Big Daddy Weave Bringing Mission-Minded Music To the Suncoast
Turning on morning radio in the car can be cringe-inducing if your passengers happen to be in their pubescent years. It can go from “Hey, this is your morning wake-up call with so and so,” to prison talk in no time. Forget about where you stand on the latest issues, topics like sex and relationships aren’t really what you want to hear in the background as you drive your kids to school.
Without gravitating toward elevator music or yacht rock, for parents, there aren’t a lot of “safe” choices. Thankfully, Christian rock stations like the JOY FM have made the morning commute a little more kid-friendly. It’s not even a matter of whether you believe in the divine nature of the music these rockers are crooning about, their message is uplifting. And, you don’t have to worry about a shock jock embarrassing the whole group.
For Mike Weaver, lead singer of Big Daddy Weave, a Christian Rock band with a laundry list of accolades, being a musical minister is a calling he has felt from an early age. If Michael Jackson is the ‘King of Pop,’ and Elvis still holds the title of ‘King of Rock,’ then Big Daddy Weave has bragging rights as the ‘King of the Christian Rockers’. With a string of #1 hits and a mainstay on Christian Rock radio, Big Daddy Weave and special guest Brandon Heath will be bringing their ‘Jesus I Believe Tour’ to the Suncoast. If you’re a fan of this musical genre, you know crowds are in for an inspirational and invigorating musical experience.
With an immersion of faith-based movies and ‘religious’ music taking a step toward something more akin to mainstream rock than the organ and choir hymns many are used to, groups like Big Daddy Weave are reaching new heights. Comprised of Mike Weaver (lead vocals, guitar), Jay Weaver (bass, vocals), Joe Shirk (saxophone, keys, vocals), Jeremy Redmon (guitar, vocals), and Brian Beihl (drums), BDW is a group of guys able to harmonize, get along, and grow with their status as premiere Christian rockers. They have become the joyful soundtrack to weddings, and the encouraging lyrics for those going through a crisis. Hits like ‘Redeemed,’ which spent 11 weeks as the #1 song for Christian Rock, have reminded believers that all people are worthy of love and respect, a message that transcends religious and political boundaries. ‘Overwhelmed’ and ‘My Story’ have become the mantra to people wondering if anyone else is feeling the woes of life and survived, and the message from BDW seems to be a resounding yes.
The ‘Jesus I Believe Tour’ with Big Daddy Weave and Brandon Heath is captivating audiences around the country. Brandon Heath has become a rising star in his own right, with hits like ‘I’m Not Who I Was’ and ‘Give Me Your Eyes.’ Testimonials from concertgoers attest to the power of the songs of Big Daddy Weave and Brandon Heath and that bond has added cohesiveness to the shows. Both hail from Tennessee and cite their love of God, family, and their fans as the fuel that energizes each of their shows. Their fans are a mix of families, singles, college and teenage kids and the ageless, all with one goal in mind–to hear the music through their ears and bodies and to feel the unifying spirituality that is a common thread at their shows.
If you’d like to catch Big Daddy Weave with special guest Brandon Heath as the ‘Jesus I Believe Tour’ comes to town they will be at Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center on April 25, and at Bradenton Bayside Community Church on April 26. Tickets for both shows are $28 for general admission and $60 VIP/early entry. Groups of 10 or more are $22 each.
For more information, please visit their website at http://bigdaddyweave.com/tour
Photos courtesy of Big Daddy Weave Facebook page.