God Gave Rock & Roll To You – Details, episodes & analysis

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We finally get to Matt and Doug's all-time favorite Steve Taylor album, 1987's I Predict 1990. We cover the first three songs, beginning with "I Blew Up The Clinic Real Good", about an ice cream salesman who blows up an abortion clinic to make sure he still has a clientele to sell to. Next, "What Is The Measure Of Your Success" skewers the big business Wall Street culture of the 1980's, and remains even more relevant today. Finally, "Since I Gave Up Hope, I Feel A Lot Better" tackles higher education (maybe?) and explores how a nihilistic worldview leads to hopelessness, despair, and ultimately the exploitation of others for empty personal gain.

Also, Doug describes his dream where he walks arm in arm with our current President and has a heartfelt conversation. Weird stuff.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor

The Doors

Echo & the Bunnymen

Michael Knott

Lust Control

The Smashing Pumpkins

XTC

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We cover the second half of Steve Taylor's album On The Fritz, focusing on two songs: "I Manipulate", which tackles the warped theology of Bill Gothard, a minister who preached strict hierarchy in the family, and "Lifeboat", which critically discusses Values Clarification, a movement in the early 80's that emphasized personal values over values given from authority figures like parents or the Church. Plus, are Christians the new moral relativists? Is empathy a sin?

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Steve Taylor

Documentary: Shiny Happy People, about the Duggar family and their involvement with Bill Gothard's Institute for Basic Life Principals.

Video: Lifeboat - Steve Taylor, in which Steve dresses up as an old woman and gets murdered by her students.

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We have a great and wide ranging conversation with Brett Tohlen, Matt's songwriting partner from their band Lewis. Brett talks about growing up listening to the local Christian radio station, then discovering U2 and James. Matt and Brett discuss their years spent writing songs together, and Brett describes some of the themes behind the lyrics of their album "Even So". Doug outsmarts a Brooklyn hipster in 2004. Tony recounts how "speaking in tongues" was translated in his Pentecostal church. 

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Sandi Patty
Michael W Smith
Petra
U2
Pixies
Public Enemy
Pop Poppins
Tripping Daisy
Trash Can Sinatras
Ned's Atomic Dustbin
The Cure
R.E.M.
James
Tim Booth & the Bad Angel
The 77's
MJ Lenderman
Wednesday
Midlake
Lewis
Pleasant Grove
Lift To Experience
Bedhead
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Stephen Malkmus
Catherine Wheel
The Ocean Blue
Sunny Day Real Estate
The Smiths 

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We talk to the Oklahoma musician and filmmaker Beau Jennings of the bands Lasso, Cheyenne, and Beau Jennings & The Tigers. Beau talks about Christian ska, youth group rallies about "taking our country back", and religion and faith as a backdrop to music writing. Tony & Beau talk about Okie Noodling, Will Rogers and all things Oklahoma. We create a string-map connecting Sufjan Stevens, Fleet Foxes, The National, and even Taylor Swift back to the Christian music festival called Cornerstone. Doug tries to convince Beau to listen to Voivod.

Beau's new album is called "American Stories Major Chords" and comes out on October 18th.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Ester Drang
Lasso
Cheyenne
Beau Jennings & The Tigers
Lassie Foundation
The Prayer Chain
Michael Knott/ L.S.U.
Geoff Moore & The Distance
Johnny Cash
Elvis Presley
REZ Band
O.C. Supertones
Stavesacre
Scientific
Fleet Foxes
Father John Misty
The National
Taylor Swift
Unwed Sailor
Pedro the Lion
Damien Jurado
Sufjan Stevens
Denison Witmer
Reels of White Softly Flow
Flaming Lips
Turnpike Troubadours
Wilco
Son Volt
Night Reports
Derrick C Brown
Pleasant Grove
Lewis
Yours For Now
John Wilkes Kissing Booth
Broncho
Waylon Jennings
Sparklehorse
Aerosmith
Voivod
Spacehog

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We interview the Texas musician and radio personality Danny Balis, from the bands Sorta, King Bucks, Bastards of Soul and Silver Skylarks, and from his long tenure on Dallas' talk radio show The Ticket. We talk about his journey through Christian Rock as a youth under the tutelage of Brother Bruce, throwing his secular records away, returning to Satan by buying an Iron Maiden record, and getting bamboozled by his Denton bandmates who got saved and tried to turn their band Sahara Rain into a Christian act.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Journey
Foreigner
Foghat
AC/DC
David Meece
Sandi Patti
REZ Band
Petra
Styper
One Bad Pig
Voivod
Whitecross
RATT
Iron Maiden
Sahara Rain
King's X
Sorta
Bastards of Soul
Silver Skylarks

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We continue our conversation with musician Daniel Hopkins of the band Radiant, also known as Denim Wonder. Daniel recounts how Radiant got to play in Times Square on New Years Eve for the Jimmy Kimmel Show. We discuss the current state of Christian music. We talk about what is was like to be a Christian on tour, including encountering softball-sized mounds of cocaine. Tony wants to know what Daniel thinks about double bass drumming. Daniel expounds upon his middle school love of gangster rap.

