Page Lynch

A man once adamant against the use of music in worship, Page Lynch is a worship artist who has since had his heart changed on the subject and now writes his own songs for God. Having received kind words from the likes of Joey Elwood, the president of Gotee Records (House of Heroes, Relient K, John Reuben), Lynch composed thirteen songs in 2008 for his debut independent album. The album is titled Remove Your Shoes, as a reminder that we are always in God's presence (therefore always standing on holy ground) and that we should always act accordingly with a heart and actions of holiness and reverence. The two-minute opener, "Not Close Enough," is quiet and somber, giving off an indie music sort of vibe. Hearing the sound of it, and seeing in Lynch's official band bio a comparison to the work of David Crowder, I expected Remove Your Shoes to have a fresh and slightly innovative sound (or at least something somewhat original). As soon as it was over and "Why Are You Content" started up, I felt my expectations may not be fully met. Lynch and the accompanying musicians play well together, and there is chemistry, but that's only half the battle. The other half is what is done with the talent and chemistry. What Lynch has done is go back in time about ten years to the late '90s, early '00s style of worship music. While it's always refreshing to hear a worship artist spring up that doesn't sound like Hillsong and Jesus Culture, it's only so long before more refreshment is needed when the sound instead takes on the form of late '90s church camp worship bands ("Dance Like David" being a great example of this). However, Lynch's lyrics are commendable, if only for them being worshipful and ministry-driven. They have a tendency to be cheesy at times too, though: "Write in me your words so I can make it, covering me in a wisdom blanket" from "Write In Me Your Words," and words that could be part of a kids' song, "Ridin' down God's highway, keepin' Satan at bay, gonna do it God's way" from "God's Highway." So despite honest and heartfelt songs like "Adonai," Page Lynch's Remove Your Shoes will most likely continue in its ambiguity. But fans of Darrell Evans and older SONICFLOOd should at least check it out.
- Review date: 8/18/10, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com
- www.jesusfreakhideout.com

A man once adamant against the use of music in worship, Page Lynch is a worship artist who has since had his heart changed on the subject and now writes his own songs for God. Having received kind words from the likes of Joey Elwood, the president of Gotee Records (House of Heroes, Relient K, John Reuben), Lynch composed thirteen songs in 2008 for his debut independent album. The album is titled Remove Your Shoes, as a reminder that we are always in God's presence (therefore always standing on holy ground) and that we should always act accordingly with a heart and actions of holiness and reverence. The two-minute opener, "Not Close Enough," is quiet and somber, giving off an indie music sort of vibe. Hearing the sound of it, and seeing in Lynch's official band bio a comparison to the work of David Crowder, I expected Remove Your Shoes to have a fresh and slightly innovative sound (or at least something somewhat original). As soon as it was over and "Why Are You Content" started up, I felt my expectations may not be fully met. Lynch and the accompanying musicians play well together, and there is chemistry, but that's only half the battle. The other half is what is done with the talent and chemistry. What Lynch has done is go back in time about ten years to the late '90s, early '00s style of worship music. While it's always refreshing to hear a worship artist spring up that doesn't sound like Hillsong and Jesus Culture, it's only so long before more refreshment is needed when the sound instead takes on the form of late '90s church camp worship bands ("Dance Like David" being a great example of this). However, Lynch's lyrics are commendable, if only for them being worshipful and ministry-driven. They have a tendency to be cheesy at times too, though: "Write in me your words so I can make it, covering me in a wisdom blanket" from "Write In Me Your Words," and words that could be part of a kids' song, "Ridin' down God's highway, keepin' Satan at bay, gonna do it God's way" from "God's Highway." So despite honest and heartfelt songs like "Adonai," Page Lynch's Remove Your Shoes will most likely continue in its ambiguity. But fans of Darrell Evans and older SONICFLOOd should at least check it out.
- Review date: 8/18/10, written by Scott Fryberger of Jesusfreakhideout.com
- www.jesusfreakhideout.com

• Name: Page Lynch
• Birthday: January 15, 1985

• Birthplace: Winchester, TN

• Family: Beautiful wife and a purebred Ragdoll cat.

