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This is basically a second part of a larger interview<\/strong><\/a> that we posted to the Down The Line website a few weeks back. If you missed the first part of it, swing by the website (www.downthelinezine.com) and check it out. In this part everyone that has played in the band weighed in with one set of questions or another. We had the chance to catch up with some of the band members after the Undercover\/Crumb\u00e4cher show that was just played in January. If you feel inclined, there is also a link at the bottom of the page to support the ministry that the reunion show benefited, as well as to help out with ongoing expenses from the show.<\/p>\n Looking back and being there in the early eighties as one of the forerunners of the alternative Christian scene, what were some of the biggest obstacles that you had to overcome as a band in the industry? <\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: The biggest obstacles to overcome in the industry I would say were fitting into the mold that the industry wanted to put us in.\u00a0 As we moved into the mainstream Christian music scene with each consecutive album release \u2013 those expectations became more important to the labels and people we were working with.\u00a0 They had concerns about lyrics, our appearance and even our attitudes about issues such as \u201cdancing\u201d.\u00a0\u00a0 I know some of these issues may seem trivial in our world now but growing up in the church of the 70s (and for my brother and I, as missionary kids) we had spent much of our teenage years conforming our actions and behaviors to what was expected.\u00a0 As we entered our early 20s \u2013 we were ready to shed those things and step into who we really were \u2013 and yet \u2013 the industry had its expectations of what we should say and how we should say it.\u00a0 I wanted to rebel against it \u2013 but I felt I would be ungrateful in doing so.\u00a0 I felt blessed to be where I was and I knew I shouldn\u2019t take it for granted.\u00a0 Not everyone gets to fulfill their hopes and dreams in such a way.\u00a0 So I battled these things inwardly.\u00a0 These \u201cinner demons\u201d I guess you could say – came out later in my music with Almost Ugly.\u00a0 It was a very freeing musical experience for me.<\/p>\n Jimmy<\/strong>: For me it was learn as you go, while assuming those people you found yourself in subjection to actually knew what they were doing, as they seemed to position themselves so confidently and comfortably within that thought. Granted, this applies to me as well if I place myself in this second position. I think another perspective would be the challenge of navigating through people’s hesitancies as you try your best to operate in your own liberties while doing what you do well.<\/p>\n Stephen<\/strong>: Being raised in the church, we all knew what we were up against regarding perception of what a Christian artist should be, although we also had the youthful optimism that being privy to this inside knowledge would somehow assist us in navigating those waters and winning over support.\u00a0 We were wrong of course, and faced a lot of the same resistance as many of the more progressive artists, but we also knew that Christian teenagers were totally hungry for this type of music regardless of what their ministers were telling them.\u00a0 We remembered hearing the same warnings as teens ourselves about the demonic beats and satanic lyrics of Rock \u2018n\u2019 Roll, trying to corrupt our souls, etc\u2026 It was an uphill battle, to be sure, but we realized it would be from the very beginning.\u00a0 I mean, we were all raised in churches where many considered it a sin to dance \u2013 just like in the movie \u201cFootloose\u201d but yet there we were, a na\u00efve little band of church kids that performed primarily what would have been considered at the time to be dance music!\u00a0 Our parents and families were very supportive of us though and I\u2019ll never forget the first time my 64 year-old conservative fundamentalist Christian Mom saw us play with Undercover and the Altar Boys. I warned her that there would probably be kids dancing at the show to our music and the other bands\u2019 so that she wouldn\u2019t be shocked by what she saw.\u00a0 We went on first, but she and my dad stayed for the whole evening and at the very end she came to me and said, \u201cYou know, I think I\u2019ve been wrong all these years; there\u2019s nothing sinful about dancing when you\u2019re just having fun like these kids were here tonight.\u00a0 It\u2019s too bad that we didn\u2019t have good Christian music like this to dance with when I was young; we missed out on a lot.\u201d Now you have to understand, a statement like that would have been considered heresy in some of the churches I grew up in, but my mom, even after all those years of\u00a0 following the rules, saw that there was something special happening with this generation that made her have to reevaluate a few things.\u00a0 From that point on my parents were at just about every local show we did (and even some that weren\u2019t so local) cheering us on.<\/p>\n As performers we also understood that we were going to be held up as Christian role models, and even though we didn\u2019t want that unrealistic and ultimately impossible-to-live-up-to responsibility, it was part of the job which we had to take very seriously.\u00a0 There were no wild tour parties or anything of the sort in our band, and really there wouldn\u2019t have been anyway as that just wasn\u2019t the type of people we were.