Church / Press Release
Weird Christian Science
Jose Gonzalez, Phoenix New TimesWhile James Brown gave up the mantle of The Hardest Working Man in Show Business long ago (rest his soul), it seems that Valley performer Paisley Yankolovich is eager to be in the running for the title. One visit to his Web site and you'll see it riddled with show dates and appearances for nearly every evening. Plus, this year saw the release of the audio works Burn in Hell and Love Me Forever.
While Yankolovichs perspective is Christian-based, his music is nothing near what you'd hear in the halls of the Trinity Broadcast Network. Rather, Yankolovich delves deep into his personal life to bring to light stories of personal redemption and weathering rejection, even from those claiming the same beliefs. With a showman's stage presence, Yankolovichs Rocky Horror-style calls out to the masses, mainstream and outcasts alike, with a message of acceptance and love beyond mere tolerance.
.from www.myspace.com/azlocalreview 5/14/2009
The performing arts are those forms of art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art objects.
Paisley definately met the definition of performing artist! He was absolutly brilliant in ways he doesn't even realize. He stated that he does the work he does to get people to hear and see a different side of Christianity, however, he touched on a much deeper subject than that...individualism. We will be honest...we did not plan on staying for the entire show and we actually discussed how we would leave because "religious" music is not a forte of ours, except once we started to listen to his soundtrack (samples for the most part of various punk and industrial musicians) combined with his own lyrics we found a deeper message of having to struggle with being what society considers "different" and "unacceptable". He strongly vocalized a deep need to be acknowledged for his individualism and for the individualism of others who are in the same struggle within not only the Christian community but regular society. He also had a softer voice pleading for understanding and possibly even begging his God for comfort for the way he is and for being brave enough to openly admit his indifference against the norm of society.
If you read the first paragraph, which i figure you did, my only question is how much of Paisley is "Paisley" and how much is plastic that he has formed into his art form? There is so much going on: There is pro Christianity in its raw love all, forgive all, smile, and be happy form; pro gay; pro drag; a almost crazed schitzophrenic song delivery; and a almost blatant "something to shock" everyone and more with a very masculine overtone that throws you for a loop... I want to know where Pasiley starts and ends and where the performance art starts and ends...but again I dont because that would destroy the beauty of this show...my only comparison, as cliched as it is, is...David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust, Aladin Sane, or The Diamond Dog. We now know where he and the alter egos started and stopped but it ruined the magic of what was a Bowie show.
We are planning to go and see Paisley again in the near future and highly recommend others to to go see what i would call a ground breaking artist
Jesus In Black Tights
By Cory Daniels, Masque MediaGospel Recording Artist Paisley Yankolovich shocked fans and skeptics alike when he threw in the towel of conformity and followed his heart-and fashion cravings.
Dismissed as everything from a heretic to transvestite, Paisley has actually dedicated his complex art to the ministry of healing the misconceptions society has about all walks of life- specially the alternative vs. the religious communities.
By melding post-punk, industrial, techno stylings with showtunes about abuse, neglect, and the alienated majority, Paisley explodes in a one-man performance to rival the likes of David Bowie and Marilyn Manson. This is clearly a singular talent with an obvious calling.
He will be performing Fridays at Fetish Alive beginning at 7pm.
Admission is free.
Unless Paisley Yankolovich requires your soul.
Fetish Alive
1323 W. Indian School Rd.
Phoenix, Arizona 85013
(602) 281-6040"Outrageous" Phoenix New Times (Best Of... 2007 & 2008)
"Our most charismatic performer since Jim Morrison" L.A. Weekly
The Gospel According to Paisley
Christian p-artist offers "notorious" carols and other holiday fun By Benjamin Leatherman Phoenix New Times 12/24/08It's a Christmas Eve tradition to spend time in the presence of the divine. If you're Christian, it's congregating with holy men spreading the blessed word of the birth of Yeshua (his Hebrew name, you dig?). If your soul seeks a more entertaining form of enlightenment, try hanging out with Paisley Yankolovich. The gonzo, cross-dressing Christian performance artist (and ordained minister, to boot) is offering a program of unplugged music consisting of acoustic versions of his glammy, non-traditional religious songs, "notorious versions" of Christmas carols, discussions of faith, and other holiday surprises.
