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Robbie Seay Band
Track List
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Houston’s Ecclesia Church sits on the edge of downtown like a frontier outpost. During the week, it’s a community outreach center, farmer’s market, art gallery, coffeehouse, and recording studio. But on Sunday, its space becomes sanctuary to... |
 Houston’s Ecclesia Church sits on the edge of downtown like a frontier outpost. During the week, it’s a community outreach center, farmer’s market, art gallery, coffeehouse, and recording studio. But on Sunday, its space becomes sanctuary to the homeless and drug addicted, as well as to the high profile attorney and suburb-dweller who fill its seats.
The church is also home base for Robbie Seay Band, forming as much of their identity as the music they play. Pastored by Robbie’s brother Chris, Ecclesia’s services are a mix of the liturgical (weekly communion, communal prayer) and experiential (artists painting during the service). Aside from touring, the band can be found leading worship for the several weekly gatherings at Ecclesia.
Long before the release of their critically acclaimed 2005 Sparrow Records debut, Better Days, Robbie Seay Band began developing a reputation for their honest approach to worship music, grounded in community and in the life journeys of each of its members. In addition to Robbie, who serves as the group’s voice and principal songwriter, the band consists of longtime friends Dan Hamilton and Ryan Owens. Dan has played with Robbie for a decade, dating back to the Metro Bible Study for which they, Caedmon’s Call, and Watermark led worship. Ryan approached Robbie eight years ago at a concert to ask if they needed a bass player and has been with them ever since. “In a lot of ways, we’ve grown up together,” Robbie says of the group. “We have walked side-by-side for nearly a decade, in the context of our community and living a normal life together. That makes the music more meaningful for us.”
Known for an alternative worship style that features raw, insightful lyrics coupled with an equally edgy and engaging sound, Robbie Seay Band’s much-anticipated sophomore Sparrow release, Give Yourself Away, finds them pushing their musical craft to new levels under the guiding hand of producer Tedd T. (Mute Math, Delirious?). The sound of Give Yourself Away carries a new energy and relevance, an aggressive step forward from Better Days. The album bears the influence of British rock (Travis, Keane) as well as modern worshippers such as David Crowder Band and Tim Hughes.
Give Yourself Away also marks the first time the group has turned over production reins to a sole producer. “Crafting this project with Tedd has been a natural growth process for the band; he stretched us and challenged us,” explains Robbie. “It’s been the best experience I’ve had in music.”
But it has always been the poetic and vulnerable lyrics that have set Robbie Seay Band apart. “This project contains a lot of the stories of our lives from the past two years,” said Robbie. “It is a missional record, almost a rebirth of how we’re seeing our faith and how we’re seeing a lot of young Christians respond to the great need around the world and at home,” explains Robbie. “As believers, we are being awakened to the call of Christ to give of ourselves, to live out life together honestly, in community. As we find hope together, it pushes us to be proactive in our faith.”
The project begins with the anthemic call to action “Rise,” which charges Rise, rise—people of love, rise/Give yourself away. “If you choose God,” says Robbie, “you are choosing a life of serving and giving to the poor and the oppressed. That’s hard for us as believers to confront alone—and that’s where community steps in.”
“New Day” is a pop hit-in-waiting written to Seay’s wife, Liz. “Most of us would agree that the world around us seems to be in chaos, with war and injustice, but in this brief moment, there’s still hope that each sunrise brings as a new day begins.” The equally upbeat “Song Of Hope” is an invitation to engage with the living God, the Source of that Hope.
If these selections represent a new direction, “Shine Your Light On Us” is vintage Robbie Seay Band, a part of their repertoire that Robbie says people really connect with. “It’s identifying our pain and our sorrow—the things I’ve gone through, the band’s gone through, the community’s gone through—they’re the same,” he says. “The lyric says, I’ve been broken down, I’ve been holding on, and we’re in need. . . God shine your light on us.”
Seay has seen the larger church community in Houston tested by the influx of Hurricane Katrina refugees, and has been encouraged by the response. “For the first time in a long time, I’ve been proud to say I was part of this bigger picture—a bigger church. We’re always focused on what’s wrong with the church today, but seeing how communities responded to such immediate and desperate need—it was amazing. It wasn’t about race or denomination—it was about serving others the same way Jesus did on this earth.”
This experience and Ecclesia’s efforts in Africa inspired the song “Go Outside.” “We really just became more aware of the need in the world and of how materialistic and selfish we are. That’s kind of where the record began to go outward. We’ve received hope and grace, and ‘Go Outside’ is about sharing that.”
“Faith is fairly stale if we’re not active and aware of the need around us,” Robbie says, returning again to the theme of Give Yourself Away. “When we go back to Scripture, it’s full of loving the orphans, the widows and the poor, and you look at Jesus and who He was and come away with that.”
