Christian Rock Needs To Find Its Own Way
Petra Sunday, April 14, at the Opera House
Now that contemporary Christian rock is finding more of an audience in the mainstream, it’s trying so hard to tap into arena rock success.
In the last two years, Christian concerts have become arena-ized. Stage shows are beefed-up. Monster sound systems blast bands into the heavens. Lights and smoke - vital staples of arena rock - are more widely employed. And there’s lots of snazzy merchandise for concert-goers to empty their pockets on.
All of this was obvious at the Petra/ Whiteheart/Johnny Q. Public/ Gramma Train concert Sunday night at the Spokane Opera House.
So what’s keeping the majority of the Christian bands out of the arenas? Or, why are the ones playing the arenas not pulling in significant numbers?
As Petra proved on Sunday, it’s because of the music.
Critics have slagged Christian rock for being out of touch with current trends. What kids were listening to six or seven years ago isn’t filling arena seats today.
In the last nine years, mainstream rock has succumbed to “alternative” music.
Petra, from harmonies to guitar riffs, sounds like a cross-pollenization of Van Halen’s “5150” from 1985 and Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” in 1987.
Petra’s stage show resembled that of Def Leppard’s from the “Pour Some Sugar on Me” video, only smaller. There were large multi-level, metallic platforms and towering pedestals. All of which enabled band members to jump around like boobs and strike some heavy-duty cheesy posing, aspects of arena rock that disappeared with the 1980s.
Further, “Think Twice” from Petra’s latest offering, “No Doubt,” bears an awfully strong resemblance to “Pour Some Sugar on Me,” even more so live.
Petra certainly played well together. And the near-capacity crowd screamed as if it were the Beatles on stage.
However, if Petra and Christian rock in general wants to break out of its niche and start taking on arena giants - White Zombie, Nine Inch Nails and the Red Hot Chili Peppers - it must set musical trends, not follow them.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo