A Conversation with Joel Sprayberry by Scott Shiffer

I was blessed this past month to meet up with Joel Spayberry one night this past month.  We briefly discussed his new album, his purpose as a musician, his influences, and his ideas about culture.  I want to pause now and say that his new album will be released on April 14 and his band will be playing at Poor David's Pub that night.  If you have never heard Joel's band play, you are really missing out on some genuinely good live music.  For more information about this event, check out his website at http://www.joelsprayberry.com/www.caffeineandgasoline.com or look him up on myspace at http://www.myspace.com/joelsprayberryband.

Joel is a musician who grew up in the 80s and 90s.  Naturally, one of his biggest musical influences was Prince.  Though he has also enjoys listening to David Wilcox, Lyle Lovett, Creedence Clear Water Revival, Paul Simon, and many others.  In his life, he has seen how Hollywood has continually changed to make things less pure, and more commercial.  Joel remembers when Disney and other animated stories did not rely on Big Names, to appear as voices to help the show sale more tickets.  Joel has also decided that he wants his music to be original, palatable, and purposeful.  He is concerned with being everything to everyone, but he wants to process all he does, think about it, and find a reason for doing it.

Joel is a follower of Jesus Christ, and as he explained to me, "Christ didn't tear people down."  Following in these same steps, Joel seeks to build others up with his music.  He wants to engage the culture around him through songs that will meet the people living there with a message that has not been watered down, and with an attitude of a pure heart.  Joel does not want people to listen to him because of his beliefs, he wants them to listen because he is playing as well as he can.  This is something the other members of his band are also doing.  The Joel Sprayberry Band has always been recognized for its skill, and the band is quite skilled indeed.  They are one of the only local bands in Dallas that I have ever seen be invited to play at the Hard Rock Cafe in front of Record Label Scouts.

The funny thing is, the band is not looking to be signed, they just want to do their thing and do it well.  This is exactly what they have done on their new album, "Caffiene & Gasoline."  The first time I heard the band was at a free summer concert in a park, and they rocked my world.  The new album has done the same thing.  It is accessible to all people, and while it does discuss faith, nothing on the album will turn listeners away because they feel like they are being preached at.  As mentioned above, Joel is not concerned with tearing people down, but he does want to meet people where they are.  As a result, the new album asks big questions, it talks about peoples basic needs, and it serves as a musical encouragement to all who listen.

You may be wondering at this point why a singer who claims to be a Christian is having an album release party at a bar.  Well, Joel explained that the first time he ever went to a bar was to play there.  It opened his eyes to a new and different set of needs, and a different and much wider audience.  He has continued to perform at these venues and will continue to do so.  I think he should do exactly that.  The point is that the people who are normally found at bars are just as valuable as the people found anywhere else.  They are often times more genuine.

So I want to encourage you to check out the Joel Sprayberry Band, check out the new CD "Caffiene & Gasoline," and check out the album release if you can be there.  It would mean a lot to the band, it would mean something to me, and more than that, his music might even lead to a heart changing experience for you.