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Christian music news: SANCTUS REAL Forgiven

2009-10-28T00:57:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Rocks Intern Ryan's World

2009-10-21T00:56:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: I'm Not Alright - Sanctus Real

2009-10-14T00:55:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: Whatever You're Doing - Sanctus Real

2009-10-07T00:55:00.001-07:00

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real's rockers have a message

2009-09-30T23:51:00.000-07:00

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Bassist Dan Gartley wants to make it clear that, despite success with power ballads in recent years, Sanctus Real is still a group of yesteryear rockers who've mellowed in their old age.

The band, born in Toledo, Ohio, in 1996, still likes to crank the volume up to 11, and Gartley says there is always a happy medium among the group's five members.

“I grew up with Led Zeppelin, Tom Petty, guys like that,” Gartley said with a chuckle. “When we're writing songs, there is some balance. We try to write the right rock songs, but we also know when to tone it down a little. We're a little more grown up now, a little bit older. Three of our band members have kids; four of the five are married. So yeah, we've matured a little.”

San Antonio will get to see that powerful blend of beat-thumping rock and melodic acoustics when Sanctus Real brings its Something Heavenly tour to Park Hills Baptist Church at 7 tonight. Phil Wickham and Jason Gray will open.

In recent years, Sanctus Real has enjoyed airplay and commercial success with ballads “The Face of Love” and “Whatever You're Doing.” The band's biggest hit was a cover of U2's “Beautiful Day” in 2004 for “In the Name of Love,” a compilation of artists that raised money for relief in Africa.

“Those ballads were born out of an acoustic guitar,” Gartley said. “Matt (Hammitt) likes the pop and me and (guitarist) Pete (Prevost) bring the rock background.”

But whether it's rock or something mellower, he said the message remains the same and the sole focus of the band. He says the band has a common goal to share the gospel.

“Anybody can make music now,” Gartley said. “So it's pretty crucial that we be very intentional with our sound and our lyrics. Without the right sound, they're not going to listen to the lyrics and the songs won't have the impact that we want it to have.”

He points to a new single, “Forgiven,” off their current unnamed project slated for release next spring.

“A lot of times it's real easy to let mistakes keep us from being used the way God intends for us to be used in this world. We have a problem forgiving ourselves, yet God has already forgiven us.”

Gartley said shows on the tour, which started in Canada earlier this month, are a family affair and that Wickham and Gray bring the same message.

“We still love meeting the fans. It's another form of service, to be there for kids, college students and adults — to be the face of love,” he said.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Lead Me

2009-09-23T00:54:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: we need each other sanctus real

2009-09-16T00:53:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real "Don't give up" subtitulos en español

2009-09-09T00:52:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: SANCTUS REAL ANNOUNCES HEAVENLY TOUR

2009-09-09T00:47:00.000-07:00

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BRENTWOOD, TN. (Top40 Charts/ Sparrow Records) - Sanctus Real will continue to support its acclaimed, hit-filled WE NEED EACH OTHER project on the Something Heavenly Tour, kicking off September 10 with a handful of shows in Canada and then rocking through the Midwest and southern parts of North America until October 17.
See concert dates, post the news on your social pages, and get a free downloadable acoustic version of 'Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)' with this widget.

At the same time, Sanctus Real is also hard at work on its next album, scheduled to release sometime in early 2010. Catch up on the in-studio and on-the-road stories, band member blogs, and all the Twittering at SanctusReal.com.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Launches Spring Tour During GMA Week

2009-09-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

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Recipient of 2005�s Modern Rock Album of the Year GMA Dove Award and 2006�s most played artist at CHR radio (R&R), Sanctus Real brings its acclaimed brand of Rock to venues across the Southeast and Midwest on its 14-city spring �The Face of Love Tour.� Touring in support of its hit album, The Face of Love, the band will be playing fan favorites, as well as chart toppers from the current album, including the title track, the No. 1 hit �I�m Not Alright� and its current Top 5 radio single, �Don�t Give Up.�

Launching April 23 in Nashville during Gospel Music Week, the tour features special guests, NEEDTOBREATHE and This Beautiful Republic. The entourage travels together through mid-May and plays concerts in Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Oklahoma and Arkansas before wrapping up May 11 in Dallas, Texas.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Working On New Album

2009-08-26T00:37:00.000-07:00

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Hey guys. Today we rehearsed the two new songs we are going to attempt to play live soon. They are currently called "Possibilities" and "We're Trying"...

Sanctus Real continues to tour this summer, hitting major cities across the nation and playing at huge festivals such as the Creation West and Kingdom Bound Festival. A glimpse of Sanctus Real performing "The Fight Song" in Franklin Tennessee was caught on MSNBC's Hardball last week, during an episode focused on the Christian music and book industries in Tennessee.

Popular host Chris Matthews commented, "The musicians of Sanctus Real are described as rockers for the Lord, and they, like other modern Christian bands, connect with their audience through uplifting and spiritual songs."

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Partners with African Leadership to Relieve Suffering in Sudan

2009-08-17T00:35:00.000-07:00

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As one of the top Christian rock bands today, Sanctus Real is also about tangibly being the �face of love,� not only with friends and family, but reaching outside of that comfort zone. Hearing about the incredible need in Africa through African Leadership, the band has decided to join forces with the organization to help relieve the plight of that continent.

Sanctus Real will immediately begin raising funds through the organization�s Mocha Club missions work. The funds will be used for relief efforts in Darfur, Sudan, where more than 300,000 people have been killed in the last two years and more than two million people have been displaced. Future efforts will lend support for an orphanage in Kenya where babies have been abandoned because of AIDS, building a school for 380 children in the Sudan, building a village for and rehabilitating young women who were former sex slaves under the Rebel forces in Northern Uganda, funding an orphanage for 134 street children in Kampala, Uganda and building a school amidst the largest slum in East Africa for 400 children in Kibera, Kenya.

�In every way that we can, we�re to give back what God�s given us,� says Sanctus Real front man Matt Hammitt. �As a band, we were looking for an organization that wasn�t trying to pay artists to help. We just wanted to help because we believe in something. With African Leadership, we found a team of people that has really fast, effective ways of getting relief to the people where they need it�like in Darfur where there is a civil war going on and tens of thousands of people are being brutally murdered. People are fleeing to the hills and just don�t have the resources to survive. Little dollars are providing big necessities for these people.�

�The music of Sanctus Real challenges us to be more honest, to live with integrity in our relationship with God and the people around us,� says Larry Warren, African Leadership president. �Now they are pointing the way to demonstrate authentic care in more difficult places, far away, like Darfur, Sudan. When Matt [Hammitt] tells their audience how to save a life for $5 to $10 dollars by providing food and medicine, delivered by African Leadership, and their newly formed Mocha club, then this band is blessing the people of Sudan and the audience who wants to live with the integrity Sanctus Real sings about. I am blessed to know these guys whose attitude is, �we will keep speaking out for those in need, as long as there is a need.��

African Leadership�s Mocha Club is a sponsorship program where for the cost of two mocha coffee drinks per month, people and organizations lend their support to provide a solution to the challenges Africans are facing every day. Individuals who sign up for sponsorship through Sanctus Real will also receive a copy of the band�s current, best-selling CD, The Face of Love.