\u00a0 I can honestly say we were your basic well behaved church kids, albeit with a bit of a rebel streak.\u00a0 Still, we knew that every move we made would be scrutinized under a microscope to ensure we weren\u2019t a bad influence on our young audiences.\u00a0 As noted, unrealistic yet undeniably part of the job.\u00a0 I guess looking back, maybe I wish we could have lightened up a bit, and enjoyed the experience a little more while it was happening; but we did keep out of trouble.<\/p>\n Ironically though, one of our biggest battles came from the commercial side of things more than the church.\u00a0 Christian music as a business has to look at its consumer audience \u2013 mainly other Christians \u2013 and deliver accordingly.\u00a0 They may say that the intent is to reach \u201cthe lost\u201d for Jesus, but in reality it is mostly the already self-identified Christians they are selling to.\u00a0 In our case there was always concern that since we did not specifically mention Jesus in our early songs our demographic target audience might be confused as to whether or not we really were Christians.\u00a0 As an artist, this really frustrated me because I felt like I was writing songs that truly reflected my faith from an artistic perspective \u2013 \u201cGlowing in the Dark\u201d, \u201cIdentical Twins\u201d, \u201cInterstellar Satellite\u201d \u2013 and it should already be established where I was coming from spiritually since I was signed to a known Christian artist label.\u00a0 But it seemed the industry didn\u2019t have enough faith that their listeners could put the pieces together and figure it out for themselves without us constantly reassuring them in every other song that indeed we really were still Christians, by inserting references specifically to Jesus, Lord, God, Savior\u2026\u00a0 I didn\u2019t have a theological problem with it per se, but to throw religious references into songs just to get them played on Christian radio seemed a little disingenuous.\u00a0 Finally at one point I was informed by label A&R if I didn\u2019t write a song for our upcoming \u201cThunder Beach\u201d album that could be played on traditional Christian radio, then they would have someone write one for me (and I WOULD record it!).\u00a0 That was when I went home and wrote \u201cHere Am I\u201d which became our first nationwide number one hit on Christian radio.\u00a0 It turned out the execs were right, but I was never completely comfortable with the practice of leveraging religious catch phrases for the purpose of optimizing a song\u2019s chart position.\u00a0 These days though it seems the whole industry is based on doing just that; I can\u2019t even listen to what is considered contemporary Christian radio anymore without wondering where so much of the artistic creativity has disappeared to.\u00a0 Many of today\u2019s artists do seem to be more financially successful than we were though so maybe it\u2019s a tradeoff they are willing to live with.\u00a0 But for me Christian music has lost its artistic edge from the early years.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get me wrong, I still feel like there are many very talented musicians and singers out there, I\u2019m just not hearing very many great songs.\u00a0 Maybe that observation shouldn\u2019t just be aimed at Christian music exclusively, but I always felt that if we really believed we had tapped into the creative power of the universe through our faith, we should be setting creative standards; instead we just keep pandering to the masses like most other pop entertainment does.<\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: Honestly we felt like we were entertainers. Yet, we also felt a definite connection to our audience which helped with the ministry side of the band.\u00a0 We were all raised in the church and we related easily to our audience. We enjoyed providing church kids with music that they really loved and could have fun with. As we were growing up in the church (and especially in the missionary community) mainstream styles of music, especially secular were not acceptable for \u201cChristians\u201d to listen to and for us that became confusing as we were drawn to it. My view is that there should not be a line drawn between secular and Christian music.\u00a0 I feel that the music and the artist performing it should be able to convey who and what they are without having a label attached.<\/p>\n Jimmy<\/strong>: It was purely therapeutic and much more rewarding than being a Go-fer. I think anyone that formally accepts the idea that they are a “minister” positions themselves in a very precarious place, and\u00a0in doing so limits the liberty which God’s spirit requires in order to use his people effectively\u00a0in revealing His grace. So yeah, it was pretty entertaining for us. We were pretty darn good at what we were doing.<\/p>\n Stephen<\/strong>: Personally I saw what we did as entertainment, good, quality, fun, family friendly entertainment.\u00a0 We knew though, that many of the venues we would be playing had a different view of our mission, and so we opened ourselves up to being available to more ministry focused events when it was appropriate.\u00a0 We were never totally comfortable with the exclusively ministry focused role though.\u00a0 I think it\u2019s because we could all see the value in putting on a great show and uplifting an audience that way, and then letting the ministry come from that experience however people were open to it.