REVIEW: AGENTS OF CHANGE [20080204]

"aaron greer band thankfully reflects its Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania roots: tough-but-tenderhearted. If you're a fan of Goo Goo Dolls, the boys from Buffalo, or New Jersey's favorite sons, Bon Jovi, then you will appreciate the aaron greer band and the honest, melodic guitar rock sound they are bring to today's Christian music scene with their compelling new project, Agents of Change."

— Mark Weber, ChristianMusicDaily.com

Aaron Greer Band CD cover I first met Aaron Greer on a hot summer day at an amusement park pavilion as we were both waiting in line to say “hi” to Christian singer Rebecca St. James at Kingdom Bound Christian music festival in Upstate New York. He and I were both young and giddy with excitement over our first encounter with Christian music's most famous and desirable female. He took my picture with her using my camera, and vice versa.

That was a few years ago, when Aaron kept busy as a member of the Christian rock band The Witness Protection Program. I remember him walking around the festival with another member of his band, and the other guy seemed like he was in the band on a whim, mostly for the fun of it, while Aaron seemed much more serious about the purpose of the band: to make relevant music to draw people to Christ. Aaron was earnest and wide-eyed at the time, not yet quite ready to publicly express himself through music. Like most bands, The Witness Protection Program eventually broke up as members grew older and went their separate ways. Fast forward to 2008-- Aaron continues to make music, but this time around, it's on his terms, with his vision, birthed years ago, coming to fruition.

Growing up, before Jesus was paramount in his life, young Aaron idolized the rock band KISS, the guys in the tight black leather clothes with their faces done up in outrageous white and black make-up. KISS brought a sense of theatricality to their performance, heavily influencing the Christian artist Aaron has since become. He noticed how their costumes, coupled with soaring guitars and strong vocals, captivated the audience, holding their attention in such a way that they'd believe whatever the band told them.

Aaron Greer Band Aaron has grown a lot as an artist during the past few years, going from a guy in a band to the leader of his own band, the “lowercased titled” aaron greer band, a compelling group which can best be described as three guys, two guitars, and one message.

So what's the message? It's that having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ can change a person's life for the better, as it changed Aaron, and his bandmates, C. Scott Gilbert on bass and Clarence Grant on drums. Unlike the uninspired Nashville-sound that most Christian bands have been putting out ad nauseum these past couple of years, aaron greer band thankfully reflects its Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania roots: tough-but-tenderhearted. If you're a fan of Goo Goo Dolls, the hard working rock band from Buffalo, or New Jersey's favorite sons, Bon Jovi, then you will appreciate the aaron greer band and the honest, melodic guitar rock sound they're trying to bring to today's Christian music scene.

With a time-tested voice that truly sounds, at times, as if Bon Jovi was singing about Jesus, Aaron delivers passionate vocals on the band's new release, “Agents Of Change.” Aaron took some of his style from legendary arena rockers like the aforementioned KISS and Bon Jovi and adapted it to suit his own audience—some Christian, some not. This style particularly comes across on the hard rock song “I Will Follow,” with its unique blend of crunching guitar riffs and progressive rock synthesizer background noises bubbling under the driving, energetic track that dares you not to want to bob your head and pump your fist in the air, along with the mellower, harmony-laden “I Want My Life To Speak,” which has alt-country elements. It's nice to hear a band that's ready to rock when it needs to, but also succeeds with tender ballads, which aaron greer band provides on “Agents Of Change” as well, with songs like “Because I'm Here,” with its bongo beat, and “One Man,” with its subtle-yet-heartfelt guitar sound and lyrics that'll make you think about where you stand with God.

An aaron greer band concert is a multi-media experience, not unlike a MercyMe or Newsboys concert where lots of lights, graphics, and special effects make for a spectacular show engaging the crowd. Bassist C. Scott Gilbert is the technical "programmer" brain behind the unique automated lighting and video components that make the aaron greer band's concerts a technologically artistic extravaganza. While what you'd see at an aaron greer band concert is most likely to dazzle your eyes, you'll also hear words that will challenge, inspire, and encourage you. Aaron and his bandmates are not ashamed to speak about their personal struggles on stage so they can, in turn, testify to what the Lord has done and encourage fans to be victorious in Christ.

For more info about this creative band, please visit www.aarongreerband.com; their new CD, “Agents Of Change,” will be released nationally through Infinity Music Distribution this March, and the group is ready to tour churches to support the new release. 

--Mark Weber, ChristianMusicDaily.com



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Press Contact:

C. Scott Gilbert
Small Towne Records
scotto@smalltownerecords.com
(724) 396-9169

©2008 Small Towne Records.  May be freely copied and distributed.
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