|
Pillar
Track List
|
|
If you were in a genre-leading rock band that had sold nearly one million albums, tallied 10 No. 1 radio singles, 13 additional top five hits, a GRAMMY nomination, four Dove Awards and headlined nine national tours on your way to performing for... |

If you were in a genre-leading rock band that had sold nearly one million albums, tallied 10 No. 1 radio singles, 13 additional top five hits, a GRAMMY nomination, four Dove Awards and headlined nine national tours on your way to performing for three million people, what would you change about your band's approach? That's easy: Absolutely nothing. Yeah? But you're not Rob Beckley, founding front man and leader of Christian music's premier alt-metal-come-hard-alternative band. He knows change has played a recurring and pivotal role in Pillar's success since its formation. For starters, consider the five former members who have come and gone during this impressive run, Pillar's continually evolving post-grunge sound, or even the ease with which the band continues to move between the Christian and general markets. And now comes Confessions, the Essential Records act's sixth studio album. Change may have been a key ingredient before, but this time around, it was a bonafide litmus test. First up, the recent additions of bassist Rich Gilliland (KJ-52, Brandon Heath) and drummer Taylor Carroll (After Edmund) to Pillar's lineup. "Every single step of the way over the past 12 years, God has always put the right people in place for Pillar to take a huge step forward," affirms Beckley. "And we can already tell this time is no different. In the past, we have had great bass players and drummers, but no one ever talked about our rhythm section as a unit." That was then. As he explains, "We're still a guitar-driven band, but now, for the first time, we have a tight rhythm section with a serious groove. Musicianwise, this is the strongest lineup we've ever had." And both on the road and Confessions, it shows. (But let's not get ahead of ourselves.) As if entering the recording studio with a game-changing rhythm section wasn't enough, Beckley and Pillar guitarist Noah Henson--the band's principal songwriters the past eight years--made an unprecedented move in pre-production by collaborating with several prolific writers outside the band. While Beckley once again handled most of the lyrics, he and Henson teamed with the likes of Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Sanctus Real), Skidd Mills (Saving Abel, Skillet), Keith Wallen (Fuel), Red guitarist Jasen Rauch, and Building 429 front man Jason Roy to take Pillar's music into yet further new territory.
"When you've got four or five brilliant minds creating songs with you, it brings magic into the creative process," says Pillar's Henson. "That's why collaboration is the ultimate musical standard these days. A perfect example is our new single at rock radio, "Fire On the Inside." Chris Stevens wrote the chorus, I wrote the riffs on the verses, and Jason Roy co-wrote the lyrics with Rob."
Given the lineup of guest writers, it's no surprise Pillar decided melody, composition and hooks would rule the day in these songwriting sessions, and insisted that emphasis continue after the band entered the studio. To seal the deal, Pillar turned to versatile producer/songwriter Rob Graves (Red, Wavorly). A graduate of Berklee, the renowned music conservatory in Boston, Graves marked yet another dramatic change by Pillar. Indeed, each the band's five prior studio albums had been produced by the brilliant Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Superchick), and in an admirably selfless relational turn, Wyrick considered Pillar's new direction and strongly supported their desire to work with Graves. The decision paid off in spades. Says Beckley, "I had never gotten goose bumps listening to our own music before, but the production on Confessions is just a whole other level." While the band's previous album, 2008's For the Love of the Game, was "100 percent old-school Pillar," Confessions is the kind of record that will make CHR (contemporary hit radio) listeners fans of hard music. The 11-track disc, which features songs ranging from muscular, guitar-driven gut rock to beautiful, orchestral ballads, gives Pillar unprecedented commercial appeal. Confessions may be musically intense and layered, but melody is king. Beckley offers further insight concerning the album's production. "As a producer, Graves is not only a master of the big picture, he's a formidable guitar player himself, extremely good with melodies, and as deliberate as you can get with songwriting," he explains. "He pushed us places we never would have heard us going." While Confessions' music will be the first thing to raise eyebrows and win new fans, a thoughtful listen to the album's lyrics sheds new light on Pillar in more profound ways. "Rob wrote about subjects I've never heard him hit on before," says Beckley's longtime writing partner, Henson. He's right. As it turns out, the breathtaking changes in the band's approach to songwriting sessions and studio production, not to mention half its actual line-up, were enabled in part by significant growth on a personal and spiritual level. The catalyst for much of this growth was a confessional curriculum--called "My Secret"--taught in the Tulsa, Oklahoma church attended by three of the band's members. (Pillar's new bassist, Taylor Carroll, attends Hope Presbyterian Church in Memphis where his father, renowned recording artist Bruce Carroll, is worship leader.) "The 'My Secrets' study and the small group I was in rocked our worlds," says Beckley. "We had a girl who confessed to having an abortion, a couple shared the fact that they'd both had affairs, just wild stuff coming out into the open. The important thing is, at those moments, a life-changing healing began during each confession." The members of Pillar realized the significance of what was taking place within their church, indeed within themselves, and prayerfully decided to pay it forward as a band. Beckley begins to explain, "As one avenue of response, our church had created a message board people could go to and pour out their hearts anonymously, and the confessions there were just overwhelming." That message board served as Pillar's blueprint for engaging its audiences on tour. "As a band, we wanted to take that out on the