\u00a0 When we were just starting out we would get into a little trouble at some events upon informing the promoter or sponsor that we did not have a point in our show when we did a traditional altar call, where people would get the chance to come forward and pray to have a relationship with God.\u00a0 It just seemed so out of place for what we were doing, and being that we were all raised in the Christian church our whole lives, we felt that a commitment to any type of spiritual relationship should be a more personal thing.\u00a0 If the music could lead people down that path then great; we just didn\u2019t feel it was our calling to force the outcome of a spiritual awakening to be the end result of that musical journey.\u00a0 Besides, concerts are just too emotional anyway to get a true sense of what you really believe or want, when the lights are flashing, smoke is blowing, and music pounding.\u00a0 But if we could put on a show where people would leave feeling better and more hopeful about life than they did when they came in and give them something to think about, that was our ministry, and we were most successful when we were coming at it from that angle.<\/p>\n Were there perceived ideas that you had to overcome?<\/strong><\/p>\n Jimmy:<\/strong> Mostly my own, coming from a life as\u00a0the child of Missionary parents. The American music\u00a0culture was challenging for me as I tended to want to operate from a “Third Culture” perspective, but\u00a0found it necessary to accept many cultural\u00a0positions as valid without fully understanding why.<\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I feel as Jim, that our perception was clouded by quite a bit more than just the ideas about music.\u00a0 We were coming from a \u201cthird\u201d culture as we began to assimilate back into American life \u2013 and we also had that to deal with those issues personally.\u00a0 I do know this \u2013 my perception of how we would be treated as a band was shattered quickly.\u00a0 In the industry, everything is moving quickly in production with deadlines, marketing and the \u201cmachine\u201d that helps to run a band.\u00a0 I don\u2019t want to place blame necessarily on anyone specific \u2013 but I did not feel that the people in booking, record companies or promotion really cared about anyone in the band.\u00a0 Steve was the front man and in their eyes; he was the \u201cimportant\u201d one.\u00a0 Mind you \u2013 I didn\u2019t have much issue with it \u2013 I just accepted it as the way it was.\u00a0 I will say this though \u2013 now that I\u2019m in management with bands and work in production with them, it does help that I had the experience.\u00a0 I definitely try to be aware of those who might not be the main focal point \u2013 and let them know how valuable their contribution to the project is.<\/p>\n Why did the band come to an end?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: As mentioned earlier, after doing four albums with Crumb\u00e4cher, without much of a creative outlet \u2013 I was becoming weary of the same process.\u00a0 I needed a change.\u00a0 I had been married all of the years that I was in the band and waited to have a family so that I could concentrate on music.\u00a0 After four years, I began to feel motherhood calling me.\u00a0 I became pregnant with my daughter, Janae.\u00a0 As soon as that transpired, we all basically knew that our touring\/recording would come to an end.\u00a0 I can\u2019t speak for everyone \u2013 but it was just obvious to me that it was time to move on.\u00a0 I would never have traveled with or without a baby \u2013 I knew it was not a place to raise my daughter.\u00a0 I have a very strong \u201cmother\u201d instinct \u2013 I loved being pregnant and loved the entire idea of being a mother as well.\u00a0 That being said, after my daughter,\u00a0 Janae was born I still attempted to make it work.\u00a0 Janae was born in January, 1989 and we had a tour coming up in the Spring.\u00a0 I would not leave her at home \u2013 so my sister Beth filled in for me.\u00a0 It was a fun time for the band actually because for a few brief months \u2013 I even performed locally with my sister and another drummer, Mike Barnett who also filled in for my brother during some of those months.\u00a0 I guess it was almost like we couldn\u2019t really let go \u2013 or didn\u2019t really know how to let go.\u00a0 I remember my last show very well \u2013 it was bittersweet.\u00a0 I knew that I was leaving behind something very special \u2013 yet it was just time to move on.\u00a0 I\u2019m very grateful for the years I had with Crumb\u00e4cher.<\/p>\n Stephen<\/strong>: I think after four albums we had finally done everything we could or at least wanted to do in that configuration.\u00a0 We were and still remain close friends, but everyone, including me, had things they needed to try outside of the Crumb\u00e4cher format.\u00a0 Also, marriage, kids, and other major life events moved in and we had other responsibilities to our families outside of the band.\u00a0 I would be lying if I said I didn\u2019t miss some parts of it, but honestly you just reach a certain point when touring and playing music isn\u2019t the only thing you live for.<\/p>\n You guys have obviously stayed friends, have you kept in touch through the years or was there a reunion of sorts? <\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: We have stayed in touch over the years.\u00a0 We\u2019ve all been friends for so long \u2013 some of us even before the band \u2013 so when the marriages and babies come along \u2013 you just naturally stay in touch for those parts of life as well.