TMCnet News
Red Ready To Rock At Winter JamFeb 14, 2013 (Times Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Genuine brotherly love and a hard-hitting playing styles run rampantly throughout Red. Featuring twin brothers Anthony (guitar) and Randy Armstrong (bass) alongside singer Michael Barnes and drummer Joe Rickard, the Christian rock band will co-headline Winter Jam 2013 at 6 p.m. March 9 at the BOK Center in Tulsa and 6 p.m. March 10 at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. Red will share the stage with Tobymac, Matthew West, Jamie Grace, Newsong, Sidewalk Prophets, Jason Castro, Royal Tailor, OBB, Capital Kings and Nick Hall, and the all-ages event will act as a sonic buffet for hard rock, hip-hop and pop fans, said Anthony Armstrong. "As an artist, it's always exciting to be playing brand-new music, too," he said during a recent telephone interview. "We just released our fourth record, 'Release the Panic,' but we've been living with these songs for so long. We wrote for about a year and a half for the new record, so I'm very excited to find out what our new songs will sound like live." Like most of the festival's acts, Red's set will be shy of 30 minutes, but this shouldn't keep fans away, he said. "For this set, we cut down some of the songs into shorter versions, and we'll play at least one or two songs from every record," Armstrong said. "It's all about the flow. The songs have to work together, and we're making sure that our set will do that." Most Red fans have voiced strong support for "Release the Panic," with many of them telling Armstrong that it's their favorite Red album. "It's so rewarding to know that our music is getting through to people," he said. "We're talking to kids for two hours in the signing line, and it's just great. It's great to hear that the music means that much to them." Armstrong recently obtained an endorsement from Wizard Amplification, a Canadian company founded by a longtime amp engineer for AC/DC's Angus Young. "It's exciting because I'm one of the first guys in the U.S. to be using the Wizard," Armstrong said. Armstrong said he always is inspired to learn that listeners, like the band, are rooted in Christianity. He added that he feels blessed to share the stage and studio space with his brother. "Randy and I love playing together," Armstrong said. "We've been connected at the hip since birth. We went to the same college, and we were roommates for four years. "And we've known Michael since the third grade," Armstrong added. "We just get along really well, and we have a passion for music. The chemistry is there with us. I think people can tell when they see us in concert." Winter Jam 2013 --6 p.m. March 9 at the BOK Center, 200 S. Denver St. in Tulsa --6 p.m. March 10 at Verizon Arena, 1 Verizon Arena Way in North Little Rock The all-ages festival features Christian performers Tobymac, Red, Mathew West, Jamie Grace, Newsong, Sidewalk Prophets, Jason Castro, Royal Tailor, OBB, Capital Kings and Nick Hall. Admission is $10 at the door. Doors to each venue open at 5 p.m. For information, visit www.jamtour.com, www.bokcenter.com and www.verizonarena.com. ___ (c)2013 Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.) Visit Times Record (Fort Smith, Ark.) at www.swtimes.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |