Michael Gungor Band

“Atheists and Charlatans and Communists and lesbians, and even ol’ Pat Robertson, God he loves us all.”

Since the radio station I work at, Shine.FM Chicago, is a reporting station (meaning that an artist can’t go #1 on the Christian CHR charts without us playing their song) artists drop by our station literally every week.  But for all my time in Christian music, I’ve never heard an artist sing about lesbians and Pat Robertson in the same verse.

 In many ways, Michael Gungor is a very complex musical soul.  He co-wrote the gospel smash “Friend of God”Israel & New Breed.  He shreds like he grew up on 70’s arena rock.  And his wife Lisa plays a children’s toy–the melodica–on a few songs (which I described in our interview as a “piano that’s a flute.”) And he’s written the only worship song that’s ever made me laugh out loud.

To call this band one of the most unique artists to come out of CCM world is a massive understatement.  To call their latest project Ancient Skies one of the strongest Christian albums this year is not hard at all.  

To be honest, I really don’t like recorded worship music very much. I’ve seen to many CCM artists put out halfhearted worship discs that sound just a little too forced, probably because Christian labels see “going worship” as a safe financial move.  This is a worship album for people who don’t typically touch the genre outside of the church walls.  

The Michael Gungor Band has captured something very raw and organic, and refreshingly void of any kind of marketing scheme.  Check out their live performances of “White Man” and “Song for My Family” here.

tower, 26, can be heard on Shine.FM in Chicago and FUSE FM in Saginaw, Michigan.