Get Your Music on Amazon!
Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Concert Review


Photos by John DiBiase

Norma Jean; The Chariot; The Plague, The Plague, The Plague
6/22/05, Rcktwn, Nashville, TN

I’m not much of a hardcore kid…at all. The girl pants, the hardcore dancing… I just never really got into it. And there was a time when I didn’t appreciate the music at all, but I have too many friends that listen to it to entirely hate it. In fact, in the last year, I’ve found myself listening to it of my own accord more and more.

But the opportunity to see Norma Jean and The Chariot for a mere five bucks, as well as watch the filming of Norma Jean’s "Absentimental" video, was not something I was going to pass up. I love filmmaking. It’s one of my only true passions besides music. So on June 22nd, fellow JesusFreakHideout.com staff member Jessica Vander Loop and I went over to Rcktwn to see the heavy rock show.

The first band to play was The Plague, The Plague, The Plague. There were two lead singers, one of which must have bitten his tongue at the beginning of their show, because his mouth was bleeding the entire set. The other was actually a female. It was kind of scary seeing a girl do that kind of guttural screaming, but I was alone in my opinion. The rest of the crowd drank her in. The Plague’s entire set seemed like one continuous song, and they were absolute havoc while they lasted. Guitarist Andy Atkins told me the band finds the hardcore scene somewhat comical, so there stage presence reflected that. But they made clear their Christian beliefs and invited anyone that didn’t know Jesus Christ to come talk to them after their set.

Next up was The Chariot. The intro to their set was actually the opening from a movie called Primer, which I am going to shamelessly plug because it is an incredible movie which no one seems to have seen. After the intro, the chaos ensued. Frontman Josh Scogin has such a stage presence about him. He’s just a joy to watch on stage. The way he can get the audience moving is absolutely amazing. They played such songs as "Die Interviewer (I Only Speak in German)," "The Company, the Comfort, the Grave," "Dialogue with a Question Mark," as well as others. They ended their set with "Before There Was Atlanta, There was Douglasville."

And finally, the "Almighty Norma Jean," as Scogin put it. Lead singer Cory Brandan announced early on that they would be playing their song "Absentimental" about four times throughout their set. They spread it out so that every third song was "Absentimental." The funny things was, the song got more exciting and energetic with every take. By the end of Norma Jean’s set, the entire place was one huge mosh pit. Slam dancing, shoving, punching, stage diving… you name it. It was getting so bad that Brandan stopped to announce the lack of "fun" when people get hurt. "We’re here to have fun and people getting hurt isn’t fun," he said. They played many songs from their new release O God, the Aftermath and ended their set with "Memphis Will Be Laid to Waste." The helpless masses screamed for one more song… and they got it. Honestly I don’t know what song it was. Nonetheless, Brandan said we were one of the best crowds they had ever played for, and I would have to agree. The energy was insane. Everybody was moving. And Norma Jean played a set to remember.

-- Josh Taylor, 6/23/05

 

 

go to main Album review page

 

                 
Try Pop Culture Coffee!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, June 3, 2025
SINGLES
Sixpence None The Richer The Needle and the Damage Done - Single [Flatiron]

This Friday, June 6, 2025
ALBUMS
CCV Hollow (Deluxe) (independent)
Ben Fuller Walk Through Fire [Provident]
Hopeful. The Wild One - EP (independent)
Christy Nockels King Who Never Sleeps; Anthems for Rest [The Fuel]
Pastor Mike Jr. God Showing Out - EP [Rock City]
Isaiah J. Thompson The Book of Isaiah: Modern Jazz Ministry [Mack Avenue]

SINGLES
7eventh Time Down My Will - Single [BEC]
Pat Barrett Praise The Lord Forever - Single [Capitol]
Bill B. & Cyrus Sonata Kevlar - Single [Syntax]
bodie whisper and the wind (b+CL version) - Single [Provident]
Burial Extraction The Overseer - Single [Charon Collective]
Elan Brio I'm Satisfied (ft. Henry Israel) - Single (independent)
Aaron Cole NOBODY BUT GOD (ft. Parris Chariz and Jon Keith) - Single [RCAI]
Equippers Worship Living in Freedom (Live) - Single [DREAM]
Kirk Franklin Do It Again - Single [Fo Yo Soul]
Good Weather Forecast Pray - Single [DREAM]
Ic3rd & EJ Swavv Woke Up (ft. CJ Emulous & George.Rose) - Single [Syntax]
King David tha Vessel Consistant - Single (independent)
The Kingsmen Wish You Were Here - Single [Horizon]
Brandon Lake Daddy's DNA - Single [Provident]
Myles Maestro Flood (ft. Ace Savage & Shruumi) - Single [Syntax]
Mell Omii Wave - Single [Syntax]
Kevi Morse Mr. Pilot - Single [Syntax]
River Valley Worship Time For Revival - Single [BEC]
Sleeping At Last The Piano (Original Score) - Single - Single (independent)
Roy Tosh Everything's Gonna Be Alright (feat. PEABOD) - Single [RMG Amplify]
Solachi Voz All I Need - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Genesis (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]
Ayiesha Woods I Have Hope - Single [Backsider]
Megan Woods I Believe You - Single [FairTrade]

VINYL
Ironwrath Master Storyteller Vinyl [Girder]

Next Friday, June 13, 2025
ALBUMS
Coqui Death to Your Ego [DREAM]
King's Hammer To Speak In Tongues - EP [Rottweiler]
Brandon Lake King Of Hearts [Provident]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - EP [DREAM]
War of Ages Eternal (15th Anniversary Edition) [Facedown]

SINGLES
CalledOut Music Worthy of It All - Single [Integrity]
Equippers Worship Garment of Praise - Single [DREAM]
Mainstream Worship Near - Single [DREAM Worship]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images