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CCM: Matt, through the years you have played with a many of the artists taking the stage, besides your role with NewSong. What have you enjoyed about these opportunities?
MB: As a musician, there’s nothing I like more than playing different styles of music, on different instruments, with different artists. Being the music director and band leader for NewSong has prepared me well to work with and for other artists. Another one of the highlights of the Winter Jam tour for me has become who I will end up playing with. Sometimes it’s something that is planned months in advance with many rehearsals, other times it has been a last minute, “Hey Matt, could you fill in for us, or play ‘this’ or ‘that?’” I’ve always been happy to say yes, and get in the mix with dozens of artists over the years.
I have found that my various roles on stage have led to being able to serve as a mentor to younger musicians. I find us talking less about music, and more about real life—less about how to get to the next level in the industry, and more about the struggles of being a touring musician. The biggest honor comes from watching young musicians grow in their maturity as Christ followers, and become greater men, husbands, and fathers. That’s the real reward for me.
Francesca Battistelli performing at ‘Winter Jam.’ Photo: Adam Mowery
CCM: Russ, is there a Winter Jam story that is especially meaningful to you?
RL: A few years ago a friend of mine brought his foster teenage son to Winter Jam in Nashville. The boy had grown up very troubled and in a difficult situation and because of it, had become very hardened toward anything encouraging or positive. He did not want to come to the show. When Skillet got up to play at the end of the night, the boy started to pay attention. John Cooper made a comment about algebra and how hard it was, and that registered deeply with the boy who was struggling in school.
He literally broke and turned to his foster parents who had brought him, saying, “I need Jesus! I need what you have! What can I do to become a Christian?” Right then and there he bowed his head and prayed a prayer and his life was changed in an instant. That was two years ago and he’s still an amazing young man with the wonderful Light of Jesus in his eyes. His life was changed that night and it reminds me of the hundreds, maybe thousands of other similar stories we’ve heard through the years.
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The only thing I wish is that they would stop putting the same bands on every year. There are so many others that I would like to see personally. Such bands and artists like Disciple who hasn’t done the East coast, Seventh Day Slumber, Jaci Velasquez, Kevin Max, Mandisa, Manafest, Switchfoot, and it’s been a while since they had KJ-52 on the tour as well.