To this end, Robbie Seay Band is taking steps to raise awareness of the tragedy affecting many children in Uganda. Inspired by the film “Invisible Children,” and the book “Girl Soldier” (by Grace Akallo and Faith J.H. McDonnell), the group hopes to help educate others about the plight of the Ugandan people. The band encourages its audiences to support Compassion International, or another outreach of their choosing, during its shows. The key, Robbie says, is to do something.
“I hope my music—and life—somehow may serve to encourage other believers to be proactive in their faith,” concludes Robbie. “For it is only as we bless others and offer grace that faith goes beyond words, and truly comes alive.”
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10/28/2008 - Robbie Seay Band Winds Up Fall "Hope, Cofee and Melody" Tour
Sparrow Records artist, Robbie Seay Band will head out on the remaining dates of its popular 2008 “Hope, Coffee, and Melody” Tour next month. Also continuing on the ticket is author Chris Seay.
The fall “Hope, Coffee, and Melody” tour kicked off Sept. 10 at The Heights Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas. Missing several early dates due to Hurricane Ike, the tour picked up full swing again in October and will wrap Nov. 14 in Irving, Texas.
“We’re eager to get back on the road with Chris Seay in a few weeks,” says Robbie Seay. “We hope folks will join us not only for a concert but also for an evening of story and coffee …of hope and a reminder that God is calling us to something bigger ourselves.”
Chris Seay is a church planter, pastor, president of Ecclesia Bible Society, and internationally acclaimed speaker. He is a key contributing writer for The Voice Bible translation which officially launches later this month with the release of The Voice New Testament. The Voice™ translation provides a true interpretation of the biblical text while including historical and cultural expansions of the story. With additional background on setting and characters, the project’s narrative screenplay-like format is ideal for group studies and dramatizations, and the inserted devotional commentary helps readers truly understand the context of the biblical story. For more information on The Voice™ New Testament and to download a free copy of The Gospel of John presented in The Voice™ Bible translation, visit http://www.hearthevoice.com. Chris Seay’s previous books include The Gospel Reloaded, co-authored with Greg Garrett, The Gospel According to Tony Soprano, and Faith of My Fathers.
Known for its alternative worship style that features raw, insightful lyrics coupled with an equally edgy and engaging sound, the Houston-based Robbie Seay Band comprises Robbie Seay, Ryan Owens, Taylor Johnson, Michael Lisenbe, and Tyler Halford. Having recorded four successful independent projects, the band signed with EMI CMG imprint Sparrow Records in 2005 and released two critically acclaimed albums, Better Days (2005) and Give Yourself Away (2007). The band’s music has received high profile television placement in promotions for FOX’s “American Idol,” as well as CW programs “One Tree Hill” and “Life Is Wild.” At radio, the band’s Christian AC single “Song of Hope” climbed to No. 6 and remained on the charts for an entire year from 2007-2008. Robbie Seay Band’s current single, “New Day,” is currently vying for adds at AC radio. When not on the road, the Robbie Seay Band leads worship at Ecclesia Church, a Houston-based community of faith that seeks to embrace culture through practical love. For more information, visit www.robbieseayband.com or www.myspace.com/robbieseayband.
“HOPE, COFFEE AND MELODY” TOUR NOVEMBER 2008
DATE CITY
11/5 Dallas, TX
11/6 Abilene, TX
11/8 Phoenix, AZ
11/9 San Diego, CA
11/10 Los Angeles, CA
11/11 Santa Cruz, CA
11/12 Whittier, CA
11/13 Los Vegas, CA
11/14 Irving, TX
*dates subject to change
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3/14/2008 - Robbie Seay Band's "New Day" to be Featured on Oprah's Big Give
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – “New Day,” from Sparrow recording artist Robbie Seay Band, will be featured on episode three of “Oprah’s Big Give,” which will air this Sunday, March 16 at 9 pm ET on ABC. “New Day,” showcased on Robbie Seay Band’s critically acclaimed 2007 release, Give Yourself Away, is slated to be the group’s next Christian radio single, following their Top 5 hit “Song of Hope.”
The March 2 premiere of "Oprah's Big Give" drew 15.7 million viewers, the largest audience in primetime that week for any program other than "American Idol," according to Nielsen Media Research. On the show, participants compete to find the most creative ways to multiply a given amount of money and other resources before giving them away to help others.
In addition, FOX recently featured Robbie Seay Band’s “Rise” on four national television promotional spots for its hit show “American Idol.” The song was used in promotion for the seventh season of “American Idol,” which premiered January 15 and 16.
Give Yourself Away released August 28 and was one of the top 25 Christian albums downloaded on iTunes for over 18 weeks. The album features the hit single, “Song of Hope,” which charted 18 weeks in the Top 5 on R&R’s Christian CHR National Airplay chart and Top 10 on R&R’s Christian AC National Airplay chart. The song was also one of the Top 20 Christian CHR/pop singles of 2007, according to CRW’s year-end charts.
