The Quick and the Dead

More than one hundred men showed up to the Kansas City Rescue Mission on Sunday looking for a place to sleep, eat, and pray.

To help them with the spiritual healing, the Christian band, "The Quick and the Dead" showed up to sing and spread some holiday spirit. They also brought plastic eggs with encouraging messages inside.

"A lot of these guys really need some spiritual feeding," says band member, Laurie Schwab.

The Kansas City Rescue Mission relies on donors for things like toiletries and other necessities for the men who stay there. - Fox 4 News Kansas City

There shouldn't have been much to make him stand out. Like most of the others, he was middle-aged, plainly dressed, quiet but cautious and not concerned about impressing anyone.

In other words, much like a veteran of the difficult life; years of only semi-permanence on the street and of many nights in many homeless shelters in small and large towns. Survival is the first and sometimes the only priority. Those who used to make a lot of noise and display quickly learn that drawing attention to oneself is dangerous and foolhardy.

That's when that aura of caution starts covering you like a shawl.

But this man had a certain dignity and assurance to him. He was clean-shaven with a well-groomed head of salt and pepper hair. He was self-absorbed but aware of his surroundings at the same time. He sat in the back of the room but not separated enough from the rest to be noticed.

He had slipped alone into the room with the others who arrived in twos or threes from the adjacent dining hall and day room following the 5 pm meal of franks and beans.

By that time the band, The Quick and The Dead, had been struggling to set up enough complex electronic equipment to shame most military command posts. The microphones were acting like spoiled pre-schoolers and speakers made extra-terrestrial burps and growls.

The nine members of the contemporary Christian band were a long way from their home base in Kansas City's St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The north central part of Des Moines has always been the rough edge of this Iowa capital. Sixth Avenue north of I-235, with its shabby wood cottages, worn-out gas stations and convenience markets, has been the home of the Bethel Mission and wandering men for 94 years. Next to it is a Salvation Army mission and a St. Vincent DePaul store.

"We don't get any government funding so that way we can preach Christ without any restrictions," said R.J. Montis, who manned the front door several hours earlier. "There's not much of a job market for anything in Des Moines. The majority of our guys now are locals or are (wanderers) who have relatives in town who know about us."

Montis is a huge man who once came to Mid-America Nazaerne College in Olathe to play football before he "made mistakes". He said he has started his quest to become a preaching pastor with some on-line courses.

Montis works for Hope Ministries, which has been operating the Bethel Mission since 2000. On Sixth Avenue the mission operates a recovery program for men over the age of 18 with any form of dependency. It's called a Step One program with graduates going on to other more specialized programs in other parts of the city, state or country. There are about 15 Step One participants at the moment. Another 60 men can find beds and three daily meals in the mission (free for 30 days then $6 a night for the second month and $8 a night after that).

Montis said the mission and Hope Ministries is unapologetically Christian. The 7 p.m. chapel service is mandatory.

"I'd say a majority of the guys claim they have had some Christian instruction in their lives although they may not live the style," Montis said. "We hope to get through to them. Some are adamant that they don't want any religious experience but we hope to get through to them."

"Hope to get through to them" is a recurring theme here.

"The first thing you notice is what kind of condition they're in," said Craig Murdock, singer and acoustic guitarist with the band. "To see if you can make a difference. You'll see if you made a difference after the gig is over. My personal goal is to bring the gospel to whoever will listen."

Craig said music is a spiritual experience.

"The whole act of being a Christian is sharing. Sharing the knowledge of Christ. There's a certain group that likes this (contemporary) music. You speak to people where they are spiritually or even physically. Some of these guys are in sad shape. If we can make them feel that there is hope ... well then, that's what it's all about, isn't it?"

The band opened with about 30 people in front of them, including staff members and their friends. They played a catchy, rock-based repertoire. The men listened closely but still seem detached from the melodies and messages.

The band has always been very good musically, one of the best in KC. But the members have been working on stage presence. After each song a member talks about themselves and experiences. But there's no Bible-thumping or personal epiphanies. In fact, it's the light humor that begins to cut the ice and lower some of the caution shields.

Vocalist Sydney Pendleton: "I am a single, unwed mother of three. I don't even know who the fathers are." Silence with some sympathetic nods. Wait for the big lecture on finding Christ. Nothing. Then: "Actually, that's because they're all adopted." Guys started to look at each other and laugh.

