THE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR PROJECT
Edwardsville, Illinois, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2017 | SELF
Music
Press
EDWARDSVILLE — Mike Sonderegger saw a community and a nation being torn apart.
So he set out to bring people together.
A self-described “hippie” — one who doesn’t do drugs, he was sure to clarify — Sonderegger was distraught by racial strife in Ferguson, Missouri, and the mean-spirited 2016 presidential campaign, so he started a band, “The Love Your Neighbor Project,” to attempt to combat those issues.
The group will have an album release show 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wildey Theater, 252 N. Main St. The show is sponsored by Rick Marteeny State Farm Insurance.
The riots that occurred after the fatal shooting of Michael Brown saddened Sonderegger because his black friends told him of the difference between their environment and his, and law enforcement friends told him of the fear that officers and their families were facing.
Sonderegger said he was raised a Catholic in Ferguson.
“I was talking to my friends about it, and we talked about wanting to be good Christians and put our faith in action,” said Sonderegger, 42, the music director for Metro Community Church in Edwardsville.
He said the meanness evident in the 2016 campaign had more emotional impact. “Social media brings out the worst in people, the vile comments made anonymously, the boasting after the election. It was sad to me to hear Christians say hateful things about each other,” Sonderegger said. “As a Christian, you want to be known for your love.”
Prior to “The Love Your Neighbor Project,” Sonderegger had been a professional piano player and had a degree from Lindenwood University in performing arts. He played at piano bars, such as “Howl at the Moon” and “Big Bang.” He said he has played piano all over the country and performed for more than a million people.
The interest in music and his faith combined to inspire him to write “Love Your Neighbor,” a song on the album that will be the theme of the show Thursday.
Sonderegger said his band plays music with a Christian theme, or without. He called his music “rock ‘n’ roll and southern soul.” He now plays acoustic guitar with the band.
Mark Pottorff, the administrative pastor for Metro Community Church, said Sonderegger has been the church’s music director since 2012. “He’s a great guy. He loves music, and he loves Jesus. He started here with our church band, and when our music director resigned, he recommended Mike.”
Pottorff said his church is less formal and traditional than many. The music is more modern, and dress is a matter of choice, not tradition. “You might hear ‘The Old Rugged Cross,’ but it would be re-arranged,” he said.
“The Love Your Neighbor Project” album is produced by Scott Wilbanks from the band Third Day.
According to a flyer promoting the show, “The Love You Neighbor Project is about sharing love with others and bringing people through their big musical anthems, mixed with rock’n’ roll, country, gospel/spiritual and southern soul.”
Part of the ticket sales for the show will go to support the local non-profit, “Edwardsville Neighbors.”
The group has a Facebook page. Tickets to the Thursday night performance can be purchased online or at the Wildey web site. - The Telegraph
Discography
THE LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR PROJECT
1. Love Is Calling
2. Freedom
3. Love Your Neighbor
4. I'll Be Loving You
5. We Believe In Love
Photos
Bio
The Love Your Neighbor Project is on a mission to share love, inspire and bring people together through a special mix of rock 'n roll and southern soul. Stacked with big harmonies, huge rock 'n roll anthems, and led by musicians who have played for millions of people, The Love Your Neighbor Project brings an upbeat, memorable, crowd focused show that will leave the audience feeling uplifted, excited, happy and inspired.
The Love Your Neighbor Project began back in November 2016. Mike Sonderegger, the band's lead member was feeling the hurt and divisiveness taking place in our country. He began writing songs in response to what was going on. The heartbeat of these songs was LOVE and a big dream to spread love and unite people was born. Wanting to unite people in our communities, country and the world, Sonderegger reached out to producer Scotty Wilbanks from the band Third Day. Wilbanks loved the music and vision and later went on to produce the album and help co-write some of the album's songs.
Over 150 families and individuals joined Sonderegger and contributed to The Love Your Neighbor Project through a Crowdfunding effort through IndieGoGo to help make this big dream of
February 2018 was a big month for The Love Your Neighbor Project. The band released their first single, "Love Your Neighbor", which was written by Sonderegger, Wilbanks, and Brian Bunn. The Love Your Neighbor Project celebrated the release of their album with a sold out show at the historic Wildey Theatre in Edwardsville on February 22. The Love Your Neighbor Project was also featured on Fox 2 St. Louis show "The Thread STL" hosted by Tim Ezell for a special episode about loving your neighbor featuring their song "Love Your Neighbor".
Since the release of the album The Love Your Neighbor Project has reached people in over 37 countries and united people of many diverse backgrounds, beliefs, and faiths! The movement to share love, inspire and bring people together through music is growing because LOVE...is the answer.
Band Members
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