Jars Of Clay Brings Message To The Met

Jars of Clay did what few contemporary Christian bands have done before: sell a hit song to mainstream radio stations.

Earlier this year, Jars of Clay, which plays a sold-out concert at The Met on Tuesday, secured a major hit song with “Flood,” which was produced by King Crimson member and notable solo artist Adrian Belew.

In the last 10 years, the only other Christian artists that have fared well in the pop music arena have been Michael W. Smith, D.C. Talk and Amy Grant.

Now as a younger, talented crop of Christian bands begin to make their presence felt in music, more are turning into commercial successes.

Jars of Clay’s self-titled debut, which has sold strongly since its release several months ago, seems ripe for another hit as several alternative and adult alternative radio stations are beginning to air other selections from the album.

What’s particularly telling about this band’s commercial appeal is that Jars of Clay will accompany Hootie and the Blowfish on that top selling pop band’s fall national tour.

Opener Duncan Sheik isn’t a Christian act. He’s a Buddhist, and he doesn’t preach his beliefs in his music.

So far, Sheik is one of the most interesting singer-songwriters to appear on the national scene this year, toting a compelling album you wouldn’t expect a major label to peddle to the alternative fans.

The singer - the spitting image of actor Timothy Hutton - sidesteps conventional trappings of contemporary music on his self-titled debut. He layers enchanting musical textures (strings, classical guitar, piano and others) to each of the 11 songs, hatching an atmospheric and moody album.

Sheik masterfully pilots the album through thoughtful introspection and a deeply affecting and seasoned tenor voice.

“There aren’t too many records that sound like this, at least not now,” the musician said in his press materials. “Although a lot of the demos were more rock-oriented, as we went along, some of the songs organically became a bit mellower and more ambient, because, really, that’s the kind of music that I love.”

The album’s palpable mood was undoubtedly captured as a result of recording it with producer Rupert Hine (Kate Bush and the Waterboys) in a studio housed in a 150-year-old French chateau just outside of Paris.

Will you see this guy on MTV or hear him on local radio stations? Probably not anytime soon, so those lucky enough to already have a ticket shouldn’t be late for his opening set on Tuesday.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: CONCERT Jars of Clay and Duncan Sheik will play The Met on Tuesday, 8 p.m. Tickets are sold out.