The man, who was dark-skinned with Latino or Native American features, still stared with no sign of emotion anywhere. He could have been lost in his own thoughts or he could have been concentrating on the band. In one hand that bore a tattoo on the palm there was a small, dog-eared, pocket-sized blue book, similar to used New Testaments in English and Spanish that have been laid out for the taking.
Once or twice, he looked down at his hand.

About 45 minutes into the concert, the other men started to smile with the music. Some shoulders and necks began to sway with the music. They clapped when keyboardist and band leader Laurie Schwab announced a Christian ballad they probably heard years ago in a long-forgotten Sunday school class.

"It's mainstream music," said vocalist Kirsten Hollstrom before the show. "It can relate to more people than classical (church) music or hard rock. It's universal. You don't even need to know the words to feel closer to God. Who are we playing and singing to? First and foremost, to God."

The band rolled into 'Nothing but the Blood of Jesus.' Slowly, almost unnoticeably, the man began to sway ever so slightly. A smile creased the outside of his mouth. He closed his eyes and softly hummed. - West Missouri Spirit, September 2009

It is a cold evening last week and the regulars are filing into the Kansas City Rescue Mission seeking a warm place for the night.

One man notices a band setting up and a smile lights his face.

"Hey, is that church rock band back tonight?" he asks. "Hope so."

It is a familiar reaction to the eight members of the "church rock band" even though they spend little time performing in church. They make up a contemporary Christian rock band known as The Quick and the Dead and their gigs are mainly at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, rescue mission and food pantries - anywhere the homeless gather.

Leawood resident Patrick Patterson, who plays guitar and keyboards for the band, said the group takes its musical message to those who wouldn't hear it otherwise.

"People without homes or cars can't head to a suburban church to hear this kind of music," said Patterson. "So we take it to the streets and hope our listeners find God in it somewhere."

Though not associated with any church, The Quick and the Dead derives its name from an ancient version of the Apostles' Creed, a statement of Christian faith. The band has a full complement of instruments, microphones and sound equipment and it funded primarily out of the band members' pockets. They use their individual cars, trucks and vans to transport the equipment and instruments to concerts.

"We are our own roadies," laughs Patterson.

Band members range in age from 38 to 70 years old and make up an eclectic group, said Prairie Village resident and vocalist Sydney Pendleton.

"I am the last person to be in a rock band," said Pendleton, who is 70. "I have always loved classical music but I heard the band play a few years ago and immediately wanted to be part of it."

Independence resident and vocalist Jim Wilcher found his way to the band by searching for singing opportunities on the Internet.

"The second ad was for a Christian praise band singer and here I am," said Wilcher.

In addition to Patterson, Pendleton and Wilcher, band members are Perry Means of Shawnee, Keith Kassien of Overland Park, Laurie and Tim Schwab of Lee's Summit, and Kirsten Hollstrom of Kansas City.

On Feb. 28 at the Kansas City Rescue Mission, about 100 men respectfully bow their heads for an opening prayer and then listen attentively as the band lets go with rollicking, joyful music.

Bassist Perry Means said band members love performing but focus on the message more than the music.

"We've played for as few as four people," said Means. "It's just a cool way to have fun and maybe turn a light on in someone's head."

The band usually stops halfway through its concert and a visiting minister speaks. That's frequently the Rev. Linda Yeager of Overland Park, a deacon at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Kansas City.

"This band brings God to its audience, along with joy, hospitality, friendship, encouragement and great music," said Yeager.

The Quick and the Dead went on its first "Small World" tour last July. Band members loaded instruments and equipment into a borrowed trailer and headed to homeless shelters in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri. The group took about 700 lunch bags filled with toiletries and snacks that they gave away to listeners along the way. They do the same at many of their local gigs.

"If you're hungry or homeless, there's a good chance by now you've heard of us," said guitarist Kassien.

Now the band is gearing up for its second tour in July.

In addition to some well-known, contemporary Christian music, The Quick and the Dead performs its own tunes. Band members are recording a CD that will have 11 original songs and will be available in June. They plan to give away many of the CDs and hope to expand their outreach.

The band's leader, vocalist and keyboardist, Laurie Schwab, schedules performances and also designed the group's website, www.quickandthedead.net. She said performing for the homeless has been life-changing.

