The Christian Underground Encyclopedia

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====== Rainchildren ======

Folk Rock / Alternative Rock\\
Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA

"Rainchildren was a progressive folk band that performed mainly in the Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia areas. Although they had a large and active local fan base, the band broke up in October 1998.

Rainchildren's music was mainly acoustic rock, with two guitarists (Marty Shaughnessy & Steve Bridgeman), a bass player (Dennis Durasoff), drummer (Kevin Russo) and a percussionist (Aaron Gagne). The lyrics combined a simple faith in God with an acknowledgement of the pain and questioning all of us face trying to find him.

The band produced two demo tapes and three CDs. As often happens, two of the members (Shaughnessy & Bridgeman) have produced solo projects after the breakup."

(from [[http://speedydeletion.wikia.com/wiki/Rainchildren]]) 

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"Rainchildren was based in Central Pennsylvania, but toured extensively in the region and nationwide. The combination of Marty Shaughnessy on vocals/guitars, Steve Bridgeman on guitar, Dennis Durasoff on bass, Kevin Russo on drums, and Aaron Gagne on percussion created a distinctive sound that fused thoughtful lyrics with eclectic music. Drawing from pop, jazz, world, and rock influences, Rainchildren separated themselves from the trends and quickly gathered a strong fanbase of people who appreciate good music. 

Before breaking up in 1998, Rainchildren released 5 recordings. //Feels Like Summer// is the only one still in print."

(from [[http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rainchildren]])

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"A strange history (Part 1) or “How I came to know the [[Jawbone Hill]] fellows, how (The) Rainchildren started, and how I never realized that I played bass so much.”

A long time ago, I played bass in a band called [[The Somethings]] with my good buddy Dave Seyfried. It was a college band and we didn’t play out much, but Dave was all about networking anywhere he went. One night, we were in line to see a band call [[The Violet Burning]], and Dave sparked up a conversation with a couple guys from the Lancaster area. After some small talk, we learned they were in a band too. I don’t remember exactly who was there, but it was a couple of the [[Jawbone Hill]] guys. Dave exchanged numbers and at some point we ended up sharing a stage with them.

(Skipping ahead...) [[Jawbone Hill]] records their first CD //Sackcloth and Sunshine// with Mr. Bill Campbell (of [[The Throes]] fame) in his studio. It sounds great and is an instant local hit. Around this time, I am playing bass for a fellow named Chad Christ. He decides to also record with Bill, so we pack up our gear and head down for a weekend to track some tunes. Over the next couple days, Bill and I hit it off and tell him that I have a couple songs of my own, but no band. He encourages me to come down for a weekend and track a few of those songs.

(A few months later...) I grab Dennis Durasoff and Faith Ecenroad and head down for a long weekend of tracking. Den is one of those musicians who can play almost any instrument well. So I have him play drums, and some bass, guitar, and keyboards. Bill’s production skills elevate the project to the next level and the intention of recording 3-4 songs somehow becomes 9. //Our Little Demo// is born and I use the band name “The Rainchildren” since I don’t want it to be a solo project.

(Sometime later...) I get a call from Bill asking me to go out on a 6 week tour to fill in for his bass player. I sell some things to buy a new bass and a week later I am out on the road with [[The Throes]], [[Common Children]], and [[The Choir]]. Wayne Everett ([[The Prayer Chain]]) plays drums and rounds out this “power trio” and I get my first experience of traveling in a tour bus. To make a few extra bucks on top of my per diem, I end up being [[Steve Hindalong]]’s drum tech.

In 1997, Rainchildren recorded a live album at The Mill Coffeehouse in Lititz, PA. We were preparing for a summer tour - with our friends [[Jawbone Hill]] - and there wasn't time to record a proper studio album, so we set up our gear in a familiar venue and played our songs. We called the project //Feels Like Summer// and it captured that point in our lives. That studio album never did happen, but we continued to make music, friends, and memories."

