Justin Smith | University Advancement | 9 January 2007
As part of the BYU-Hawaii new student orientation activities, Jericho Road, a faith-centered pop music group, will perform at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie Friday, 12 December at 10 p.m. A local group, Singing Bishops will open the show at 9:30 p.m.
Whether performing in a Chilean concert hall or a chapel in Idaho, Jericho Road continues doing what they do best with popping acoustics, slick harmonies, tight choreography, and positive lyrics. As one of their hit songs states: "There Is More" to living than just making it through.
There is more love than we can imagine…
There is more peace than we'll ever know…
It's more than we dream and more than we've seen or heard of before…
There is more.
Since they jumped into the music scene in 2001 with their self-titled debut, JR hit the road strong and hasn't ever stopped. The group has toured (and continues to tour) extensively, performing multiple concerts every month. Their 2006 pinball schedule took them everywhere from San Francisco Bay to Tampa Bay performing for more than 50,000 fans! Year in and year out, JR continues to break new ground - setting themselves apart from others within their genre of faith-centered pop music. After only two years together, they were recognized as the "Performing Artist of the Year" by the FCMA (Faith Centered Music Association) - this set a standard that defined them early in their career, giving them a reputation of both quality and quantity performing experience they have worked hard to maintain.
JR's discography includes five albums: True North - 2002, What Matters Most - 2002, Deeper Still - 2003, There Is More - 2005, The Best of Jericho Road - 2006. In 2003, the guys won a Listener's Choice Award for Album of the Year ( “True North”) and Group Artist of the Year which led the way to working with many award-winning songwriters, musicians, and Grammy winners for their next albums.
But the thing that matters most to Jericho Road is the chance to be instruments - that through their music people of all ages in many different parts of the world can gain strength from their message and change their lives for the better.
"The best part of doing what we do is hearing from and meeting the fans, seeing the impact of our music in their faces and in their lives," Bret Bryce says, a native of Knoxville, TN. "Hopefully, the message we share can inspire people to live better today than they did yesterday," adds Abe Mills (St. Louis, MO).
"Our goal with this latest album was to select the songs that really speak to people," says Justin Smith (Parma, ID). "That's the most important part about music - that it not only sounds good, but that the message is something we can relate to, understand, and gain strength from. Music is unique -- it has a way of actually taking you somewhere."
The guys had a massive touring season in 2005-06, including two international tours to the United Kingdom and Chile. They also spent time in the studio recording new tracks for their latest album. “The highlight of this year's touring was heading overseas,” said Dave Kimball (Sandy, UT). “The people both in the UK and Chile just wrapped their arms around us, even though many had never heard of our group before we arrived."
Though excited about their new-found international success, JR was still active in the U.S., never neglecting the fans that have been with the group since they started. One fan who attended a performance in Nauvoo, IL said, “It's about time they bring these guys out here - hopefully we won't have to wait another three years! ” Another, who caught their show in St. Paul, MN, said, “Their concert made feel all kinds of emotions. First I was screaming, and then dancing, laughing, and then there were times where the Spirit just took me away for awhile.”
Hitting the road just comes naturally for these guys. With plans to tour Japan in February 2007 and with more concerts scheduled throughout the U.S. - including Hawaii, California, North Carolina, Washington, Arizona - taking a break from touring just doesn't fit in the schedule for 2007.
Continue to get the latest news about Jericho Road by logging onto www.jerichoroadmusic.com. You'll find out the latest tour updates, what's new with the band, what new ground and territory they're breaking ….and more.
The performance is free to BYU-Hawaii students with a valid ID; general admission tickets are five dollars. Tickets may be purchased in advanced (293-3545) or at the door.