Thus spoke Stephen Speaks
The invite to the Stephen Speaks press conference stated 5 p.m. but it started roughly around 6:30. Nothing really new there, it’s almost a given. Hey, didn’t Einstein touch on the concept of time when he pronounced his great Theory of Relativity? How everything in the universe is relative, including time. A three-hour-interview with Joni Mitchell would seem like only three minutes, but a three-minute-chat with a telemarketer or a televangelist would seem like an eternity. (I’m not sure if I’m deconstructing Einstein or just recalling dialogue from an episode of the sitcom Pearl). The boys-and-girl of Stephen Speaks were late but the countless reporters and cameraman who attended the press con at the Discovery Suites recently, didn’t give a flying fig. The others seemed fine and excited. I felt a little crabby. Same experience. Different reactions. Everything is relative.
I didn’t know that the band who came from nowhere had this much following; I was expecting a handful of journalists and didn’t foresee the huge turnout. Kill me for not listening to radio and not having an idea about what kids these days listen to. Apparently it’s Stephen Speaks, with the band’s single (Passenger Seat) spending eight weeks on the top of Magic 89.9’s charts only to be dislodged by the same band’s next single.
(By the way, a Magic DJ entertained the press for a while. He was wearing a KISS Army leather jacket. I wanted to go to the guy and tell him, "Dude, Detroit Rock City rules!" I forgot his nick, though.)
When the members of Stephen Speaks finally showed up, I found them to be polite, laid back and down-to-earth (a far cry from all the rude jackasses of rock I’ve talked to in the past). And the press con proceeded without a hitch.
Speaking In Tongues
Funny. The bad boys of music (the rockers, the toughies, the heathens) who were supposed to play in the Philippines changed heart at the last minute and cancelled their gigs because of the political/ideological/social turmoil in our part of Asia. It’s a shame for those rockers to flaunt their absence of guts and sense of abandon. What a bunch of sissies. Stephen Speaks, on the other hand, which purveys inspirational (not necessarily "Christian") music (the kind that would be scoffed at by rockers), has the courage to tour this "hazardous" part of Asia. One explanation: The members of Stephen Speaks are like missionaries, willing to walk the earth and let people hear their music, their message.
The band is composed of TJ McCloud (lead vocals, acoustic guitar), Rockwell Ripperger (vocals, acoustic guitar), Amber Sturges (back-up vocals), Dain Samuelson (percussions), Blake Farmer (drums) and Blake Howard (bass).
A little history lesson: Rockwell and TJ were high school buddies from Oklahoma. They jammed, wrote songs and recorded them in Rockwell’s studio, which Rockwell owned since he was 15. The result was an album called "Doubting Thomas." Friends heard it. Requests poured in. College life beckoned, and that was supposed to be the end of the band (a pseudo-band, actually). A year later, TJ approached Rockwell about doing an album. After going through different lineups, the current Stephen Speaks configuration was formed. The name was birthed when TJ was driving over to Rockwell’s house and saw the words, "Tonight, Stephen Speaks" on a billboard.
(A piece of trivia on the band’s website: Stephen was the name of the first Christian martyr who gave a speech before he was stoned to death by heathens.)
To summarize, Stephen Speaks released "No More Doubt," a platter of optimistic gems and folksy, acoustic-driven songs about life and love  you know, the good stuff. The band hit it big in the Philippines and other Asian countries, something that the members of Stephen Speaks refused to believe at first.
Lore has it that Rockwell received an e-mail from the Philippines telling him Passenger Seat (a subtler Stephen Bishop meets John Meyer with cameo by Jars of Clay) hit No. 1 on a radio station’s countdown (yes, Magic 89.9). Ripperger enthused, "And I thought someone was playing a trick on me (laughs)."
A trick it was not.
The guys and Amber, a beautiful blonde, were very friendly in fielding the questions of reporters. TJ said the band doesn’t exclusively belong to the Christian rock label. "We’re just a band and we write what we’re passionate about. And God is a big part of our lives. We try to sing about things that we believe in. And our faith gets written into the songs," he shared.
Rockwell added that they have an optimistic outlook on life and "try to capture the happy moments." For Amber, "Our songs simply reflect what we are." For Dain, "We’re just a bunch of goofy guys with a Southern background. We’re not cocky or rude, and we will always be there for our fans."
When asked about musical influences, TJ and Co. rattled off a few familiar names (Paul Simon, Dave Matthews Band, Linkin Park, Rush drummer Neil Peart, DMB drummer Carter Beauford), a few ones strange to the ears (Daniel Wilcox, Nappy Roots?), as well as dream collaborators (Adam Duritz of Counting Crows, U2, Coldplay, Sting, Ryan Adams and DMB). Bassist Blake cracked "Hey, I’m no Justin Timberlake, but I’d like to do a project with Britney Spears."
The dude who handles low-end chores was cool. When asked what other projects he’d like to take on, the bald and bulky bassist answered, "Amber and I are into modeling. That’s what I would pursue (laughs)."
I got into a discussion with the drummer, Blake Farmer, who’s into Neil Peart. I asked him if he would like to write lyrics for the band as well, just like what Peart does for Rush. His eyes lit up. Farmer said he’d love to  eventually that is, when he settles into the groove of what Stephen Speaks stands for lyrically. What a swell fellow with good taste.
Other things we learned from the band:
Drummer Blake loves a drink called Route 44 and once appeared in a South Pacific production in high school. ("I was darn good!" he quipped.) Amber was accepted to med school but music made a house call. (Lucky for us.) Bassist Blake is fixated with a morning show host named Claudine. Rockwell would like to get into movies just as long as he gets to play a Hobbit and be digitally squashed. Dain incorporates little knickknacks in his set of percussions. Yes, those musicians in Stephen Speaks spoke their hearts out to us that day.
In parting, TJ said his parents once told him, "You can be a poor preacher or a poor musician  either way you’re still poor." TJ McCloud chose to be a poor musician, and the world of the young ones who love Stephen Speaks is richer for this.