African Leadership is an organization striving to make a difference by providing HOPE, one leader�one family�one child at a time. They are currently discipling nearly 10,000 pastors and church leaders in 27 African nations. Classrooms range from �under a tree� in the war torn-corners of Sudan to the most densely populated slums of Nairobi, Kenya. Also, through their mission to meet the physical needs of Africans, their leadership network offers life-sustaining Hope to those that God calls "the least" of His children.

Since Sanctus Real broke on the national scene in 2003, the band has looked for opportunities to partner with helps organizations like African Leadership. They have supported Food for the Hungry and Compassion International on recent tours and have contributed to World Vision through proceeds received from their first No. 1 hit and U2 cover, �Beautiful Day,� recorded for the multi-artist project, In The Name Of Love: Artists United For Africa.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Brings Hope to Community Devastated by Teen Deaths

2009-08-10T00:32:00.000-07:00

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On September 11, Sanctus Real, will travel to Marshall, MN on its The Face of Love One Stop Tour to bring hope to the city, which has been devastated by tragic teen deaths. Band members will spend time with area families and perform a free concert for the whole community at 8:00 p.m. at Marshall Senior High School.

Total Axxess radio host Jayar will emcee the concert and host the event live on Total Axxess, heard in more than 100 markets across the country as part of the WAY-FM Media Network.

As one of the top Christian rock bands today, Sanctus Real members are also about being the �face of love� and tangibly expressing their faith in action. Together with Total Axxess, they were looking for a community to serve with The Face of Love ONE STOP Tour. After Total Axxess listeners were encouraged to write in and express a need in their community, and asked how that need could be met, numerous emails came in from all over America.

�There were a lot of people writing in who needed labor or financial resources beyond what we could provide,� says Sanctus Real front man Matt Hammitt. �When we read the e-mail from Marshall, we knew we were capable of providing their foremost need...love.�

�As we began talking to the principal and other leaders in the school and community, we realized that this was where we needed to go,� adds Jayar. �We received more than one email from this community of about 12,000 people, where eight teenagers over a three-month period lost their lives in separate accidents. Seven were from one high school. We want to honor these kids on one special night and invite the whole community out to one special place.�

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Celebrates 10 Years as 'The Face of Love' Moves up the Charts

2009-08-03T00:29:00.000-07:00

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One of the top Christian rock bands today, Sanctus Real, is celebrating its 10th year as a band Dec. 8 with two back-to-back concerts in its hometown of Toledo. The band has reason to celebrate, as its current recording, The Face of Love, has become its best-selling album to date. In fact, the album jumps back on the Billboard Top 200 this week, landing at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart as it tracks 80% ahead of sales of Sanctus Real�s previous, award winning album, Fight The Tide.

The band�s success story began a decade ago, before the members even had driver�s licenses, with its very first concert held December 28, 1996, and over the years Sanctus Real has released a string of increasingly successful CDs. In 2000, the band caught a significant break as they entered and won the Best Band contest sponsored by local, then classic rock station, WIOT-FM. The win earned them the opportunity to play their first club show, opened up the door to a major label recording deal with Sparrow Records and was followed by several months of touring the country that has extended into several years. Taking its songs on the road, Sanctus Real is popularly known for its captivating live performances that have included main stage appearances at all the major Christian summer festivals, heavy hitting tours such as Festival Con Dios (featured on the cover of Newsweek magazine) and See Spot Rock, and billings with such well-known artists as Relient K, Audio Adrenaline, Jeremy Camp and many others. Sanctus Real is currently on a well-received, 35-city national tour with Superchick.

Sanctus Real came out strong in 2002 with its first national release, Say It Loud, which produced the best first-week sales of any debut rock record Sparrow had ever released. CCM magazine readers voted the band 2003's Best New Artist, ChristianityToday.com made Sanctus Real "a top pick" for '03, and the Gospel Music Association handed the band two Dove Award nominations. A cover of U2's "Beautiful Day" from the In The Name Of Love: Artists United For Africa benefit album gave the group its first No. 1 hit.

As the success mounted, Sanctus Real was named R&R�s most played Christian rock band of 2004 and in 2005 the band received the Gospel Music Association�s award for Modern Rock Album of the Year for Fight The Tide. Sanctus Real released its third national studio album, The Face of Love, April 4 to wide critical acclaim. Inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovered joy, the emotions behind each track on The Face of Love are vulnerable and undisguised, making this album the band�s most accessible project of their career and exhibiting the band�s progression both musically and lyrically.

The debut radio single from the album and the band�s first MTVu featured video, �I�m Not Alright,� launched to No. 1 and stayed on top for six full weeks. The song is the latest in a string of No. 1 hits that have included �Everything About You� and �The Fight Song.� The band�s second single and title track to The Face of Love became a multi-format hit this fall, while it�s third single, �Don�t Give Up,� goes to radio Dec. 15.

Since Sanctus Real broke on the national scene, the band has also looked for opportunities to partner with charitable organizations. They have supported Food for the Hungry and Compassion International on tours, and have most recently joined forces with African Leadership after realizing the incredible need in Africa. The band even traveled to Marshall, MN in September to bring hope to the city that has been devastated by eight tragic teen deaths over a three-month period. Sanctus Real spent time with area families who lost loved ones and performed a free concert for the whole community at Marshall Senior High School. As one of the top Christian rock bands today, Sanctus Real is about tangibly being the �face of love,� not only with friends and family, but reaching outside of that comfort zone.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Announces New Release, Tour

2009-07-20T00:15:00.000-07:00

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The band will headline a 16-day tour that begins in January and leads up to the upcoming release, and then launch a 35-city major market tour with Third Day in February.

The band will play new songs from the album during the tours, as well as fan favorites spanning its four acclaimed national studio releases.

We Need Each Other follows Sanctus Real's most successful album to date, The Face of Love, which gathered numerous accolades and continued a string of radio hits, including the No. 1 songs, "I'm Not Alright" and "Don't Give Up."

We Need Each Other follows the theme of The Face of Love, which was inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovering joy. The new album marks a completion of that healing process and is a call for unity.

"There's a longing for something bigger than oneself, a band, a song or a crowd of concertgoers," says Sanctus Real frontman Matt Hammitt. "We need to come together as the body of Christ, unifying to see God's work done through us. There's so much simple truth in the statement, ?we need each other.' We can accomplish so much more if we stand together as one."