\u00a0 There were times where some of us wouldn\u2019t see each other for a year or so \u2013 and I can\u2019t say it\u2019s always been good times, but that\u2019s just how it goes.\u00a0 I can definitely say that the families of the band and crew are family to me and always will be.\u00a0 Our children grew up together \u2013 we just spent New Year\u2019s Eve together \u2013 and it\u2019s always good to get back together like that.\u00a0 In 2005, we gathered at my parent\u2019s house for a dinner party.\u00a0 That little get-together sparked the 2005 Broken Records Reunion Show.<\/p>\n Jimmy<\/strong>: \u00a0A) You could say that B) In a way C) Yes D) Perspective changes, and with it faith….hope, love. Radical and Ridiculous.<\/p>\n Have you guys stayed with your faith as Christians?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I feel stronger than ever in my faith.\u00a0 More than anything \u2013 I feel that I understand much more about who God is \u2013 and how I relate to Him and how He sees us.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I feel that I really understand now the true nature of a loving father \u2013 who loves all of His children \u2013 regardless of their color, sexual preference, or political beliefs.\u00a0 I might not really fit in much in a traditional church setting anymore \u2013 I really feel like an outsider when I enter one.\u00a0 But that really has nothing to do with my relationship with God. It\u2019s just a preference I suppose.\u00a0 I would never want to put down anyone in the church \u2013 as I believe we are all heading the same direction and we should support one another and allow each one to worship and serve God in the way that works for them.<\/p>\n I also have to give credit to my \u201cboys\u201d in the band, Sleeping Giant.\u00a0 The church I attend, Tithemi, is pastored by the lead guitarist, Eric Gregson.\u00a0 I met Tommy Green, the lead singer about 7 years ago when he was pastoring there.\u00a0 When Tommy would speak about Jesus \u2013 there was something different about it all \u2013 he was really \u201cin love\u201d with this man, Jesus.\u00a0 I was enthralled by the aspect of a relationship like that with God.\u00a0 It has really had an impact on my life to be a part of their community.\u00a0 I was able to work with the band for a year in management \u2013 and it was thrilling to work again in the Christian music side of the industry.\u00a0 I also ran a non-profit ministry, Open Arms \u2013 a community house in Grand Terrace, CA for 5 years and I had the constant support of Eric and Tithemi.\u00a0 I\u2019m truly blessed and grateful to have been a part of their true community as a believer.<\/p>\n Stephen<\/strong>: We are still close, extended family really.\u00a0 Faith-wise I would say that our foundations are essentially the same as when we were just teens growing up in the Christian church, even if we have all progressed in our own unique directions.\u00a0 It\u2019s all very personal though and I can\u2019t speak for anyone else in the band except to say that if there truly is a heaven, I believe you\u2019ll see the members of Crumb\u00e4cher there\u2026 and we\u2019ll most likely be opening for Undercover as usual.<\/p>\n Are there any memorable shows that really stuck with you, and were there any favorite bands that you liked to play with?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I loved to play with Steve Taylor and Undercover. Steve was always very gracious \u2013 he\u2019s an awesome person.\u00a0 He would remember everyone he had met before \u2013 and I don\u2019t just mean the band members \u2013 but even our family members.\u00a0 He was a kind soul and you just wanted to be around him.\u00a0 Undercover was always that way as well.\u00a0 They were real, down-to-earth and just genuine dudes.\u00a0 Memorable shows were Knott\u2019s Berry Farm Music Nights.\u00a0 We played many of them, New Year\u2019s Eve and sometimes spring or fall as well.<\/p>\n Stephen<\/strong>:\u00a0Our first show as a band was opening for Undercover, The Altar Boys, The Choir (Youth Choir), and The Lifters on New Year\u2019s Eve 1983 in Orange County, CA \u2013 it doesn\u2019t hardly get any better than that!\u00a0 We also got to work with Steve Taylor a couple times, which was incredible.\u00a0 I remember opening for Sheila Walsh once too when we were just starting out and she was just so gracious and kind, and went out of her way to tell us how much she enjoyed our set.\u00a0 I think that was one of the best parts of being in the band really, getting to meet and work with so many of the artists we looked up to.\u00a0 That\u2019s what made the festivals like Cornerstone and Creation so much fun.\u00a0 There were also certain pockets across the country where we could always expect enthusiastic crowds: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania (Amish country of all places), central Florida, Ontario Canada, Phoenix Arizona, and naturally close to home in southern California in Orange County or the Inland Empire where we were based.\u00a0 I probably looked forward to the New Year\u2019s Eve shows at Knott\u2019s Berry Farm most of all, getting the chance to not only be on the same bill with our favorite artists but hang out with them on our home turf as well.<\/p>\n What is everyone\u2019s favorite album and why?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I think my favorite album is Incandescent<\/em> more for personal reasons.\u00a0 That album to me signifies who Crumb\u00e4cher was\/and is.