Skillet in Cola!

So my favorite band, Skillet, is coming to Columbia. I'm excited because I just got their new album and I love it! The first time I saw Skillet live was in Michigan two years ago at a Christian music festival. I had volunteered to work for the weekend because admission was free and I thought it would be fun. On the second day I had the opportunity to work in Skillet's merchandise tent. I didn't meet the band members, but I did get to talk to the girl who worked with the merchandising company--she was just out of high school but traveling all over. At the end of my shift she let me choose an item to take, so I got a Skillet shirt (it has a pink background, you have to concentrate to read it) and even now it's one of my favorite pieces of clothing.

Of course, the highlight of the day was actually seeing Skillet in concert. The thing about this festival was that it was geared toward the youth, and I was moving into that "young adult" category since I was in college. During the concerts, these kids were moshing and jumping up and down, and I felt like an old fogey! Especially while Thousand Foot Krutch was playing. But I got over it. So after some guy's semi-inspirational message, Skillet comes on! John Cooper walks up to the microphone in this long red jacket, an Elvis shirt, spiky hair, and a boa. My first thought was: diva! or something like that. But it was cool. They were great live, and played all my favorite songs except for "Fingernails."


The one thing I remember is John telling us the story behind "Open Wounds." He didn't have a good relationship with his dad, but over time they worked it out. His story was encouraging because even though my dad and I speak to each regularly and never fight, we've never had a really good connection. I actually hated him for a long time as a young person because of the troubles he's caused our family (my sister and I have been raised by our mom since middle school). For the past five or six years, the only link between us has been monetary (we have a joint bank account that he puts money in). He has bought and fixed up a car for me, he gives me money whenever I need it, and I send in enrollment verifications for our health insurance. In the past year our conversation has expanded to sports (we both love basketball) and Russian culture (I went to Russia for a summer), but we have yet to have any deep conversations. My sister and I have concluded that he doesn't see the need to have this emotional connection with us. He believes in a traditional father role. And I'm okay with that. But before that Skillet concert, I resented it. But John Cooper gave me hope that things could get better. They have steadily improved, and I can contribute some of it to my better attitude.

On to the new album. I got so excited the first time I heard "The Older I Get" on Rock 93.5! I'd already bought the CD online and listened a few dozen times. I have to be honest, the first time I listened I thought it was terrible! I'm one of those people who loves deep, spiritual lyrics that don't always make sense (like Collide and Evanescence's music). But on Comatose, the lyrics are pretty straightforward. Like some of Evancescence's songs, if you read it like a poem you would think a middle schooler in love wrote it. So my initial reaction was negative because I was rolling my eyes at the words. The second time I listened to it, I was doing homework or something, so my ears were on autopilot and I heard the music more than the words. By the time it got to "Yours to Hold" (Track 3), I loved it! I don't know much about classic rock, but these songs are more like ballads than straight rock songs. The music is emotional, more than making up for the shallow lyrics. My absolute favorite is "Say Goodbye." It's one of those songs you sing holding up your lighter, or rocking side to side with your arms around your friends' shoulders. In general, I like the theme of the songs--mostly love songs. Maybe it has to do with me having a boyfriend. I was not dismayed when I realized most of the songs weren't "Christian" (on the surface) because I'm all for bands writing what they feel. I still call them a Christian band because I know the members are Christian. And I'm happy they've broken into the mainstream because they are too good for contemporary Christian stations.