• Who would you trade lives with for a day? Ty Pennington from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition

• What book are you reading now? Web Development and Design Foundations with XHTML

• What CD is playing in your car right now? Church Music by the David Crowder *Band

• What is the best thing about being an artist? I don’t have a boss.

• What is the worst thing about being an artist? The devaluing of the musical arts has rendered the album format nearly worthless, which means we now have to figure out how to convey complex messages in just 3 or 4 minutes, one song at a time.

• Biggest career embarrassment: I am rarely embarrassed, but for some reason breaking a string live REALLY embarrasses me.

• Most memorable career concert: Oddly enough, I played at a Starbucks in Louisville, KY and enjoyed it far more than any big live show I’ve ever done… must’ve been the coffee.

• Most memorable moment in creating your most recent record: Learning about Daredevil Dan. *See the video “Daredevil Dan” on my youtube channel – search “pagelynch”.

• What is your favorite hometown hangout? Adventure Mountain, an awesome playground at the city park… good times.

• What is something you want others to know about you? I am married to an amazing woman, and we have a big, fluffy cat named John Wayne. I am also an avid YouTuber so keep up with my channel!

• Who has been the most influential person in your career? David Crowder.

• How did you get into the music industry? Quite frankly, I avoid the music “industry.” I’m in the music ministry and any record label that wants me will have to be accepting of originality, which is a concept that seems to deviate from many of the labels’ static products and goals. I entered the music ministry because God dragged me into it kicking and screaming until I gave in and started walking along beside Him.

• Favorite song: In recent weeks, I’d have to say “The Veil” from David Crowder *Band’s latest album, Church Music.

• Favorite vacation spot: Gulf Shores, AL, where my wife’s side of the family and we have our annual getaway… and where I am currently answering this questionnaire.

• Favorite food: This divine chicken and rice casserole that my mother makes… They serve it at the banquet table in Heaven as the main course.

• Favorite drink: Crush orange soda in a glass bottle.

• Guilty pleasure: I frequent Nickelodeon to watch “The Penguins of Madagascar.”

• Worst fear: Drowning.

• What was your very first job? Cleaning my room for a dollar a week… Saved for 20 weeks to buy a plush ninja turtle.

• What is the question you are most tired of answering? “What type of music do you write?”

• Choose one adjective to describe your music style: Fastidious.

• What is the number one thing you hope people get out of your music? The notion that they are fighting to belong to a big, perfect story, where smaller, imperfect stories deceive and compete for their lives… but only one offers a pure Love.
- Christian Radio Weekly

Vents Magazine - Cody Blevins

True in his message and lyrical content, Page Lynch wants you to know about Jesus, to journey with him to find the meaning in Jesus, and become yourself. This may not be the most fertile ground for musical exploration, for what it’s worth Page Lynch does these things well. Even when referencing biblical figures, the songs still have a universal appeal in the lyrics, while the softly strummed rhythms and the interesting and sparkling guitar leads, put the listener at ease, and make it more easy to digest the message, even if you do not necessarily have a religious bent. The songs are well written, the melodies are interesting, barring any prior hesitation to the message, and from a musical that should be all that matters.

Interview:

How the band started?

I, personally, began music because God dragged me into it
by the ear, and I kicked and screamed the whole way until finally I said, "Oh... This isn't so bad. You were right, God!"


What's the message to transmit with your music?

Telling the Big Story one small story at a time.

What's your method at the time of writing a song?

Pray really hard that I don't mess up in translation what God put in my head... Then attempt.

Which is your music influences?

David Crowder *Band, Chris Tomlin, Nickel Creek, and various late 90's to early 2000's rock bands. Also, sunrises, sunsets, pain, exuberance, despair, happiness, and everything in between.

What plans do you have for the future?