With five No. 1 songs on the radio, that "simple truth" is resonating with radio listeners. The first single and title track from We Need Each Other has already become the band's 12th Top 5 hit, and is No. 2 and climbing on the R&R Christian CHR chart. "We Need Each Other" is also the band's mantra that permeates the new album.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Lands Sixth No. 1 Radio Single, 'We Need Each Other'

2009-07-13T00:12:00.000-07:00

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One of the top Christian rock bands today, Sanctus Real captures its sixth No. 1 radio single with the title track to its highly anticipated fourth studio release,We Need Each Other, releasing on Sparrow Records Feb. 12.� Hitting the top of the R&R and CRW CHR charts, �We Need Each Other� follows an impressive 11 Sanctus Real songs that have broken into the Top 5, including such top charting hits as �The Face of Love,� �I�m Not Alright,� �Don�t Give Up� and �Everything About You.�

�We Need Each Other� resonates with radio listeners across the country, the band is also giving fans an inside look at their personal lives like never before with the newly launched blog site, www.sanctusreality.com. Fans can read lead vocalist Matt Hammitt�s story on the site of meeting and posing for a photo with Live with Regis and Kelly�sKelly Ripa, as well as his account of driving 128 miles per hour at a NASCAR track.� Lead guitarist Chris Rohman reveals his remote control airplane hobby along with a video demonstration, while bassist Dan Gartley relays his Rock Band for Playstation 2� gaming skills.� The site also features episode one of a new docu-series podcast from the band that is part humor and part backstage pass to the band�s everyday life on tour.

More blogs from the road are sure to be posted soon as Sanctus Real plays new songs from the album, as well as fan favorites spanning it�s four acclaimed national studio releases, on the major market tour with Third Day that begins March 6 in Charleston, SC.� Modern Rock Album of the Year Dove Award winner Sanctus Real, popularly known for its captivating live performances, is currently headlining a 16-day tour that began last month and leads up to the release of the new album.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real Headlines Fall 2008 'We Need Each Other' Tour

2009-07-06T23:54:00.000-07:00

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Dove Award-winning modern rock band Sanctus Real will showcase music from its acclaimed February 2008 release, We Need Each Other, live on tour this fall. The �We Need Each Other� tour, additionally featuring Tenth Avenue North, VOTA and speaker Sammy Adebiyi, will visit more than 30 cities nationwide.

Kicking off Sept. 4, 2008 in Perrysburg, Ohio, the �We Need Each Other� tour will makes its way through 16 states from Maine to Florida, Pennsylvania to California, wrapping up on Nov. 8, 2008. Beginning July 18, fans who purchase their ticket at iTickets.com will receive a free download of an exclusive acoustic version of �Black Coal� from We Need Each Other. The promotion will run through Aug. 8.

�This tour is a chance for people to experience the best of what we've been building for over a decade,� says Sanctus Real frontman Matt Hammitt. �Every show is focused on strengthening the relationship between us and our audience. Together, we will accomplish something much greater than music or a concert. Together, we will change lives.�

�This Fall�s tour with Sanctus Real has shaped up to be extremely well-received among churches spreading as far North as Maine and even out to California and the Pacific Northwest,� says Kevin Huffman, artist agent for Third Coast Artists Agency. �Our contacts have embraced the vision of Sanctus Real and their heart for relief in Africa, along with the added support from Tenth Avenue North, Vota and speaker Sammy Adebiyi.�

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real's We Need Each Other Releases Today!

2009-06-29T00:05:00.000-07:00

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One of the top Christian rock bands, Sanctus Real releases today its widely acclaimed and highly anticipated fourth studio album, We Need Each Other.� As the album�s title track continues its fifth straight week at No. 1 at CHR radio, the critics are affirming what radio has already discovered and are championing the new album as one to own:

��We Need Each Other is more than just the band�s best release; it is one of the most melodic Christian pop albums to come along in quite some time�The stunning production and the band�s flawless performance permeate this release from start to finish.� � CCM Magazine (February �08 lead review).

�From the rocking riffs in the opener Turn on the Lights, to the worshipful lyrics in Sing, Sanctus Real shows the range and reflection of a band that is maturing as songwriters.� � McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

�Sanctus Real has the incredible capability of improving their skills, refining their sound, and breaking new ground with each record and We Need Each Other is no exception. This is one disc any music fan won't want to miss!� �JesusFreakHideout.com�We Need Each Other is easily Sanctus Real's best, thanks to high-energy rock anthems that'll also get listeners thinking�From the beginning blues riffs of �Turn on the Lights� to the guitar-fueled power anthem �Sing,� We Need Each Other is�jam-packed with enough hooks to seep deep into your cerebrum for weeks.� � ChristianMusicToday.com��chock full of hooks, riffs, and again, spotless production�We Need Each Other shows a band continuing to grow into a potent legacy of its own.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real: 'Fight The Tide'

2009-06-27T00:27:00.000-07:00

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If the members of Sanctus Real were boxers, Fight The Tide would be the match that turns them into heavyweight contenders. As the title of the Toledo, Ohio, foursome's album indicates, this is a band that's ready to go the distance.

Fight The Tide comes from a line in a song from the band's second album for Sparrow Records, but it contains broader implications about life's ceaseless struggles?against negative, soul-deadening messages from disposable pop culture, perhaps, or against spiritual complacency. "Fight The Tide is about maintaining spiritual and musical integrity," says lead vocalist Matt Hammitt.

"There are a lot of people imposing their ideas on musicians about what they think is the best way to communicate or to make music. Many years from now we want to look back, having survived the trends, and know we made honest music with a clear message."

Sanctus Real came out swinging with 2002's Say It Loud, which produced the best first-week sales of any debut rock record Sparrow had ever released. CCM readers voted the band 2003's Best New Artist, ChristianityToday.com made Sanctus Real "a top pick" for '03, and the Gospel Music Association handed the band two Dove Award nominations.

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real New Song!

2009-06-17T23:52:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: Sanctus Real in Finland 15.11.2008 - Surprise!

2009-06-10T23:50:00.000-07:00

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Christian music news: I'm Not Alright by Sanctus Real (Lyrics)

2009-06-03T23:47:00.000-07:00

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Sanctus Real 'We Need Each Other' (acoustic)

2009-05-27T23:10:00.000-07:00

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Sanctus Real - Im Not Alright (subtitulado español) [History Maker]

2009-05-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

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After Today

2009-05-20T23:09:00.000-07:00

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Sanctus Real Toilet Video

2009-05-13T23:08:00.000-07:00

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Sancuts Real New Song!

2009-05-06T23:03:00.000-07:00

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Sanctus Real "We Need Each Other" 3/14/09

2009-04-29T22:19:00.000-07:00

Sanctus Real at Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA on 3/14/09.

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Sanctus Real - Turn on the Lights

2009-04-22T22:18:00.000-07:00

Sanctus Real singing Turn on the Lights at Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA on 3/14/09.

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Sanctus Real - Lay Down my Guns

2009-04-15T22:17:00.000-07:00

Sanctus Real singing Lay Down my Guns at Calvary Church, Lancaster, PA on 3/14/09.

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Sanctus Real-Beautiful Day

2009-04-08T22:17:00.000-07:00

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Sanctus Real-Whatever Your Doing

2009-04-01T22:15:00.000-07:00

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Stellar Kart and Sanctus Real free at The Fillmore

2009-03-25T21:41:00.000-07:00

We all like free things, don't we? Yes, free is definitely good, and on March 20th, a Friday night, two great bands will be performing at The Fillmore at The Jackie Gleason Theater in South Beach. Stellar Kart and Sanctus Real are supporting an event called "Cross The Bridge" by gracing Miami with their music. These bands might not sound too familiar to some of you readers, but they are worth checking out if you have an open Friday night on the 20th. Stellar Kart's sound can only be described as punk, and fans of artists like Relient K might enjoy their style. Sanctus Real, however, is a more collected alternative sound. So if you're not a solid fan of punk music, there's still some healthy variety here. Did I mention the entire event is free?

