Heroes and Madmen…

Bruce Fitzhugh is a hero to me. Even before I heard he blew his knee out in the middle of a song last week and had to be helped off (at least that’s what a concert-goer emailed to me… I heard that Bruce’s facebook profile has some pictures of him in his knee brace), I saw he and his band (Living Sacrifice) play a show in San Antonio.

Here’s a Christian metal band that has near legendary status (at least amongst the not-so-small group of Christian metalheads and hard music fans) that reunited to the joy of many thousands that remember their heavy and crushing contributions to music from the early ’90s until the early ’00s. They inspired bands like Underoath back in the day; but it turns out they hung up their cleats and bowed out before Underoath exploded. Had they hung in there, the popular assumption/speculation has it, they would have blown up to mainstream acceptance in a big way, too. Things happen for a reason and we don’t always understand why on this side of the “equation” or timeline.

It was great to catch up with Bruce Fitzhugh, drummer Lance Garvin and bassist Arthur Green in the little Pizza joint that is part of the White Rabbit nightclub in downtown San Antonio. This little dive has housed many a great show. One time a couple years ago, by the way (here I get random), I saw a Demon Hunter show there and I gave the club one of our “Pit Moves” posters. They sent an order in the next week for 10 or 20 posters, which they sold at the venue. That was cool. Anyway, we spent a lot of time catching up before the show. They even shared some of their large pizzas, while we told stories and laughed.

When they played, it was a true joy to be at the edge of the stage. Being less than 24 inches away from a shredding guitarist/frontman is a wonderful thing. At least I think it is. I was clicking away on the camera, trying to freeze the action without using flash (and blinding the performer). This band still has it, as The Infinite Order so deftly proves. It took a few listens to grow on me, but I’m getting it now. Live it breathes even larger.

War of Ages put on an awesome show, too, by the way. I’ll post a few photos of them further on down here.

After the show I saw Bruce talking to someone with his cellphone out. He was inputting the number of a friend who volunteered their house for the band to crash at that night. Here was the great Living Sacrifice on a co-headlining tour with War of Ages … sleeping on the floor, couches, etc, of someone’s house! And they didn’t make a big deal out of it. There was no, “Check this out! Look how humble we are…” There wasn’t any hiding it, either. When your band has paid its “dues” and cranked out so many albums and traveled so many miles on the road, you’d think they deserve a nice bed in hotel, hot shower, etc. Not Living Sacrifice on this night in San Antonio.

Judging by the look on Bruce’s face, it was no big deal. Like water off a duck’s back, this didn’t seem to be an inconvenience worth complaining about. And trust me, when a band is put in the comfort-less context of being on the road for weeks at a time, there is much to complain about. But that is something they’ve risen above. Something about that really impresses me.

I’m reminded of Dave Grohl and the Foo Fighters. Apparently that band went out in a van on its first tour. Here was the drummer for Nirvana, for crying out loud! If anyone “deserved” a stretch limo and catered service, it was this guy. But he, apparently, wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s heroic in my book. So, Living Sacrifice went out on the road for the month of February and quietly and confidently brought the intense metal each night. I think they probably did it for the “right reasons,” too. I think they did it for the love of rock and metal, sure. But I think perhaps their love for Jesus makes that other affection seem pale by comparison. I love Living Sacrifice, and this is just one reason why.