as devastated about a homeless person, or something that really matters.” He closed by saying that “Everything gets better with Jesus in my life.”
Emery shared similar messages to their fans, drawing a huge crowd in a lively set that include both new and old material.
You can check out Emery and their new album “…In Shallow Seas We Sail” at emerymusic.com.
As a veteran festival attendee, I’ve been to countless Warped Tours, Bamboozles, and all other alternative music festivals that stop by the New York area. But this past weekend at Revelation Generation 2009 was something different. I’ve even been to several Christian music events, but nothing that compared to the scale of Revelation Generation 2009.
Unlike the events listed above, RevGen 2009 started with something special – a word of prayer. Under Friday’s blue skies, the early arrivers bowed their heads before The Glorious Unseen took to the New York stage. This set the mood for the entire weekend, as throughout the weekend thousands of teens were given the chance to learn more about Christ while watching their favorite bands, many of them for the first time. Sean Grom of the RevGen steering committee commented “Revelation Generation is not just a concert. We want to see lives changed.”
“I don’t care, I’ve seen The Devil Wears Prada, I can die now!” said a girl of fourteen or fifteen years. Interestingly enough, each band stressed throughout the weekend that they do not deserve to be looked at as anyone different than the fans in the crowd. This was also the aim of “Tent 7,” a place where a few lucky fans were able to meet and greet their favorite bands and listen to what they had to say. Most shared messages about being saved, and how God and music have changed their lives. “We try to do the right thing, and let people down all the time” says Toby Morrell of Emery. Many bands, including Underoath and Switchfoot told stories about tough times in their lives, and how they wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for God’s love. At the end of each Tent 7 session, people unfamiliar with Christ were given the chance to receive a bible and talk to the friendly volunteer staff so that they could learn more about what it means to be a Christian – something a lot of youth took advantage of.
Friday’s acts kept their fingers crossed as the breeze began to cool and the clouds began to darken. Although Emery introduced themselves as the “official Underoath tailgate party,” their performance was nothing less than spectacular. After, fans got treated to Haste the Day, who encouraged listeners to “stand up for what you believe in, even when everything falls away.” Attendees were reminded that it’s easy to do the right thing in a Christian atmosphere such as RevGen. But when you go out into the world; whether at school or work, or even seeing the same bands in a non-Christian setting, stay true to what’s important to you and to God.
Over on the Philadephia stage, popular artists like Matthew West, Jars of Clay, and MercyMe pumped out their chart-topping hits. Joining them was Delirious?, in what will most likely be their last show in the United States, as they have decided to split ways in November 2009. Dressed in three piece suits, the band from the UK is best known for their 1994 song “I Could Sing of your Love Forever.” Friday bands didn’t have huge crowds, but that didn’t stop them from putting out amazing music that echoed over the massive space that is Revelation Farms. Jars of Clay ended up drawing the biggest crowd of the night, playing songs from the new album all the way back to their self-titled. This was the first time I personally felt God over the weekend – I’ve been listening to Jars for about six years, and to look around and see everyone singing along and praising God was quite amazing. Even though just about everyone was there to see different bands, everyone was really at RevGen for a similar reason; to praise God through music, and not worry about work or school.
Closing out the night was Underoath, who stressed the importance of the fact that we cannot tell other what to do, but that we can love people, be open minded, and have open hearts, while loving everyone the same. A large group prayer followed, where several of the tents were packed with teens who shared tear-jerking testimonials and words of guidance.
One event attendee, Kate Laird, 24, from Port Republic, NJ, commented that she wished that all of the RevGen bands would talk more about Christ onstage at their other shows. I agree, and hope that bands will continue to thank God while onstage, and reach out to music fans that really need help finding God in their lives.
Saturday’s weather ended up being a bit hotter, as temperatures rocketed up to the high 80′s. (Come on, that’s hot for September in Jersey!) Thankfully, RevGen was also more reasonable about water prices, selling bottles for just a dollar – talk about unheard of! The proceeds from the food and beverage sales benefited various local charities. Speaking of charities, RevGen’s merch tent provided an awesome outlet for many non-profits, including Gospel for Asia, Rockforlife.org, To Write Love on Her Arms, and several Christian apparel brands. Fans got a chance to get some free gear, find out more about a charity, and donate money directly.
Also in attendance were several local colleges, which provided a great chance for all high school and middle school students to get a peak at some of the northeast’s finest Christian based schools. In attendance were Philadelphia Biblical College, Baptist Bible College, and Messiah College, and many others. With free t-shirts and private orientation dates, I’m sure many teens took advantage of a free college fair during the weekend.
August Burns Red, ready to headline their next tour, gave Staurday’s crowd a reason to arrive early. Before their performance, fans heard a message from festival organizers explaining that love is what will build the music community, and parents learned that although the music of the Philadelphia stage may sound “angry,” it is passionate, and presents a strong message. The weekend provided Christian music for all types of fans, which is why it is such a big hit for youth groups and families. Other attractions included skateboarding and BMX demos, and multiple volleyball courts not too far away from the main stages.
Jon Foreman of Switchfoot packed the Nashville stage tent on Saturday afternoon, with fans literally overflowing out the sides of the tent for a solo performance. In an intimate setting, he let listeners choose which songs they wanted to hear. He mentioned that he writes music to take care of the things in the world that don’t make sense, and that music is all about communicating these issues. The fans sang along, and got a kick out of references to Bob Dylan and Wayne’s World 2.
I got a chance to sit down with Mindy Daleo, who played on the Nashville Stage Saturday afternoon as well. She explained that if there’s one thing you need to know, it’s that “Anywhere you’re at, you can get out of it. I’ve been there.” She said that she can’t stand how religion is presented these days, and “Believes in a God you can talk to in your living room.” This message is one that is close to my heart, as I often find myself talking to God in the middle of my day in any given place.
Before I mention Saturday’s headlining acts, let’s take a look at two other side stages. Ranging from the pioneers in the Southern Christian hip-hop, GRITS, to B.Reith’s Nashville based band, the Urban Stage provided an opportunity for exposure to some fresh Christian artists. MyChildren, MyBride, and Impending Doom were the big names on the Come and Live stage, which attracted a steady flow of fans that came to see the headlining acts. Between dance teams and DJ’s, these stages offered something different than the Christian alternative scene.
The Devil Wears Prada played a lot of new material in an energetic set that had the crowd surfing and circling in pits that “exceeded (the bands) expectations.” It certainly seemed as if the crowd and the band were feeding off of each other’s energy, as TDWP too mentioned that everything that happens in the crowd is just as important as what they’re up to on stage. Lastly, they made sure attentive fans knew that even as devout Christians, they too make mistakes.
Saturday evening’s performances included Relient K, MercyMe, Switchfoot, and Flyleaf. Relient K treated their old fans to a special set which included tracks like “Mood Rings” and “Sadie Hawkins Dance,” all while busting out trumpets, accordions, and even a bit of 90′s rap. Flyleaf’s Lacy Mosley was the only female at RevGen – she was joined by the talent of Fireflight, Blanca Reyes of Group 1 Crew, Mindy Daleo, and the award winning BarlowGirl.
In passing, I heard a girl mention “I feel like this year it went by so fast.” I truly felt the same way, as the headlining acts were flowing all weekend long. Luckily, I (like everyone else) didn’t have time for a single break, and found myself joining packs of teens running from stage to stage in order to try and catch the end of a set.
This year’s Revelation Generation Festival provided an awesome venue for music fans to come together in a Christian setting. Let’s hope that the future holds more events of this sort all over the country!
You can find out more about Revelation Generation at www.revgen.org
or on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Rev_gen
