view this week's issue in Adobe PDF version - Eujacksonville.com

Grabbag, Poncho Villa Doozer’s Pub, Jax
Falling At Will Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850)
Spacebar Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
Strings of Fire Jimadores, Jax (739-5828)
Louder Than Eleven Brewsters, Jax (223-9850)
Mike Sweet & Friends Mi Casa Café, St. Augustine
(824-9317)
Payton Page Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Nightfi re Freebird Live, Jax Beach (246-2473)
Sonoma Fuel, Jax (425-3835)
Tony Steve JU Swisher Theatre, Jax
NH3 Band GQ’s, Jax
Battle of the Bands River City Brewing Company,
Jax (398-2299)
Jackal & Hyde Endo Exo, Jax (396-7733)
E Down Club 2000, Jax
Madison Fadeout Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884)
Stu Weaver Harry’s, Jax Beach (247-8855)
Derick House of Jam, Mandarin (262-3377)
Open Mic w/Larry Broussard St. Johns Pizza Grill,
Jax (287-9900)
Nimencia Yesterday’s, Jax (387-0502)
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
Those Guys Sunset Grill, St. Augustine (471-5555)
Dan Shepherd Harpoon Louie’s, Jax (389-5631)
Normal Town Ragtime Tavern, Atlantic Beach
Isaac Byrd Jr. De Real Ting Café, Jax
Michael Funge Culhane’s Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach
(249-9595)
JW Gilmore Blues Gypsy Cab Company, St. Augustine
Tarik Hassan Sahara Café, Jax
David Milam Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Pili Pili Ocean Club, Jax Beach (242-8884)
Jimmy Parrish Carib Key, Jax Beach (270-8940)
Eyes Set To Kill Thee Imperial, Jax (475-0488)
Double Down Band Michelle’s, Jax (353-0002)
Nervous Breakdown Brewsters Pit, Jax (223-9850)
Matanzas Trade Winds Lounge, St. Augustine (829-8646)
Battle for Planetfest Jack Rabbits, Jax (398-7496)
Don David Trio Creekside Dinery, St. Augustine
(829-6113)
Soulo Kingfi sh Grill, St. Augustine (824-2111)
Spade McQuade Fionn Maccool’s, Jax Beach (242-9499)
Big Engine Whitey’s Fish Camp, Orange Park (269-4198)
3rd Bass The Casbah, Jax (981-9966)
El Toro Loco Square One, Jax (306-9004)
Jan Crawford & Friends Cortesses, St. Augustine
(825-6775)
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
Joey Cortesses, St. Augustine (825-6775)
Charlie Walker Mellow Mushroom, Jax (997-1955)
Sam Pacetti The Mill Top, St. Augustine (829-2329)
Lary Smith Harmonious Monks, Jax (886-3040)
Steve Wheeler Band Tastings, Jax
Band of Destiny Square One, Jax (306-9004)
Nolan Neal Fly’s Tie Irish Pub, Atlantic Beach (246-4293)
Chris C-4 Mann The Oasis, St. Augustine (471-3424)
24
september 13-19, 2007 | entertaining u newspaper
a christian music
gathering
New Life Coffeehouse
BY BRENTON CROZIER
WHAT: New Life Coffeehouse
WHERE: Park Street Church (West Side)
WHEN: Every Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
EXPLANATION: Coffeehouse with Contemporary
Christian Performers Representing All Genres and
Free Coffee and Snacks
The New Life Coffeehouse takes place every
Saturday night at 6:30 in the recreation hall of the
Park Street Church. George Arvin, a musician in the
praise band at the church, started the coffeehouse in
June to give other Christian artists a venue to perform.
The concept of the coffeehouse was spurred
from George’s childhood experience of being thrown
out of church for playing rock-n-roll. He explained
to me that things have really come a long way since
then and that Christians should be a powerful arm of
the popular culture.
“Christian music is continually growing and
adopting all genres of popular music, it is a great
medium to spread to word of God,” George said.
