Classic tale comes to life

Amarillo celebrates premiere of ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’; AC offers fun class analyzing Narnia series

By: Rachel Nelson
For Edge Monthly

First published in 1950, ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ was the first of C.S Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia series. It told a tale of four siblings who entered a fantasy world called Narnia.

During their adventures, the children encountered talking animals, a not-so-nice queen and a magical lion. This imaginative drama is tied together with Christian principles.

According to http://www.lessonsfromthelion.com/, “The children come face to face with temptation and fear which, in the end, help them to grasp a true understanding of forgiveness and salvation.”

The Chronicles of Narnia series has entertained readers for more than half a century, and fans will see the first story come to life in movie theaters Friday, Dec. 9.

The United Artist theater, located at 8275 W. Amarillo Boulevard, is promoting the premiere of ‘The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe’ by featuring a creative lobby display that spectators won’t want to miss. There also will be a costume contest that the audience will be able to participate in.

The UA will premiere the movie at midnight of the opening date. Among the crowd will be Dr. Mike Bellah who teaches English composition and technical writing at Amarillo College.

“I have class the next day, but I can go sleepy like my students do,” he said.

Bellah is a long-time fan of the Narnia series. He became interested in the books when he read them to his 5 children in the late 70’s and early 80’s. When Bellah obtained his Master’s degree, he wrote his thesis on the 7 stories of the Chronicles. Now he continues to read the popular books to his grandchildren.

“Everyone should go (see “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe),” Bellah said. “Lewis didn’t believe that the Chronicles were just for children. He felt that any story worth reading as a child is worth reading as an adult.”

The way Lewis presents his Christian vision is captivating to many of his readers. Although Bellah shares Lewis’ Christian mindset, he believes that a person of any religion would enjoy the film.

“I think anyone, Christian or not, will enjoy the movie just because [the story] is so engaging. Don‘t try to be over-analytical and look at the theology of the movie. Just enjoy it.

“Christians will see symbols that relate to their faith, but Lewis didn’t set out to write for Christian allegory. He set out to write a good story and the other just came naturally because that‘s who he was,” Bellah said.

Those interested in the Romantic aspect of the Narnia series can enroll in a class that will be offered at AC in the spring 2006 semester. Bellah will teach the course.

“It’s for people who want to enrich their lives and have fun with it,” Bellah said.

According to Bellah, the class will meet on Monday nights from 7:00 to 9:30 for 8 weeks. The course will begin on Jan. 23 and be completed on Mar. 20. It costs around $51 to enroll. Anyone who wishes to sign up for the class should contact AC’s registrar’s office by calling 371-5000.

In the Spotlight: Bob Hopkins

Local musician plays in Amarillo for more than 20 years

By: Rachel Nelson

For Edge Monthly

A piano elegantly whispers easy-listening tunes asthe clamor of Amarillo night life unfolds around it.In the corner Bob Hopkins sits behind his favoriteinstrument with a stream of local talent flowing fromhis fingertips.

“I’ve banged on a piano since I was nine or ten years old,” Hopkins said. Creating the right atmosphere is Hopkins’ goal as hehammers away jazz, country, classic rock and bluesfavorites.

He can be spotted playing at Marty’s Restaurant and Bar a couple of times a month as wellas at Bodegas cocktail lounge on Polk Street Thursday nights. On occasion, Hopkins provides live entertainment at the Amarillo Club. Every Sunday he puts his gift to use at Hollywood Road Community Church off ofHollywood Road and Soncy.

General manager of Marty’s Becky Torres said she enjoys having Hopkins play at the restaurant.

“He’s a great guy,” she said.

Hopkins, who also plays guitar, came to the Panhandle in the early 1980’s while working with a Vegas-styleshow band out of Florida. The band played at the former Hilton Hotel in Amarillo where Hopkins got offered a job with country band Kris Karpenter andTexas.

“We were the house band at the Hilton for about two years,” Hopkins said.

