(Credit: Six Steps Records)
David Crowder could be described as the mad scientist of the contemporary Christian music scene.
The native Texan is hard to miss when he attacks electronic gadgetry onstage, thanks to his eyeglasses, voluminous hair and lengthy goatee.
On tour to promote new album “Church Music,” the David Crowder Band will perform Nov. 5 at the East 91st St. Christian Church. Vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Crowder talked to Metromix about poking holes in people’s perceptions of the band.
In your current publicity images, the band is dressed as if you were headed to church. What was the thinking behind the album’s name and that visual presentation?
We’re playing with expectations. If you’ve heard our music, you know it’s current in sound and maybe progressive for putting the words “Church Music” on top of it. There’s this expectation that church music is maybe a stodgy, organ, choir-robe thing. At the same time, there’s a lack of appreciation, in my mind, for people coming from progressive settings toward traditions and the music that’s come before.
How many different instruments do you play during a show?
I have a little station of nonsense in my near vicinity. I have two keyboards, my laptop and my vocal rig that allows me to play with different delays and effects. There’s the Theremin, which only gets a couple of moments of love throughout the evening. You have a keytar, which makes an appearance, and a couple of guitars. One of the more unusual things we have onstage is a robot drummer. Steve-3PO is his name.
You’re not afraid to break out the keytar?
It’s a toy we purchased on eBay. It communicates that this is a moment of frivolity. There’s some irony you can exist within, and things are cool. But its bit-rate is very low, and we’re apparently inspired by a lot of video game music from the 1980s.
Your band is especially active on social networking sites. Why is that important?
It’s not marketing prowess, for sure. I think it lets people get a grander view of what we’re trying to do. There’s an attachment level if they can see how we carry our faith in terms of daily life.
You co-founded University Baptist Church when you were a junior at Baylor University. In your role of music and arts pastor, how often do you attend Sunday services?
We miss maybe 15 a year, or so.
That’s an impressive ratio. Have you visited Al Green’s church in Memphis?
No.
He presides there most Sundays, as well.
That would be pretty amazing. I think it would be much more amazing than finding the Crowder Band at University Baptist Church.
GOING?
David Crowder Band
When: 7:30 p.m. Nov. 5.
Where: East 91st St. Christian Church, 6049 E. 91st St.
Tickets: $25-$30. Visit www.itickets.com or call (800) 849-1261.
