Justin Anderson, Mainstay

Justin’s favorite bands
Then:
Project 86
Michael Jackson
Garth Brooks
Pearl Jam
Alice in Chains

Now:
Radiohead
Sufjan Stevens
Sunny Day Real Estate
Jeremy Camp
Rascal Flatts

Power of 10
“If we had all the money and time we needed we’d like to buy a bus so that we could tour constantly and try to get more involved with the Hands and Feet missions organization that we’re involved with. It would be amazing if we could help with the funding to help build more orphanages and be more involved on that side of the ministry.”

—Matt Lott, Wavorly

Jeopardy
Category: John Ellis from Tree63

Clue: On the beach in South Africa
A: Where does John like to write songs?

Clue: University English professor
A: What is John’s dream job if he wasn’t pursuing music?

Clue: Bringing relief to the battered people of South Africa
A: What is John’s passion if he had endless time and money?

Clue: 1996
A: What is the year the band formed?

Who Wants to Be a . . . Songwriter?
John Reuben’s dream job since he was 5 years old has been to be a musician. (If that didn’t work out, he’d be playing in the NBA.) But being a musician usually also includes writing songs. “I try to write all of the time so I don’t have to make a record on a deadline,” he says. “The best way to fight writer’s block is to do something else to take your mind off writing.”

Some of John’s best song-writing inspirations are good music and conversations with friends. When touring, he often writes in the back of the tour van.

Wheel of Fortune “Robbie Seay Band would like a ‘C,’ Pat.” Most songwriters will never make a fortune. But if money weren’t a factor, Robbie Seay (pronounced like the letter “C”) would love to expand his ministry by becoming even more involved with Living Water (they dig wells to provide clean water) and Compassion International (a sponsorship program for needy kids). Or if the music business doesn’t work out, Robbie dreams of a career in espionage. “I’ve always thought the CIA is probably looking for a tall, skinny guitar player with no undercover experience,” he says.

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?
“If I had to do another job, I imagine that I would be a theology professor. That’s what I was studying before Crouton [a fellow band member] called and asked me to audition for the band. Or perhaps a draygon (spelling intended) slayer. Or maybe a fisherman. I think I’d be a pee-wee football coach.”

—Chap Stique, Family Force 5

Identity
Q: Is Jonny Diaz a musician or baseball player?

• His oldest brother, Matt, is the left fielder for the Atlanta Braves.

• The Diaz family had their own batting cage in their backyard.

• Jonny attended Florida State University on a baseball scholarship.

• One summer his family visited about 12 major ballparks.

A: Jonny had planned to be a baseball player, but God pointed him in a new direction during college. His song-writing talent and guitar-playing skills allowed him to release his first album during his sophomore year. Now he travels the country as an independent artist, sharing his acoustic-style music with a touch of country twang.