In 1984, Hopkins began playing keyboard with former local rock band Krakt, named for their off-centered, crazy personalities. Krakt jammed in the Amarillo area for six years before calling it quits in 1990.

“The age-old things got to us. We partied a little too much,” Hopkins said of the breakup. “We thought long and hard about [staying together], but we were burnt out.”

Krakt gained popularity throughout the years and opened for acts such as the Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Stevie Ray Vaughn. Local fans were disappointed to see the band who had at one time attracted 4,000 spectators to a gig at FunFest split up.

“The last day we played together, we announced we were breaking up. People were crying and I couldn’t believe that many people even cared. I didn’t realize it until that day, and it was our last day together,” Hopkins said.

Despite going their separate ways, all members ofKrakt remain friends. “I’d jam with those guys tomorrow,” Hopkins said.

After Krakt split up, Hopkins advanced his musical career by attending Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., where he graduated with honors and obtained a Bachelor’s degree in music.

According toHopkins, his playing ability went up 100% during the Berklee experience.

“Everybody there was a musician,” he said. “Even the janitors were musicians. Everybody talked music and knew music and played music.”

Hopkins went to work for the Amarillo Civic Center as a stage hand in 1995. He was promoted to event supervisor and held the position of production manager when he left in 2003.

“I just felt like I had accomplished a lot of things I wanted to accomplish and wanted to go back to playing music. I missed that.”

Most recently Hopkins was a part of the Texas Blues Rangers for two years, but left the band last year because of creative differences.

Future plans include releasing a CD next summer that will feature Hopkins playing with studio musicians. In the mean time, however, making music is at the top of this pianist’s agenda.

“I want to keep working with music in any way I can. Writing music is what I really like to do. It’s manipulating music, making music do what you want it to do,” he said.

After playing in the Panhandle for well over two decades, Hopkins has one complaint about the state of the music scene in Amarillo: there is no place for musicians to play.

“There is an upscale promotion. All the concerts go to Lubbock. The business leaders don’t support the music industry as an economic power. We could draw in huge amounts of money for the community if we supported local concerts and we had a venue the size of the United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, but nobody wants to build it here just to fit in with the norms,” Hopkins said.

Be it as it may, Hopkins is available to play at any bar, restaurant or special event. He can be reachedvia e-mail at rbtjames@cox.net.

Five Christian Bands Scheduled to Play in Amarillo

By: Rachel Nelson
For Edge Monthly

Several bands from the Christian music scene will be making a joyful noise in the Church at Quail Creek San Jacinto Baptist in upcoming months.

The Casting Crowns’ Lifesong Tour will make its way through Amarillo on Thursday, October 13. One thing’s for certain: lead singer Mark Hall and other band members will not miss youth night the previous Wednesday at their home church near Atlanta, Ga.

Christian Music Planet Magazine reported in the October issue that the Casting Crowns have a calling for youth ministry. The band’s popularity does not interfere with their ability to be there for the kids. They offer spiritual leadership to young people by “shattering the cooler-than-thou barrier between teens and grown-ups,” the article reported.

Opening for the Casting Crowns will be Building 429, who take their name from Ephesians 4:29.
“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (KJV).

“It’s quite simple… the words we choose to use do have an impact. Every single word that you choose is a word that will either lead a person to a closer relationship with the Lord or direct them away from any knowledge that you might have of Jesus Christ,” the band’s web site, http://www.building429.com/, explains.

Guest speaker Tony Nolan will offer words of encouragement at the show.
Tickets to the concert may be obtained in advance at Family Christian Bookstore, LifeWay Bookstore, The Church at Quail Creek and http://www.tcqc.org/. Prices range from $18 to $40. Groups of 15 or more may obtain balcony seats for $15 each.

The fun’s not over yet. The Restored Tour 2005 will make its stop in Amarillo Thursday, November 3. Featured artists will include Christian music legend Jeremy Camp, 16-year-old singer/songwriter Bethany Dillon and the Afters, who are returning to the Panhandle for the second time this year. The Afters have been popularized on MTV for their song “Beautiful Love,” which is being played on mainstream radio across the country.

