Transparent Christian Magazine

Music is one way that I connect with my 8 year old son Logan. If he hears a song he likes, he’ll ask me to put it on his mp3 player immediately. He’s got an ear for good music already, and keeps excellent rhythm with a slight nod. We play a game where I ask him to identify the instruments in a song, and he’s right most of the time!

He listens to a wide variety of music… Praise and Worship, Folk, Rap, Rock, Pop/Hip Hop, Blues and Dance music, Bluegrass and Country… I monitor lyrics, although I would have denied that I would ever do that! He doesn’t really identify with an exclusive genre of music, and I think the ‘kids these days’ will do that less and less. I tend to enjoy music from multiple or mixed genres myself and a local band that “cross pollinates” well is the Knapsackheroes. My definition of their sound would be 3rd Bass meets U2 in 1986. Their website says they are defined as an “everything but the kitchen sink” type of band, and their current sound is a ‘hybrid of dance rock, new wave, experimental electronics, R&B and hip-hop.’

Logan loves this group and I found out that they were playing at a local church about 30 minutes away on a Sunday evening. I surprised him by scheduling it. He sat in the front seat of our car and played DJ as we listened to their cd all the way to the show.

I had met ‘Vinyl Jones’, one of the founders of Knapsackheroes a few years ago, and I introduced Logan to him before they played. He seemed very happy that we came out to the show! Justin, the drummer warmed up to Logan and the three of us talked about performing, God, music, and what songs Logan was hoping to hear. I was so impressed with how much time Justin spent listening to Logan and he actually engaged him in conversation. Justin is an energetic young man… fast talking and quick to smile and he is very animated (perfect for an 8 year old with borderline A.D.D, and his A.D.D. Dad!) Logan told him how much he liked their music and Justin seemed genuinely humble and grateful.

About 30 minutes before they went on, Justin walked over to Logan, holding a pair of signed drumsticks with some very encouraging comments written on them. One was signed by just Justin, and the other signed by the entire band. It was a REALLY big deal to Logan, who air drummed through their entire show.

On our way out, the bass player gave Logan one of his self-made bass picks and thanked us for coming.

Just before Logan fell asleep on the car ride home, he thanked me for taking him and told me that they played ‘all his favorites’. As he dozed off, the grin he had on his face mirrored my own, and I knew that neither one of us would soon forget this display of cool kindness, and this night!