If the prior reasons aren't convincing enough, the event's venue itself is beautiful and serves well for taking that special someone in your life on a unique and relatively romantic date, or simply to have a cool new place to hang out with friends for a weekend. The actual "Cross The Bridge" event will be held the entire weekend, but Stellar Kart and Sanctus Real are probably the more enjoyable bands from their entire showcase.

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TMW Fundrive 03 w/ Sanctus Real

2009-03-12T21:55:00.000-07:00

Sanctus Real performs "Say It Loud" during the TVU 2003 fund drive.

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'Rock the Coast' Christian musical festival set for May 16-17

2009-03-04T22:47:00.000-08:00

MUSKEGON -- Secular rock music group AC/DC once screamed "Rock n' Roll Ain't Noise Pollution."

At Muskegon's "Rock the Coast," it can also please the soul.

The annual Christian music festival will be May 16 and May 17 at Michigan's Adventure, Michigan's largest amusement park.

The featured headliner for May 16 will be Christian music chart-toppers Sanctus Real. The band is known for using its carefully crafted music, lyrics and melodies to deliver powerful, Christ-centered messages.

"Rock the Coast is back for its sixth year, and we are planning for the biggest and best weekend yet," Alive on the Lakeshore Chairman Roger Eikenberry said in a prepared statement. Alive on the Lakeshore is the event organizer.

"We will have more bands than ever before on the main stage for the evening show," Eikenberry said. "Having more bands on Saturday is another way to highlight the Christian message that is key to the event."

Other acts that will appear on the main stage include:

• The Afters, whose award-winning debut record, I Wish We All Could Win," included the single, "Beautiful Love," which became Christian music's No. 1 downloaded song of 2006.

• Fireflight, a female-led band of rockers that is one of the hottest new groups on the Christian music scene.

• Everlife, a three-sister group that has performed on the Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana tour.

• Local band, The Fabulous, which has been touring nationwide since appearing at the 2008 Unity Festival in Muskegon. Their latest CD, "No Paradise," was produced in Nashville and receiving national airplay on Christian radio stations.

The combination of Christian music and amusement park rides has made the festival a popular family-oriented event, Eikenberry said. More than 3,800 people attended the 2008 festival.

Proceeds from the event are donated to Youth for Christ and area First Priority ministries.

Rock the Coast tickets can be purchased directly at Michigan's Adventure, or from Startickets by calling +18005853737 or online at www.startickets.com.

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2009-03-04T22:43:00.000-08:00

With six No. 1 hits and a dozen Top Five hits, Sanctus Real is one of the most popular contemporary Christian rock groups. The band's currently on tour in support of its latest CD, "We Need Each Other," and the tour includes a stop March 7 in Mountain Home.

Sanctus Real will perform as part of the North Arkansas Youth Rally at Mountain Home First Baptist Church. The rally also will feature speaker Doug Runkles.

Tickets for the event are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, with $10 tickets available for groups of 20 or more. Tickets are available at Christian Book Outlet in Mountain Home, Harrison and Fayetteville and at the First Baptist Church, 425-6961. They also can be ordered online at www.180uth.com or www.itickets.com.

Doors will open at 6 p.m. March 7 with the program and concert starting at 7.

Sanctus Real is a five-member group out of Toledo, Ohio. It features vocalist and guitarist Matt Hammitt, lead guitarist Chris Rohman, bassist Dan Gartley, guitarist Pete Prevost and drummer Mark Graalman. Hammitt and Rohman formed the group in 1996, when they still were in high school. The band recorded three independent albums between 1998 and 2001 — "All This Talk of Aliens," "Message for the Masses" and "Nothing to Lose" — before they were signed to Sparrow Records.

Their first release on Sparrow was "Say It Loud" in 2002, which produced four charting singles and received a Dove Award nomination as best rock album of the year. The band followed that with "Fight the Tide" in 2004, which won Sanctus Real a Dove Award for modern rock album of the year. The album also earned Dove nominations for rock and modern rock recorded songs of the year and was included among ChristianMusicToday.com's best albums of the year.

In 2006, the group released "The Face of Love," followed last year with the current release, "We Need Each Other," which received a Grammy nomination for best rock gospel album. The single "Whatever You're Doing" currently is in the top 10 on Christian music charts.

"There's a real sense of direction and momentum surrounding the band and the new album," said Hammitt on the band's Web site. "The past several months have been an exciting time for us. We feel like we've made the best record of our career and are looking forward to sharing these new songs with our fans."

"There are some spots on this record where I just pushed the limits of what I can do vocally, whether it be on a soft, kind of rustic sounding vocal or whether it be this overdriven, rock high-range kind of vocal," Hammitt said

sgarrett@baxterbulletin.com

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MATTHEW WEST, SANCTUS REAL HEADLINE WAY-FM/WORLD VISION TOUR

2009-03-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Jan. 26, 2009 – Award-winning Sparrow Records acts Matthew West and Sanctus Real will join WAY-FM and World Vision for the organizations’ first-ever national tour. Designed to bring World Vision’s ministry to the local station level, “The WAY-FM/World Vision ’09 Tour,” also featuring special guest Jason Gray, will kick off Jan. 28, 2009 in Charleston, SC, and visit 12 WAY-FM radio markets through Feb. 20, 2009.

“I’m ready to hit the road this spring with Sanctus Real,” says Matthew West. “WAY-FM has some of the greatest listeners in the world, and it’s going to be a blast visiting all these WAY-FM cities. Of course, the chance to team up with an outreach like World Vision is an honor, and we hope these concerts will be more than just music but a chance to change the world by teaming up with such an amazing ministry.”

“As we’re getting ready for the ‘WAY-FM/World Vision ’09 Tour,’ we see this as a unique opportunity for us to reach a whole new audience with our music,” says Sanctus Real frontman Matt Hammitt. “We’re great friends with Matthew West and so appreciate the ministry of both WAY-FM and World Vision. To be partnered with such great people is an honor and a pleasure. We know this will be a great tour on all levels and hope a ton of people come out and join us!”

“As the World Vision - WAY-FM partnership came together, we realized a national tour would be a great way to bring the story of the ministries of both organizations directly to our audience,” says Lloyd Parker, WAY-FM Chief Operating Officer. “Because both Matthew West and Sanctus have a heart for what we do, and they also receive a lot of airplay on WAY-FM, having them co-headline the tour made sense.”

“The World Vision Artist Associates Department has hoped for a tour with WAY-FM for many years,” says Jenny Lockwald, World Vision channel/product executive director, artist associates & volunteer programs. “This year along with the World Vision radio department we have produced a tour specific to the WAY-FM markets in conjunction with Maxx Live. The tour features Matthew West and Sanctus Real and introduces Jason Gray. We felt that the combination of these artists in concert would be attractive to the WAY-FM audience, as well as share World Vision ministry and need in serving the vulnerable and needy in over 100 countries on a daily basis.”

