ARTICLES

Jesus Rocks

Catholic Funk Band Comes to San Diego

BY TERESA GISLA

On October 1, a Catholic funk rock band called "Crispin" will play at St. Ephrem's Catholic Church in Fletcher Hills. A Catholic rock band, however, is far from what these six young men from Dallas, Texas had in mind seven years ago. According to the band's leader, Daniel diSilva, "I simply got a bunch of guys together that I had played with in the past in secular bands, and we put together a band that we thought would be fun. The plan was to have one show, a one-time concert. We had our first concert at the Dallas Museum of Art. After the show, we started getting phone calls. We've never had a promo package or CD. We don't solicit. And it just turned into this."

By "this" he means seven years of evangelization through music. The band's members take no credit, however, for this unexpected outcome. "The whole thing," says DeSilva, "was Her [The Blessed Mother's] idea. When she put it into my heart, I remember telling her, 'This is a dumb idea. I wouldn't pay five dollars to see a Catholic rock band play.' The next day I went to visit the shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and I prayed to Mary again. And then it was confirmed in my heart that this is what she wanted me to do."

It was on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception that diSilva, Bongo, Buthele, Gary Wooten, Ralph Forrest, and Al James launched their band embarked on a mission to convert the music world, and to "reclaim the goodness that music possesses in itself which has been corrupted by the world."

The six members of Crispin answered more questions during a recent conference call.

Gisla: Why St. Crispin?

DiSilva: To be honest, the name was given to me while I was saying the rosary. I was praying about the band, how to get this whole thing started. I had no idea. And then the name came. I remembered him from Shakespeare's Henry V. Like Henry, I felt like we were going into battle with the music industry."

Gisla: What is the message you want to spread, and who specifically is your audience?

Bongo: Our aim is to talk to kids about topics such as chastity and purity. We want to let them know that what they see on T.V. and hear on the radio, isn't exactly how it is in reality. We direct our message to teens, and to their parents.

Gisla: What is different about your music as compared to secular music?

Bongo: The lyrics. We're a Catholic band. We talk about things that are opposed to the secular message. Secular music is used to promote commercial ism, to make money, at whatever cost.

Gisla: But don't you utilize the same medium, i.e. the same type of music that the music industry promotes? Will kids be able to separate the message from the secular- sounding' music?

DiSilva: There is no need to. You see, we are trying to reclaim music all together. We want to reclaim the wholesomeness of all music. God made music. All music is supposed to be holy, and we're trying to reestablish that, as opposed to just putting a good or attractive beat to Catholic lyrics. The lyrics in our music are good, and so is the actual music. It is the lyrics of secular music that corrupt the song.

Gisla: But apart from the lyrics, some say rock music evokes behavior such as provocative dancing or violence that are occasions for sin and opposed to the Christian message.

DiSilva: Music is similar to the body. You speak of immodest and provocative dancing, but the body is good in itself. When Adam looked at Eve he said, 'Bone of my bones, flesh of my flesh.' He saw holiness, and that with which he desired communion. He didn't lust. It is the same thing with music. In and of itself, all music glorifies God. When you hear music, it should turn one's eyes to God. If it doesn't, it has been corrupted by Satan, by [bad] lyrics. It is the language that has been corrupted first by the individual, and then it is put to a beat. Just as when you render the sexual act infertile, you corrupt something that was first good in itself. It doesn't mean that sex is bad. All music should remind you of Christ, since he is the creator of it all. And further, the provocative dancing that you talk about that goes on at clubs would never happen at one of our shows. At a club, there is no priest, no Crispin. We wouldn't be there, and we don't condone that.

Gisla: Do you guys consider this a lifetime ministry? What are your plans for the future?

Buthele: Right now, as musicians, we have a spiritual responsibility. Music is food for the soul. People hear music, and they respond emotionally, and then they listen, and they respond intellectually. After this, I don't know what we'll be doing. Spreading Christ's message is a lifetime ministry in itself.

Gisla: Have you ever faced any opposition from the public?

Bongo: We have faced opposition, especially from the older generation. At first they look at us with dissent. But once they hear us and what we have to say, it's a different story.

For ticketing information on the Crispin concert call Kurt at 619-583-3810.

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