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Decatur's Boochie has CD due soon
Friday, January 05, 2007
As we start a new year, let's consider some upcoming events in what we hope will be the best year ever.
If you are looking for faith-based music, you don't have to look further than our own local music scene for some good stuff.
Decatur's own Boochie Shepherd has risen to the top over the last year. The group opened Faith Nights at Joe Davis Stadium in the summer, and Boochie's diverse musical styles are making it a favorite for music fans across the Valley and, I predict, soon across the country.
The band was named for a guy band members knew in school. (Sorry, no deep spiritual meaning here.) They are looking to make a difference with their music and their lives. Their new CD project, "Vertical," can take you from rock and metal to acoustic and pop in a matter of a four-minute song.
Something else I appreciate about this band is that Boochie Shepherd members don't act like they're rock stars or anything special. These guys are real. They are humble and bold. They stand firm in their values and are passionate to what they are called to be as a band.
They take time to meet fans after a show. And as they get to know you, you can get to know them through myspace.com/boochieshepherd.
Music has always given us, for good or bad, memorable songs and role models. Boochie Shepherd is a worthy role model, no matter what your age.
Check out the band's first single called "Pull My String" on MySpace. The single is picking up radio airplay in Denver, St. Louis and Cincinnati. The new CD, "Vertical," hits stores on Jan. 15.
Ace McKay is afternoon host at 88.1 WAY-FM. ace@wayfm.com.
- The Huntsville Times
Another Thursday in Memphis means another concert and all the fun that goes with it at The Show... Tonight's performance featured two musical acts, along with all the stunts, skits, and other entertainment that is part of The Show. I'll give up my views of The American Radio sometime later, but this time around, I'm talking about Boochie Shepherd.
Boochie Shepherd is a four member band claiming Decatur, Alabama as home. They are fronted by Brandon McCaghren who provides vocals and plays guitar. Brandon Denton offers his talent for lead guitar, and Jeff Hubbard plays bass. Heath Hood fills out the group on drums.
Taking their name randomly from a yearbook, Boochie Shepherd has come together to be anything but ad hoc. They play as a band with intention and purpose. Relying on interesting arrangements that highlight the talents of the band members, Boochie Shepherd creates a sound that departs from the typical KLOVE standard. They have a modern, fresh feel that compares very nicely to a lot of contemporary trends in music. They also demonstrated stylistic range that was impressive, from acoustic to "rockin'" (I obtained permission from a seventeen year old to say "rockin'" by the way).
Their lyrics, too, depart from the normal contemporary Christian approach. While they clearly perform from a Christian world view, their songs are not always specifically about God or humanity's relationship with God. Some of their songs are just songs grounded in Christian principles. (Sounds like a good idea, to me!)
While their sound is all their own, I did find, at times, that Brandon's vocals reminded me of the vocals from some Blues Traveler songs. Sans harmonica, though. I'd caution readers to hear me say doubly that I am only comparing vocals--Boochie's arrangements are generally very different from Blues Traveler.
In its current form, Boochie Shepherd has been around about three years. This longevity is apparent in their stage presence and overall showmanship. Bottom line, these guys can play! Hey, just go to their MySpace and listen for yourself (downloads available)!
More information about Boochie Shepherd is on their MySpace and their website:
www.myspace.com/boochieshepherd
www.boochieshepherd.com
My final recommendations
This is a great, fresh band with interesting lyrics, interesting arrangements, and the talent to pull it all together. Boochie Shepherd definitely deserves a place on your iPod. Buy their first album from iTunes or Amazon!
For whom is Boochie Shepherd suitable?
If you like contemporary music and can do with some wholesome, at times obviously Christian, songs, Boochie Shepherd is a great choice for you!
- Double Edge Publishing, Inc.
If you've somehow forgotten, Boochie Shepherd will make you remember all the reasons you first fell for rock 'n roll. "Vertical" serves up some thumpin' old school rock.
Boochie Shepherd comes rippin’ out of the gate with rapid-fire lyrics and heavy guitar riffs on opener “Vertical,” but it’s the rock beats that first turn your head. The melodic chaser, “Perfect Little World,” grabs you with its bounce, but it’s the slow-burning “All is Forgotten” that seals the deal, as frontman Brandon McCaghren’s warm tones soar over the old school rock chord changes in recognition of the cross and its hard-won gifts. McCaghren’s vocals are easy to listen to, clear and warm, moving easily from fun (electrified opener “Vertical”), to fierce (“Brighten Your Eyes”), to quietly worshipful (with the sparkling Jennifer Hubbard on “I Am Safe”). The strong melody line of standout track “All the King’s Horses” is putty in his hands, the well-crafted song packing a poignant punch both lyrically and vocally.