road, do something to give our fans a way to pour out their hearts anonymously and start a healing process in people's lives at each stop," continues Beckley. "So on our next outing, we took a confessional booth with us." During the aptly named "Confessions Tour," which took place in early 2009, Pillar spoke from stage about the importance of confession and made the special booth available so that anyone who entered would be isolated and have the opportunity to respond via blank confession cards. "If you went into the booth, it was your moment with God," says Beckley. "1 John 1:9 says, 'If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' And writing it out is
an act of confession. It definitely brought kids to the point of acknowledging their sin and what was
going on." Pillar's fans weren't the only ones the tour left an indelible mark upon. The band's members read and prayed over each audience's confession cards, and, as Beckley explains, "more than ever, the experience put things into a perspective of 'what we do matters.' Pillar's veteran guitarist agrees. "We saw kids struggling with deeply painful life experiences, suicidal thoughts, cutting, addictions...," says Henson. "And we truly saw the confessions being used as a tool by the Holy Spirit." Naturally, Pillar looks to take the confessional booth out on the road again. Lyrically, Pillar's new album picks up where the profound "Confessions Tour" left off. "Every song on this record could be broken down to 'If you just confess,'" says Beckley. "Confess your secrets." Under this umbrella, recurring themes on Confessions include unity, commitment and perseverance. Consider the album's lead single to CHR radio, "Secrets and Regrets." Beckley, himself, put it best when he said, "If there was a title track, this would be it." Thick on guitars and even thicker on melody, "Secrets and Regrets" emotively confronts the destructive cycle of hiding secret sins and the toll it takes keeping those secrets. Pillar simultaneously slows things down and turns the beauty factor up to ten with the genuinely moving, symphonic rock ballad, "Will You Be There." The song's multi-layered lyrics were born with a vulnerable, remorseful chorus Henson wrote for his wife. From there, Beckley composed a relational song about being committed to one another through life's mistakes and hardships while, at the same time, grasping to comprehend God's unshakeable love for each of His children. For the up-tempo active rock track, "Whatever It Takes," meanwhile, Beckley reflected on the extremely determined way he pursued his wife relationally while they were dating. Comparing a man's feeble efforts to pursue a woman of his dreams with the way God pursues each of us, Beckley concludes in a nutshell, "God will do whatever it takes to get you." On an album completely loaded with potential CHR radio singles, yet another must-highlight is Pillar's cover of Collective Soul's modern classic "Shine." Whereas the original 1994 No. 1 smash was just a demo recorded on a 4-tracks complete with simplistic programmed drums, Pillar's version increases the tempo and features beefed up production with full instrumentation. While most of the song's basic arrangement is loyal to the original, Pillar's take features both a shredding guitar solo written and
deftly performed by Henson and an artful scream-lyric Beckley tags on as his exclamation near the
song's conclusion. To say Pillar's emotionally attached to the Confessions album would be an understatement. Even with five previous albums, listening to their own songs had never made Beckley or Henson tear up before, but this time both have been thus moved by the new material on Confessions. "I poured my heart lyrically and vocally into these songs," says Beckley, "and a couple of them just wrecked me when I heard the overall sound, the production of the final mixes." And his audience--how will Confessions hit them? "I believe God's going to use these songs to touch people in ways I haven't even thought of," he says with both anticipation and humility. All things considered, Pillar may be more intentional about ministry than ever. One thing's for sure,
Beckley & Co. are committed to mentoring an audience seeking deeper relationships with God and others by using confessions as an entry point for a real faith. How's that for intentional? And not just intentional, but intense.
|
|
|
|
|


|
|
|
9/16/2009 - Pillar Readies for Launch of Confessions Sept. 22
(Nashville, Tenn.) September 16, 2009 – As rock powerhouse Pillar gears up for the launch of its career-shifting sixth album Confessions (Essential/Provident), its simultaneously released radio singles (July 31) are making waves at radio. “Fire on the Inside” has climbed to No. 8 on the Christian Rock chart while the CHR single “Secrets and Regrets” was added by the Air-1 Network reaching two-million listeners, weekly.