Marty Shaughnessy

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Marty Shaughnessy: Guitars / Lead Vocals\\
Steve Bridgeman: Lead Guitar / Background Vocals\\
Dennis Durasoff: Bass / Background Vocals\\
Kevin Russo: Drums\\
Aaron Gagne: Percussion / Background Vocals

===== Discography ====

| 1994 | The Rainchildren | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2023/02/26/the-rainchildren-our-little-demo/|Our Little Demo]] |
| 1995 | The Rainchildren | [[https://christiantapeunderground.wordpress.com/2023/02/26/the-rainchildren-the-other-one/|The Other One]] |
| 1997 | Rainchildren | Feels Like Summer |
| 1998 | Rainchildren | Limited Edition |
| 2000 | Rainchildren | Somewhere Middle |

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==== Our Little Demo ====

1994 Independent

Marty Shaughnessy - Vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar\\
Dennis Durasoff - Bass guitars, drums, 12 string guitar, keyboard\\
William Campbell - 6 string guitars, 12 string guitars, bass on "Tres Angelos," keyboard\\
Faith Ecenroad - Background vocals\\
Rachel Hartnett - Violin

  - Where I Should Be
  - Something Pure
  - I Can Still Remember
  - Gardener
  - Trust Again
  - Tres Angelos
  - I'll Wait
  - Flower
  - Like a Child

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==== The Other One ====

1995 Independent

Marty Shaughnessy - Vocals, guitars\\
Dennis Durasoff - Guitars, background vocals\\
Steve Bridgeman - Guitars, background vocals\\
Kevin Russo: Drums

Wit Arndt - Drum programming\\
Rachel Hartnett - Violin, cello\\
Annette Buerger - Background vocals

  - Stories in the Rain
  - Yesterday
  - Everyone Else
  - Take Me Back
  - Call Me
  - Father From You
  - Mona Lisa
  - The Diner
  - Everlasting Arms

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==== Feels Like Summer ====

1997 Independent

Dennis Durasoff - Vocals\\
Marty Shaughnessy - Guitar, vocals\\
Steve Bridgeman - Guitar, vocals\\
Dennis Durasoff - Bass\\
Kevin Russo - Drums\\
Aaron Gagne - Percussion

Produced by Rainchildren\\
Tracks 8 & 9 produced by [[Steve Hindalong]]

  - Stories in the Rain (3:35)
  - Thanks, I'm Alright (3:14)
  - Sara (3:55)
  - Father From You (4:08)
  - Find the Humjam (2:49)
  - Change (4:48)
  - Feeling September (3:17)
  - Evergreen (2:44)
  - Two Dollar Dance (4:26)
  - Forward (3:50)
  - Papers and Boxes (3:53)

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==== Limited Edition ====

1998 Independent

"//Limited Edition// combines songs from //Our Little Demo// and //The Other One'// as well as a handful of unreleased tracks. Fan favorites like 'Song to Myself' and 'Everything' are naturally paired to some of the early and live tracks found on this project." (from [[http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/rainchildren3]]) 

  - Where I Should Be (3:44)
  - Something Pure (4:57)
  - I Can Still Remember (5:58)
  - Gardener (5:37)
  - Trust Again (3:26)
  - Flower (4:48)
  - Like a Child (3:28)
  - Take Me Back (3:59)
  - Mona Lisa (4:09)
  - Change (4:56)
  - Goodbye (3:40)
  - Everything (4:02)
  - Song to Myself (3:54)
  - Sons & Bridges (2:35)
  - Lower Than the Trees (5:29)
  - Diner (6:35)

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==== Somewhere Middle ====

2000 Independent

  - Crazy (3:12)
  - Feeling September (3:51)
  - 'Til We're Grey (3:44)
  - For Melicia (2:16)
  - Country Song (2:22)
  - The Place (3:45)
  - El Chupa Cabra (2:49)
  - Sara (4:15)
  - Yesterday (3:58)
  - Broken (2:52)
  - Curious Sun (7:46)

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===== Links =====

  * [[https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.570315636333263.1073741834.568491429849017&type=3|The Long Story of the Band]]