\u00a0 We were young and innocent \u2013 and it\u2019s nice to think back on those times.\u00a0 Sometimes the creative process becomes so watered down when you get more cooks in the kitchen \u2013 and I feel that the first album was really untouched by anyone outside.\u00a0 To me \u2013 the memories from the recording process are wonderful and terrifying at the same time.\u00a0 We were young and it was so exciting to be thrust into something like that \u2013 but it felt so true to who we were as a band.\u00a0 I didn\u2019t realize until years later who Ojo really was in the scene.\u00a0 I do remember Ojo telling us that the vocal arrangements might be a little too challenging for us!\u00a0 We plugged through and kept them anyway!\u00a0 Derri Daugherty was engineering \u2013 it was a fun exciting time.<\/p>\n Jimmy:<\/strong> Lyrically Escape From The Fallen Planet<\/em> | Style Worlds Away<\/em> CD<\/p>\n Stephen<\/strong>: My favorite Crumb\u00e4cher album was typically whatever we last worked on, though now I have to say I keep going back to Escape From The Fallen Planet<\/em> as the album I would most like to be remembered for.\u00a0 There is so much blood, sweat and tears (not exaggerating) in those songs both musically and lyrically, and it is probably the best reflection of who I was as a creative person during that time in my life.\u00a0 I\u2019ve always felt that if anyone wanted to know who I really am and what goes on in my mind, it\u2019s all there in those songs and that recording in particular.\u00a0 To the critics who said those songs were somewhat shallow and didn\u2019t have much meaning to them, I would say that perhaps they didn\u2019t listen hard enough, or maybe they just weren\u2019t big fans of our synth pop style.\u00a0 But on that album I pretty much tell you everything there is to know about me.<\/p>\n Can you each pick favorite songs off each album? <\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn:<\/strong> Incandescent<\/em> \u2013 It Don\u2019t Matter<\/p>\n Escape From The Fallen Planet<\/em> \u2013 Tourist Trap<\/p>\n Thunder Beach<\/em> \u2013 Once In A Heartbreak<\/p>\n Tame The Volcano<\/em> \u2013 Rainy Season<\/p>\n Jimmy<\/strong>: Incandescent<\/em> \u2013 “Sweet by and by” (A song we all grew up singing in a much different style and it brought the two worlds together)\u00a0Escape From The Fallen Planet<\/em> \u2013 “Tourist Trap” (I was into Tears for Fears at the time and I used some of what I had heard from them on this song. Also the concept of this song grabs me.) Thunder Beach<\/em> \u2013 “Thunder Beach” (I felt like this song really went well live and had potential to really rock if we played well. It spoke to our target audience at the time so it felt like we were communicating part of our perspective on some of our challenges in this alternative style).<\/p>\n What are your favorite songs to play live?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: \u201cIt Don\u2019t Matter,\u201d \u201cTourist Trap,\u201d \u201cOnce In A Heartbreak\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen<\/strong>: The up-tempo songs were always the most fun to play live naturally; \u201cThunder Beach\u201d was the best show opener, \u201cJamie\u201d and \u201cLife of the Party\u201d were great closers.\u00a0 But I also remember there were times when we would play \u201cInterstellar Satellite\u201d and it would just be surreal, the response the song would get.\u00a0 \u201cReckless Boys and Bad, Bad Girls\u201d was a great number live too, even though we only performed it a few times before disbanding. Probably my least favorite to play live was \u201cHere Am I\u201d since it was uncharacteristic of our sound overall, yet one of our most popular songs on the radio.\u00a0 Radio hits were always a mixed blessing: on one hand they gave us exposure to a larger audience that would have otherwise never given our music a chance; on the other hand they didn\u2019t really represent our core sound very well.\u00a0 Still, any time you can play a song for a responsive and appreciative audience, how can you not enjoy that experience?\u00a0 I\u2019ve since made peace with those songs and do enjoy playing them live now because they are how so many of our fans met us for the first time.\u00a0 The most personal song to me is of course \u201cOnce More for the Band\u201d on the last official Crumb\u00e4cher album, because I wanted the band and the fans to know how much the whole experience of working in this group meant to me, even though it was clear we were coming to a point where it would have to end.\u00a0 If you want to know the song that was the most fun to record, I think the band would agree that \u201cTame the Volcano\u201d will always be remembered as the song we laughed through more than anything, with all the chants and sound effects; I think everyone thought I was crazy when I would tell them, \u201cOkay, now sing this\u2026\u201d and it just got weirder and weirder.<\/p>\n Anything that you would like to add?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I work with young artists in management now and I know how important it is to educate them about the music industry.\u00a0\u00a0 I want to thank Down The Line for the work that you do commemorating those who have had an impact in the music scene over the years.\u00a0 It\u2019s so important to know your own roots and also educate yourself about those that have gone before you.\u00a0 Thanks for your work!