In addition, the Dove Award-winning and GRAMMY nominated band recently announced its fall Confessions Tour with KJ-52, Run Kid Run and 7eventh Time Down. Promoters are anxiously anticipating the bands arrival in their markets.
“Pillar was part of our Rock the Sound festival this summer in New York City,” said Chris Barrett, President - Rock the Sound Concerts. “They played our rock room along with RED, Decyfer Down, Remedy Drive and Doubledge. All night the room was pulsing with energy as the anticipation grew for Pillar’s appearance onstage. Their set was strong and the crowd was with them from the beginning.”
Matt Brown, Kansas-based concert promoter, expressed a similar sentiment. “The ‘Confessions Tour’ was a huge ministry outreach to our community. The event strengthened believers while it introduced non-believers to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
“The time that Rob Beckley, Pillar’s lead singer, had with the youth leaders before the concert was totally unexpected, and truly appreciated,” shared John Hill, Uvalde, Texas Event Organizer. “The one-on-one interaction, from the second the band drove up until the last student left, made the event unforgettable. Six months later our youth are still talking about the experience. Thank You, Pillar.”
Thematically, the album picks up where Pillar’s profound spring “Confessions Tour” left off earlier this year. A confessional curriculum, called “My Secret,” being taught in the band’s local Tulsa, Oklahoma church, changed the way the members of Pillar wanted to engage its audiences on tour.
“We decided to give our fans a way to pour out their hearts anonymously, yet before God” says Beckley. “We took thousands of blank confession cards [distributed via a confessional booth] on the road. It definitely brought kids to the point of acknowledging their sin and what was going on.” The “Confessions Tour” had a defining impact on Pillar as its members read and prayed over each audience’s confession cards. Explains Beckley, “More than ever, it put things into a perspective of ‘what we do matters.’”
That approach obviously carried over to the new album. “1 John 1:9 says, ‘If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.’ Every song on this album could be broken down to ‘If you just confess,’” shares Beckley. Under this umbrella, recurring themes on Confessions include unity, commitment and perseverance.
While lead singer Rob Beckley and guitarist Noah Henson have been the band’s principal songwriters the past eight years, Confessions marks the first time the two of them have collaborated with writers outside the band. Guest composers include Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Sanctus Real), Skidd Mills (Saving Abel, Skillet), Keith Wallen (Fuel), Red guitarist Jasen Rauch and Building 429 front man Jason Roy.
Confessions’ production marks equally new territory. Pillar teamed with GRAMMY nominated, Dove Award-winning producer/songwriter Rob Graves (Red, Wavorly) and further enhanced its sound through new bassist Rich Gilliland (KJ-52, Brandon Heath) and drummer Taylor Carroll (After Edmund).
Graves notes, “Originally I was just supposed to write with Rob (Beckley) for the album. But after spending the day with him in a writing session, I called my manager and told him to get all over the record. I wanted to produce it. The result is something I’m extremely proud of. The guys allowed me to push them as hard as I needed to and they gave it everything they had. They impressed me on so many levels. They’re genuinely great guys, and a band I hope to continue working with regularly.”
|
|
7/13/2009 - Pillar Promises Major Confessions Coming September 22
Dove and GRAMMY nominated rock act Pillar recently completed recording its career-shifting sixth album Confessions (Essential/Provident) set to release September 22. In a bold move by one of Christian music's preeminent rock bands, Pillar reinvented its approach to songwriting and studio production, as well as half its line-up. The result: a rich, melodic, transparent yet hard-hitting project with weighty appeal.
While lead singer Rob Beckley and guitarist Noah Henson have been the band's principal songwriters the past eight years, Confessions marks the first time the two of them have collaborated with writers outside the band. Guest composers include Chris Stevens (tobyMac, Sanctus Real), Skidd Mills (Saving Abel, Skillet), Keith Wallen (Fuel), Red guitarist Jasen Rauch and Building 429 front man Jason Roy.
Confessions' production marks equally new territory. For all of Pillar's previous hit albums, the band had teamed with brilliant producer Travis Wyrick (P.O.D., Superchick), this outing, however, Wyrick and other confidants suggested they go with versatile producer/songwriter Rob Graves (Red, Wavorly). The results are dramatic as Confessions' sound is further enhanced by new bassist Rich Gilliland (KJ-52, Brandon Heath) and drummer Taylor Carroll (After Edmund).
