They Left Us In The 2010s
Alternative/Indie Edition: Defunct, disbanded, hiatus or just uncomfortable silence?
Hi Pal,
Welcome to another newsletter. Bonus Stuff is an umbrella column for ideas that do not fit into the other content brackets I write here.
Thinking back to my formative years, I have come to the conclusion that 2008-2015 was a very significant period for music in the alternative Christian music scene. Beyond the formation of new bands or the creation of new projects, many bands and artists already established at the time released some of their best music in this period.
It also felt like — at least from my corner of the world — the industry was generally more accommodating and diverse and what we have come to know as CCM and pop-infused worship music was not as widespread as it has become now.
By 2014, it has become clear that something had started to change. Many bands had disbanded at this point and those who hadn’t had either changed their sound; stopped being Christians or taken an indefinite hiatus. Circling back to 2023, we have experienced the return of some of these folks over the years (Anberlin and Decyfer Down being the most recent examples that come to my mind).
Still, I can’t help but feel the gaping hole that some of these bands and artists that haven’t crossed over into the 2020s left behind. We’ll be looking at some of these musicians and speaking about at least one album from each of them.
House of Heroes
Alternative Rock
Status: Active (Hiatus?)
Of all the bands on this list, HoH has the most expansive discography and that’s the reason I’m still quite surprised by their lack of music past 2016. With Tim Skipper (lead vocals, guitar), Colin Rigsby (drums, backing vocals) and A.J. Babcock (bass guitar, backing vocals) as original members, they started out with the name No Tagbacks
before changing their name and releasing their debut album What You Want Is Now in 2003. Since that time they have released five more albums with their latest being Colors in 2016.
Cold Hard Want (2012)
I never forget my first taste of a band and this album certainly left an impression on me. HoH has a solid discography and there are many hidden gems to choose from but songs like Touch This Light, Comfort Trap, We Were Giants and I Am A Symbol are so good that it’s hard to believe they all come from the same album. It’s incredible work from this stellar band.
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An Epic No Less
Electronica, Pop Rock
Status: Defunct
I’ve come to the conclusion that this band exists only to break my heart. This band from St. Louis, Missouri is made up of Todd Larson (vocals, piano), Daniel Chancellor (drums), Hannah Chancellor (piano, vocals), Brittany Stutz (violin) and Neil Endicott (guitar). Back in 2012, they released one of my most treasured albums to date and have been silent ever since.
Echo Of Love (2012)
This album was key to my understanding of and exposure to electronic infusions in Christian rock and pop music. It’s an enjoyable album with so many great moments of lyrical depth with songs like One Word, Mercy Light, Echo Of Love and Rescue Me.
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Ivoryline
Alternative Rock
Status: Defunct
These guys are so good. Ivoryline, which began as Dead End Driveway, is one of those bands that I failed to really appreciate when I first discovered them. As the years have passed, their music has aged really well and I miss their energetic and emotional brand of alternative rock. The band is the collaborative effort of Jeremy Gray (vocals), Dusty Kittle (guitar), Shane Rivette (bass) and West Hart (drums). Unfortunately, like the other bands on this, they have just two albums to their name: There Came A Lion [2008] and Vessels [2010]
Vessels (2010)
As I have alluded to already, I did not start appreciating this album until around 2013 — better late than never. Vessels is a stellar project with many memorable moments. Jeremy Gray’s pitch and vocal texture can communicate a wide array of emotions and that gives the band the opportunity to create different types of songs like Instincts, Broken Bodies, Search Me Out and No One Else. Lyrically, the album is sound and quite expressive about their faith touching on many biblical themes.
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The Ember Days
Indie Rock
Status: Inactive (Disbanded?)
No entry on this list makes me sadder than this one. The Ember Days are Janell Belcher (vocals and keys), Jason Belcher (vocals and rhythm guitar) Jordan McGee (drums), Logan MacKenzie (guitar) and Jedidiah Lachmann (bass). When I first came across their music, I could not quite believe that they were Christian because their style of indie rock was something that was rare on the scene.
More Than You Think (2013)
Their earlier releases had stronger alternative rock leanings but things really changed with their 2013 album, More Than You Think. It’s one of the strongest indie rock albums of that year and balances reverence and worship with artistry and craft in ways that they have not been able to replicate. My standout tracks for this album are Make It Alright, More Thank You Think, Real Jesus & Sons and Daughters.
On their last album, Valitus, there was a shift in their tone as the band approached worship from the viewpoint of lament and pain. This came out in 2015 and not long after, they vanished.
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That’s it for today.
If you enjoyed this and you’re open to a part 2 in other genres, let me know in the comments okay?
Catch you at the next one!
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