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| Wednesday,
February 27, 2008 The Red Letter Band raising money for the community Band proclaims the "good news" by Karin L. Nauber
"But none of us knows how to play an instrument." These words could have proven to be mortal to what would become The Red Letter Band. Instead, they became the impetus for change that the group of young people was looking for. Josh Anderson was 22 years old and he and a couple of other youth from the Reynolds Baptist Youth Group were sitting and talking in the living room of Ronn Mindeman. "It was Rachel Mindeman, Pat Doyle and myself. We were saying we wanted to do something different. Something more productive to reach the youth. Pat said, 'Let's start a band.'" Anderson replied, "But none of us knows how to play an instrument." Doyle, who was 18 at the time, had an obvious interest in music and as it turned out, a natural talent for it as well. "Pat and I started playing guitar. We spent hours together playing and arguing about how songs should be played," said Anderson, chuckling. The whole point of learning to play, though, was not lost on the members of the fledgling group. That point was to lead their peers in worship. "As we got going, people would comment to us that we had a unique sound. Well, of course we did-we didn't know how to play," said Anderson, again laughing about that memory from six years prior when they first started out. About four years into their ministry, Doyle got what Anderson described as a "wild idea." "He said we should write our own songs," said Anderson. "I said, 'Four years ago we couldn't even play and now you want me to write songs?'" said Anderson. During a sound check, Doyle had Anderson play and hum which developed into the first song he wrote. Now with over 100 songs under his belt, song-writing is almost like second nature to Anderson. "We aren't making money on it, but people like it. People of all ages." To Anderson and the band members, that is great success. As things sometimes happen, a romance developed between Josh and Rachel and a couple of years ago they were married. About a year and a half ago Rachel's dad, Ronn, joined the band. "He's the only one of us with real performing experience," said Anderson. Ronn used to be part of a top 40s band that played during the 70s. Anderson has met with a Nashville producer (who was the bassist for his father-in-laws group and now produces such super stars as Diamond Rio), but he said that his focus has been to make sure the band and he have the right focus which is to serve Christ through their music. "If God decided to move us to Nashville, then we would go, but I feel a great need in my home area to get kids off of drugs, steer them away from premature sex and help them see a better life. There are a lot of hurting people here who need a word from the Lord in music that they can relate to," said Anderson. The Red Letter Band, who gets their name from the words of Christ being in red letters in some Bibles, bring a gospel, or good news, message through a variety of songs mainly in the country/rock style. "You can sing about heartache and put the Christian perspective in it," said Anderson. Even though they are in the ministry, they also like to entertain. "We're not Garth Brooks and we aren't all that fancy, but we do let God do the work through the music and our sound. If you come to a performance and you want to be uplifted by the gospel, you will like our concerts," he said. "We want people to have fun. Hooting and hollering is okay. Dancing is okay," he added. The band is made up of Anderson who plays rhythm guitar and is on lead vocals; Rachel Anderson on harmonica and backup and lead vocals; Pat Doyle on lead guitar, some rhythm guitar and some backup vocals; Ronn Mindeman, bass and backup vocals; Karina Roe on piano and backup vocals, Emily Duberouski on violin and backup vocals, Kevin Mason on drums and Laura Cihlar who is the new drummer for this season. The Red Letter Band will be performing in Clarissa on Friday, February 29 at the Clarissa gymnasium at 7:30 p.m. to help raise funds for the cities of Clarissa and Eagle Bend churches' benevolence funds which help people in need. Chaplain Dave Greaver will be Mcing the event and there will also be local talent opening for the band. If you want to hear some good entertaining music and help out your neighbors in need, this concert is the place for you to be. |