"I had never had goose bumps listening to our own music before, but this album is just on a whole different level," says Pillar's Beckley. "We're indebted to everyone who played a role in pushing us out of our comfort zones. And I couldn't be more proud of our band."
Both in its songwriting sessions and in the recording studio, Pillar decided melody, composition and hooks would rule the day. With that set in stone, the resulting album features songs which range from muscular, guitar-driven gut rock to beautiful, orchestral ballads. "Confessions is the kind of album that will make CHR radio listeners fans of rock music," says Blaine Barcus, VP of A&R, Provident Label Group. "The goal was that every single song on this album would be a great fit for radio, and I think the overall project reflects that goal. Rob and the guys poured themselves into the music and this project really delivers.”
Thematically, the album picks up where Pillar's profound "Confessions Tour" left off earlier this year. A confessional curriculum--called "My Secret"--being taught in their local Tulsa, Oklahoma church changed the way the members of Pillar wanted to engage their audiences on tour. "We decided to give our fans a way to pour out their hearts anonymously, yet before God" says Beckley. "We took thousands of blank confession cards [distributed via a confessional booth] on the road. It definitely brought kids to the point of acknowledging their sin and what was going on." The "Confessions Tour" had a defining impact on Pillar as its members read and prayed over each audience's confession cards. Explains Beckley, "More than ever, it put things into a perspective of 'what we do matters.'
That approach obviously carried over to the new album. Says Beckley, "1 John 1:9 says, 'If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.' Every song on this album could be broken down to 'If you just confess.'" Under this umbrella, recurring themes on Confessions include unity, commitment and perseverance.
Pillar will hit the road on the Confessions Tour early this fall with KJ-52, Run Kid Run and
7eventh Time Down. Tour markets and venues are forthcoming.
|
|
2/23/2009 - Pillar Honored with Two GMA Dove Awards Nominations
Dove and Grammy nominated rock band Pillar was honored today with two GMA Dove Awards nominations. The band, known for its riveting rock shows, was recognized in the Rock Album category for its 2/26/08 hit album, For the Love of the Game and in the Rock Recorded Song category for that album’s title track, “For the Love of the Game.”
Pillar will tour with Orlando-based rock band Fireflight from March 25 through the end of April and both Beckley and Henson have been working closely with Dove-nominated producer/songwriter Rob Graves (Red) and Skidd Mills (Saving Abel, Fireflight) for Pillar’s next release, slated for 2009.
Pillar’s fifth studio album, For the Love of the Game (02/26/08), debuted on the Billboard Top 200 album chart at No. 71, while coming in at No. 4 on the Christian (overall) album chart. Since Pillar’s Dove Award-winning debut Above in 2001, the band has tallied ten No. 1 radio singles, 12 top five hits, a GRAMMY nomination, three Dove Awards, nine national headlining tours, covers of numerous national magazines and album sales approaching one million.
|
|
12/22/2008 - Pillar Closes 2008 as Most Played Artist on R&R Christian Rock Chart
(Nashville, Tenn.) December 22, 2008 – GRAMMY-nominated rock band Pillar closes the year as the “most played” artist on the R&R Christian Rock Chart. A favorite of rock fans, Pillar continues to deliver great music to this format. In addition to radio success, the band had a great run on the successful, “Creation Festival - The Tour” and is already writing for a new album in 2009.
“This is really incredible news,” shares Rob Beckley, Pillar’s founding member and dynamic
frontman shares. “We just celebrated our 10th No. 1 with ‘Turn It Up’ a few weeks ago and were really shocked to hear about the year-end listing – that’s amazing! We really appreciate everyone at radio and media, and we especially appreciate our fans for their ongoing support. We definitely don’t take any of this lightly.” This year the band also celebrated its first CHR Top 5 with “Smiling Down.”
Spending most of the fall performing on the “Creation Festival - The Tour,” which hit 20+ cities and saw thousands in total audience this fall, Pillar was able to reconnect with fans across the country.
Bill Darpino, Executive Producer of the Creation Festivals, notes, “This tour was an incredible success and we loved having Pillar on the bill. Rob Beckley and the band command a great show and their hearts for ministry and the youth is very evident in all they do. Pillar has been a great part of this tour, and our ministry, and I cannot wait to have them back. In fact, Pillar is already slated for both of our 2009 summer festival events at the Agape Farm in Union, PA – June 24- 27 and at the Gorge Amphitheater, in George WA – July 22 – 25.”