<\/p>\n Jimmy<\/strong>: Do what makes you happy, what you are good at, what gets you out of bed every day. If everyone did this we wouldn’t focus so much on trying to do what we think we are supposed to do to please everyone else. You are specific… be specific.<\/p>\n Stephen:<\/strong> Since I feel as a songwriter I better represent myself through my music (and not in interviews), I should probably close saying that I hope I\u2019m not entirely done with music yet; but if I am done, I have nothing to regret and everything to be thankful for regarding my experiences in this band and the music biz in general. I still feel like I might have something more to say, just not enough time at the end of the day to say it at this point.\u00a0 But as I tell my friends and co-workers now, I got to live the musician\u2019s dream as a young man, walked away from it to have a wonderful family, and then every five years or so still get the chance to pretend I\u2019m a pop star for about an hour all over again with the best little techno-pop band I know.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been very fortunate.<\/p>\n Extra Questions for Dawn:<\/strong><\/p>\n How did the re-release of Escape From the Fallen Planet<\/em> come together?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: Meis Music Group is working with KMG to re-release many of the albums from the Frontline catalog.\u00a0 When Meis Music Group heard about the show in January \u2013 they decided to release one of Crumb\u00e4cher\u2019s albums to coincide with the live show; as they were also planning the Undercover, Branded<\/em> release.\u00a0 These are both 25th<\/sup> anniversary albums and we are excited about it being re-mastered and the added bonus track.\u00a0 Chris Duke also worked hard on the cover and it even looks better!<\/p>\n Are there any other re-releases planned for the future?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I don\u2019t know at this point if they will re-release the other albums \u2013 all are now available on iTunes though in their original state.\u00a0 It would be nice to re-master the others as well and even add extra tracks.\u00a0 I guess they will see how this release fares first.<\/p>\n Are you still playing in the band Almost Ugly with Christopher Duke?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: Almost Ugly doesn\u2019t play live anymore.\u00a0 When we did \u2013 we had a blast \u2013 we were able to play the Hollywood club scene \u2013 it was new and different territory for us and we really loved it.\u00a0 We are just beginning to get the material released on iTunes.\u00a0 We\u2019ve had songs on the Roswell DVD Release, Lifetime Movies, \u201cShe\u2019s Too Young\u201d and \u201cCyber Seduction\u201d, and other CBS TV movies.\u00a0 I feel like we will continue to release other material and write as we go forward in working for TV.<\/p>\n Is there any released material from Almost Ugly?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: Tuesday, January 4th<\/sup>, 2011 \u2013 our first collection will be released on iTunes \u2013 Basement Tapes<\/em>.\u00a0 These songs, even though they have been played on TV and more \u2013 have never been released on iTunes.\u00a0 You can find a link to it at www.take2productions.net<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n POST REUNION SHOW, SEVERAL MEMBERS WEIGH IN<\/strong><\/p>\n How was the show for you guys this time?<\/strong><\/p>\n Dan:<\/strong> The show was pretty good. I know I felt rusty, but it helped that Dan Davila graciously lent me his guitar rig and helped me get a really good guitar sound. Beyond the show itself, being together with the band again was really special. I have savored the reunion shows. At any given moment you look across the stage and wonder if it will be the last time you play with the band. Sounds maudlin, but it is a pretty emotional feeling.<\/p>\n Jimmy:<\/strong> Mixed Nuts… I don’t like them. A recipe for crazy. Our set went rather well considering. It was all a bit stressful for me. Too many other people to worry about, and I was. Don’t want sympathy or even empathy here because my challenge was absolutely nothing compared to some. Otherwise, the show was great in that I think I had about 15 people there who have known me for a while and yet had never seen me play with Crumb\u00e4cher. The most important one being my son Quincy (19, and yes after Jones), who is himself an accomplished drummer whom I have high hopes for if it is to be.<\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: This show was even more emotional for me personally than the last time in 2005. I had worked so hard on the promoting for months before \u2013 that by the time I made it to the show \u2013 I was exhausted. Seeing the fans, friends, family was overwhelming to me again just as it was at the Broken Records Reunion Show. I also really felt like it might be the last time we would ever play together again onstage; I can’t explain why \u2013 it just felt that way. When a band stops playing \u2013 you just let that part of your life go. And you really don’t feel like it’s “you” anymore \u2013 if that makes sense. Now that my two children are grown – I’ve got a couple of seasons (I hate that word actually) of my life that have now passed.. and to revisit them in such a way \u2013 is very emotional and surreal. As Jim mentioned \u2013 it was also stressful trying to manage everyone and think about everything going on besides actually playing. I felt well prepared this time as far as knowing my parts \u2013 it was easier this time to get it back from my memory banks!!