My Brother's Scars Keeps It Real

BROOKSVILLE - Whatever the musical genre, there are

always purists out there to judge authenticity.

Whether it is punk, progressive, heavy metal, rap,

hip-hop, soul, neo-soul, country, alternative country,

folk, bluegrass or new age - the purists seem to always

segregate the genuine acts from the pretenders.

Christian rock fans are no exception. They are quick to

define who is real and who is not.

My Brother's Scars know they are the real deal. They

call themselves a Christian alternative rock band - as

opposed to an alternative rock band made up of

Christians.

"Every song we do has a message to it," said lead

singer Jeremy Barker. "It's not just about the hook.

It's music with substance."

The band plays outdoor concerts and churches. Their

songs are unmistakably about God and they devote half

of their full-scale set list to praise and worship.

Some bands want to be accepted outside of the

faith-based music world. In order to do so, they often

attempt to wiggle from the label "Christian band." That

will not be the case with My Brother's Scars.

"We don't apologize for being Christian," said

guitarist Mike Heald, who played with Barker years

prior to joining him in his current band.

The band members all have jobs and some have families.

They rehearse at least once per week at the drummer's

house and play local gigs.

Last year, My Brother's Scars played 52 shows. This

year, they hope to exceed that number, release an album

and establish a fan base that stretches beyond Florida.

"We'd like to play out a lot more and do some touring,"

Heald said. "That's tough to do when you work 40 hours

a week and raise a family."

They already have eight original songs written for

their not-yet-titled debut EP. Dean Pratt, a member of

the local band Providence, is their producer.

Barker is an original member of My Brother's Scars,

which formed two years ago.

The band was mostly made up of Barker's brothers and

brothers-in-law. After a few lineup changes, the group

seems to have emerged and has its sights set on bigger

achievements.

"Christian music offers more opportunities really,"

Barker said, referring to the prospects of playing

festivals, outdoor concerts and a plethora of churches.

"We have no interest in doing secular music at all," he

continued.

The loyalty among Christian rock fans is evident even

among local listeners. When they go see a band, they

want to be involved in the experience. They raise their

hands and sing. They want to listen to the lyrics as

much as the guitar solos.

It is a spiritual experience for all involved. When

they like a band, they tend to stick with them.

"Our three fans aren't going anywhere," Heald joked,

invoking loud laughter from the band.

When asked about the origin of the band name, Barker

took a deep breath.

In 2005, after a bad breakup with his first group and

thoughts about never returning to the stage, the singer

was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer, he said.

After surgery and treatment, he was left with several

"hideous scars," which he thought were an appropriate

metaphor for his life and music.

"They're like the scars you get in life," Barker

explained. In other words, God heals, but the scars

remain.

Because all the members of his band used to be brothers

or brothers by marriage, the name My Brother's Scars

seemed fitting.

The professions of the five-man band vary from

correctional officer to auto mechanic. The youngest

member, keyboardist Jacob Vandemark, is 17 years old.

Drummer Kevin fields is the oldest. He is 33.

The members go to various churches, but are all

Protestant.

All five men were wearing red wristbands to symbolize

their pro-life stance on abortion. A song on the

forthcoming album, "Silent Screams," is centered on

that message.

The band's influences range from the modern Christian

rock (Casting Crowns and Mercy Me) to mainstream rock

(Billy Joel and Rush).

Recorded songs should be made available on the band's

Web site by the end of February, Barker said.

In the meantime, they will continue to play local and

regional gigs at both outdoor venues and churches. They

are scheduled to perform at 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20, at

Faith Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Brooksville.

It is located at 200 Mt. Fair Ave.

My Brother's Scars are expressive about their religion

and they aim to encourage people not to compromise

their beliefs, regardless of how critics might react.

"We encourage people to take a stand for what they

believe in," Barker said.

For more information about the band, visit

www.mybrothersscars.net.