Back to School RallyWhat: Concert with Christian bands Superchick, Starlight Platoon, Burning Within, Fruit of the Spirit, Mountain Lake Church Student Band, Moses Sister and Re:Generation When: Tailgate/preshow party begins at 3 p.m. Aug. 25, and the headlining act, Superchick, takes the stage at 6 p.m. Where: Forsyth Central High School gym, 520 Tribble Gap Road, Cumming Cost: Free, food and concessions will be available to buy from Backyard Burgers On the Net:
www.backtoschoolrally.org www.myspace.com/superchick | After a summer of sun and fun, for some teens, heading back to school is one of the last things they want to do. But Christian rockers Superchick and six other Christian music groups hope to change their minds with a high energy motivational Back to School Rally. "Our shows are high energy with crowd participation," said Matt Dally, Superchick vocalist and bassist. "We try to go crazy and let them feel the love." The rally, in its second year, will be at the gym at Forsyth Central High School in Cumming. "We want these kids to be excited and motivated about school," said Lee Gaddis, 2007 Back to School Rally director and pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Cumming. "We want the youth in our community to know we care about them, and this is one of the platforms we use." According to Gaddis, last year's event drew about 1,100 students, and they are hoping for about 1,700 this year. "We researched through the Georgia Baptist Convention last year, and they said if you have 500 people to consider it a raving success," Gaddis said. "Kids from middle school to seniors in high school, they responded so well to last year's event." Added 2007 Back to School Rally representative Larry Whittington, "We want to have so many kids so next year we have to find a bigger place." And with the popularity of Superchick, the church should achieve its projected success. The Chicago-based group, who is signed with Sony BMG, is a six-member band including Dally, lead vocalist Tricia Brock, drummer Brandon Estelle, guitarist Dave Ghazarian, keyboardist and DJ Max Hsu and guitarist and vocalist Melissa Brock. "(We have) been together for eight years," Dally said. "For us, at first we tried to get into Christian music, and they told us we weren't Christian enough. But our last record is when Christian radio really latched on. Our goal was to be a Christian band that was nonthreatening and just made cool music. We talked about issues that everyone is going through." The band's last CD titled "Beauty for Pain 1.1" features songs "We Live," "Stand in the Rain" and "Anthem." "We will play a majority of the songs from the last CD, but there will be stuff for the older fans," Dally said. "We are excited to see people get into the old stuff." Of course Superchick wants to get their music heard, but they are focused on spreading the message that there is a plan for each teen's life. "We want to let them know that, like us, you can be a good kid from the 'burbs, and God still has a plan for your life," Dally said. The rally is a free event open to all middle and high school students in Forsyth and surrounding counties. Starlight Platoon is set to open for Superchick, and five local Christian rock bands will perform during a tailgate/preshow party. The party will take place before the concert in the parking lot in front of the Forsyth Central gym. At the tailgate party and preshow "We will showcase local bands from local churches who are trying to get a larger platform," Gaddis said. "There will be an hour in between, and from 6 to 8 p.m. will be the main concert." Other bands performing include Burning Within, Fruit of the Spirit, Mountain Lake Church Student Band, Moses Sister and Re:Generation. Along with Christian bands, the Back to School Rally will feature speaker Mark Shelley, who is an area youth leader. He will deliver a message focused on preparing the students for a new school year. "He is a very dynamic and energetic speaker," Gaddis said. After the rally, Cumming Baptist Church will hold a youth concert in its Family Life Center. Many of the bands performing at the tailgate party will again entertain the crowd, and refreshments will be served. Even with all the events planned at the rally, there still is a specific goal -- to lead teens to Christ. "(We want) to see a lot of people come out and leave a different person, a better person," Dally said. "For people to think about other people before yourself and that the choices you make will make a difference in other people's lives." Contact:
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(770) 718-3414 Originally published Saturday, August 18, 2007 | 