<\/p>\n As far as some of the other performances and bands there \u2013 I really felt it was an extremely special evening. So much love, memories and appreciation for each other and some amazing performances. It was overwhelming to be a part of it all. One time, in the green room \u2013 I interrupted Ojo and Mike Roe as they were going over “Dig” on the piano. I HAD to check a part for one of our ballads and make sure I knew it. After that moment \u2013 I couldn’t believe I had just done that! I almost shoved Ojo out of the way to check something!! There were moments like that happening all day. Other artists, Mike Pritzl and Mike Stand were hanging out too. It was really a fun time!<\/p>\n Christopher<\/strong>: The show was great and actually (at least outwardly) seems like the easiest part. It’s the preparation where something like this takes its mental toll, on me at least. When fans come up to you after a gig, like this one, and let you know how it affected them, and God bless’ em, it’s usually above and beyond what they expected, on many levels. The performer in me digs and subconsciously craves this admiration I think, because right before I walk on stage, all I can think about is all the areas in which I am most likely to screw up. Our rehearsals seemed rushed at best, but we are all pretty seasoned in our own areas and at some point default to each of our respective musical comfort zones. I doubt if we’ll ever get back to those magical carefree days of this is all we do, but the occasional bring’ em outta the closet and dust’em off gigs are probably the cheapest and only plausible time machine we have access to right know. So Dawn, and all those involved. I thank you from the bottom of my soul for the trip.<\/p>\n What was the song you guys ended up enjoying the most while playing? <\/strong><\/p>\n Dan<\/strong>: My favorite was playing \u201cTourist Trap.\u201d It has probably been around 23 years since I played it. The song has some noisy guitar in it\u2026 I like noisy guitar.<\/p>\n Jimmy:<\/strong> I enjoyed doing “Tourist Trap”, regardless of the fact that it put Stephen flat on his back out of breath by the end of the song. It had been at least…. I’d say 22 years? Just a great song for me and I love the music, lyrics AND… the tempo.<\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I was most excited to play “Tourist Trap” but it was the hardest song live for me – so I can’t say I enjoyed it as much as I wish. For me the best moment of the show was during “Life Of The Party” \u2013 our finale. Mike Barnett (Crumb\u00e4cher – Duke drummer) joined us onstage, playing percussion and some of his family started a conga line. My dad, who is 71 – decided to get in it. My mom and all of our kids joined in. By the time the song was ending \u2013 it went from a few people to an entire line the length of the building and it was a sweet moment to see all of those people having such a great time! I will never forget it – what a gift it was to watch from stage.<\/p>\n Christopher:<\/strong> I thought it was going to be \u201cTourist Trap,\u201d which was cool too. My favorite one was \u201cOnce in a Heartbreak\u201d I think. My buddy Mike was on stage playing percussion right behind me. Dawn comes over during my solo and we have a short band mate bonding moment. The other reason I liked that tune was that my 9 year old son Alex (who hates loud noises and wears ear plugs to movies) was right up to the edge of the stage, over on my side, decked to the nines like a 70’s rocker and totally soaking up the whole vibe. I have moments in that tune where I’m not playing, so I would cruise over to him and high five and stuff. We both totally dug that. It was his first time seeing his Dad play. I will remember that for a long time, hope he does too.<\/p>\n How was the crowd response? <\/strong><\/p>\n Dan<\/strong>: They seemed to be into it\u2026 waving their canes in the air and stuff.<\/p>\n Jimmy:<\/strong> Crumb\u00e4cher has always been very hard for me to put in summary for people who ask. It’s a band you just have to hear live. You just won’t get the full effect from our recorded material. Not a big elaborate show… just very effective live and I think you get drawn in both musically and emotionally. Stephen’s dramatic writing is expressed cohesively by the whole band all at once. I think I would say for all of us one of the pinnacles of this business is the live performance. So yes, large or small the crowd’s response is always anticipated regardless of perspective. If you can’t work off of anyone else\u2019s perspective for whatever purpose, why are you doing it? I’d say perhaps because it matters.<\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: The crowd was amazing. They were so into it. Many of them were singing every word along with us. As a performer – when the crowd is really with you – the adrenaline just kicks in. I had a great time. As Jim mentioned \u2013 we’ve always felt like our live shows were a great representation of Crumb\u00e4cher – and I have to give credit to our fans – they have always had a big part in our making our shows a success.<\/p>\n Christopher:<\/strong> Was super, as usual. Crumb\u00e4cher seems to bring people to their feet whenever we play. Shake it! My only wish is that they could have been closer to the stage. A lot of modern venues (churches especially) have the front row about 20 feet or more from the stage, plus the churches always have What has each member in the band gone on to do presently? <\/strong><\/p>\n Dan<\/strong>: I\u2019m a Computer Systems Architect. I enjoy the work, but talking about it is guaranteed to suck the life out of any conversation. As far as music, I recently did an album called Singing Scriptures Romans Cycle<\/em>, which is KJV verses from Romans put to music.