The WAY-FM/World Vision Tour ’09 itinerary:
January 28 Charleston, SC
January 30 Tallahassee, FL
January 31 Huntsville, AL
February 5 Panama City, FL
February 6 Ft Myers, FL
February 8 West Palm Beach, FL
February 10 Rome, GA
February 12 Bowling Green, KY
February 13 Clarksville, TN
February 14 Louisville, KY
February 19 Wichita, KS
February 20 Denver, CO

MATTHEW WEST:
West catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, “More,” which was the most played Christian AC song of 2003. The multi-Dove Award nominee and sought-after songwriter released two critically-acclaimed recordings, Happy (2003) and History (2005); has been a mainstay at Christian radio with memorable hits like “Only Grace,” “History” and “Next Thing You Know”; and has toured with such artists as tobyMac and Jeremy Camp on the wildly popular 2008 “Boomin’ Beyond Measure” tour. In addition, West has penned songs for Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Natalie Grant and Mandisa, among others. West’s third studio recording, Something To Say, released January 15, 2008 and debuted on Nielsen SoundScan’s Christian Retail Chart at #10, while West was the best-selling Christian artist on iTunes the week of its release. The album’s debut single “You Are Everything” additionally peaked at No. 1 on Christian AC radio and was the most played Christian song of 2008, while “Something to Say” climbed to No. 7 at AC radio. Most recently, West wrapped the 27-city “Something to Say” fall tour featuring label mate Josh Wilson. For more information on Matthew West, visit www.matthewwest.com or www.myspace.com/matthewwest.

SANCTUS REAL:
One of the top Christian rock bands today, five-member Sanctus Real’s breakthrough album, The Face of Love, released in April 2006, landing at No 2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and amassing a string of radio hits including No. 1 songs “I’m Not Alright” and “Don’t Give Up.” While The Face of Love was inspired by real-life heartache and rediscovered joy, the band’s fourth studio release, We Need Each Other, marks a completion of that healing process and is a call for unity. Described by multiple media outlets as Sanctus Real’s best project to date, the record’s title track was a No. 1 hit on Christian Hit Radio. We Need Each Other also received a 2009 GRAMMY Award nomination for Best Rock Or Rap Gospel Album. Popularly known for its captivating live performance, the group toured with Third Day last spring and headlined the “We Need Each Other” tour with special music guests Tenth Avenue North and VOTA in fall 2008. For all the latest Sanctus Real news, go to www.sanctusreal.com, www.myspace.com/sanctusreal, and www.emicmg.com.

WAY-FM MEDIA GROUP:
WAY-FM Media Group was founded in 1987 by Bob Augsburg and his wife Felice as a single station, WAYJ, in Fort Myers, FL. Today WMG, including CHRSN, has over 100 signals in 26 states. Markets served by WMG include Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; West Palm Beach, FL; Louisville, KY and Charleston, SC. For more information visit www.wayfm.com.

WORLD VISION:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. For more information visit http://www.worldvision.org/.

For more information on Matthew West, visit the JFH Artists Database
For more information on Sanctus Real, visit the JFH Artists Database

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Sanctus Real "We Need Each other"

2009-02-25T22:01:00.000-08:00

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whateveryouredoing

2009-02-18T17:33:00.000-08:00

Christian Music News Source

Christian artists Matthew West and Sanctus Real play Church at Northside

2009-02-18T11:11:00.000-08:00

Christian musicians Matthew West and Sanctus Real are coming to Rome for a concert on Feb. 10.

West has been a mainstay on Christian radio since 2003 with hits such as “More, “Only Grace,” “History” and “Next Thing You Know” and is a multi-Dove Award nominee.

Sanctus Real have enjoyed six number one songs and 11 top-five hits along with numerous awards including a Dove Award for Modern Rock Album of the Year.

The concert takes place Feb. 10 at Rome’s Church at Northside located on Martha Berry Highway, across from Armuchee High School. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and are available online at www.ticketforce.com.

Christian Music News Source

Sanctus Real - The Face of Love

2009-02-11T18:05:00.000-08:00

Sanctus Real live from the River Live Music Lounge, Clear Channel Radio, Austin, TX.

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Sanctus Real :: I'm Not Alright :: Winterfest 08' :: Live

2009-02-04T08:34:00.000-08:00

Sanctus Real - I'm Not Alright
Winterfest 08' Live

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Another concert is coming

2009-01-28T10:00:00.000-08:00

After the success of last summer’s Steven Curtis Chapman concert, Micheal Dwyer is stepping into the concert promotion business once again.

Dwyer is leading the effort to bring in Sanctus Real, a Grammy nominated contemporary Christian band, for a March 1 concert at the Midland Lutheran College Events Center.

Tickets went on sale today for the 7 p.m. show. Advance tickets are $12 with day-of-show tickets going for $15. Tickets may be purchased at itickets.com.

Joining the lineup for the night will be The September Project and Remedy Drive. The September Project is a band of high school students that Dwyer organizes. Remedy Drive is a Lincoln-based band that is beginning to attract national attention.

“Sanctus Real is the headliner,” Dwyer said. “They are an awesome group and it’s really a great opportunity to bring them to Fremont.

“Remedy Drive is really a good friend -- four brothers from Lincoln,” he added. “Their new single, ‘Daylight,’ has been getting some national airplay so they really have made an inroad.”

Sanctus Real has been nominated for the Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album Grammy for “We Need Each Other,” the latest CD from the Toledo, Ohio-based band.

The band is receiving plenty of airplay on K-LOVE, a national Christian music radio network that has a local station (88.1 FM).

Dwyer first met the members of Sanctus Real a little more than a year ago when the group toured with Chapman.

“I was very impressed with what I saw that night,” he said. “They had a great show.

“I’m looking for an act that is consistent -- that what you see on stage is what you see back stage. I can say that with confidence with Sanctus and especially with Remedy Drive.”

Dwyer worked to keep ticket prices low. At $12 to $15, tickets are more than $10 lower than some of Sanctus Real’s other concerts.

“It’s always been very important to myself and the others who worked on the show to keep the ticket price as reasonable as possible,” he said. “Quite frankly, we want a full room. We want it to feel ... like this was just an awesome event.”

Concert promotion is not Dwyer’s full-time job. He owns a photography studio in Arlington and has done concert photography for Chapman and other acts. But putting together concerts is something he would like to continue to do.

“This is not my full-time job and I don’t expect it to be,” he said. “Our goal is to do two shows, maybe three shows, a year, frankly here in Fremont, in the Events Center most of the time. That’s going to be it. I don’t have any interest in traveling and doing a bunch of different shows in different places.

“This is clearly a little fun, a little sideline for me,” he added.

Dwyer did say he has committed to working to bring in another concert for the last night of this year’s John C. Fremont Days festival.

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Sanctus Real - The Fight Song

2009-01-21T11:36:00.000-08:00

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Sanctus Real to begin work on new album in the spring

2009-01-14T09:29:00.000-08:00

ON THE heels of being nominated for a Grammy Award for their 2008 release 'We Need Each Other' Ohio-based rockers Sanctus Real have announced plans to record their follow-up, and fifth studio album, in Spring 2009. Read a band statement, "Our co-headlined tour with Matthew West starts this January, and we're writing for a new record. Hopefully we will be going into the studio sometime this late spring to begin recording."

