Theological Musings
Derek Webb is at his home in Nashville, Tenn., taking a break
from his current fall tour. He has nothing in his pockets, not even
the usual couple of guitar picks.
Derek Webb has things on his mind. He has things that need to be
said- things he couldn’t say as a member of the hit folk-rock group
Caedmon’s Call. He has things to say to the church in America.
Derek Webb’s first musical memory came from when he was a kid.
He was in the back seat of his mother’s car, and Van Halen came on
the radio. He knew right then that he had to buy that Van Halen
album, despite his brother’s warnings of the dangers of the
band.
“I ended up buying every Van Halen album in chronological
order,” Webb said. “My favorite song is ‘Unchained.’ The guitar in
that song sounds like the Heavens are splitting open.”
Today, Derek Webb is one of the more humble musicians you will
meet, although he will argue that he is just painfully self-aware.
His wardrobe consists of several white t-shirts, a few pair of
pants, a couple jackets and a nice pair of boots.
He does not do encores, as he feels most of the time they are
dishonest.
He loves playing songs by his musical hero, Bob Dylan, in
concert.
Derek Webb also doesn’t necessarily like being a solo
artist.
“I had no ambition to leave Caedmon’s and go out on my own,”
Webb said. “Being alone on stage is awkward, I don’t really like it
that much. The departure just came out of necessity.”
That necessity came after Webb married fellow folk-rocker Sandra
McCracken and found the need to reprioritize his life. This opened
his eyes to a side of the Christian culture in America that he had
not noticed before, the industry. This new perspective resulted in
a whole album’s worth of songs all with one thing in common, the
church.
Derek’s leaving Caedmon’s Call was, as he put it, organic. There
was no Hollywood-style falling out between band members. No “Behind
the Music” drama. The band knew that he was being called to deliver
a message and they told him to go for it.
“This album is the only thing that I could have left that band
for,” Webb said. “I had to do it, I couldn’t say no.”
That album is “She Must and Shall Go Free,” released last March
on iNO records. Webb’s goal is simply that the church will again
hear the Gospel.
“From pews to pulpit to the stores to the radio stations, we in
the American church look like we don’t believe,” Webb said. “Older
Christians think that they don’t need the Gospel, but it is what we
need surely.”
When Webb released the record, he wanted to be able to play the
songs in a context where he could hear what people had to say. He
wanted to hear their stories and answer their questions. His
answer- living rooms.
“I don’t want to be a pop star on stage in a glittery suit,”
Webb said of his solo endeavor. “I just want to be the guy in the
corner with a guitar, starting real, honest dialogue. About half of
the shows since March have been in people’s living rooms, and it’s
worked pretty well.”
Derek Webb is not a showman. He has no interest in being a
celebrity up on stage. He teaches as much as he plays music. He is
simply a member of the Church from Nashville, Tenn., who has a
message that he wants to get across.
“My intention, God’s intention, with this album is to fulfill
church’s need, of which I am a part of. To hear and believe the
Gospel,” Webb said. “Either no one else sees this need or they are
just afraid to dispute the Christian culture. I need this just as
much as the next person.”
OUTBOX:
An Evening with Derek Webb
Where: Summitview Community Church
When: 8pm, Sunday, Nov. 9
Tix: $10, www.ticketweb.com
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