NewWorldSon interview & concert review
* Rich Moore - Bass, Vocals * Joshua Toal - Guitar, Vocals * Joel Parisien - Vocals, Keyboards * Mark Rogers - Drums
Listen to the new NewWorldSon CD, a self titled album featuring their hit song “There is a Way”, and you may scratching your head trying to figure out their sound. Before a concert near Tampa, I was able to spend time with drummer Mark Rogers who described NewWorldSon as “Four guys, with similar backgrounds, who love soul, jazz, reggae, ska, funk…our music can’t just be put in a single style.”
Photo/http://www.bigbangdist.com
As I learned about the Canadian foursome, I was struck by their passion.
NewWorldSon was forged out of a Tuesday night jazz club gig, supported by their local church in St. Catharines in Ontario, Canada.
“People from the church supported us as a great outreach. It was good music. The more bolder we performed, the more successful we became” but Rogers went on to admit “We questioned if the audience would want to here gospel.”
It would be understated to describe the subsequent three years as a meteoric rise in popularity, including eight months on the road opening for the Newsboys.
“The performances all over the world were exciting. We all worship the same God and music brings people together” Rogers says of the tour. NewWorldSon surely sharpened their skills and the concert at Bell Shoals Baptist Church exceeded all of my expectations.
NewWorldSon, Rich Moore on bass 10/08/10 Bell Shoals Baptist Church Photo/Brandon Jones
Lead singer Joel Parisien immediately took control and energized the crowd during “You Set the Rhythm”, dancing a jig that engaged his fans and when Parisien opened “Listen to the Lord” with his beatbox, even the most stubborn concertgoer abandoned their seat to stand and cheer.
“Our prayer is to have a good time with you, fellowship with you and in all honesty, for some Southern hospitality” Parisien confessed to the crowd who then joined in a “spiritual calisthenics” with an organized “soul clap” to get everyone’s juices flowing.
NewWorldSon: Toal on guitar, Parisien singing & keyboards, Rogers on drums and Moore on Bass 10/08/10 Bell Shoals Baptist Church, Brandon Florida Photo/Brandon Jones
Nearly everything about NewWorldSon is unorthodox: Josh Toal plays guitar in a suit while donning Converse, Rich Moore strums his bass sporting similar footwear on the opposite side of the stage and Parisien never removes his fedora until the show ends.
NewWorldSon making time, posing with fans after the show Photo/Brandon Jones
One pleasant surprise for me was NewWorldSon’s cover of U2′s “When Love Comes to Town” – a tribute that would please Bono and BB King alike. I’m a huge U2 fan and, as Mark Rogers and I discussed, we could share enjoyment with the multitude of influences.
A Chuck Berry guitar solo, Jerry Lee Lewis on piano both follow a Pop influenced intro to “Do You Believe in Love” — like B.B. King, Rogers confirms: “Oh yeah, they’re all in there. We love all of those guys.”
I wouldn’t want to discount the band’s commitment to God, the Holy Spirit and the worship. We witnessed the salvation of souls, weeping grown men, after an amazing testimony by the concert’s organizer Greg Shepard and the impactful “Sweet Holy Spirit.”
You say love is just a word,
just four letters in a row.
Just a thing that people say,
or they never tell you so.
- “There is a Way”
The lyrics that changed everything for me. Everyone has felt these emotions and this song bridges those feelings to scripture and the saving power of Jesus Christ.
Mark Rogers and I discussed the lyrics, the history of the band and their growing popularity, but it was Rogers’ humble appreciation of their fans that really impressed me: “Word of mouth has been the best marketing. What started while traveling with the Newsboys, we then started planting seeds…like right here in Tampa, like in Texas. It’s nice to perform professionally in a faith based band. It’s great to perform live.”
And oh yes, they know how to perform live.
Photo Jacob Jones
There is not a lot of production to the CDs. NewWorldSon appears to strive to deliver this energetic live array of songs as direct to the listener as possible. Rogers talked about completing the CD mostly in three with some “one take versions making the disc” – wow was my response. When the formula works – it works.
“Salvation Station” and “Working Man” brought down the house as a lead-in to the “Jamaican Medley” which features Toal and Parisien delivering reggae folk gospel with incredible passion and authenticity. Rogers’ drum solo was a topic of conversation in the line for the after party ‘meet and greet’. Moore grins as a he jives with the band from tune to tune.
Truly awesome.
Check out their webiste: http://www.newworldson.com
I’d be remiss not to mention the humorous and ironic exchange as I confessed that “Salvation Station” reminded me of the church sequence in Blues Brothers…folks doing backflips down the aisles. Rogers simply directed me to their YouTube YouTube page to find this gem.
Whether you are a Christian or like Christian music, I’d recommend NewWorldSon live for a great time and experience. I anticipate we’ll hearing more from these four gents from north of the border, so you’ll certainly get opportunities to catch a show – don’t miss it.
Two of the Jones kids posing with NewWorldSon Photo/Brandon Jones
STATE OF THE NATION – ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The “State of the Nation” column by Brandon Jones began on a website called Crazed Fanboy to discuss topics that the regular media were not reporting or barely discussed. While there was a strong political tone, there were no limits to topics or arenas discussed.
As the relationship with Crazed Fanboy deteriorated, the partnership between Robert Herriman (author “Insights”) and the Brian strengthen to for the current “Desk of Brian”.
Just as we have John Does or Average Joes, we created the “Regular Guy” approach to sorting through the news, adding our own commentary and opinions, fused with contributors from all over the globe.
Read past articles of “State of the Nation” by Brandon Jones click here
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These guys are amazing
YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!