Andrew Bender
Christian, Contemporary Christian, Christian Rock, Christian Pop
1
songs
443
plays
Every Drop Of Blood Every Drop Of Blood
Andrew Bender has been a professional musician since the age of 16 when he formed his first band Attik. Starting from humble beginnings in his parents large attic space, it seemed only fitting. We were playing top 20 stuff and whatever we thought was cool at the time. Looking back on it, we had a lot of fun. He started in that band playing guitar, but soon after switched to bass. Our bass players kept quitting on us, so just in a effort to get some gigs, I made the switch over to bass. From that beginning, he went through various bands in the late 70s in the Chicago area. We did pretty well considering our age. At that time, I was starting to write some of my own songs, and even though we were young, it was a good learning experience.
It was in 1980, though, that a change was in the wind for Andrew. After graduating from York High School in Elmhurst, Illinois, he packed up and moved to San Diego to further his musical career. He had some family out there, so San Diego seemed a more hospitable place than Los Angeles. Soon after arriving in San Diego, he joined up with Hurricane Bruce and the Moondogs. Bruce was a nice guy who wanted to do original Bob Dylan type material. It was kind of stifling for me in that I really couldnt get any of my material in there, but it was also beneficial for me in that I started learning what recording studios do and how they do it. It was also good for me because we played a lot of clubs like the Normandy back then and you really had to get the audience on your side quick or you were dead meat. Hurricane Bruce and The Moondogs recorded one album before it disbanded.
After Hurricane Bruce and the Moondogs went separate ways, Andrew took some time off from music. I was tired and a bit disappointed, I couldnt find a band that was moving, and I couldnt get my material played. So I took a few years off. It was during this time that he started looking into Christianity. I was lost and feeling rudderless in life. Nothing seemed to be working and it was a very and trying lonely time in my life. I was doing as many drugs as I could get my hands on just for an excuse to kill myself slowly. In 1986, Andrew turned his heart over to the Lord Jesus Christ. It wasnt any miraculous type of conversion. Oh Jesus really had to work on me, I was stubborn, but He was faithful. It took years before I was up to getting back into music and off drugs. But Jesus kept after me, and with His power, it worked. In 1988, he joined the band Barra Corra as a bass player. The band was a heavy metal Christian rock band. Says Andrew, Barra Corra was a really good band, it put me with a crew of fellow believers and the fellowship was great. We did some shows and we even drew a small following. It was also good from a musical standpoint because the material was quite difficult and it got my chops back in order. After Barra Corra disbanded, Andrew starting learning keyboards as well as getting his guitar playing back where it should be. During this wood shedding time he also started longing for the Chicago area again. Most of my family was there and I needed that again. So in 1990, he moved back to Chicago. After moving back he formed the band Project Two. The band was four very good musicians who were willing to give my material some time, so I grabbed onto it with both hands. Unfortunately, the band was a secular band and I think the Lord had better things in mind for me, plus I was once again on bass and I really longed for more guitar work. As Project Two was about to dissolve, Andrew decided to do his own solo album with him doing most of the parts; it was called Stay. Stay was basically material from Project Two that didnt get recorded. It was a good album, the material was strong. However it was a secular album and it always lacked something. Looking back on it now I realized it lacked Jesus Christ.
After Project Two and bouncing around with a few other bands, Andrew fell across a gig that would put him on a proper path. I was going to a local church who needed a musician to help fill in some holes during the worship service. So with them, I was able to play both bass and some guitar, and around that time I also started learning other instruments like mandolin and piano. I was very happy just helping the worship team. In the fall of 2002, Andrew came across an idea to put together a one-time coffeehouse that would showcase some great Christian talent in the Chicago area, in many different styles of music. Finally getting the chance to work with a broad range of musicians set Andrew on a path away from secular music, and never to look back again. Says Andrew, Once I started meeting and working with Christian musicians again, there was no way I could ever go back to secular music again. With secular artists it always seems to be about them. With Christian artists, it is always about Christ and not how much they are making or how good they look. I realized right then that there was no turning back. That show gave Andrew the chance to showcase not only some of his own material, but also showcase his multi-instrumental ability. Working with different instruments has almost been an unconscious thing. I started on guitar, but had to learn bass. Then got bored with bass so I learned keys, and also learned drums to do Stay. Then started playing piano which was an extension of keys. Plus, I had always wanted to play mandolin, so that was almost natural to me. Now I am playing around with harmonica. I love playing everything, but I am particularly drawn to piano. The harmonic interplay on that instrument I find fascinating. But I enjoy the challenge of new instruments and finding new ways of incorporating them into my music.
After the coffeehouse gig, Andrew and his wife switched churches and started going to Waters Edge Church in Carol Stream, IL. Waters Edge also offered Andrew the chance to work with other Christian musicians. Soon after joining Waters Edge, songs started pouring out of him. I was not in a band, but God was giving me all these songs. It had been nine years since I had recorded Stay, and I really felt led to record something better and something that was an offering to the Lord That was the genesis of This Side Of The Gates. Never happy with his own vocals, Andrew decided to draw on some of the outside talent that he had worked with in the church through the years. Says Andrew, I can hold a note, but these guys can make it sound great, there was just no need for me to do the vocals. So drawing on the vocal talent of Pete Hoglund of Waters Edge Church and David Miller, lead singer of the rock band, F.O.G., Andrew took 4 months to record all of the music to This Side Of The Gates. Andrew chose to do almost all of the instrumentation himself. I like working alone, its quicker and I know what I am after, I can start a song in the morning, and be done by evening and still have time to nitpick over each part. Nick Zaras did the guitar lead on Blue Skies, and Roy Gatton did the drums on the return, but the rest is me.
The acclaim that This Side of The Gates has drawn did not take Andrew by surprise. I really like Gates and it is my best work to date, I had no doubts once I started listening to some of the rough mixes that this one was special. In the next few months, he plans on promoting his CD, and is also starting to pull together material for his next project. Live shows could be in the works as well depending on how well this CD does. If there is an interest, Andrew says, I will definitely pull together something for live shows.Have you performed in front of an audience?I play on selected Sundays at Waters Edge church in Carol Stream Illinois. Please join us!
Your musical influences
I am a sponge when it comes to music, I try and absorb everything. For example, I am not a big fan of country, but country music has some of the best guitarists in the world, so I try and absorb that. But lol, I will pass on polka.What equipment do you use?
I love the old and diverse stuff. My piano is a 1918 Kimball baby grand. But until I get rich, some newer stuff will have to do. I use a Paul, Strat, Tele, 12 string Dano, for my guitars, and a Rick 4003 for bass, various pedals and a korg, a yamaha, and other keyboards.Anything else?
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Comments (2)
KEEP LOVING THE LORD.
VISIT US.
Anything you want to say folks, I have both ears working. And for a musician thats saying something! ;-)
