Friday, Aug. 15, 2008

FMHS Teens Play 'For Every Day’

By John English

Contributing Writer

When the Flower Mound band For Every Day formed more than four years ago, the four musicians did so with one major purpose in mind – to be Christian without being preachy.

All the band members attend Flower Mound High School and are 14 to 17 years old.

For Every Day played last Sunday before one of its largest audiences at the Air Hogs game in Grand Prairie. They followed that event with an appearance Wednesday at the House of Blues in Dallas.

Band manager and booking agent Kelly Sherrill, who owns a Christian talent agency, said the Air Hogs gig was a big opportunity for the teen band, but that For Every Day has already garnered interest from numerous sources.

"The man who is in charge of the Lutheran Church Coalition had approached the radio station, Power FM, about recommending someone [to perform at the game], so they [the radio station staff] recommended him to me, and I recommended them [the band] to him," Sherrill said. Lead singer and rhythm guitarist Jacob Simmons, 17, said his band has found an interesting niche.

"We have kind of an alternative sound," Simmons said. "Some of our influences include Three Days Grace and Breaking Benjamin, so we try to sound like them, but also do things our own way and be as unique as we can be."

Tyler Gray, the band’s bassist, said For Every Day is a Christian band but tries to be careful about the message it sends.

"We are all Christians, but we don’t really label ourselves as a 'Christian band,’" Gray said. "We want people to understand that God is always with them and give a positive message, but try not to preach at the same time."

For Every Day also features Simmons’ younger brother, Nick, 14, as the band’s drummer, and Alex Neal, 16, who plays lead guitar. Simmons said he hopes that people who attend the band’s shows take away a certain sense of self-reflection.

"Some of the songs ask questions about certain issues [like drinking and drug use] that affect teens," Simmons said. "We just want to make people think."

Simmons said the band’s CD should be released in August or September.

For Every Day also won a Battle of the Bands competition in Allen, where one of the prizes was a music video, entitled Laid in Stone, which can be viewed on the band’s MySpace page.

Visit www.myspace.com/foreveryday for more information.