Hawk Nelson - Still Smiling

Hawk Nelson: Still Smiling
By Joe Navratil

Canadian “power punk” Christian band Hawk Nelson burst on to the music scene in 2005 with their well-received “Letters To the President” CD and followed that up with the new “Smile, It’s the End of the World” album. They started their current tour in January, 2006, and just began ramping up their appearances with a raucous show at Spirit West Coast Del Mar over Memorial Day weekend. After the summer Christian music festivals and other appearances, they will tour in the fall with Jeremy Camp and then Toby Mac in the winter.
The sophomore CD is another powerful offering from a band that further tuned its sound by adding former Pax 217 drummer Aaron “Sqwid” Tosti to a lineup that includes singer Jason Dunn, Daniel Biro on bass and Jonathan Steingard on guitar. Like previous Canadian three instrument bands like Rush and Triumph, Hawk Nelson puts out a lot of sound and their new songs draw you in immediately. The songs were co-written with Trevor McNevan of Thousand Foot Crutch, who grew up in the same town and attended the same church youth group as Dunn and Biro.
The first release from “Smile, It’s the End of the World” is the ballad Everything You Ever Wanted which zoomed up to the top of Christian rock charts within a month of the CD’s release. It’s a frank look at trying to please a parent or friend that you love but don’t want to be like.

You told me once
You'd show up,
But I fell for that before
I fell to pieces

Then I woke up to no one
Just a picture of Jesus
And a house left in pieces
And it took a season's going by
To know it's not my fault.

I tried to be perfect.
Tried to be honest.
Tried to be everything that you ever wanted.
I tried to be stronger.
Tried to be smarter.
Tried to be everything but you...

Dunn and Biro are quick to point out that the message is one of forgiveness and that we must grow and mature in the world and in our faith. Dunn said, “Growing up, we all have this fairy tale picture of what’s going to happen, like having the greatest job ever or a lot of nice things or a great house and when one of them falls apart, the pressure starts setting in. It’s so common in teens and we just want them to know that when things fall apart there is a God up there and you need to be looking in the right places.”

Biro added, “For me, that song is about me and my Mom and that it’s amazing how God can turn things around. The CD has a common theme about the realities of life but takes a positive approach instead of dwelling in negative.”
The next single to be released will likely be Zero. Dunn explained, "Zero is a song that deals with suicide. In this song, it talks about a young man's feelings after his best friend commits suicide. It expresses his inner thoughts of how he starts to blame himself and what he has to go through for the rest of his life. I really hope this song will open up teen’s eyes, letting them know how important they really are to their family and friends."

It's been 3 months since he left us.
so far nothing's been the same.
and my question without answer is:
Am I the one to blame?

He was such a good description of a favored future man.
He spoke well of other people, and they said the same for him.

When I hear your name, it's not the same.
no matter what they say, I'm not okay.
and we started at zero, and went different ways.
they say they're sorry, well what are they sorry for?
How can they possible know what I'm going through?

I feel like no one's ever had to deal with the pain that I'm dealing with right now.

Does anyone have answers?
Just 6 months ago everything was fine. or so it seemed.
what turn of event caused him to go downhill?

his parents are devastated.
his girlfriend's depressed.
What was he thinking!?

   You might think that dealing with such serious topics within the context of a driving, catchy beat with Christian messages as the answer would be difficult. Dunn answered, “I like to play music. It’s what I’ve wanted to do since I was fourteen. Having kids’ lives changed through it is a bonus.” Dunn has had fans tell him that particular songs helped them recover from depression and suicidal thoughts and helped turn them back toward family and/or God.

   Biro added, “God is working through the music. It’s incredible to have that happen. It’s not us, it’s God.” Dunn and Biro call Hawk Nelson a “fun band, maybe a little sarcastic, but there’s no point beating around the bush.” The name of the CD, “Smile, It’s the End of the World,” is from a song that did not make the album. The point of the title according to Dunn is that “No one knows when the world will end, the Bible is clear about that, but there’s no point making bets about the end. With all the negative things in the world, we can still be view things with a positive approach.” Biro added, “We’re still living and smile either way.”

   Other tracks to watch out for are the three powerhouse songs that open the CD: The One Thing I Have Left, The Show and Bring ‘Em Out. Many listeners will want to replay those songs over and over as they rock the stereo and are among the first songs Hawk Nelson plays live. Head On Collision and Fourteen (so named because the original idea was to have it be the fourteenth and final track before two other songs were cut) in particular show Dunn’s impressive vocal range.

   With their current lineup and second consecutive outstanding CD, Hawk Nelson proves that they are one of the most impressive young Christian bands on the scene. By the end of the year, they just may be prove to be the most important Christian band around, bar none. With their in-your-face lyrics, powerful sound and their stage appeal, Hawk Nelson is the real deal. Get onboard now and watch this band continue to flourish bringing young people into a closer relationship with Jesus Christ.