Standing For You

Worlds Apart

Fatal Flaw

The Dark Side Of Me

Easy To Forget

Realpolitik

Love Revolution

Hold Onto The Misery

Fading Out

I Need You

       The story of how many bands formed is typically the same, a group of guys who met in school and started playing music together. But the story of this band is much different. Imagine a group of young men, who have only known a life of music and road life, and were brought together while doing just that, and it all fell into place from there. Four individuals in the group have grown up in the music industry, traveling around the world from the time they were just small children. Their parents are members or leaders of various prominent Gospel groups such as Brian Free & Assurance (Bryce Free), The Booth Brothers (Christian Booth), Karen Peck & New River (Matthew Gooch), The Jay Stone Singers (Stone Carter), and Brandon Hyatt filling in the fifth slot as the bass player. With their surrounding situations, and only knowing that one lifestyle, the lifestyle of a traveling professional musician, it was inevitable that each would follow in their parents’ footsteps and pursue a career of becoming a Christian musician. While each had their eye on mastering their instrument, honing their craft, and using it for God, they didn’t exactly have their eyes set on a career in Southern Gospel.

       Each member was raised in homes of diverse musical styles, not just Southern Gospel. They grew to appreciate CCM legends such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Audio Adrenaline, and Switchfoot, while also being exposed to secular groups such as The Beatles, Toto, U2, The Eagles, and many others. It was definite that with such broad influences, their music would definitely reflect it, and it does just that. Bryce Free (lead singer/guitar), grew to have a profound respect and love for 60s music and its lush harmonies, recalling styles like that of The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Zombies, and that signature 60s British Invasion sound. Growing up with a father who sings tenor in a quartet, it was inevitable that he would somehow incorporate harmonies into his own music. Also, being the chief song writer for the band, he pushes himself to always write honest and heartfelt, yet witty and deep lyrics. His writing style could be compared to that of Jon Foreman (Switchfoot) and Mike Viola (Candy Butchers). Christian Booth (lead guitar) brings a style of his own to the band, mixing old with new, anywhere from John Mayer to Joe Walsh (The Eagles), he makes it his own and makes it work perfectly. His well crafted guitar riffs and solos bring that guitar-driven element that has become a trademark sound for the band. 

       Matthew Gooch also plays guitar and keys. He, along with Mr. Free, shares a love for 60s music and Indie music, but also has quite a knack for sound effects and bringing volume and life to round out their guitar-driven sound. His rhythm always seems to build the band’s sound, and pushes the others to be a very tight-knit band, filling in the holes when Mr. Free puts down the guitar and engages the audience more with just vocals. It is quite evident that Mr. Gooch draws influence from legendary players such as The Edge (U2) and Drew Shirley (Switchfoot), but then again, who doesn’t? Brandon Hyatt (bass guitar) has a wide taste in music, ranging from 60s pop to modern rock such as Foo Fighters. With bass lines that hearken the feel of players such as Tim Foreman (Switchfoot) and Pino Palladino (John Mayer/The Who), he seems to find his niche and work perfectly with the band’s music. And last but not least, Stone Carter (drums) brings a fresh element to the band, and is a solid backbone to the songs. His intricate yet tasteful playing style is the perfect balance of a solid rock drummer and a groove-centered jazz musician. He never seems to bring more than the song demands, and compliments the verbal timing and phrasing of Mr. Free’s singing perfectly. Drawing from numerous influences such as Steve Jordan, Matt Chamberlain, Jeff Porcaro, and many others, it explains why he is able to so easily traverse styles and bring exactly what the songs need. 

       You won’t find a group of young men who have a more passionate love and desire to use their talents to serve the Lord, and bring these songs that they’ve been given for the whole world to hear. While some of their songs may not exactly be “about God,” these songs are their journals of life, the struggles of a human being in this fallen world, trying to be a light in the darkness and helping other people cope with various problems in various walks of life. Those problems could be anything from relationships with girls, to their relationship with God, and anything else that life could possibly entail. Christians struggle with personal problems and feelings like everyone else, maybe even more, and God cares about those heartaches. These are the songs that this group of men are proud to sing, and proud to stand by forever. These are the songs they want to die singing, and they hope for you to sing along too. This is The Parachute Parade.