Bethany Dillon, a small-town girl with a mighty mission, is a fairly new voice to Christian music. She popped up in 2004 with her hit single “All I Need”, and credits God for all she has accomplished.

“Even in the moments when I want to give up, when I want to just be careless and act my age and not feel the responsibility that God has given me, I can’t help but feel the desire for Him. I can’t help but try to follow Him. And even that desire is from Him. I couldn’t do that by myself,” Dillon said.

Like other Christian artists, Dillon said she does not let her fame get in the way of her everyday walk with Christ.

“I’m trying to learn how to listen to people and how not to think that this is all I am,” Dillon said of her life in the spotlight.

“It’s not going to change the fact that at home I’m going to put away the clean dishes, and I’m going to have to be nice to my siblings. It encourages me, but it doesn’t define me,” she said.

The Church at Quail Creek seats 2,500 people, so there is plenty of room for fans across the area to enjoy the upcoming evenings of praise and worship. For more information about either show, visit www.tcqc.org.

Kevin Martin & the HiWatts rock Amarillo for third consecutive year

By: Rachel Nelson

For Edge Monthly

Sorry HiWatts fans.
Kevin and the crew will not be returning to Amarillo for at least another year, according to front man Kevin Martin, commonly known for his lead role in the band Candlebox.

“We will be touring South Africa,” he said.

The band looks forward to seeing their Panhandle Pals when they return to Texas. “We’ve got a lot of love here in Texas, especially Amarillo,” Martin told spectators at Rock 108’s “Party on the Patio” held September 1 at Ruby Tequillas Mexican restaurant.

Although fans were disappointed to hear the news, many of them headed to the Midnight Rodeo to savor the HiWatt’s performance while they could.

“Fallen From the Nest,” a band out of Dallas, provided a rockin’ opening act. FFTN opened for the HiWatts in Amarillo last November for the first time and hadn’t played with them since until the September 1 show, said FFTN lead singer/guitarist, Dickey Rhodes.

The HiWatts began their Summer 2003 "Disturb Your Neighbor" tour in Amarillo, and has returned every year since.

“[Amarillo] seemed like the right place to start. Candlebox always did real well in Amarillo,” Martin said. “It’s kind of on the way to Texas,” he joked. “We like the way y’all say ‘y’all.’”

Spastic Australian band Full Scale put on an energetic performance following FFTN. Space, who is also Australian, compared the band’s sound to that of rock band System of a Down’s. Full Scale had a very political message to send. Some spectators agreed with their anti-war, FCC-hating views, but others booed in disapproval. With all arguments aside, however, Full Scale got the crowd riled up before the HiWatts took the stage.

A new face is among the HiWatts this time around. Terry Rowe, a long-time friend of Martin’s from Ohio, replaced former HiWatts drummer “Dish.”

“Dish just wasn’t cutting it,” Martin said. Martin added that there were no hard feelings about Dish’s dismissal.

Another slight adjustment was made to the band since last playing in Amarillo in Nov. of 2004. Lead guitarist "Space" is now an official member of the HiWatts.

“He just called me up and told me he’s ready to do this full time,” Martin said.

Space, formally of Australian metal band “Momento,” moved to America in April of 2003 where Momento shared a studio with Martin. “Kevin and I clicked,” Space said.

Space said he enjoys playing in Amarillo as well. “This place has always been great to us,” he said.

Three of the songs on the HiWatt’s first album, “The Possibility of Being,” were written by Space: “Telepathic,” “Enemy” and “If We Could.”

Space also writes music for Lindsay Lohan and Kelly Clarkson.

“I am pleased to be a fan of Kelly Clarkson,” he said. “She’s one of the artists these days who pushes the songs she’s singing as her own.”