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1/15/2008 - Robbie Seay Band's "Rise" Featured On 'AMERICAN IDOL'
“Rise,” from Sparrow recording artist Robbie Seay Band, is currently featured on four national television promotional spots for FOX’s “American Idol.” The opening selection of the band’s critically acclaimed album, Give Yourself Away, is being used in promotion for the seventh season of “American Idol,” which premieres January 15 and 16. An “American Idol” promotional spot featuring “Rise” can be seen online at www.robbieseayband.blogspot.com
“We are thrilled that FOX enjoyed ‘Rise’ enough to feature it in the ‘American Idol’ campaign,” said Robbie Seay. “I’ve always been passionate about ‘Rise.’ It’s a song written from my own frustration of living a life so centered on me that it becomes too busy and distracted. It’s about slowing down enough to see the great need of people both near and far and acting on that need.”
Give Yourself Away released August 28 and has been one of the top 25 Christian albums downloaded on iTunes for over 18 weeks. The album features the hit single, “Song of Hope,” which charted for 18 weeks in the top 5 on R&R’s Christian CHR charts and in the top 10 on R&R’s Christian AC charts. Currently, “Song Of Hope” is #10 on Billboard’s Top 100 Hot Christian Songs chart and is #13 on R&R’s Christian AC Monitored chart. The song is also one of the top 20 Christian CHR/pop singles of 2007, according to CRW’s year-end charts.
Brentwood, Tennessee-based EMI CMG Label Group is comprised of Sparrow Records, Forefront Records, Credential Recordings and the worshiptogether label, in addition to providing marketing support for sixstepsrecords via a joint venture and licensing partnership. The Label Group is a division of EMI Christian Music Group. For further information, please visit www.emicmg.com.
For further information on Robbie Seay Band, please visit www.robbieseayband.com or online at www.hearitfirst.com/robbieseayband.
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9/20/2007 - Robbie Seay Band Celebrates Give Yourself Away With Hometown Concert and Borders Signing
In conjunction with the release of their latest album, Give Yourself Away, Sparrow recording artist Robbie Seay Band recently performed a Houston-area concert at Market Street in The Woodlands. Sponsored by KSBJ Radio, the event drew an estimated 900 people. Following the concert, the band members signed CDs at The Woodlands’ Borders.
“Song Of Hope,” the first radio single from Give Yourself Away, was Most Added at Christian CHR radio for the week of September 21 and is #17 on the Christian AC Indicator chart for the week of September 21, according to R&R. Give Yourself Away debuted at #17 on the Top Christian Albums chart, according to Nielsen SoundScan, for the week ending September 2.
Click Here for more on Robbie Seay Band
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9/12/2007 - Robbie Seay Band Headlines National ‘Give Yourself Away’ Fall Tour
On the heels of last week’s release of Robbie Seay Band’s critically-acclaimed sophomore Sparrow recording, Give Yourself Away, the Houston-based ensemble is currently on the road in support of the project. The multi-city “Give Yourself Away” Fall Tour features the Robbie Seay Band, along with special guest Reunion recording artist Brandon Heath.
Kicking off recently in Midland, Texas, the tour is slated to hit more than 30 cities, including stops in Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; Dallas; St. Louis; and Cleveland, before concluding in November.
“We’re so excited to be back out on the road, covering a lot of ground and sharing our music with both old friends and new,” said Seay. “Playing new songs and starting conversations about them has opened the doors for more dialogue about faith, missions, and life in general. It’s also great to have Brandon Heath with us. We’ve been fans of Brandon’s for a while and couldn’t ask for a better partner on the road.”
Give Yourself Away, the follow-up to Robbie Seay Band’s 2005 critically-acclaimed label debut, Better Days, was produced by Tedd T. (Mute Math, David Crowder*Band) and Robbie Seay, and finds the band taking an aggressive step forward with their alternative worship style. “Song Of Hope,” the debut single from Give Yourself Away, is at #24 on R&R’s September 4 AC Indicator chart and debuted at #26 on R&R’s September 4 AC Monitored chart.
Comprised of Robbie Seay, Dan Hamilton and Ryan Owens, the group leads worship at Ecclesia Church, a Houston-based community of faith that seeks to embrace culture through practical love. In addition to their work within Ecclesia, Robbie Seay Band has recorded four independent projects and toured in 2005 on the 30-city David Crowder*Band “Collision” Tour.
Brandon Heath has been a respected writer in the Nashville music community for years, collaborating with well-known artists like Bebo Norman, Matt Wertz and Dave Barnes, to name a few. The Nashville native first began writing at age 13 and credits the town's legendary hotspot for songwriters, the Bluebird Café, as the place he first experienced music that moved him. Heath's debut album Don't Get Comfortable has already yielded two hit songs with "I'm Not Who I Was" and "Our God Reigns" which garnered a Dove nomination for Worship Song of the Year.
For more on the above artists click the links below:
Robbie Seay Band
Brandon Heath
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