Wake up, wake up!

underOATH was really great last night. There were 4 bands, and the total show was almost 3.5 hours long! As headliners, they got a full hour, which is the longest I've ever seen them play (as this time there were no random pipes bursting above our heads, flooding the floor with 3 inches of foul-smelling water and interrupting the show).

Their set list was, for anyone who cares (I think there might be one or two of you...) something like this...:

• Salmarnir (Pretty cool to start a hardcore show in LA screaming Psalm 50 on top of an otherwise instrumental track)
  
• Returning Empty Handed
  
• In Regards to Myself
  
• It's Dangerous Business Walking Out Your Front Door
  
• To Whom It May Concern
  
• You're Ever So Inviting
  
• Young and Aspiring
  
• Writing On Walls
  
• A Moment Suspended in Time
  
• Everyone Looks So Good From Here
  
• Casting Such a Thin Shadow
  
• Encore: A Boy Brushed Red Living in Black and White (they always close with this!)
  

It was just a really cool time. The opening bands were pretty good (Poison the Well especially) and two of them are not Christians. I appreciate that underOATH always makes a point to let people know they are believers. Last night Spencer (the screamer) simply said something like "We are Christians and the reason we do all this is to honor Jesus and tell people that God loves them. We aren't better than any of you because we believe in God or because we are up on this stage, but I wouldn't be alive if it wasn't for Jesus. My life used to be ruled by addictions and Christ set me free from all that. We don't want to push anything on you, but come talk with us after the show if you wanna know more about this."

They are so passionate that it's absolutely contagious. The crowd was united in these songs, moving and screaming and dancing with every ounce of strength they had. It's beautiful. The reason I love underOATH so much is that there is nothing fake or pretentious in their music. They don't try to pretend that life is easy even with Christ, but no matter how dark or hard, they always come back to hope. "I know the light is blinding to the naked eye, so why don't you take steps away from being alone. I swear it's not to late for you. It's all worth reaching for the hand to pull you out. Wake up!"

My bud Tyrel once talked about seeing POD play live, and how every time they play "Alive" he steps back from the pit and just worships God, and it's one of the most spiritual, real, intense moments. That's how underOATH is to me. Somehow every gut shaking kick of the drums, every dissonate, distorted guitar chord, every scream is worship. So leaving with a headache, aching body, ringing ears, and a hoarse throat doesn't even bother me cause it's like I left everything out there on the floor as a sacrifice. Maybe that's why I think there should be more screaming in worship songs... :)

\m/