Intro comedy bit: Jeremy Alder

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Radiant
Denim Wonder
James
Danny Gokie
The Afters
Brandon Lake
Shane & Shane
Chris Tomlin
Pleasant Grove
Lewis
Yours For Now
Garage Sale Poets
Songs: Ohia
Yo La Tengo
The Prayer Chain
Sigur Ros
Explosions In The Sky
At The Close Of Every Day
The World Is A Beautiful Place & I'm No Longer Afraid To Die
Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre
Scaterd Few
Violet Burning

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We have our first guest!!  We talk with the musician Daniel Hopkins of the band Radiant, also known as Denim Wonder. He talks about growing up with Christian music, sneaking secular CD's into the house, loving Creed and The Dave Matthews Band, listening to great music in spite of the lyrics, and songwriting. We discuss the "dangerous songs" of our youth. Matt keeps talking about Counting Crows. Daniel talks about working at Chik-Fil-A, which is the Christian Rock of fast food restaurants. 

Bands/ artists discussed:

Radiant
Denim Wonder
Eric Clapton
The Beach Boys
R.E.M.
P.I.D. (Preachers In Disguise)
D-Boy Rodriguez
Nirvana
Newsboys
Starflyer 59
The Prayer Chain
Plankeye
Luxury
Hum
Roger McDuff
Ride
Sugar Ray
James
Atahualpa Yupanqui
Creed
Alanis Morrissette
Counting Crows
Cyndi Lauper
The Flaming Lips
Smashing Pumpkins
Hi Fi Drowning
Blur
Oasis
The Catherine Wheel
Radiohead
Jawbreaker
Jets to Brazil
Jawbox
Fugazi
Built to Spill
Grandaddy
Ester Drang
Hall & Oates
Tears For Fears
Phil Collins

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We discuss the video of the Mike Knott tribute concert that just dropped on YouTube. Matt listens to Starflyer 59 for the first time ever. We take a survey of secular songs that were co-opted by Christians for their own purposes. Matt describes his teenage initiation into the Cult of R.E.M. We take a deep dive into the seminal Christian alt-rock album "All The Flowers Growing In Your Mother's Eyes" by The Throes. A heated argument ensues about whether or not Neutral Milk Hotel was from Athens.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Mike Roe/ the 77's
Mike Stand/ the Altar Boys
Mortal
Mike Knott
Riki Michele
The Prayer Chain
The Lassie Foundation
Starflyer 59
The Smashing Pumpkins
My Bloody Valentine
Jesus & Mary Chain
Hum
The Byrds
America/ Dan Peek
The Beatles
Styx
England Dan & John Ford Coley
R.E.M.
Fugazi
The Throes
Neutral Milk Hotel

Video: Mike Knott's Tribute Concert

Book: Love Is A Mix Tape

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

In this episode, we explore the spiritual roots of popular music and listen to examples of Christian themes that have shown up outside of the Christian Rock cloister throughout the decades, from Black Gospel quartets, through Elvis, Johnny Cash, and into the modern rock of the 1990's and 2000's.

Plus, another edition of "We Were Wrong", Tony's idea for a rock band comprised of middle aged Dads that used to be cool, the final word on whether humans are good or evil, and a discussion about the Robert Morris scandal at Gateway Church.

Intro preaching is Pastor Clay Evans from Chicago, IL.

Bands/ Artists discussed:

Lauren Daigle
Soul Stirrers
Sam Cooke
The Statesmen Quartet
Elvis Presley
Dion
Johnny Cash
Kris Kristoffersen
Hank Williams
One Bad Pig
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Pleasant Grove
Silver Jews
Purple Mountains
Belle and Sebastian
Sufjan Stevens
U2

Book: Human Kind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman

Book: Faith, Hope and Carnage by Nick Cave and Sean O'Hagan

Artist: Rachel Whiteread

Movie: Reality Bites (1994)

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com

Send us a text

We revisit some of our favorite Christian rock songs from our youth and discuss the lyrics and theological messages that were being communicated through the music. Also, did Dante create our modern conception of Hell? Why do we talk about Adam Again so much? How was one of the most uplifting hymns of all time written by a man who lost everything? Does God hate us?

Bands/ Music discussed:

Lauren Daigle
Gungor
Adam Again
Lewis
Leonard Cohen
The Innocence Mission
Cowboy Junkies
Over the Rhine
Red House Painters
Sun Kil Moon
Shane and Shane
One Bad Pig
Lust Control
The Dead Milkmen
The Crucified
Petra
Scaterd Few

God Gave Rock & Roll To You is a podcast exploring the Christian rock subculture of the late 20th century, hosted by Matt Beaton with co-hosts Doug Dickens and Tony Hormillosa.

We are friends who each grew up in a distinct version of this world, and we want to discuss what it was, where it came from, and what it turned into. We’ll be taking many side roads along the way, while listening to some of the best (and worst) music of the era..

Please subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

You can submit questions or comments for the hosts at godgaverockmail@gmail.com.

Show and host information can be found on our website:
https://godgaverock.buzzsprout.com