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Singers set for SeaWorld, Busch Gardens

2009-01-07T08:10:00.000-08:00

SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens have announced the performers for upcoming music festivals at the theme parks. (Exact dates will be revealed later).

BUD & BBQ, Feb. 7-March 1 (Saturdays at SeaWorld, Sundays at Busch Gardens): Blake Shelton, Kenny Rogers, Jason Aldean and Daryl Hall & John Oates at SeaWorld; Phil Vassar, Miranda Lambert and Gregg Allman & Friends at Busch.

VIVA LA MUSICA, March 7-29, (SeaWorld on Saturdays, Busch on Sundays): El Gran Combo, India, Tito El Bambino and Fonseca at SWO; R.K.M and Ken-Y, Guayacan, Grupo Mania and El Gran Combo at BG).

GLORY AT THE GARDENS, a new contemporary Christian/Christian rock event at Busch Gardens: May 9 -- Relient K, Need to Breathe, This Beautiful Republic, Worth Dying For and Sanctus Real. May 16 -- Brandon Heath, Steven Curtis Chapman, Matthew West, Sara Groves, Joel Auge.

REAL MUSIC CONCERT SERIES at Busch Gardens, Jan. 14-March 21 includes The Les Brown Band of Renown featuring Les Brown Jr., The Terry Myers Orchestra featuring Peter Appleyard, The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Harry James Orchestra featuring Fred Radke, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, The Osmond Brothers, Mickey Dolenz, Little River Band and The 5th Dimension.

Also, July 3 at Busch Gardens will feature David Cassidy, followed by Starship lead singer Mickey Thomas on July 4.

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Sanctus Real Concert Bangor, ME

2008-12-24T09:36:00.000-08:00

Santus Real's We Need Each Other Tour. With Tenth Avenue North & Vota. This was in Bangor, ME on September 20th 2008

This relates to another organization that his whole talk was rapped around. It's called Mocha Club.

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Sanctus Real - We Need Each Other - Port Huron, MI - Nov '08

2008-12-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

Sanctus Real performing "We Need Each Other" on the WNEO tour in Port Huron, MI on Friday, November 7th, 2008

Christian Music News Source

Sanctus Real - Don't Give Up

2008-11-26T16:19:00.000-08:00

Sanctus Real singing "Don't Give Up" in Pittsfield, MA on the We Need Each Other Tour. 9-19-08

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Sanctus Real - The Face of Love

2008-11-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

Live at Centennial Terrace in Sylvania,OH for the Extreme Makeover Concert Sept 2008

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Sanctus Real Shout out after "Whatever your doing"

2008-11-06T16:35:00.000-08:00

Sanctus Real in Highland,California
October.18,2008

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Atlanta Fest 2008 Photos Jeremy Camp, Sanctus Real

2008-10-30T20:47:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Fest 2008 Photos Jeremy Camp, Sanctus Real

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Sanctus Real Whatever Your Doing

2008-10-22T22:31:00.000-07:00

Christian Music News Source

Sanctus Real - I'm Not Alright

2008-10-21T19:51:00.000-07:00

Christian Music News Source

We Need Each Other Album Review

2008-09-19T22:22:00.000-07:00

Almost two years later, Sanctus Real brings us their 4th release, an album entitled We Need Each Other. The album is no doubt filled with a fantastic collection of songs that is arguably richer and more powerful than their last hit The Face of Love. Releasing February 12th, with a definite maturation in song-writing and recording, it is definitely one you will not want to miss!

The epic “Turn on the Lights” provides an appropriately strong opening to the album. With exceptional guitar hooks and strong vocals with lyrics that encourage listeners to “Turn on the lights” and “Illuminate the future,” the song stands as a shout out for people to bring hope to the dark by sharing the love of Christ.

The title track plays next, with an upbeat, catchy, melody and lyrics like “Oh, Oh, We need each other / So what’s the fighting for / Oh, oh, we need each other.” This is one of those songs that is so catchy you’ll be singing it in your head for days after; and with a positive message and reminder to love others, that’s okay!

“Black Coal,” like the later song “Leap of Faith,” shies away from the pop-inspired tone of many of the other songs. It carries a bit more of a raw-edgy-rock-feeling, with definite passion and yet again catchy lyrics. At the same time, “Whatever You’re Doing” and “Half Our Lives” show off the softer side of the band. Though these two are mixed in between the other more rock-based songs, the album still flows superbly, avoiding a sense of discontinuity or distraction....

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Sanctus Real - The Face of Love (Sparrow/EMI)

2008-09-19T22:19:00.000-07:00

Sounds like … the melodic modern rock of Switchfoot, U2, Mae, downhere, Coldplay, Kevin Max, and Luna Halo.

At a glance … The Face of Love represents a new level of maturity to Sanctus Real's songwriting and rock style, though the songs don't quite live up to the hooks and energy of the band's previous efforts.

With a heart balloon on the cover and a title like The Face of Love, some fans might fear Sanctus Real has gone soft. Though some of the band members have begun to experience marriage and parenthood in recent years, they remain entrenched in rock without resorting to the overly sentimental. However, it's been a trying year for Sanctus Real, and not just with the departure of their original bass player Steve Goodrum (replaced by Dan Gartley). On the day he became a new dad, drummer Mark Graalman learned his own father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer; he died just two months later. Around the same time, singer Matt Hammitt's grandmother also took a turn for the worse and ended up in hospice care before passing.

All this right when it was time to ride the wave of success from 2004's Fight the Tide, which (deservedly) won the 2005 GMA Award for Modern Rock Album of the Year. The grief and uncertainty had squelched the band's creativity and passion. But producer Chris Stevens (Shawn McDonald, tobyMac) recognized this as an opportunity, challenging Sanctus Real to instead let their emotions fuel their music. Those efforts yielded what's being described as the band's most personal effort to date.

Surprisingly, this is not the album you'd expect in response to two funerals, preoccupied with the shortness of our days and the hope of life eternal. Only the powerful closer "Benjamin," written for Graalman's newborn son, touches on the recent losses: "Children born while fathers die/It's that circle of life that we all live in time … He gives and He takes, and it makes us stronger." It is indeed an album of brokenness, searching for answers and comfort from God, but more from the angle of grace and love. Taking cue from the mood swings of the Psalms, The Face of Love is essentially Sanctus Real's blues album.

Which is not to suggest that the album is a dramatic musical departure. While early buzz suggested a radical stylistic reinvention, this is very much the same melodic rock band—Hammitt's remarkable lead vocal (like a younger, raspier Bono), Gaalman's sharp drumming, and Chris Rohman's robust guitar work are all here. "Don't Give Up" in particular sounds like another rocker off Fight the Tide, and some will call the title track derivative of U2's "Beautiful Day" (popularized on Christian radio by Sanctus Real) or Coldplay's "Speed of Sound." But props to the band for occasionally detouring from their familiar in-your-face approach, sometimes scaling down or else backing many of these new songs with ambient effects that provide a floating alt-pop quality to "Benjamin" and much of "Magnetic." The album also kicks off rather unconventionally with the slower powerhouse single "I'm Not Alright," comfortably resting somewhere between Switchfoot's "Meant to Live" and Coldplay's "Fix You."....

