BLEACH

by Mark Smeby for Crosswalk Music

The term "static" refers to a body at rest or in equilibrium. It implies a lack of motiona nothingness, of sorts. It can also refer to a position that one maintains. A closeness that never wavers.

That's the ticket.

Calling their latest album project ==Static== was a way for {{Bleach}} to encourage people to focus on staying close to God.

"I got a Super Good Feeling about today
I got a clue that it's You, and You're never gonna go away."

This mega-smash hit from ==Static== states it loud and clear that everyday life lived with Jesus provides something more than just a walk in the park. With bouncing, rhythmic guitars and swirling synthesizers, "Super Good Feeling" makes it clear why Bleach is a hit. It's pop music that drills its way into your brain, and actually says something meaningful in the process.

"I studied Greek for years to write that one!" exhorts Bleach guitarist Brad Ford, only somewhat mockingly. "I hoped it would be a hitI'm attached to the song. I didn't know if anybody else would like it or not, but people have really grabbed onto it."

While he was admittedly joking, Ford and the other Bleach members Dave Baysinger (vocals), Sam Barnhart (guitar), Matt Gingerich (drums) and Todd Kirby (bass) actually did study quite a lot of the bible! "All of us in the band went to Kentucky Christian College where you are required to have 30 hours of Bible. It was pretty intensive," Ford explains.

He then addresses the benefits of going to a school like that where Bible classes are the code of the road. "I guess more than anything it rooted my faith deeper. I understand the whole aspect of what we believe as Christians more than I did before. If someone comes up to me and doesn't have an understanding of the bible, I can sit down with them and explain some things, like learning about who wrote what book and whyand who were the Ephesiansthings like that."

Ford admits that this study has provided a strong undergirding to their music. "I don't think our music is overcomplicated, so that an ordinary person would not understand what we're trying to say. I think we write personally, so that if you don't know about God, you may want to know about God, perhaps because of our faith. Hopefully we can put it in a way that interests people to want to know more."

It's the people who want to know more after the show that make all their traveling worthwhile. "Most of our ministry gets done before or after the show. We hang out and talk, and we'll just stay there. I don't think that without our past church experience we'd do it that way. To me, that's what church ministry is, it's one-on-one discipleship."

There is something that Bleach would like their audiences to know more about--it's an organization called Artists Against Violence (AAV). It was formed in the summer of 1998 out of a sincere desire to address violence by and against young people, both in the home and at school. Through a toll-free number (1-800-HELP-4ME), those needing assistance can speak directly with a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist at New Life Clinics to get immediate help with their crisis - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, absolutely free. Those needing non-critical care will be transferred to a counselor at Youth Development International.

For more info on AAV click here!

Because of a tragic incident in his own high school, Brad Ford is usually the one group member to address this topic with the Bleach audience. "I went to East Carter H.S., in Grayson, KY, and graduated in 1993. The 2nd semester of that year we had a boy who shot a teacher and a janitor, and he held a class of my friends hostage for 20 minutes. It was one of the first televised incidences of school violence"

Ford said he was upstairs in the school when it all happened. "I was really close with the teacher that was shot, and I knew the kid who did it. I've carried it around inside of me for yearsso when this came along, I knew this was the right thing to address."

They hope that their involvement with AAV will help provide somebody with someone to listen and to provide information and knowledge. "While I don't think it'll change lives itself, I do believe that it'll get people to take the time to listen to their kids and friends, and hopefully it will build an awareness. Regardless of being small towns, or good kidsit can happen to anyone. I don't think this problem is going to get better by itself, history shows that to be true."

"I read somewhere that probably 95% of the kids in jail just didn't have anybody to go to, or to talk to," Ford continues. "I view the problem as being within the family. Now, parents are busier than ever. It's a proven fact that parents spend more time working. I want to encourage parents that although their kids may seem fine on the outside, to just really let your child talk about anything-- from the very beginning. Really listen, and answer their questions and be honest with them. At least if they have no where else to go, they should be able to turn to their parents, then they'll feel like they have somebody."

"Sometimes I see a look that says, 'that can never happen to me.' But also there are people who are serious, like, 'I have a friend who has a horrible temper, what should I do?' The more we talk about it, the more people come up and need to talk. I think people are beginning to open their eyes. For so long, we as Christians have only tried to put Band-Aids on our problems. But sometimes it takes more than just praying for someone to help them. It's time to stop acting like people don't have problems, we need to go to them and help them."

Ford concludes, "We want to say to people, 'You come to God now, and he'll fix you. You're not designed to fix yourself. We are asked to rely on God's help.' This way, the place of hope and help we want to provide all becomes a part of the gospel message."

{{Bleach}} is going to keep challenging people to move to a closer place of commitment with Christ. A place where there's no doubt that God is totally in love with them. It's a place of contented stability.

In a sense, static.

For more info on AAV click here!

For complete AAV tour schedule information click here!