Essential Christian Modern Rock and Alternative Bands

The Texas rockers known as Abandon formed after brothers Josh and Justin Engler moved from their home state of Indiana during high school and met cousins Dave and Stevan Vela at church. The group played worship together but soon felt a calling to write original music and put more purpose into their performances. Their new sound caught the attention of EMI CMG Director of A&R Chris York, who signed Abandon to Forefront Records after hearing them playing next door to the restaurant he was eating dinner in.

Abandon Members

• Josh Engler - vocals
• Justin Engler - guitar
• Dave Vela - drums
• Stevan Vela - guitar
• Bryan Fowler - bass

Abandon Starter Songs

• "Providence" (Purchase/Download)
• "Your Love Lifts Me Up" (Purchase/Download)

After 15-years of sold out concerts, three million albums sold, 18 No. 1 radio hits and several GRAMMY and Dove award nominations and wins, Audio Adrenaline retired due to lead singer Mark Stuart's vocal problems. Gone ... maybe, but far from forgotten.

Audio Adrenaline Members

• Mark Stuart - vocals
• Will McGinniss - bass
• Tyler Burkum - guitar, vocals, keyboard
• Ben Cissell - drums

Audio Adrenaline Starter Songs

• "Goodbye" (Purchase/Download)
• "Hands And Feet" (Purchase/Download)
• "Get Down" (Purchase/Download)
• "King" (Purchase/Download)
• "Pierced" (Purchase/Download)

Christian Music's biggest breakthrough band and the best-selling new artist of 2004 is made up of three sisters from Elgin, Illinois. The Barlows live, work, worship and make incredible music together.

For two years the Barlow sisters acted as the back up band for their dad and traveled the country. They decided to form their own band and were picked up by Fervent Records in October of 2003. Rebecca, Alyssa and Lauren Barlow have come a long way since then and continue to rock us with their passion for Christ.

BarlowGirl Members

• Rebecca - guitar, background vocals
• Alyssa - bass, keyboards, vocals
• Lauren - drums, vocals

BarlowGirl Starter Songs

• "I Believe In Love" (Purchase/Download)
• "Million Voices" (Purchase/Download)

Tulsa-based pop/punk/rock foursome Capital Lights started out as the screamo act afterEIGHT. After getting with manager Jason Fowler (Red, Pillar) and joining the roster of Third Coast Artist Agency, a deal with Tooth & Nail wasn't far behind. Their debut release on the label, This Is An Outrage, was entirely based on their own day to day experiences and it took them out on the road with Hawk Nelson and Run Kid Run.

Capital Lights Members

• Brett Admire - guitar
• Bryson Phillips - vox
• Michael Paul Phillips - drums
• Jonathan Williams - guitars
• Jon Odle - bass

Capital Lights Starter Songs

• "The Night Of Your Life Is When You'll Die" (Purchase/Download)
• "Remember The Day" (Purchase/Download)
• "Kick It Off" (Purchase/Download)

At the age of 12, Brian Bunn and Josh Reedy started playing music together. After high school they met guitarist Eric Miker and grew a little more. Boone Daughdrill rounded out the group when he came in to play drums for a set of shows and they clicked so well, they decided to keep him. Bursting into the music scene as Slanted Records' flagship band in 2006, DecembeRadio's debut album got a Grammy nod and won them a Dove. They haven't slowed down since.

DecembeRadio Members

• Josh Reedy - vocals/bass
• Brian Bunn - lead guitar
• Eric Miker - guitar
• Boone Daughdrill - drums

DecembeRadio Starter Songs

• "Be Alright" (Purchase/Download)
• "Live And Breathe" (Purchase/Download)
• "Better Man" (Purchase/Download)

Based out of Albany, OR, Falling Up came about while the guys were still in high school. As providence would have it, they were friends with the members of Kutless and it was actually Kutless who pitched them to BEC Recordings owner, Brandon Ebel, who eventually went on to sign them in the summer of 2003.

They debuted on February 24, 2004, with Crashings. The release sold over 3,000 units in its first week. Since then, the band has released six more CDs.

Falling Up Members

• Jessy C. Ribordy - Vocals, Keys, Guitar
• Jeremy Miller - Bass, Keys
• Josh Shroy - Drums
• Daniel Hudleston - Guitar

Falling Up Starter Songs

• "Contact" (Purchase/Download)
• "Goddess Of The Dayspring, Am I" (Purchase/Download)
• "Bittersweet" (Purchase/Download)

The members of the Grammy Award winning Jars of Clay met at Greenville College in Greenville, Illinois in the early 1990s. Four years later, after winning a GMA contest, they left school and took up music full time, eventually signing with Essential Records. The relationship with the label lasted until 2007, when they formed their own label, Gray Matters and partnered with Nettwerk Music Group.

Jars of Clay Members

• Dan Haseltine - vocals/percussion
• Charlie Lowell - keys
• Stephen Mason - guitar/bass
• Matthew Odmark - guitar

Jars of Clay Starter Songs

• "Love Song For A Savior" (Purchase/Download)
• "Work" (Purchase/Download)
• "God Will Lift Up Your Head" (Purchase/Download)

The Chattanooga, Tennessee based quintet formed during high school, taking the show on the road rather than letting college split the group up. They all decided that a year of being away from the music (in at different schools) was enough and we, the fans definitely benefited from their decision. Sadly, they announced the end of their run in October 2009. Nevertheless will disband in December 2009.

Nevertheless Members

• Joshua Pearson - lead vocals
• AJ Cheek - guitar, piano and vocals
• Adam Rowe - drums
• Adam Wann - bass

Nevertheless Starter Songs

• "Sleeping In" (Purchase/Download)
• "Longshot" (Purchase/Download)
• "Topics" (Purchase/Download)

The News was formed in Australia in 1985 by Sean Taylor, John James, Peter Furler, and George Perdikis. After signing with Refuge Communications and coming to the United States in late 1987, they changed their name to Newsboys to avoid conflict with Huey Lewis and the News.

Three albums and line-up changes later, the band finally gained notice in the Christian music scene and went on to become one of the best-selling Christian music artists of the past 20 years.

Newsboys Members

• Michael Tait - vocals
• Duncan Phillips - drums
• Jeff Frankenstein - keys/bass
• Jody Davis - guitar

Newsboys Starter Songs

• "Something Beautiful" (Purchase/Download)
• "You Are My King (Amazing Love)" (Purchase/Download)
• "The Mission" (Purchase/Download)

The four-piece rock band from Lincoln, Nebraska is made up of four brothers. The guys starting playing together in college and in 2003 expanded their territory to the Midwest and West Coast. The band performed more than 200 shows as indies and their 2005 indie release, Rip Open the Skies, sold more than 20,000 copies, getting the attention of Word. They were signed by the label in April of 2008.

Remedy Drive Members

• David Zach - vocals, keys, guitar
• Philip Zach - bass, vocals
• Paul Zach - guitar, vocals
• Daniel Zach - drums

Remedy Drive Starter Songs

• "Valuable" (Purchase/Download)
• "Daylight" (Purchase/Download)
• "What Happens (At The End)" (Purchase/Download)
• "Hope" (Purchase/Download)