Out & About – June 1, 2015

1: Touring for the first time since the release of 1993’s Squint, we see Christian rock trailblazer, cultural tastemaker and occasional movie maker Steve Taylor as he was joined by all-star backers The Perfect Foil to perform tunes from both the past and the present’s Goliath (Splint Entertainment).

2: Peter Furler, Newsboys, CCM Magazine, picsKeeping beat for The Perfect Foil is none other than Peter Furler, who besides being a longtime songwriting collaborator with Steve Taylor is of course the longtime Newsboys drummer. After spending several albums stepping up to the microphone, Peter bid adieu to explore a solo ministry.

3: As if that wasn’t enough of Christian music history performing together in the same place, guitarist Jimmy Abegg boasts a resume as diverse as rock band Vector, a few solo albums, a slew of Charlie Peacock collaborations, plus time as a member of Rich Mullins’ esteemed A Ragamuffin Band. 

4: And last but not least in the quartet of famous faces on this tour of a lifetime is bassist John Mark Painter, best known for performing with his wife in the rock duo Fleming and John, but also racking up a long list of session credits (Sixpence None The Richer, Jon Foreman), alongside composing for films such as the Taylor-directed/Michael W. Smith starring The Second Chance. 

5 and 6: Speaking of Michael W. Smith, the legendary singer/songwriter joined former President Bill Clinton and former Governor Frank Keating (amongst others) during a memorial on the 20th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. After 168 seconds of silence to honor the 168 men, women and children who lost their lives in the attack, Smith led those gathered in the singing of the National Anthem.