<\/p>\n Jimmy:<\/strong> Ummm, I work in a warehouse. Yeah, it’s fascinating. Actually, I am fortunate. I work for Toyota Motor Sales in perhaps their busiest parts distribution center in the country, if not the world. We get your replacement parts to your dealership. A really great company.<\/p>\n I’m also active with a non-profit called “Missionary Kids Ministries”. Have been on their board of directors now for over 10 years and have the opportunity to work with BIOLA University, Azusa Pacific University, and California Baptist University, all of which are right here in southern California. We partner with each of these schools in helping facilitate and support the re-acculturation of college age children of Christian missionary’s into American culture. The phenomenon called “Third Culture” is very evident and valuable in not only these particular individuals, but pretty much anyone who has spent a significant amount of time living in a culture other than their own, then returning to the first and dealing with a third perspective which is generated from the experience. You can find us at: MKMinistries.org<\/a>, also see TCKid.com<\/a><\/p>\n Dawn<\/strong>: I currently work as Creative Director for Take 2 Productions. I left my job in 2007 at ABC Television (Manager of Creative Music Services) in 2007 to start the company with my sister, Beth Jahnsen. We help provide opportunities for artists to reach a wider audience through placement in TV shows, management and educating them about all avenues of promotion for their music while retaining their rights and publishing. Being a musician myself, I understand the need to create and how fulfilling that process is. We try to help as many artists as we can in their pursuit of being a career musician.<\/p>\n I also ran a non-profit, Open Arms \u2013 a community house in Grand Terrace, CA. The purpose of the house was to be a resourceful place for young adults by inviting them into our lives, providing a living space to those who needed it \u2013 and showing how service to others could help make a difference in themselves and others. The most we had living in the house was 15 people at a time! We had to shut it down in 2009 due to lack of funding. It was a rewarding experience. I still maintain a strong relationship with many of my “kids” and appreciate the opportunity to be “mom” to so many over the past few years. http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/openarms1<\/a><\/strong>. I now live with my parents at their ministry house, Missionary Kids Ministries. I enjoy helping them in their ministry to MK’s as well. My brother, Jimmy Wisner is also very involved in helping with that ministry.<\/p>\n Christopher<\/strong>: I’ll let the other guys tell you what they are doing. I’m still working in music, Big thanks to my wife Benilda, who puts up with my bulls**t. Sometimes I make money, sometimes I don’t. I am currently writing and producing music for ABC television. I used to have a band (after Crumb\u00e4cher) with Dawn called Almost Ugly (Now available on iTunes) That was a blast! Oh yeah, writing ABC stuff with Dawn\u2019s son Chris Ryan currently, keeping it in the family!<\/p>\n Is there a place for people to go and donate to help cover expenses, as well as to donate to the Lifequest Romanian Revolution ministry?<\/strong><\/p>\n We would love for people to donate to help cover expenses that were not met. We will have merchandise and show memorabilia available soon on our websites for a donation. Donations will cover show expenses and the proceeds will go to Romanian Revolution ministry.<\/p>\n Go to: www.take2productions.net<\/a><\/strong> or www.lifequestorganic.com<\/strong><\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/downthelinezine.com\/archives\/files\/2011\/02\/Crumbacher-2.jpg\")
Did you guys view yourselves as a ministry band, or did you look at it more as entertainment?<\/strong><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/downthelinezine.com\/archives\/files\/2011\/02\/Crumbacher-3.jpg\")
Jimmy:<\/strong> It hasn’t. We are the band, the audience just doesn’t have a real good way of knowing what we are doing anymore. We could produce even better stuff today, perform everywhere etc,, we just have a few more responsibilities than we did\u00a0since our last project. So I think it’s about what stops us from doing it.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/downthelinezine.com\/archives\/files\/2011\/02\/Crumbacher-4.jpg\")
Jimmy<\/strong>: You know there should have been some favorite bands to play with, but we traveled alone so much and when we did play with other bands it was a onetime deal. I think our favorite scene was the big festivals. It was the best of everything and the whole event was just very rewarding in so many ways. You interacted with other bands, with fans, with the techs, the teachers and even a few crazy’s. Yeah, there are some really unstable Christians out there. Very cool.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/downthelinezine.com\/archives\/files\/2011\/02\/Crumbacher-5.jpg\")
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\nthat crazy staircase right up to the middle that keeps this weird buffer zone between you and the audience. Again crowd AAA+++<\/p>\n
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