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Sanctus Real - Fight the Tide (Sparrow/EMI)

2008-09-19T22:12:00.000-07:00

Sounds like … melodic power rock that shares the traits of Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, Weezer, Switchfoot, U2, and PFR.

At a glance … Fight the Tide is not so much a profound artistic statement as it is an enjoyable rock album that is meaningful, catchy, and loud, performed with musical excellence.

Toledo, Ohio's Sanctus Real emerged on the national Christian music scene in early 2003 with Say It Loud, quickly earning widespread acclaim while building considerably on their already strong fan base. Touring relentlessly as far back as their independent days, 2004 promises to be equally busy between the summer music festivals and a high-profile tour with Jeremy Camp.

You'd think such a busy slate would slow down the recording process for Sanctus Real, but that's not the case. The band spent the first couple of months of 2004 quickly writing and recording new material, so one might think Fight the Tide would sound hackneyed or rushed—but it manages to avoid the dreaded sophomore slump. Like the themes at the heart of its songs, the album battles against any complacency or negativity with feel-good charm, offering infectious power pop of the same breed as Foo Fighters, Jimmy Eat World, and Weezer, with splashes of the anthemic (U2, Live) and the Beatle-esque (PFR).

Not to say that Fight the Tide is a brilliant artistic statement. In many ways, Sanctus Real comes across as a less intellectual version of Switchfoot—musically and lyrically. This is a band that likes to convey their faith simply and clearly without using tired spiritual rhetoric. "Things Like You" is inspired by Matthew 6, addressing the material things that distract us from God: "Everyone wants everyone else's everything/Sometimes the more we have the less we really gain/And I'm tired of loving all that money has to buy/Get you out of my heart out of my mind, leaving you behind." James 2 is the source for "Deeds," exploring the relationship between faith and works. "Closer" is a prayer to remain in a daily love relationship with God, and "Message" is a remake of one of their older songs about not being ashamed of the Christian faith.

Interpersonal relationships also play a prominent theme on the album. "Alone" is a simple love song, expressing longing during time away from a significant other, though much of it can also work as a spiritual love song. "The Fight Song" uses heavy power pop to remind us to choose our words carefully and reconcile broken relationships. "Change Me" prayerfully asks the Lord for more humility, patience, and gentleness in fostering these relationships....

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Sanctus Real - Say It Loud (Sparrow)

2008-09-19T22:00:00.000-07:00

Sounds like … the powerhouse, melodic modern rock of Tree63, Jimmy Eat World, The Juliana Theory, Luna Halo, and Tait.

At a Glance … an impressively strong modern rock album from a relatively new band that bodes well for the future of Sanctus Real and Sparrow Records.

The formation of Sanctus Real is about as textbook a way to start a rock band as they come. Lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Hammitt met lead guitarist Chris Rohman while attending Toledo Christian School in Ohio. The two became fast friends and offered their services to lead youth worship at school and at church. They would go on to form Sanctus Real in 1996 with the addition of drummer Mark Graalman and bassist Steve Goodrum. It usually takes time for a band to gel and refine their sound, and Sanctus Real is no exception; they toured extensively for six years and released three independent projects. The hard work paid off. Matt and Chris shopped their most recent indie release, Nothing to Lose, to the Christian music industry at Gospel Music Week in Nashville. Soon, the Buckeye band started receiving numerous offers, eventually settling with the recording contract offered by Sparrow. The record label believes in the band so much, they landed a spot for Sanctus Real on the high-profile Festival Con Dios tour last fall … before the release of their national debut. The response for the band was enthusiastic, which suggests that Sanctus Real will be even better received in next spring's See Spot Rock tour, now that Say It Loud is available to the public.

It's easy to assume Sanctus Real is a long-established act upon listening to Say It Loud. This is a first-rate modern-rock effort with impressive production and musicianship. Produced by Pete Stewart (Grammatrain, Tait), the sound will resonate with fans of bands such as Tree63, Jimmy Eat World, The Julianna Theory, Luna Halo, and Tait. It's melodic and hook-laden, but also hard-hitting. Matt's a great lead vocalist, much like John Ellis of Tree63, as well as Cliff Young (Caedmon's Call), Kevin Max, and Phillip LaRue. Matt and Chris' guitar work is clear and aggressive, creating a sonic blast over the powerful rhythm of Mark and Steve. Odds are you've heard the title track and first single on the radio by now, a great rocker about leaving our sinful past behind and living to make today right. Good news – the rest of the album is just as good.

Of the other tracks on Say It Loud, I most enjoy the uplifting sound of "Inspiration," another strong rocker and potential single with a great melody and strong guitar production. The lyrics include: "Seems we'll never do enough to tell the world about God's love / But every soul is worth the fight / 'Cause we can change the world by changing just one life." Also terrific is "Won't Walk Away," a simplistic but killer rock anthem you can imagine the masses yelling along to at concerts. "Nothing to Lose" feels like another probable radio single with its terrific melody and reminder to love others as God loves us: "There's no better time than when I find You in a feeling, and know I'm doing alright."...

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Christian rockers Sanctus Real perform benefit concert for ABC's Extreme Home Makeover

2008-09-19T12:06:00.000-07:00

Christian rock band and Toldeo, Ohio natives Sanctus Real performed yesterday at a fundraiser to benefit the Frisch family, who will be getting a new house courtesy of

ABC's "Extreme Makeover Home Edition."

They couldn't have picked a better band to take part in the event. Sanctus Real has a long history of not only supporting global ministries but also has being actively involved in

local missions. They really embody the command to love our neighbors, and I hope footage of the concert makes it onto the show. They definitely deserve the press, although

they'd be just as happy if they didn't get it. They're one of the most giving, humble bands I know.

You can read more about the Frisch family and the home makeover project on the local ABC affiliate website. To learn more about Sanctus Real, visit their website.

Christian Music News Source

Sanctus Real comes to Abilene as headliner

2008-09-19T12:05:00.000-07:00

It has been more than two years since Christian rock band Sanctus Real headlined its own tour.

And guitarist and founding member Chris Rohman is itching to get going and spend a lot more time on stage.

"We are really excited about that ... to play new songs. As we are coming out of festival season where you only get a few you get used to playing a 40-minute set or

whatever," Rohman said in a recent telephone interview. "So to go out and play a full set is going to feel good."

Sanctus Real, Tenth Avenue North, VOTA (formerly Casting Pearls) and guest speaker Sammy Abediyi will be in Abilene on Sunday at the Paramount Theatre, 352 Cypress St.

Sanctus Real's hits include "Turn On the Lights" and "Whatever You're Doing (Something Heavenly)."

Planning began earlier this year for the tour. It's probably no wonder Sanctus Real is more than ready to start playing, because a lot of work that has little to do with music

goes into putting together a tour.

For example, Sanctus Real had to figure out which bands to bring with them, make travel arrangements and work with promoters to do what they can to make it a successful

tour.

"There's a lot of things that kind of come up that you forget that you would be the one to be responsible to deal with. It's kind of interesting," Rohman laughed.

Each show on the tour is focused on strengthening the relationship between the band and the audience. The theme follows their spring release of "We Need Each Other," an

album urging unity and love that went Top 10 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart.