To not give in to hate. To not give in to the love of money. To not give in to lust. To not give in to all those stories and more that lie to us on a daily basis, trying to convince us they are real.

Which has been the funniest prank you have been or took part while on tour or after a show?

Hmm... We aren't big pranksters: However, one time I called a
guy that temporarily played bass for me "GP" while on stage. No one knew what it stood for but us, but he looked terrified that I was about to tell the crowd that it stood for "Girl Pants" because that's what he wore. I didn't tell them though.

Which country you guys would love to play?

I'd like to play in China. Not sure why.

With which bands you guys would love to share stage?

Oh, please, please, please, let me open for David Crowder *Band! Please, please, please!

Are you OK, with the direction the band is going actually?

Yes. I am currently heading northwest, and it seems like a pretty good direction.
- Vents Magazine

Written by Mike Parker
Monday, 21 June 2010
Remove Your Shoes
by Page Lynch
Independent

Contemporary worship music has been the big seller in the CBA market for the past half dozen years or so, so the explosion in the number of new worship artists in the ranks of both independent and major label artists is to be expected. It would be easy to pigeonhole Page Lynch into that category, but after a cursory listen to his debut CD, Remove Your Shoes, there is an indefinable quality that pushes this guy more into the venerable category of Jesus Music.

And yes, there is a difference.

Contemporary worship music, too often, is neither. Jesus music, on the other hand, knows its focus and has no problem expressing it. Yeah, I’m pretty sure Page Lynch plays Jesus Music.

On to the CD review. Remove Your Shoes, an obvious reference to walking on holy ground, starts off inauspiciously enough with a forgettable, 2-minute throwaway of a call to worship called, “Not Close Enough.” Thankfully, Lynch follows it up with the peppy acoustic rocker, “Why Are You Content.” Lynch channels the late Keith Green with some not-so-subtle finger-pointing. “Why are you content with just believing?” Lynch chides believers. The tune segues in to the six-minute monster worship track, “So We’ll Praise You,” which may be the most heartfelt song on the project.

The lovely and meandering “Adonai” gets a big thumb’s up, as does the happy-clappy, “God’s Highway.” Lynch proves he can rock with the big boys on tunes like “Divine Intervention” and “Reflection time, and he is equally adept and pulling the intensity down to a more intimate level on “All I Need to Say.” The title track would have benefited from some editing. It’s just not interesting enough to sustain its nearly seven minutes of air time.

Remove Your Shoes offers 13 tracks of mostly upbeat, alt-rock worship tunes. Fans of Jordan Elias, Autumn in Repair and Sheri Carr should dig it. - www.buddyhollywood.com

Written by Mike Parker
Monday, 21 June 2010
Remove Your Shoes
by Page Lynch
Independent

Contemporary worship music has been the big seller in the CBA market for the past half dozen years or so, so the explosion in the number of new worship artists in the ranks of both independent and major label artists is to be expected. It would be easy to pigeonhole Page Lynch into that category, but after a cursory listen to his debut CD, Remove Your Shoes, there is an indefinable quality that pushes this guy more into the venerable category of Jesus Music.

And yes, there is a difference.

Contemporary worship music, too often, is neither. Jesus music, on the other hand, knows its focus and has no problem expressing it. Yeah, I’m pretty sure Page Lynch plays Jesus Music.

On to the CD review. Remove Your Shoes, an obvious reference to walking on holy ground, starts off inauspiciously enough with a forgettable, 2-minute throwaway of a call to worship called, “Not Close Enough.” Thankfully, Lynch follows it up with the peppy acoustic rocker, “Why Are You Content.” Lynch channels the late Keith Green with some not-so-subtle finger-pointing. “Why are you content with just believing?” Lynch chides believers. The tune segues in to the six-minute monster worship track, “So We’ll Praise You,” which may be the most heartfelt song on the project.

