Bottom End

Redacted

YouTube is a boon for music documentaries of all types [video:youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgkuO7EOcPk

Very good sound, production wise. Nice sounding band as well. Gives a sort of Helmet vibe, in the best possible way.

Guilty Please Goldberg and the Simple Machines Raspberry Snooze Button Incense and Pepsodent

Meat Buffer Overload

maybe you could have played a Sab song in the style of Aerosmith, or vice-versa

You might say the same thing for some of the band members At one of the churches I attended and played at, some people really like the music, others did not. The Pastor and worship leader came up with a compromise. 15-20 minutes before service was supposed to start, the band would play whatever worship songs they chose, usually in an upbeat, dare I say rocking (it's possible, no really) way. The last song before service would be a bit more likely to please everybody, and that is when the non-music lovers would show up, in order to hear the sermon. As a player, I found it to be a great compromise, especially because we had some really talented players with a wide variety of instruments, and often more than 6 vocalists, so we could change the arrangements, etc of a lot of bland, formulaic contemporary P&W songs and play them in a more musically adventurous way. In the worship group I left, I once asked the question "Is this a worship band, or a tribute band?" Since the leaders had a different opinion on the role of music as part of the service, I knew that my attitude was not compatible. No problem, I took on another role, but I'm glad that I asked that question, and received an honest answer, it worked out better for everyone.

I suggest that first, have the pastor/leadership publicly endorse you as the worship leader (assuming you want that responsibility), or ask them to assist in finding a worship leader if you don't want the role. Then, ask them what they expect of the worship group. Once those two things are in place, the worship leader can "lead", make decisions on who plays, what is expected for members etc. For example, many worship bands expect the players to learn their parts away from the rehearsal period, and come to rehearse the songs and set as a group. As to the level of expertise, arrange the songs within the limits of the group, but encourage them to learn more, and keep looking for "better" players. Also, ask the leadership to ask for more members during services and in newsletters, etc. Some people don't volunteer to play because they think they need to be invited, or other reasons. Communication is a key piece for all of this, you write that letting outsiders pick the songs might offend those who do the choosing right now, don't guess, ask them if it is so, they might be happy to share that burden. Communicating the church's vision for the church, and the worship group is important, communication expectations for each group member is important. I once chose not to play in a worship group because their perspective on the role of the group and the music preferred was very different from mine. In recognizing that they were the leaders, not me, I chose not to cause any problems and took a different role.

The Right-On Candidates, playing the an assortment of protest-rock songs from the '60's and '70's.

Powered Merrimacs

Groove Mama and the Boogie Children

Agents of Influence

Scooby Doobie Brothers Johnson

die Zwischensolen

The Powers That Be