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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

 

 

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This Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
B. Tee Told You [Syntax]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Empowered SALT - EP (independent)
Homesick Prodigals Different Good (independent)
KDNS After Eden [Syntax]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Kevi Morse Kingston We Winning [Syntax]
Pulpit Vomit Hospital Lens [Rottweiler]
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno Dance for Jesus - EP (independent)
Taylor & Co Worship Breakthrough - EP (independent)
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
abenezer i was lost - Single [Gotee]
Joe L Barnes Good Shepherd (Studio Version) - Single [Provident]
Sho Baraka Still Got Faith (ft. L3xdivine) - Single [Syntax]
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Katty Camargo Shine Upon Me - Single (independent)
The CCC Collective Thankful - Single (independent)
C4 Crotona Mr. Gritty - Single [Syntax]
CXMMXNS Trust and Obey (feat. CAIN) - Single [Provident]
EJ Swavv & Nickwit2Ks Growth - Single [Syntax]
Forrest Frank GOD'S GOT MY BACK - Single [River House / 10K]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Noah Paul Harrison Oh Lord My God (Live) - Single [Bethel]
J.Solo All I Have (ft. Kaboose & MotionPlus) - Single [Syntax]
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Lecrae Bless You (feat. Torey D'Shaun) - Single [Reach]
TobyMac God Did It (feat. Jamie MacDonald) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Matt Maher Wait (Radio Version) - Single [Provident]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
QEW JOYXFIX (ft. Stevie Rizo) - Single [Syntax]
Naomi Raine God Will Work It Out - Single [Tribl]
Rave Jesus Runnin' - Single [Provident]
Saints in Exile Bad Vibes - Single [Syntax]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Silent Reflection Left Me for Dead - Single [Syntax]
Michael W. Smith Your Love Is A Flood - Single [The Fuel]
John Stratton The Body and the Blood - Single [Pure Mosaic Services]
Regina Vandereijk You're the Light - Single (independent)
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zach Williams Killed A Man - Single [Provident]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]

This Saturday, July 26, 2025
SINGLES
Anthony & Tiffany Salerno What Would You Do? - Single (independent)

Next Friday, August 1, 2025
ALBUMS
Crash Rickshaw Big Sir - EP [Velvet Blue]
McKamey Legacy Holding to Truth [Horizon]
Ordained Thunder Roar [Girder]
V1 Worship Archives [DREAM Worship]

SINGLES
Dan Bremnes Human - Single [Curb]
Lauren Daigle Let It Be A Hallelujah - Single [Centricity]
Sleeping At Last Believe - Single (independent)

VINYL
Disciple Attack! (Limited Run Vinyl) Vinyl [Girder]



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