Flatfoot 56, Circle Pits, Outcasts, Bands, Free Download

Flatfoot 56, "a Celtic punk band from Chicago," is one of the more prolific bands that plays Rage Fest, and perhaps the only one that played this year that has complete crossover appeal. They play in clubs and the like more often than Christian events, and they actually took a break from their tour with secular band Authority Zero to come play Rage. Whether they are your style or not, it's well worth seeing them in-person, if just for the spectacle. I like it best when they play the occasional Gospel song (they usually play "Amazing Grace", at least at Rage, and sometimes "I'll Fly Away").



Of all the bands at Rage, you're also perhaps the most likely to get trampled at their concert, between the stampedes, circle pits, and so forth. Then again, maybe not; the security guys love Flatfoot 56 and always have everyone's back.


Yes, that is a circle pit around the sound booth.

Oh, and Flatfoot 56 has a free download of "Courage" on their webpage (on the right side, near the top)! You have to give them your email but I got the MP3 just fine.

OK, I don't think that just because a musician is on-stage, that gives them any special knowledge about God (or anything else except maybe life as a musician). But, Tobin (I'm almost sure it was) of Flatfoot 56 noted that God was laying on his heart to tell everyone that Christians need to make an effort to befriend the outcasts--that person with a nervous tic is the only example he mentioned that I recall, but basically befriend the friendless and such, citing his experience with special-ed kids as one of the most positive things he's ever done (I'm paraphrasing here). The thing is, Tobin mentioned, Jesus ministered to the people on the fringe of society. Not that He loved the rich and the people who had it together any less, but as followers of Christ, we're called to be like Him.

Good stuff, particularly poignant given that he was talking just one weekend after the Tucson shootings (committed by someone I'd definitely consider an outsider and outcast). As to HOW to implement that advice? I'm really not sure, unless I'm meant to go volunteer somewhere, which is good, but the opportunities you see often don't encourage more than a one-time interaction. Maybe reaching out to more people online? Retirement homes?

He also mentioned that if your friend has a problem, you can offer to pray with him. And he mentioned how hard it was to be a band out touring, and said that if you have a band that the Lord lays on your heart, you should not only go to their concerts and buy their merch(andise), but he noted that it was even more important to pray for them every day. I've picked my band and am going to TRY to pray for them daily for a year (starting mid-January).

One interesting thing about Christian bands, though--they don't tend to last terribly long (I can't compare stats with secular "indie" bands, which are the closest equivalent I can think of). Often they'll just put out an album or two. On the one hand, I think it's sad that they can't continue forever, particularly the ones who play the most awesome worship music (Delirious and Ever Stays Red come to mind). But on the other hand, whether they have financial success, whether they ever get famous, if they're doing what God asks of them, they're successful. I'm not a musician, but I know if I wrote a book that God wanted me to write, and it brought one person to Christ, I'd consider it a success. Not to say I wouldn't get frustrated if it had no visible success, granted, but if you're following your calling and your passion, there's satisfaction in that.