Catholic band will rock Sydney

WORLD YOUTH DAY - SYDNEY, 2008

BY KIM CARON, Special to RI Catholic

Like most rock bands, Pointe Blank traces their beginnings to a musty basement. However, when you picture a mom as the lead singer and her fifth grade son playing homemade drums, the classic garage band image goes out the window.

This local Catholic indie-pop band started back in 1998, as a mom’s version of music class for her children’s homeschooling program. Mom, Nicole Sweet, played keyboard as her two daughters, Jess and Danielle, sang along. Chris Sweet, then 12, pounded on a drum pad with pots and pans for symbols. The band got together every day for class, and soon discovered their knack for writing tunes. Jess, then 8, and Danielle, 9, became passionate about music writing.

“I remember Jess was downstairs one day playing Barbies and singing this one line over and over to herself,” said Nicole Sweet. “All of a sudden she came running upstairs, saying ‘Mom! Mom! I think I’ve got a song!’ That song ended up being one of our first as a band. It was called Warrior and it goes ‘Jesus I’m here for you. When the enemy’s coming, I’m not running.’”

The band first called themselves ‘How Sweet It Is” after the family name. Over time, Chris picked up the guitar and taught his sister Jess how to play drums. They soon discovered that Danielle had a powerful set of pipes, and she joined her mom as one of the lead vocalists.

Finances were tight for the family growing up, but they found ways to get the instruments they needed. A friend donated Chris’ first guitar. Nicole even rounded up odds and ends for a garage sale to raise funds.

“I spent my $550 bonus from work on a set of drums instead of paying my electricity bill, “ said Dad Scott Sweet. “I knew God was doing something with the band.”

“How Sweet It Is” first took to the stage at St. Charles parish in Providence, where the kids were involved in youth group. Their performances kicked off a whole slew of shows at youth festivals and coffeehouses all over Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

After practicing every day for ten years, this classroom band morphed into a talented group of Catholic musicians. Current members include the four Sweets as well as Justin Dery, 20, who joined as bass player two years ago. The band tours all over New England, playing both the Protestant and Catholic circuits. For the past four years, they have provided music for liturgies at St. Charles parish in Providence and St. Joseph’s parish in Attleboro. The Diocese of Providence’s youth ministry office has enlisted the band to play at several congress events and youth gatherings. Pointe Blank has also performed at Bryant University, Providence College, and Rhode Island College.

Since changing their name, the band released two albums, the first entitled Generation Whatever and the recently-debuted second album Providence. Both cry out against social apathy, encouraging the listener to take a stand for who they are. Songs such as “Dying to Live” question the value of material goods in the face of spiritual fulfillment. Other songs recount times of personal trials and doubt, and finding faith and hope in the midst of the darkness. Their lyrics plead for this generation to take up arms against the “whatever mentality” that is so prevalent among young people. In the track Red Sun Rising, Nicole cries out, “When nothing’s fine, let this be a sign, as I cry to the world that we’re still here.”

“We hope to achieve a level of honesty in our music,” said Chris Sweet. “Instead of taking cues from other Christian music, we find that the Catholic message is the most universal and human approach to the expression of faith. We’re trying to do something new with our art and people are responding to it.”

Just recently, in one of many attempts to share their music, Pointe Blank entered a competition through a Catholic Music organization called Rocking Romans. The prize was to play at World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia. Not expecting anything to come of it, the band was both surprised and excited to receive a phone call a few months later from Paul Mazurek, president of Rocking Romans. Mazurek announced that Pointe Blank had won the competition hands down, and led them through the application process to play at World Youth Day.

“Clearly they had real musical quality,” said Mazurek. “I knew this was a sound and a band that could reach out into a secular market and connect with lots of people.”

Mazurek made the distinction between two types of Catholic music, that of praise and worship and a newer category of performance-style music. In his eyes, Pointe Blank fits into the second category. “Their performances can cause you to step back on your heels. You just want to take it all in. They are a very talented and committed band that can put on a great performance,” he said.

Pointe Blank is scheduled to perform on stage in front of thousands of people in Sydney during the week-long youth festival. The pope is set to arrive the day of their show. “I’m so excited,” said Nicole. “I’ve always wanted to play for the pope.”

Mazurek added that the opportunity to play at World Youth Day is a chance to show the world that there is more coming along in Catholic music. “Pointe Blank is one of the best Catholic bands out there,” he said. “Their performance will most likely be a unique experience for the pilgrims.”

“To be a part of the Catholic Church is to be a part of something universal. To be a part of something bigger than ourselves like that is moving,” said Chris Sweet. “The opportunity to play at World Youth Day has created a certain momentum and has rallied an unprecedented level of support for our mission and our message.”

Since hearing the news from Rocking Romans, Pointe Blank has hit the road touring and raising funds for their trip. They recently performed a benefit show in Atlanta, traveling the distance from Massachusetts to Georgia in their grandparent’s 32-foot camper. The band also participated in a battle of the bands sponsored by Proud2BCatholic. This summer is going to be busy for the band, with plans including the trip to Australia and a performance at Soul Fest, the largest Christian music festival in New England.

As the band continues to tour and grow in popularity, their Catholic identity will remain the driving force behind their music. On the way to every show, they will pile in the 12 passenger van, as always. Nicole will pass around the basket of plastic rosary beads she stores in the glove compartment and, in keeping with tradition, the band will pray together. They are Catholic, and proud of it.

To hear Pointe Blank, visit their web site www.pointeblankband.com. For information on Rocking Romans, visit www.rockingromans.com.

If you would like to help Pointe Blank with their trip to Sydney, feel free to send donations to the Rhode Island Catholic, 184 Broad Street, Providence RI 02903 by June 20, 2008. Write “Sydney Trip” in the memo section.

Reprinted by permission, The Rhode Island Catholic

Hear and see Pointe Blank in the NH Battle of the Bands competition (part two) our video section, www.gvonline.net/02FILES/videos.htm and also on the GrapeVine News Minute, www.gvonline.net/02FILES/audio.htm