[1]NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Have you ever wondered what a worship service led by Pink Floyd, the Beatles, or David Bowie would sound like? One worship band from Washington dared to dream, and it is only appropriate that they call themselves Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus.
This unique foursome consists of vocalist, guitarist, and founder Gabriel Wilson; his wife and keyboardist “Blurr;” the drummer “Zurn;” and lead guitarist “Solo.” After playing a few shows together, they went on a mission trip to Kenya, where they decided that they should become a professional worship band.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus released three independent recordings, including Big Star Logistics in 2001, before signing with Vertical Music record label for their national debut of Welcome to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus.
In considering Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus, it is important not to judge the band by its name, or even appearance for that matter. A Skillet look-alike, it is easy to pass them up and to not consider the depth of their lyrics, the artistic merit of their songs, or the new era of modern worship they have created.
What is so new and special about Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus?
Ironically enough, the only thing new about this band is that they have an old style. They unite the classic ’60’s and ’70’s rock ‘n’ roll with the modern worship movement to create a new spin on an old twist.
[2]Until now, the worship movement as we know it has been fueled by bands such as Deliriou5?. However, Worship Circus is introducing a few worship beats and tunes that The Kinks would envy.
Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus is not limited to just the classic rock ‘n’ roll, though. Modern rock ‘n’ roll, including the sounds of The Cure and All Star United, can be heard throughout the album also.
For instance, Pink Floyd is written all over the atmosphere of “The Undiscovered,” yet “Your Crown” can be mistaken for The Violet Burning.
Because of this groundbreaking music, the opportunity for bridging the generation worship gap is increasingly present. The reason for this is the combination of modern worship, which teens are attracted to, and the classic rock and roll, which Baby Boomers will recall with ease.
Upon first glance, I was very surprised to notice that Worship Circus does not include a bass guitar player. However, this hardly impacts the band, as Blurr often uses her keyboard to substitute as a bass.
My favorite song must be the upbeat “Ride”, which includes a British-rock influence similar to The Elms. Guitarist “Solo” definitely lives up to his nickname in the selection.
I do not mean to take the worship lightly. The intensity of the ballads shines straight through the lyrics with honesty and celebration. The focus of the band obviously is not to impress listeners with a fancy guitar solo, drum fill, or even the rock and roll essence brought to the table. The focus is to enter in the thrown-room of God and worship in a new and fresh way.
The lyrics, simple enough for worshippers to catch on easily, yet very profound, poetic, and artistic, give evidence for this.
Although there is room for gradual improvement, I am very impressed with Worship Circus’ first release. With so numerous worship bands today, it is nice to see one that is trying something completely different.
I recommend Welcome to the Rock ‘n’ Roll Worship Circus to anyone. The project can definitely be said to be “the greatest show on earth.”
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