Hawk Nelson

From LoveToKnow Music

With plenty of energy, pop- punk music band Hawk Nelson has earned plenty of accolades in their short career - and they don't show signs of stopping anytime soon.

Who Is Hawk Nelson?

A band originating from Ontario, Canada with a punky-pop musical style and whose song lyrics range from plain to fun to powerful. After catching the eye (and ear) of Trevor McNevan, lead singer for popular Contemporary Christian band Thousand Foot Krutch, Hawk Nelson was signed to Tooth and Nail records for their debut EP, "Saturday Rock Action" in 2003, which was followed by "California EP." The debut album for the group, "Letters to the President," was released in 2004 and was well-received.

The original band members included Jason Kevin Dunn (lead vocals, guitar), Davin Clark (guitar), Matt "Matty" Page (drums), and Daniel Biro (bass, backing vocals). Dunn and Biro are currently members of the band, but Justin Benner is the current drummer and Jonathan Steingard is currently on second guitar and backup vocals. Although he's not officially a band member, Jordan Dean performs in the shows with Hawk Nelson for additional guitar and backup vocals.

The band's name stems from a unique combination of the last name of professional skateboarder Tony Hawk (who is not affiliated with the band) and a Nelson Boot Repair, a store on Jason Dunn's hometown.

The Sound

The band's EP's and debut album were popular and showcased the band's talent, but their subsequent tracks illustrate their musical and creative growth. The group isn't content to stay in the same vein musically, so they experiment with slightly different styles. Their second full album, "Smile, It's the End of the World" showcases this with songs ranging from the lyrically powerful, balledesque "Zero," based on the emotions on a young man after his friend commits suicide, and the fun, catchy pop of the 80's inspired "The Show."

Their third album, "Hawk Nelson is My Friend" with a release date of April 2008, promises to go deeper in terms of musical growth, while still infused with the spirit of fun apparent in previous albums.

The Genre

Although Hawk Nelson is frequently categorized in the genre of Contemporary Christian music, and has in fact been both voted as the "Favorite New Artist" by CCM Magazine and awarded best Modern Rock/Alternative Album of the Year for the GMA Canada Covenant Awards, the band is not blatant about their faith in their music. They do, however, reflect a sense of positivity in their music, an alternative to the pessimism reflected in many other bands popular among the youth.

Reviewers and audience opinions are mixed on this subject - some feel it's not necessary for the group (or other artists) to "push" their faith in their songs, and also a more oblique stance allows them to reach a broader audience and achieve more mainstream success with great, positive music. Other listeners, however, are looking for more solid references to faith when choosing CCM artists to listen to.

Whichever side audiences take, it is clear that the group has a serious goal to help hurting youth. In reference to the band's title track of their third debut album, "Friend Like That," Dunn says, "So many people are struggling today. Most of all they need a friend, and we believe everyone has a friend in God." (From www.hawknelson.com)

The band's musical influences include:

Credits

With their positive bent and popular style, here is no denying the band's success. In addition to the aforementioned awards, the band has also:

  • Portrayed The Who on NBC television show "American Dreams"
  • Recorded songs for popular film "Yours, Mine, and Ours"
  • Received widespread accolades for "The Show" aired on Sunday Night Football commercials
  • Participated in musical collaborations with top CCM artists

The band has also performed in numerous concerts and events such as Creation Festival Northwest, Jeremy Camp's Beyond Measure tour, Winter Wonder Slam with TobyMac, Rock the Desert, and Rock the Universe.

Get More on Hawk Nelson

For more on the band, visit the following website to see videos, listen to music online, buy the albums or MP3's, and find info. on tour dates and upcoming albums.

Retrieved from "http://music.lovetoknow.com/Hawk_Nelson"

 


Comments

I love Hawk Nelson's music! When I have a bad day, I just listen to one of Hawk Nelson's CDs and I feel so much better. They are like my favorite band ever!

-- Contributed by: Hannah

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