HiWatts fans can look forward to the release of a new album this November. “Get Up, Stand Up” will be purchasable online at http://www.kmband.com/. “It’s a very political record,” Martin said.

Martin identifies himself not as a Republican or Democrat, but as a Humanitarian. He shares many of the same views as Bob Marley, he said.

The group's first album also can be obtained on through their Web site.

According to Martin, the artwork on the upcoming album is “pretty graphic.” One of the messages conveyed through the new album is people taking back control of the world, Martin said. Martin warns that there will be some uncomfortable pictures included in the artwork.

From Amarillo, Kevin Martin and the HiWatts loaded up and traveled to Abilene to perform a show on Friday night. El Paso was next on the agenda for Saturday.

From Texas, they will travel to the West Coast where Martin will marry his sweet heart, Natalie, of three-and-a-half years on September 17 in Los Angeles.

Fans can stay updated on the HiWatts’ schedule by visiting http://www.kmband.com/. Amarilloans can keep an eye out for a recording of “HiWatts live in Amarillo,” which was made at the show on September 1.

Edge Monthly's exclusive interview with Kevin Martin

Edge Monthly: So, what ever happened to Candlebox?
Kevin: We broke up in ‘99. We’d done 10 years as a band, the music was going in different directions, Pete and I weren’t getting along. I did one more tour with him and called it quits.

Edge Monthly: How/When did the HiWatts evolve?
Kevin: Colin (Bassist for the HiWatts) and I met in ‘99, but I was locked in a contract with Maverick Records for 2 years. In 2001, Colin and I started writing songs. Here we are 4 years and 2 records later.

Edge Monthly: Where are you from?
Kevin: I was born in Chicago and raised in San Antonio. My mother was an opera singer and my dad was a jazz musician.

Edge Monthly: Why do you call your band the HiWatts?
Kevin: It came from a Bob Marley song called ‘Bad Card.’ The lyrics go, ‘I want to disturb my neighbor and blow them to full watts.’

Edge Monthly: What’s your motivation?
Kevin: Music, that’s it. That’s all I have…. And the fans, people who love music.

Edge Monthly: What’s the best part about being in this industry?
Kevin: The fans. The people that love music and come to see you play. The ability to make music that people respond and react to.

Edge Monthly: What’s the worst part about being in this industry?
Kevin: How big of a business it has become. Music is the only art form that can move a country. It’s a business and it shouldn’t be.

Edge Monthly: When will the HiWatts new album be released?
Kevin: "Get Up, Stand Up" will come out in November of this year.

Edge Monthly: What’s your most memorable performance?
Kevin: There’s one show that’s really, really special to me. I was playing in Miami on Jan. 4, 2004 the day my father died. That will be forever.

Edge Monthly: What are your favorite things about Amarillo?Kevin: The people, Eric Slater… it’s just a great town. Everybody here shows us a really great time.
Edge Monthly: Tell us about the time your fans raised $8,000 for the HiWatts.

Kevin: That was pretty cool, man. We put a note on the web page (www.kmband.com) that we needed $8,000 to tour Europe and they sent it. It was a really, really huge thing for us.

Edge Monthly: Who are your most important musical influences?

Kevin: Odis Redding, Robert Plant, John Lee Hooks, Billy Holliday, John Lennon.
I met Henry Rollins when I was 13 years old. I went on tour with them in Sept. of ‘94. I was so nervous that I couldn’t even speak to Henry Rollins the whole tour. The last show was in Hamburg, and he came up to me and asked, “What’s your deal?” I told him, "You changed my life when I was 13 years old."

Note: Kevin met Rollins because he was knocked down and busted his head open at the show. Rollins helped him to the back where a nurse aided him. Rollins remembered the experience as vividly as Kevin did.

Edge Monthly: Do you and the guys ever get in arguments?

Kevin: Yes, we will discuss it over a cup of coffee the next morning.

Edge Monthly: What are your beliefs?