"Music cuts through sadness and sorrow," said Schwab. It's almost magical to see hope dawn on someone's face. If we can light a spark in just one person, then we're doing what God called us to do."

That is easy to believe as the band launches into its last song, "Days of Elijah." The lively song is now familiar to many and arms wave, toes tap and hands clap as vocalist Hollstrom belts out the final notes.

Gil Thibault, a chaplain at the rescue mission, said it is obvious band members care about their fans.

"This band definitely brings a sense of hope and lifts spirits," said Thibault. "It shows our guys what love and caring look like." - Kansas City Star, Wednesday, March 10, 2010

The Quick and the Dead, a Christian worship band that entertains the unchurched, the homeless and the working poor, will perform a free concert at 10 a.m. Saturday at Iron Gate, the soup kitchen at Trinity Episcopal Church, 501 S. Cincinnati Ave.

The Kansas City, Mo., band avoids venues that are largely Christian and instead seeks out audiences in soup kitchens, homeless shelters and rescue missions.

Its eight members, ages 41 to 70, represent a variety of denominations. One is a brain tumor survivor, another a convicted felon and another is formerly homeless.

The band members receive donations but are primarily self-supported. Their name comes from the Apostles Creed, and the Book of Acts, both of which state that Jesus will judge "the quick (meaning alive) and the dead." - Tulsa World, Friday, July 9, 2010

Review Summary:
The Quick and the Dead, hardly a run-of the-mill praise and worship ensemble, puts forth an album that has more complexity than the spirit-filled call and response ditties so often found in this genre.

Review:
The Quick and the Dead’s songwriting team could all be distant cousins of the great Contemporary Christian Music pioneer Steven Curtis Chapman, with earthly lyrics that strike a chord with the common man without being preachy. This is an poignant quality for a band that chooses to play on the streets and in crowded homeless shelters rather than staying in a comfortable church setting like so many of their contemporaries. While the octet’s music is appealing to the upright Christian, it’s the poor and destitute that can benefit more from the message of 10:42, and the band caters to these souls by showing up on their doorstep instead of foolishly hoping that these folks will saunter into their sanctuary.

Band leader Laurie Schwab opens the album with “One More Day,” a well-crafted tune reminiscent of the innocent pop rock of the early 60’s. Schwab’s delivery is clear and clean with excellent enunciation. Her Mama Cass vocals sing through Christian lyrics with substance, a trait some CCM artists lack by being too high and lofty. Unfortunately for this mostly good song, it gets a bit campy in the coda with the full repetitive chorus and the bass singer down in the low ranges.

In redemption, vocalist Jim Wilcher in the ballad “From the Moment” does a better job by not singing the slightly lilting melody too stiffly. The keyboards employ a reed patch that adds a nice touch to the opening, colors the bridge, and expertly leads the modulation into the final chorus. Another lovely ballad on the group’s debut is the duet “The Choice” co-written by Schwab and her husband Tim who handles the percussion duties for the band. The song is well structured and all the vocal harmonies blend together eloquently.

The vocals in “J.C.”, however, are muddy. This upbeat rock and roll BTO-sounding song driven by T. Schwab’s classic rock fills is too much for the layered vocals. The lyrics are unclear and the electric guitar is sloppy with poor tonality. The same problems seem to befall the group in the unexceptional cover of Robin Mark’s “Days of Elijah.” The tempo is a tad too quick for everyone to keep up with, and the busy orchestration adds to the sense of chaos. Between unison voices and guitars and keyboards all playing their hearts out, the music and the message gets jumbled. In the coda, a soprano is singing a beautiful countermelody, but she can barely be heard over all the other instruments. In “Fighting the Battle” the lead vocals again get covered up by the rest of the band and the tempo is noticeably unsteady.

The Quick and the Dead is a fabulous group of volunteers who are performing out of love for the music and the message they convey. Some of the songs possess wonderful moments, like the tasteful electric guitar embellishments in the dramatic number “Fathers Wake Up”, and the intricate instrumental coda in “Listen To Him.” The ballad “I Believe” boasts the best keyboard and electric guitar work on the entire album.

A little more polish could do The Quick and the Dead some good, but the originality of the songs is superb. They are to be commended for writing intelligent Christian music that can appeal to the masses.

Review by Kelly O’Neil
- www.reviewyou.com