Tragedy Ann
Genre: Rock
Official Web Site
Tragedy Ann Bibliography: (click on each album cover to view tracks and Tragedy Ann lyrics)
Tragedy Ann Biography Ask Mikee Bridges, frontman for Tragedy Ann, about the focus of the band, and you will get two words.
"Christ. Period."
It's not that Mikee is a man of few words. On the contrary, he is happy to bend your ear for as long as you will listen. As long the topic is Jesus.
"We're not rock stars," he says bluntly, leaving no doubt in your mind as to what he thinks of those who are. "We're trying to minister the Gospel the only way we know how. We're not looking for a lot of money. We're not looking for special perks. We'll sleep in the dirt if it means we can minister the Gospel to kids in a way that they can understand."
Mikee is joined in Tragedy Ann by guitarist John Bronco, bassist Shorty Valentine and drummer Gabe Wilson. While the members of Tragedy Ann reject the notion of rock star status, they also recognize the platform they have been given. It is a gift they do not take lightly. And it is a dichotomy they address in their song, 'Eugene.'
"We (the church) have created our own rock stars," Mikee explains. "And instead of God, we are worshipping these bands. We are so against that, and yet we realize - if we weren't on stage in front of you, talking about the Lord, would you listen to us? You probably wouldn't. Yet when I am on stage, I can tell the kids to jump up and down, and they'll do it! I can tell them about the Lord, and they'll listen."
It's not that Tragedy Ann is against entertainment value. It's just that they want to see a little more meat and potatoes and a little less dessert.
"We are the MTV generation," Mikee continues. "We are media kids. We need something new and exciting, a new imaged flashed every five seconds, or we lose interest. These are the kids we are trying to get - the kids with low attention spans, the kids who need something more. When these kids come to a Tragedy Ann show, we want them to walk away saying, 'Whoa, that was different'. Let's face it, there are a lot of bands that can come in and rock your world. So what? But if you can change somebody's soul; if you can change their outlook on life, or their view on the Lord; or if somehow they get saved at one of your shows - okay, now you've got my attention."
Tragedy Ann's latest project, One Nation Under God, definitely gets the listeners attention. A continuation of last year's surprise hit album, Lesser, One Nation... tackles issues of the Christian life that are largely ignored by most hard rock bands - issues like the love between a husband and wife, with God in the center of the relationship '45'. Like being a hero to your little girl 'Tank'. Like finding God while you are still wallowing in the depths of sin 'Over And Over'. Like the mystery of God dwelling within our hearts 'Always'.
And then there are those worship tunes.
"We brought in some friends from church to sing on them, and when I listen to them it just makes me cry," Mikee confesses. "These are not church camp songs. They are not 'Kum-By-Ya.' They are heavy-duty, modern rock worship tunes that you can really get into and have a lot of fun with. When we play these songs at the end of a concert, we see hundreds of kids with their eyes closed and their hands lifted up to the Lord. And they are not looking at us. They are looking at the Lord, crying out to Him. That's where it's at. If you can do that, you have my full attention. If you can't do that, then you're just another band."
|
