CCM Magazine: College
Boys
Andy Argyrakis - September 21
It’s time to pack up the bedroom and move out to college for many teenagers and young adults. That means hitting the books big time, and if you’re fortunate, it also means some time for fun. Although 20-year-olds Matt Theissen, Matt Hoopes and Brian Pittman, as well as 21-year-old Dave Douglas, are getting ready to move from their homes for another semester of lessons, their current occupations don’t revolve around writing papers and bland cafeteria food.
This is Relient K, a Canton, Ohio, bred pop/punk foursome that’s hitting the road with Five Iron Frenzy on the fall leg of the "Electric Youth" tour.
"We’re doing exactly the same thing as going to college, minus the classes," chuckles Theissen, the group’s vocalist. "A tour is a couple of months long, and we pack up all our clothes to live away from home. We all go back home to live with our folks on breaks and always take a long Christmas vacation."
It was only three years ago that these young men graduated high school and were faced with the same choices as most in their age group: Should they find a college and pursue a major or head straight into the real world and get a job? The guys formed Relient K during high school and always dreamt of following in the footsteps of groups like Five Iron, The Supertones and dc talk. But instead of going on college visits and getting recommendations from guidance counselors, they recorded a demo CD after graduation. It landed in the hands of veteran producer, guitarist and fellow Ohioan Mark Townsend (dc talk, Jennifer Knapp), who loved it. He was drawn to the group’s raw yet passionate sound, so much so that Townsend convinced Gotee Records CEO and dc talk member Toby McKeehan to give the project a spin.
"The band was developing, but I loved the fact that they were more complex and layered than the typical sound of the pop/punk genre," says McKeehan. "These guys just had a fusion between sounds."
That was exactly the letter of acceptance the men needed.
But before McKeehan and Townsend got the group into the studio to give it a whirl, the two offered sage advice, making sure the guys’ parents were completely supportive and that ground rules were set. "When we first started talking about signing Relient K, I got them and their parents together and told them the reality of what they were getting themselves into," recalls Townsend. "I told them they would not get rich off being rock stars and that fame should not be a means of sustaining them. I didn’t have unrealistic expectations for the guys, just that they would seize every opportunity with a humble heart to share what God’s done in their lives."
Like most parents, those of the group members hoped their sons would leave the option of school open, at least as something to fall back on. They were fully aware of the temptations and trials that the music industry could hold but then realized many of the same temptations could come with college life. "In our family, higher education has always been an important thing," says Marva Hoopes, Matt’s mother. "But Toby and Mark were clear that this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the boys and as with any season in life, we [the parents] had to be ready for the next stage. We decided our best way to support the boys would be to continually pray over every aspect of what they do."
There was one more hurdle to clear. The group wanted to show their folks this career choice was something to which they were genuinely committed. "It was kind of weird because in the beginning our parents were like ‘aw, isn’t that cute,’ because we were not that good," laughs bassist Pittman. "It took some time to show how committed we were and prove it was more than just a phase we were going through."
It wasn’t easy. During their freshman year of touring, the members of Relient K had some of the same emotions to deal with as did their peers leaving home for the first time—being homesick, adjusting to new people and customs. But now at junior-level road status, they’ve sorted out some of those feelings. "There are things that you really miss about your family and friends back home, but you know that once you leave, you’ll experience a lot that will allow you to grow beyond what you would have by just staying back," admits Theissen. "When you get back home, it’s nice to see everyone," he says. But, like his college friends, home becomes a nice place to visit. "Our town can get boring and sometimes we’re itching to get back out on the road."
The guys say they have formed their own family on the road to hold them accountable in all aspects of their spiritual and personal growth. "We’ve become best friends that see each other more than we see our parents," says guitarist Hoopes. "These are the brothers I can be myself with because we’ve spent so much time together, and [we’re] all going through the same thing."
The group strives to be genuine with everyone they meet along the way. The fact that their fan base is made up of their peers allows them not only to connect on a musical level, but also as people growing up and maturing in their walk of faith. "We strive to be real with them and not hide some of the struggles we are going through," says Pittman. "If something is bothering me one day, I’ll let my guard down and just be myself without hiding behind some persona."
That’s difficult to do with Relient K’s growing list of career opportunities—not the least of which was the 50-date "Dance Party U.S.A." tour with The Supertones and Switchfoot. And don’t forget the group’s well-earned accolades, including a Billboard Music Video Award for "My Girlfriend" off Relient K’s self-titled debut and a Dove Award nomination for Best Short Form Music Video. Combine the Blink 182/MxPx/New Found Glory-inspired sound on The Anatomy of the Tongue in Cheek, Relient K’s latest record, with the hit single "Pressing On" and the stint with Five Iron Frenzy and it’s obvious things can only get better.
Despite the dean’s list of achievements, the guys have a solid base of mentors around them to keep their attention centered on God instead of fame and their hectic schedule.
"These are the same guys I signed a couple of years ago in the fact that they haven’t let any of their success go to their heads," assures McKeehan. "They’re guys who love God and are passionate about the music and the issues they sing about, even more so on the new disc. They’re on the right track about staying humble and not getting puffed up from worldly gain."