Those writing chops shine once again with the wildly hooky “Plain and Simple,” featuring spotless instrumentation and irresistible beats. The second half of the album moves into slightly more overtly worship, with the harmonious “What Should I Fear,” its sweet background vocals and guitar noodling beautifully supporting McCaghren’s passionate vocals. Electric howler “Pull My String” features lumbering chord changes and a blistering guitar solo, placed, in an interesting move, next to the sleepy soother, the closing “Voice.” But Boochie Shepherd is more than capable of handling a wide range of styles, as you’ll see if you catch them on their “Get Vertical 2007” Tour. It’s a safe bet to assume we’ll be hearing more from Boochie Shepherd. - Kevan Breitinger - Christian Music Suite 101 (Feb 5, 2007)
Boochie Shepherd is a band which is clearly comfortable playing everything from heavily layered guitar-driven rock to intimate acoustic worship, and you’ll find some of both on their newest album Vertical. In fact, there are times when both are present on the same song. Lyrically, the band brings a fresh approach to Christianity by making it clear that we can only make an impact with God’s help, but that He fully expects us to do our part by boldly stepping out to use the gifts He has given us. Songs like “Vertical” and “Perfect Little World,” for example, make it clear that although life will always be full of obstacles, we can and should choose to confront them openly, rather than letting them overwhelm us. On “All The King’s Horses,” the album’s most thought-provoking track, we are given a vivid picture of what can happen when we abandon or abuse the responsibility God has given us to share the light of His love with the world around us. But even when we miss the mark, God chooses to forgive and restore us, and this is the message of “All is Forgotten.” So, for an album which will fully engage your heart, mind, and ears, check out Vertical from Boochie Shepherd. - Depot Music Productions
• CFJU- Kedgwick, NB, Canada
• KCLC- St Louis, MO
• KRKS- Denver, CO
• KRNG- Reno, NV
• KSNS- Southern Kansas/Northern Oklahoma
• KYMC- St. Louis, MO
• WAIF- Cincinnati, OH
• WAUF- Auburn, AL
• WCLH- Scranton, PA
• WEXC- Youngstown, OH
• WEXC- Hermitage, PA
• WFHB- Bloomington, IN
• WGCF- Paducah, KY
• WITR- Rochester, NY
• WLSR- Galesburg, IL
• WMUL- Huntington, WV
• WRXV- St. Mary’s, PA
• WSNL- Flint, MI
• WVOF- Bridgeport, CT
• WWMC- Lynchburg, VA
• Catalyst Radio (Syndicated)
• Spin 180 (Syndicated)
• The X Music Network (Syndicated)
• True Life Radio (Syndicated)
• Whip of Chords (Syndicated)
- WTXR- Toccoa, GA
- WERR- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- The FireXcape - Christian Radio
Discography
Vertical (2007)
Boochie Shepherd (2004)
Photos
Bio
Boochie Shepherd wants to see the youth of your church get excited about spreading the love of Jesus throughout their community and church!
Their use of modern music, combined with actual youth ministry experience, helps move youth to involvement within your ministry and community.
They share a message, both on stage (with their music and with the things they say) and off the stage that encourages teenagers to get involved. The music speaks a wake-up call for young Christians; the idea that weve all been created for a purpose and that we might have forgotten what it is...
Its an hour and a half of ministry, fun, and rock and roll that your youth and adults alike will love!
BIOGRAPHY
Its the ageless struggle between self and selfless. Between what we need to do and what we want to do. Between what we are and what we should be.
Out of this dichotomy flows the inspiration for the new Boochie Shepherd album Vertical.
That inner conflict is something that I battle personally, says frontman Brandon McCaghren, and I know its something that a lot of other people are fighting, too. I want to help them see that they arent alone in the fight.
From the opening line of the album, that message is crystal clear:
"You say you want a revolution
Well, it starts right here.
But from the looks of the situation
Your feelings are unclear
"
The layered guitars of the title track and other rockers such as Pull My String build the perfect foundation for McCaghrens vocals to deliver the musical equivalent of a punch to the stomach.
In the emotive, acoustic guitar based track, All the Kings Horses, McCaghren laments the fact that so many of us have failed to do the very thing we were created to do, and in so doing, have left a hungry world starving in our wake.
"Wholl save the Kingdom from
All the Kings men?"
That song was difficult for me because it is so self-indicting. Its just so easy to become the very things you stand against if you arent careful, says McCaghren.
Armed with transparency and honesty, Boochie Shepherd has become a favorite of Christian music fans, both young and old, who have seen them share the stage with artists such as Aaron Shust, The Afters and Hyper Static Union.
Drummer Heath Hood says, I always imagined that our music was really relevant to young people, so to see parents and even grandparents embrace it is overwhelming.
That universal appeal is clear in the infectious hook of tracks like Plain and Simple and Perfect Little World and in the thundering work of guitarist Brandon Denton in Brighten Your Eyes.
We just want to be regular people with something really important to say, states bassist Jeff Hubbard. Our generation holds the power to change the world, and we want to wake them up to that fact.
Though not yet a single from the new album, "All the King's Horses" has been picked up by Clear Channel and is currently receiving airplay on mainstream radio stations across the country, as well as over 490 internet radio stations.
The first single, "Pull My String", is currently spinning on the following Christian stations:
CFJU- Kedgwick, NB, Canada
KCLC- St Louis, MO
KRKS- Denver, CO
KRNG- Reno, NV
KSNS- Southern KS/Northern OK
KYMC- St. Louis, MO
WAIF- Cincinnati, OH
WAUF- Auburn, AL
WCLH- Scranton, PA
WEXC- Youngstown, OH
WEXC- Hermitage, PA
WFHB- Bloomington, IN
WGCF- Paducah, KY
WITR- Rochester, NY
WLSR- Galesburg, IL
WMUL- Huntington, WV
WRXV- St. Marys, PA
WSNL- Flint, MI
WVOF- Bridgeport, CT
WWMC- Lynchburg, VA
Catalyst Radio (Syndicated)
Spin 180 (Syndicated)
The X Music Network (Syndicated)
True Life Radio (Syndicated)
Whip of Chords (Syndicated)
Links