"I think just schematically that's what we kind of see as being important in the making of this record," Rohman said. "Just that theme of unity and drawing together."

When the band sat down to make 2006's "The Face of Love," it was dealing with many difficult issues -- both as a band and on a personal level. Those issues were reflected

in the album, especially with the hit "I'm Not Alright," which pushed the album to a peak of No. 2 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.

"We Need Each Other" is about getting past those issues.

"I think it is ... being there for each other and communication with each other through those hard times that gets you through sooner or later. For us, it was an important

message to write about, a more joyful record, a more uplifting record," Rohman said. "The last record wasn't a downer by any means, but I think just the weight was just lifted

off our shoulders and you could tell in the music."

Rohman said the band members hope to hit home with that message and connect their music with fans in ways they never have before.

"We feel like the messages in these songs are so important on this record that we really want people to connect in a deeper way than before and to really go away knowing,

'Oh! That's Sanctus Real, that's their sound, that's who they are as people, that's their song, that's what they are trying to communicate,'" Rohman said.

Christian Music News Source

Sanctus Real arrives for SAU welcome back bash

2008-09-19T12:02:00.000-07:00

Q&A with Matt Hammitt

The annual SAU Welcome Back Bash kicked took place Sept. 6 with the Vota, followed by Tenth Avenue North, Sammy A. and this year’s headliners Sanctus Real. Before

Sanctus Real took the stage I had the privilege of sitting down with the band’s lead singer Matt Hammitt for a question and answer interview that left me stunned on how

humble he was and wanted others to be.

JD: Okay, you guys have been coming to Spring Arbor the last few years. Why do you keep coming back? Why do you like to come here?

MH: Man they keep asking us (laughing). Yeah and we love it man. A couple years ago we did this event and it was same thing, it was great. It’s a great experience.

JD: What is your favorite part about touring? What do you like most about it?

MH: The opportunity to perform the songs we record and invest so much time into. I think the best part about performing the songs is just hearing people sing those songs

knowing that it means something to them.

JD: What is your guys’ favorite song? Do you have a particular song that you like performing?

MH: Well you know there are several songs that we’ve had that I really like. Off this record I really enjoy Turn on the Lights; it’s the first track on the new record. I like playing

that one. I like the energy the guys bring to the table with the guitar riffs and stuff like that.

JD: What is the overall message you’re trying to send to your audience? Or even a personal message you want to send?

MH: Ah yeah, just that we’re broken people too and that we’re not any different when we’re on stage or playing music in a rock band. We don’t want people to think that we’re

God’s gift to anybody (laughing). We’re just trying to be humble and be gracious for what God has given us. We want people to see that and that as a community of people, of

us and our fans and our friends that we’re all just people kind of relying on God’s strength together and that’s what I hope people really get out of our music. That in our

weakness we draw closer to God.

JD: What is one of the greatest parts about being a member of Sanctus Real?

MH: Man, I just honestly love the group of guys I get to do it with. The three of us have been together for 12 years, the other guys have been with us for about three, and we’

re finally in a place where we all feel close and know each other so well and just have a great time. We’re good friends.

JD: Now do you have a favorite band besides yours?

MH: Christian bands, I just really love Leland. I mean, I know everybody does but there’s a good reason for it. It’s like people know when they hear something that’s very good

and people know when God is at work in something. It’s very obvious. And God’s at work with those guys and it’s just, really moving.

JD: So do you have a favorite story from the road or just anything crazy that has happened? Or like an interesting person you met?

MH: (laughing) Man we meet all kinds of crazy people on the road. I just like meeting and being friends with all the other bands in this industry. We are kind of like a community,

you know, and it’s so good to see each other all the time and we all get to share our stories of crazy people we encounter on the road. You meet every kind of person you

could ever imagine out there and it’s like you just realize how colorful this earth is.

JD: Do you have a favorite bible verse, one that kind of ties in with your music?

MH: Yeah, you know whenever someone asks me what my favorite verse is I always say Philippians 2: 1-11. And I love that ‘cause it says “Even Christ himself was humble.” I

mean it’s like He was GOD you know. He had every right to be like “hey, God just showed up guys, make me a sweet meal and just, you know, bring out the best.” And he

never did that, he just said “what can I do for you” and that’s just the servant’s heart that Jesus had. I mean he didn’t even consider equality with God something to be grasped.

So how can we consider our selves anything except his workmanship and under His grace?

Christian Music News Source

Discography

2008-09-19T11:13:00.001-07:00

Albums

* All This Talk of Aliens EP (1998, independent)
* Message for the Masses (1999, independent)
* Nothing to Lose (2001, independent)
* Say it Loud (2002, Sparrow)
* Fight the Tide (2004, Sparrow)
* The Face of Love (2006, Sparrow)
* We Need Each Other (2008, Sparrow)

Singles

Year	Title	Christian CHR	Album
Year	Title	Hot Christian Songs
2002	"Say it Loud"	2	Say it Loud
2003	"Hey Wait"	?	Say it Loud
2003	"Audience Of One"	8	Say it Loud
2004	"Beautiful Day"	1	In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa
2004	"Everything About You"	1	Fight the Tide
2004	"Alone"	3	Fight the Tide
2004	"Things Like You"	4	Fight the Tide
2005	"The Fight Song"	1	Fight the Tide
2005	"Closer"	?	Fight the Tide
2006	"I'm Not Alright"	1, #3 most played Christian Hit Radio (CHR) song of 2006 ^[1]	The Face of Love
2006	"Face of Love"	5	The Face of Love
2007	"Don't Give Up"	1, #6 most played CHR song of 2007^[2]	The Face of Love
2007	"We Need Each Other"	1	We Need Each Other
2008	"Whatever You're Doing"	5	We Need Each Other
2008	"Turn On The Lights"		We Need Each Other

Music videos
* Say It Loud (2002)
* Everything About You (2004)
* I'm Not Alright (2006)
* Whatever You're Doing (2008)

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Members

2008-09-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

Current members
Sanctus Real bassist Dan Gartley
Sanctus Real bassist Dan Gartley

* Matt Hammitt - vocals
* Chris Rohman - guitar
* Mark Graalman - drums
* Dan Gartley - bass guitar
* Pete Prevost - guitar

Former members

* Steve Goodrum - bass guitar
* Matt Kollar - bass guitar

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Sanctus Real

2008-09-19T11:12:00.000-07:00

Sanctus Real is a Dove Award-winning American Christian rock band from Toledo, Ohio. They are signed to Sparrow Records. They have released four albums with Sparrow Records, two albums and one EP independently, and recorded a No. 1 hit on the Christian music chart with their cover of the U2 song "Beautiful Day", for the project In the Name of Love: Artists United for Africa. Their song "Everything About You" appears in a compilation album titled X Worship 2006 and on their 2004 release, Fight the Tide.

Sanctus Real music is featured in the Christian video game Dance Praise. The songs "Alone", "Everything About You", and "Say It Loud" are included with the game. "Closer" and "Things Like You" can be added to the list via the Dance Praise Expansion Pack Volume 3: Pop & Rock Hits.

The band released their sixth studio album, We Need Each Other, on February 12, 2008.

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