My Brother's Scars

TONY HOLT –
Published: January 18, 2008
BROOKSVILLE - Whatever the musical genre, there are
always purists out there to judge authenticity.
Whether it is punk, progressive, heavy metal, rap,
hip-hop, soul, neo-soul, country, alternative country,
folk, bluegrass or new age — the purists seem to always
segregate the genuine acts from the pretenders.
Christian rock fans are no exception. They are quick to
define who is real and who is not.
My Brother's Scars know they are the real deal. They
call themselves a Christian alternative rock band — as
opposed to an alternative rock band made up of
Christians.
"Every song we do has a message to it," said lead
singer Jeremy Barker. "It's not just about the hook.
It's music with substance."
The band plays outdoor concerts and churches. Their
songs are unmistakably about God and they devote half
of their full-scale set list to praise and worship.
Some bands want to be accepted outside of the
faith-based music world. In order to do so, they often
attempt to wiggle from the label "Christian band." That
will not be the case with My Brother's Scars.
"We don't apologize for being Christian," said
guitarist Mike Heald, who played with Barker years
prior to joining him in his current band.
The band members all have jobs and some have families.
They rehearse at least once per week at the drummer's
house and play local gigs.
Last year, My Brother's Scars played 52 shows. This
year, they hope to exceed that number, release an album
and establish a fan base that stretches beyond Florida.
"We'd like to play out a lot more and do some touring,"
Heald said. "That's tough to do when you work 40 hours
a week and raise a family."
They already have eight original songs written for
their not-yet-titled debut EP. Dean Pratt, a member of
the local band Providence, is their producer.
Barker is an original member of My Brother's Scars,
which formed two years ago.
The band was mostly made up of Barker's brothers and
brothers-in-law. After a few lineup changes, the group
seems to have emerged and has its sights set on bigger
achievements.
"Christian music offers more opportunities really,"
Barker said, referring to the prospects of playing
festivals, outdoor concerts and a plethora of churches.
"We have no interest in doing secular music at all," he
continued.
The loyalty among Christian rock fans is evident even
among local listeners. When they go see a band, they
want to be involved in the experience. They raise their
hands and sing. They want to listen to the lyrics as
much as the guitar solos.
It is a spiritual experience for all involved. When
they like a band, they tend to stick with them.
"Our three fans aren't going anywhere," Heald joked,
invoking loud laughter from the band.
When asked about the origin of the band name, Barker
took a deep breath.
In 2005, after a bad breakup with his first group and
thoughts about never returning to the stage, the singer
was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer, he said.
After surgery and treatment, he was left with several
"hideous scars," which he thought were an appropriate
metaphor for his life and music.
"They're like the scars you get in life," Barker
explained. In other words, God heals, but the scars
remain.
Because all the members of his band used to be brothers
or brothers by marriage, the name My Brother's Scars
seemed fitting.
The professions of the five-man band vary from
correctional officer to auto mechanic. The youngest
member, keyboardist Jacob Vandemark, is 17 years old.
Drummer Kevin fields is the oldest. He is 33.
The members go to various churches, but are all
Protestant.
All five men were wearing red wristbands to symbolize
their pro-life stance on abortion. A song on the
forthcoming album, "Silent Screams," is centered on
that message.
The band's influences range from the modern Christian
rock (Casting Crowns and Mercy Me) to mainstream rock
(Billy Joel and Rush).
Recorded songs should be made available on the band's
Web site by the end of February, Barker said.
In the meantime, they will continue to play local and
regional gigs at both outdoor venues and churches. They
are scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at
Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Brooksville.
It is located at 200 Mt. Fair Ave.
My Brother's Scars are expressive about their religion
and they aim to encourage people not to compromise
their beliefs, regardless of how critics might react.
"We encourage people to take a stand for what they
believe in," Barker said.
For more information about the band, visit
www.mybrothersscars.net.
Reporter Tony Holt can be reached at 352-544-5283
- Hernando Today (A publication of the Tampa Tribune)