“Playing the Creation Tour was one of the biggest highlights of the year for Pillar,” says Noah Henson, guitarist. We loved being on the road with Kutless, Fireflight and Thousand Foot Krutch, plus we got to introduce one of our two new band members, Rich Gilliland on bass.” Chase Lovelace, Pillar’s new drummer, will join the band on the road in the spring.
Keith Shackelford, Senior Agent with Third Coast Artists Agency, adds, “It’s really exciting to see such a renewed energy from Pillar. They are firing on all cylinders and it is translating on stage and off. It’s encouraging to hear promoters call and sing their praises after seeing them live.”
Pillar will tour with Orlando-based rock band Fireflight from March 25 through the end of April and both Beckley and Henson have been working closely with Dove-nominated producer/songwriter Rob Graves (Red) and Skidd Mills (Saving Abel, Fireflight) for Pillar’s next release, slated for 2009.
Blaine Barcus, vice president of A&R at Provident Label Group, enthusiastically comments, “The new songs are really coming together. There’s something really fresh about them; still Pillar, but there’s a new energy in them. Rob and the guys are plugged into their local church deeper than ever before. I think this is fueling their renewed energy and ministry focus. I’m excited about the future of this band.”
Pillar’s fifth studio album, For the Love of the Game (02/26/08), debuted on the Billboard Top 200 album chart at No. 71, while coming in at No. 4 on the Christian (overall) album chart. Since Pillar’s Dove Award-winning debut Above in 2001, the band has tallied ten No. 1 radio singles, 12 top five hits, a GRAMMY nomination, three Dove Awards, nine national headlining tours, covers of numerous national magazines and album sales approaching one million.
|
|
10/8/2008 - Pillar's Bassist, Kalel, Leaves to Pursue New Opportunities
(NASHVILLE, Tenn.) Oct. 8, 2008—Longtime bassist for Grammy nominated and Dove Award winning hard rock band Pillar, Michael “Kalel” Wittig recently announced that he will leave the group to pursue other opportunities. Among his new ventures are artist management/marketing/consulting company JMA Music, and Stars Go Dim, a band he created with former Pillar drummer Lester Estelle.
Wittig first informed fans of his departure from Pillar late last month on Facebook and MySpace. In a statement he said, “It’s been an amazing 10 years of my life that I will never forget …There are many reasons why, but it is just the right time …I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of something that has changed so many lives.”
In addition to spending more time with family, Wittig plans to focus his energies on JMA Music, a management/marketing/consulting company he developed with partner Joey Avalos in 2007. An astute businessman, Wittig has always had an interest in artist development as well as a desire to “give back to these younger groups and help them to be their best.” JMA Music’s current clients include emerging bands One Minute Halo (myspace.com/oneminutehalo) and A Road Less Traveled (myspace.com/aroadlesstraveled). For more information on JMA Music, visit www.jmamusic.com.
And while investing in up-and-coming artists, Wittig will continue to hone his own craft, joining up with former Pillar bandmate Lester Estelle, Joey Avalos (Justifide, Sky Harbor) and Chris Cleveland for pop/rock band Stars Go Dim, a significant departure from the Pillar sound. The group will release its debut EP October 21, 2008 in advance of a full-length project, Love Gone Mad, produced by Estelle, next year. Currently Stars Go Dim is booking dates throughout the Midwest. A tour itinerary will soon be posted at www.myspace.com/starsgodim. For additional info on the band, visit www.starsgodim.com.
“I am grateful for the early enthusiastic response to Stars Go Dim,” says Wittig. “It’s been exciting to work with this band from the ground up, and I am eager to move forward with our first record and tour.”
Michael “Kalel” Wittig began his music career more than 12 years ago. As a member of Pillar, whose career sales currently exceed 700,000 records, Wittig has toured internationally, produced six Radio & Records No. 1 hits, charted on Active Rock radio, won three Dove Awards, received a Grammy nomination and been spotlighted by major media outlets including Bass Player magazine, MTV, and Fuse TV.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|

|
 | Confessions
 |
 | For The Love Of The Game
 |
 | Where Do We Go From Here
 |
 | Fireproof
 |
 | Above
 |
|

|
http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/B002JOGSR4/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg http://media.hearitfirst.com/images/covers/083061086923/coverart.jpg
http://media.hearitfirst.com/audio/B002JOGSR4/mp3/full/101.mp3
Nada
0
1

|