Petra lovers and Schlitt-heads will like this

Schlitt and Smiley form super group

Check that link out... looks promising.

Figured Alldat would really dig this

John Schlitt (Petra, Head East) leading on vox.
Billy Smiley and Anthony Sallee of Whiteheart
New artist Jason Fowler on guitar and vocals
Steve Brewster (Peter Cetera) on drums
Jonathan Crone on guitar
John Ellis (Tree63) on guitar and vocals. 


Smiley is producing the record and bringing in on select songs an all-star cast of musicians including 
Brian Wooten (Whiteheart, Trace Adkins) on guitar
Chris McHugh (Whiteheart, Keith Urban) on drums
Brennan Smiley (The Technicolors) on guitar
Peter Furler (Newsboys) on drums and vocals
Dave Ellefson (Megadeth) on bass. 
Richie Biggs (Whiteheart, Petra, and The Civil Wars) is mixing the record

Smiley is a great song writer and producer, and Schlitt has a fantastic rock voice. Just hoping they really bring the "rock" to the album and don't wimp out with a bunch of ballady stuff.

I do hope that they at least bring the level of music that John Schlitt has done on his most recent solo projects.

Of course, I would be more thrilled with a full on Whiteheart and Petra reunion.  I will take what I can get!

I wonder how the voices of John Ellis and John Schlitt work together. I love Ellis' vocals on Tree 63.

I was hoping something would happen with this:



And this which is also excellent!!

I'd like to see Sekulow's band do something besides cover tunes.  He's got the guys with enough talent to do something original.

Quote :

I was hoping something would happen with this:

OH MAN !!! I was unaware of THIS !!!  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this !!!!

MikeInFla wrote:

I was hoping something would happen with this:

Even if they would just release a digital EP or something...I think they have at least 5 songs.

I sure hope this new project doesn't sound like those YouTube clips. That stuff sounds WAY too light and WAY too keys-heavy. I didn't like that stuff at all. Bring on the rock and roll!

Um...Petra, Whiteheart, and Mastadon were all heavy keyboard infused rock as is the Jay Sekulow Band.



I am expecting something akin to the latest John Schlitt albums.  I don't think they will shoot for anything too heavy simply for the fact that neither Petra nor Whiteheart were ever truly metal bands.  If they can get a decent rock sound, I'll be pleased.

They were never super hard, AND they're getting up there in years... I suspect it's gonna be more radio friendly than anything they've ever done.

If they come out with something like Schlitt's "The Greater Cause" or maybe John Elefante's "On My Way To The Sun", I would be quite thoroughly impressed.

You can hear a preview from one song on their facebook page (or at i-tunes).  I dig it, but it's too short.

https://www.facebook.com/TheUnion7/

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/christ-the-lord-is-risen-today/id1086811321?i=1086813121

Hmmm... New song:

http://theunionofsinnersandsaints.bandcamp.com/

I didn't care for it. But I would like it if I heard it in church but this isn't something I would ever listen to in my truck. 

It does have a nice guitar solo but it still sounds more praise music than a rock song. Just sounds like a very fast CCM song. Just not my thing (again, unless I heard it in church). 

Curious to know Dave Ellefson's involvment.

It could be something that they did just to get people to plunk down some cash to help cover CD printing and such.  I know Smiley has his own studio, so recording costs should be nearly nothing if they used that.  So, having a digital track for sale could help out with other expenses.

To me, it isn't the best track to toss out first.  However, it does give us an idea of where they are going.  With that in mind, I am still looking forward to this as this worship track cover tune is in a style I do like.

The only thing that sounds like a CCM song to me is the chorus/background vocals.  I dig the break and the guitar work in it.
I'll be interested to hear where they are going with the other tracks.  Given that this one is a an old hymn that has been "rocked-up", I wouldn't expect the entire rest of the album to sound like this.