The Cardinal Rise - April '07
In a world of classifiable music, there is a band that is out to push the limits of what can and can't be done. This band is The Cardinal Rise.
In a little under a year, the band has made quite a name for itself. Having formed in the summer of 2006, The Cardinal Rise has become one of most respected bands by their peers. They have been privileged to share the stage with such acts as Everyday Sunday, Andrew Osenga (of Caedmon’s Call and formerly of The Normals), Inhabited, Jack In The Pulpit, Consider The Source, the Toby Walters Band, Sarah Dossey (of Goodnight, Love), James Caronna, and the Gatlin Elms Band to name a few.
The band started picking up recognition in the fall of 2006. In September, they competed in a Houston area battle of the bands with about 48+ other bands from the Houston area. After winning "Fan Favorite" in the preliminary rounds of the competition, the band placed 3rd overall. Since then they have played a number of venues and churches both headlining and supporting. In February, the band traveled to Austin to compete in the Ignition Music Showcase. In the preliminary round, the band won the "Best In Band" only coming back to win the Grand Prize in the showcase. The band is now set to play for the National Ignition Showcase in Nashville, TN in the Spring of 2008.
"We're really excited to see what happens in the future." says the band's lead guitarist, Zach McNair. "It's been quite a journey thus far, and we feel that we've been blessed beyond what we would have ever imagined."
That statement is truth. Unlike most bands, the band didn't form out of an idea to become something great. In honesty, they formed sort of by accident. The Cardinal Rise was formed one evening out of an experimentation with some old demos that Zach had. When vocalist, Andrew James, bassist, Neil Sandoz, and Zach realized that they truly had something unique, they pushed to further the creation. The band realized it still lacked a needed an element and brought in friend and drummer, Courtney Pett, to play a number of shows before the line up was completed in January with drummer Ben Belk.
"One thing we want people to know about us is that we're not out there to help people ignore the problems in the world. We, instead, want to bring people to a place where they not only can recognize the problems in life but they can also see the hope in it as well. Yeah, we have music that grooves, but we'd be wasting our time if that's all we did. There's a great need to make people aware that there is hope in life, and hopefully, we can be one of the ways to help make that happen." Says vocalist, Andrew James.
hey i got the privilege of hearing andrew play at gatlin's cd release sunday night. *andrew if you remember i was the one who stopped you on my way out in the dark. haha. seriously when i do my next show i'm calling you. anyways. the band sounds amazing. i personally love the vocals. one word=phenominal. you guys have a great day.
We wanted to let you know that we tried to get a Houston show on this current tour but it fell through.
HOWEVER,
we are playing in Austin, College Station and Huntsville on Oct. 1st, 2nd and 3rd. We'd love to see you out at any of the shows. Check the myspace for details.
Thanks.
http://www.myspace.com/jetsunderfire with Stu Smith formerly of Robbie Seay Band & Smith Band on lead guitar. just thought i'd ask since you, Zach & Neil, just mentioned the RSBand to me the other day. you might really like them... :)
