Featured Band, Rise and Fire

Hi everybody, my name is Josh Coats, I'm the lead singer in an indie rock alternative band in Tulsa, OK called Manifest Destiny. I also co own a tee shirt company with my wife called Never Quit. My wife is a babe, and we have 3 gorgeous kids together!
Each month i write about a different band that i think you need to know about. Not one that's on the radio or that everyone already knows about, but a band that is out there making it happen themselves.
This month I've chosen a band that I've had the privelege of getting to know pretty well recently. My band opened for their cd release party and also played a show with them opening for Disciple. This band is called Rise and Fire. Rise and Fire is one of the fastest up and coming hardcore bands in the country thanks to their high energy live shows and their relentless internet marketing.
Rise and Fire just released an EP called Close to Home. It's only 5 songs but will not disappoint! They are currently on a tour of the midwest promoting this cd. One of the things you can't help but admire about this band is how dedicated they are to playing shows. The band played their first show in December of 2010 and hasn't taken a breather yet. In less than 9 months of playing they've accumulated over 3,000 likes on Facebook and currently rank #9 on the Tulsa Rock Charts (by ReverbNation.com).
You may be thinking that there are lots of bands who are playing left and right and promoting themselves, that's what a band does. Well, typically, yes that's what a band does. They invest hours and hours, road trip after road trip, and thousands of peanut butter sandwiches, in hope that one day they'll be famous rock stars driving Bentleys and making appearances on MTV Cribs. But Rise and Fire has a different ambition.
Their hard work, sweat, and blood may very well make them famous. But their motivation is to reach the world with their faith in Jesus. At the end of their EP release, Garret Frederico (bass player) got up with the microphone and gave everyone at the show a chance to give their lives to God. As you may already know, talking about God isn't a very "cool" thing to do at a concert. But Rise and Fire isn't worried about being "cool" by this world's standards. They're out to do something better. They've found what it really means to be a Christian. Not to beat others over the head with a Bible. Not to dress up in a suit and look your best. But to do what God has gifted you at, do it well, and passionately, and use it as a tool to share God's love.
The Bible explains it this way: "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13, NIV
So do yourself a favor and check out this band on facebook, or on Reverb Nation. Support a good band, and a good cause!
Rise and Fire is: James Markiewicz - Lead Vocals/Keys | Adrian Hixenbaugh - Guitar/Vocals | Zak Masingale - Drums | Garrett Frederico - Bass
Listen to Rise and Fire


Josh Coats
www.facebook.com/mdtulsaok
www.facebook.com/neverquitapparel

Featured Band, Matt Westmoreland

Hello everyone, my name is Josh Coats, and I'm the lead singer for a rock band out of Tulsa, OK called Manifest Destiny. I'm the husband of the hottest chic on the planet, and the dad of the cutest 3 boys in the world! Welcome to my blog!

Each month i'll be selecting a band to feature on my blog. I love supporting other bands and helping to spread the word about their music. Most people don't know how much work goes into having a band. It's a lot like having a part time job...with no pay! In fact, it costs money, and quite a bit of it. So when I find a band that I really like, I like to let everyone know about it. My first band to feature is actually a solo artist, and a good friend of mine, by the name of Matt Westmoreland.

Matt got his start playing in some harder rock bands while living in Georgia. One of my favorite stories from him is how he used to play in these small town bars where no one knew how to respond to the hard music they played, so they would just get in fights! I thought that was a compliment to a band, but it always frustrated Matt when everyone would break out into fights at every show. 

Matt has settled down a little since his "hardcore" days and now writes folk rock music. His music is raw and his lyrics are sincere. What really stands out to me about Matt is his dedication. He worked a second job for a while to save up money for his music project, and to start his own record label. His label is in the works to help other bands get a start and go on the road with him when he tours. He also is an extremely giving person.

When the tornadoes hit Joplin, MO this year Matt began efforts to raise money for a musician friend of his that had lost everything in the storms. The crazy thing is, he'd just met this friend a week before and hadn't even seen him in person, he'd only talked to him over the internet. Still yet, he was able to get several instruments, clothing, and money donated to his new friend.

If you like good music, it's all over the place (except maybe on the radio). There are musicians messaging you daily asking you to check out their music. There are bands playing every night of the week trying to draw crowds. But if you want something more than music, if you want to support purpose, passion, creativity, and honesty, you should check out my good friend Matt Westmoreland. Go like him on Facebook, and tell him Josh sent you!

Here's Matt's latest work, a music video for his song Nameless Town.

Josh Coats

Manifest Destiny

www.facebook.com/mdtulsaok