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Covenanter's Band Hopes to Dig Beneath the Surface
SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA (June 14, 2003) - Shannon Curtis of Sanctuary Covenant
Church of Sacramento and her band Paradigm will perform Thursday (June
19) with million-selling singer-songwriter Jewel at The Coach House in
San Juan Capistrano, as part of a contest sponsored by soulcitycafe.com,
a noted music Internet website.
Paradigm and four other groups are competing for an opportunity to open
for Jewel during her Summer 2003 Tour. The winner of the contest would
open for eight Jewel concerts.
Curtis, the lead vocalist of Paradigm, has used her musical gifts at
Sanctuary Covenant, which started in January 2001, where her husband
Sean, is the congregation's senior pastor. The church is among those
being considered for membership at this month's Annual Meeting of the
Evangelical Covenant Church in Rosemont, Illinois.
Shannon has helped lead worship for the new congregation, which is
receiving assistance from Bayside Covenant Church in nearby Granite Bay.
Sean previously served in youth ministry at Bayside Covenant. The new
church averages about 150 in worship attendance.
In 1999, Shannon and guitarist Steve Stratton began writing songs for
Paradigm. Drummer/vocalist Tony Edwards, guitarist Keith Ogden and
bassist Kyle Knowlton joined the group later that year. Since then, the
alternative rock band has gained a regional following, playing at
Northern California venues in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Modesto,
and also at clubs in Portland and Los Angeles. The group has also made
appearances at over 25 colleges in the West and released their debut CD,
"Standing in Line," in August 2002.
On Paradigm's website (www.paradigm-music.com), the band's biography
states that Sarah McLachlan, Counting Crows, U2 and ColdPlay are its
primary musical influences.
While Paradigm is a secular band, it seems to have been able to walk the
fine line between being "in the world and not of the world." West
Coast Performer reviewed the band in February, stating, "Many of the
songs have a Christian slant, and they are careful with their phrasing
as so many contemporary Christian bands hoping for crossover are. The
man above is referred to obliquely as "you" and "heaven" could mean a
couple different things. But Paradigm is savvy, they don't proselytize
and they are careful to end on a light note."
The band's bio also describes their lyrics as relating
"thought-provoking stories that reflect hope amidst the melancholy and
pain of real life" and says that the group's music provides "powerful
sonic landscapes," "gripping vocals," and "lyrics that dig beneath the
surface."
In addition to being featured on www.soulcitycafe.com, Paradigm's music
can also be found on alternativeaddiction.com's "Unknown Top 10" list.
For more information about Sanctuary Covenant Church, log on to
http://www.sanctuary-church.com/
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