The lovely and meandering “Adonai” gets a big thumb’s up, as does the happy-clappy, “God’s Highway.” Lynch proves he can rock with the big boys on tunes like “Divine Intervention” and “Reflection time, and he is equally adept and pulling the intensity down to a more intimate level on “All I Need to Say.” The title track would have benefited from some editing. It’s just not interesting enough to sustain its nearly seven minutes of air time.

Remove Your Shoes offers 13 tracks of mostly upbeat, alt-rock worship tunes. Fans of Jordan Elias, Autumn in Repair and Sheri Carr should dig it. - www.buddyhollywood.com

BY CHARLES MCCLAIN

What is it about Evangelical Christianity that ruins rock ’n’ roll? I’m not talking about a clash of morality (obviously they have to omit the sex and drugs that usually precede). There’s something about the Christian + Rock combination that is immediately obvious. I can always tell even in the vague pronoun instances. Every time we say “he” or “you” we really mean Jesus. That said, and in the interest of full disclosure, I was first among the “Why should the devil have all the good music” clan. Since Lynch and I hail from the same hometown, I thought he might find me out anyway. I feel like I’ve earned the right to make these kind of claims because there exists a videotape somewhere that features me shredding rhythm guitar for a Christian metal band called, no lie . . . Theocracy. At some point I realized that some of the best music, and I’m thinking now about Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn, was composed for the church. I’m not sure that Page Lynch has improved the canon, but there’s no accounting for taste.

There are a few exceptions to my aversion to the catastrophic alchemical casserole of Christian + Rock (hyperbole, friends and neighbors). David Bazan, Jason Martin and Murfreesboro’s own (at some point) Cool Hand Luke immediately come to mind.

Page Lynch has made a bland, uninspired record, which is neither the fault of Jesus Christ nor rock ’n’ roll. Anyone who has navigated the corridors of contemporary Evangelicalism will recognize the stock vocabulary. This kind of “churchspeak” doesn’t make for a memorable hook. The music is about what you might expect—acoustic guitar pounding out strong rhythmic chords with ubiquitous ’80s guitar shredding in the background over cheesy keyboard string sounds. Keep in mind, this is a music review not a religious opinion column, but there is something so unique about the Christian rock phenomenon, I thought it deserved a bit of my amateur rumination.
- The Murfreesboro Pulse

BY CHARLES MCCLAIN

What is it about Evangelical Christianity that ruins rock ’n’ roll? I’m not talking about a clash of morality (obviously they have to omit the sex and drugs that usually precede). There’s something about the Christian + Rock combination that is immediately obvious. I can always tell even in the vague pronoun instances. Every time we say “he” or “you” we really mean Jesus. That said, and in the interest of full disclosure, I was first among the “Why should the devil have all the good music” clan. Since Lynch and I hail from the same hometown, I thought he might find me out anyway. I feel like I’ve earned the right to make these kind of claims because there exists a videotape somewhere that features me shredding rhythm guitar for a Christian metal band called, no lie . . . Theocracy. At some point I realized that some of the best music, and I’m thinking now about Mozart, Beethoven and Haydn, was composed for the church. I’m not sure that Page Lynch has improved the canon, but there’s no accounting for taste.

There are a few exceptions to my aversion to the catastrophic alchemical casserole of Christian + Rock (hyperbole, friends and neighbors). David Bazan, Jason Martin and Murfreesboro’s own (at some point) Cool Hand Luke immediately come to mind.

Page Lynch has made a bland, uninspired record, which is neither the fault of Jesus Christ nor rock ’n’ roll. Anyone who has navigated the corridors of contemporary Evangelicalism will recognize the stock vocabulary. This kind of “churchspeak” doesn’t make for a memorable hook. The music is about what you might expect—acoustic guitar pounding out strong rhythmic chords with ubiquitous ’80s guitar shredding in the background over cheesy keyboard string sounds. Keep in mind, this is a music review not a religious opinion column, but there is something so unique about the Christian rock phenomenon, I thought it deserved a bit of my amateur rumination.
- The Murfreesboro Pulse