Kevin: I was raised Roman Catholic, and didn’t like those rules so no I live by my own rules. I believe religion teaches children discipline and respect, but is not meant to be oppressed or exploited. I will say that the Mormans and Scientologists are out of their minds. Any religion that is like a cult is oppressive. I have a belief in a stronger being. I don’t know if it’s Jesus Christ. I don’t mistreat people or animals. I live my life in a right way.

Edge Monthly: Do you have anything else to say?
Kevin: Come see the HiWatts!

Praise in Palo Duro Canyon

The Afters perform first in Christian Concert Series
By Rachel Nelson

For Edge Monthly

The Afters kicked off the Christian Concert Series at the Pioneer Amphitheater in Palo Duro Canyon June 27. The concert opened with prayer led by Will Ratliff, followed by performances from Andy Chase and Texas Express.

Shane Chadwick is a worship director for God of Wonders Fellowship, located at 4100 Republic in Amarillo. He and his family attended the premiere of the Christian Concert Series.

“I’m down with Christian music. There’s not enough of it,” Chadwick said.

Andy Chase, with the help of an electronic harmonizer, opened his gig acoustic-style with a gospel comedy song about Moses and the Israelites spending 40 years in the wilderness. Before singing a song titled “Draw me nearer,” Chase told the audience, “If you’ll sing with me, I’d be honored.”

Following a brief intermission, the Afters were greeted with a Texas-size welcome from the crowd. They performed hits such as “Beautiful Love,” “You” and “Love Will Make You Beautiful.” Singer and guitarist Josh Havens had a message for the fans. He encouraged the audience not to waste life on things that aren’t important. He quoted his father, who lost his two-year-long battle with cancer last year.

“Live every single day of your life with meaning and purpose because you never know how long you have,” he said.

Just one day before their Panhandle performance, the Afters appeared on MTV’s ‘Advance Warning,’ a show that features bands on the verge of getting big.

Amanda Harwerth, a box office employee at the Pioneer Amphitheater, said she had never heard of the Afters until she saw their MTV interview.

“I think they have a lot of potential as a Christian group, honestly, because if they were on MTV, they have to be something special. Not everyone gets on MTV,” Harwerth said.

Jesse Janis, a roadie for the Afters, performs tasks such as moving heavy equipment and selling t-shirts, stickers and Cds. Janis met the group in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area where he said the entire band now resides.

“I started going to Afters shows at 16 and lost count after about 45,” Janis said.

According to Janis, after leaving the Panhandle, the Afters headed to the Seattle area to play five gigs in three days.

Immediately following the show, the Texas quartet met with fans to sign autographs and chat. The Afters seemed to enjoy playing the concert as much as spectators enjoyed watching it.

“The people [here] are phenomenal. They’re some of the nicest people in the country, and definitely in Texas. I also enjoy the cool nights,” Havens said.

Brad Wigg on bass and vocals was astonished by the wildlife the Canyon has to offer.
“I’ve never seen such big spiders,” he said.

During their performance, Wigg noticed a spider crawling on the stage, and decided to name him “Stevie.” This is only on example of the band’s charisma.

Drummer Marc Dodd’s fun began before the concert started.

“I had fun. I felt like we were playing G.I. Joe. We went hiking earlier,” he said.

Guitarist/vocalist Matt Fuqua, the only native Texan in the band, enjoyed the scenery.
“I haven’t spent much time in Amarillo, but the Canyon’s beautiful,” he said.

The Afters’ latest album, “I Wish We All Could Win,” hit shelves in February. It can be purchased at any entertainment store or online at theafters.com.

Don’t miss a chance to see other bands in the Christian Concert Series. Monk and Neagle are next in line on July 25, leaving three more opportunities to enjoy a night of fun-filled praise and worship.

Genny Owens will be performing on August 15. The month of September holds shows by Lyle Lovett on the 2nd and Shane Bernard on the 28th. All concerts are being held on Monday nights in the Palo Duro Canyon Amphitheater.