Crowd and performer turnout has been unpredictable
in both numbers and styles. The assortment
of artists is part of the event’s charm. Despite a lack
of continuity in atmosphere, artists, and even audience
members, the coffeehouse works. I attended
this past Saturday and quickly realized that it wasn’t
about creating a scene, but instead providing a welcoming
spot for artists of all stripes to perform and
enjoy fellowship.
“It’s open to everyone, but I’m mainly targeting
an age group of 18 and older with contemporary
Christian music that touches all genres,” George
told me. He is not trying to compete with Murray Hill
Theater, although he is hoping for some of the acts
that regularly appear
there to play at the New
Life Coffeehouse. There
is even a hope that
Christian comedy and
more hip-hop acts will
be part of the mix.
The coffeehouse
takes place inside of
Park Street Church to limit the amount of overhead.
You won’t fi nd any dilapidated sofas, weather-worn
books, bins of sweet-smelling coffee beans, or
even an espresso machine surrounded with clouds
of steam, but rather a corner of your grandparent’s
living room, large white tables with slightly uncomfortable
chairs, and a single coffee maker. Despite
the unconventional touches that makes it scream
“church,” the atmosphere is relaxed and laid back.
There is low lighting, a decent sound system, and
plenty of room for musicians to perform.
I wouldn’t say that the ambiance is what it
should be, but it is another part of the progression
that New Life is hoping for. Like many other aspects
of the coffeehouse, it will be formed by the people
who participate in it. There is nothing particularly
hip about the coffeehouse’s presentation or overall
aim, but upon talking to those who participated and
simply were spectators, it makes you kind of glad
that they don’t care. The crowd embraced all of the
performers, but they especially enjoyed TB1 (theblessed1.com),
The Blessed 1. In so many words,
it was a rather white bread audience, but they got
down from the start and waved their hands in the air,
waved them like they just didn’t care.
TB1 and his hype man Steve read about New
Life Coffeehouse online. They performed with prerecorded
tracks, and were able to involve the audience
and make it work. I wouldn’t say the crowd participated
charismatically, but there were a number of
positive verbal responses to TB1’s songs. TB1 (Stephen)
has been at the Christian rap game for more
than 7 years. He has spent 4 years on Jacksonville-based
Christian label No Compromise records
(nocompromiserecords.com). Although only playing
for 12 of us tonight, TB1 has had the opportunity to
perform at the TD Jakes MegaFest, open for Vickie
Winans, perform at the Convoy of Hope during the
Super Bowl, and open for Bow Wow. His new album
was released in August and he is performing as
much as he can to promote it. George told me that
TB1 is exactly the type of act he has been hoping to
bring to the New Life Coffeehouse.
George takes video of all the performers that
have played at the coffeehouse and posts it on the
coffeehouse’s MySpace account at myspace.com/
newlifecoffeehouse. His long term vision for the coffeehouse
is to provide all of Jacksonville’s rich pool
of diverse Christian musicians a place to play. Additionally,
he would like to be able to build a pool of
talent to be able to send artists as guest musicians
to area churches on a donation basis. He explained
that a lot of churches don’t have the funds to bring
musicians in, and he wants to be able to provide
the service while fulfi lling performer’s wishes for a
venue to get their inspired music out.
Next Saturday (September 15 th ), Brian Jones
from Tampa, who has opened for Sonic Flood, will
be performing and the following Saturday (September
22 nd ) local band Terrill and Company will be
kicking off their nationwide tour at New Life. Stop
by for these great acts and to enjoy free coffee, tea,
lemonade, cookies and muffi ns. There are no cover
charges and all food is free, but donations are never
turned down.
There is no trap, you won’t leave with tacky
tracts, and it is not a ploy for money for the church.
If you’re interested in contemporary Christian music
and culture, you can be a part of cultivating it in
Jacksonville by participating in New Life Coffeehouse.