Fellow strummer Larry Jensen also performs, and food and drink will be provided.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 at 7pm
Church Diverse @ The Secret Place
1527 W. Briles Rd.
Phoenix, Arizona 85085
(602) 318-2968
(There will be a special FREE Christmas Eve feast that begins at 6pm. All are welcome.)
Who's The Leader Of The Club?
Paul Landkamer
FaithWriters. com
11/23/08In "Ready Or Not" on her Before the Daylight's Shot album, Ashley Cleveland sings about all of us going somewhere. Who is leading you there?Without Jesus' guidance, we're just like horses wandering aimlessly with a "That looks good; I think I'll eat it" mentality. Again, Paisley Yankolovich made a thinker's album with Leading Horses.
Aimless lives often have us horses "Drowning in dirty water; splashing evil everywhere. We just love that dirty water. Hell's bells ring. We don't care." So many days I find those lyrics stuck in my head. The title track, "Leading Horses" jumps right into an intense industrial beat loop.My first impression was "Wow! This music's got some power!" Nobody'd accuse it of being a wimpy album either musically or lyrically. I call it "Industrial-Strength Paisley."
With a child's jeering rhyme, "Nyeah nyeah" sound, "Leading Horses" goes into a line, "We just joined the [sneered] cho-ir, we just joined the cho-ir," as if going through the motions was a great virtue. Joining the choir only so you can flaunt it is "splashing evil".
The second song, "Ticket to Ride" starts and I flinch. It's a re-inclusion from other Paisley albums with a message asking where is our culture going? We're going or being led places without our knowing it. The band, after whom the song, "Ticket to Ride" is named, didn't even know that Beatles' song, "Ticket to Ride." You're probably wondering why I flinch at "Ticket to Ride". Paisley uses expletives in the song in a way I can't quite go along with. Maybe I'm just an old curmudgeon, but I don't think the question, "Where has our culture gone?" needs to be worded, "Where the Hell has our culture gone." So I called Mr. Yankolovich on it. Paisley answered to the effect of 'That's the way it happened, so that's the way I wrote it.' Then, like he almost always does, he got me thinking again.
Paisley Yankolovich ministers to a completely different culture than my sheltered small-town Midwest culture. He's reaching out to the outcasts, prostitutes, homosexuals, cross-dressers, victims of abuse and others. I got to thinking about Dick Staub's book, Too Christian, Too Pagan, where he tells of missionaries getting off a plane, home on furlough, only to sneer and fuss about a group of people talking, "dropping the F-bomb" all over the place. Staub pointed out they just came from a culture totally different from the one they started from, and are now coming in contact with yet another culture. How can they accept one culture and condemn the other? It's really something to think about –as is, by the way, Staub's book. I guess I can see why Paisley did what he did, but like I told him, I can't play that song for people because of the words. I like Paisley's music, but he ministers to a very different culture from mine. I really like the way Yankolovich uses the line from the Beatles's "Ticket to Ride" in his version: "I think I'm gonna be sad."
When I first met Paisley Yankolovich and began studying his work, I asked around at some of the venues he's performed at, and asked some of the pastors with whom he's worked what they thought of Yankolovich's ministry.I only get assurances that despite Paisley's bizarre appearance and musical style, his heart's in the right place and his theology is sound and uncompromised.
Track three jumps into an eerie minor mood with a very interesting version of "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands." He adds, to emphasize Jesus really has the "whole" world in His hands, that He's got the gamblin' man, the lyin' man, the craps-shootin' man in His hand. I'd like to hear Paisley's version of the song on the radio! And Paisley, who's your female back-up vocalist? She adds a neat touch to the song.
"The Sex Song" came across at first as a song about how our culture pulls us in different directions. It has likes like "I like sex. I know you do too," and "Good girls don't. Good boys don't either". The song ends with "Let's hold hands" and goes into "Put your hand in the hand of the Man who stilled the water…" So I got that we're led in different directions, but that everything will be OK providing we let "the Man who stilled the water" have control of us. I asked Paisley if I got the song OK. I didn't.Paisley told me "The Sex Song" is about friends who had another friend die of AIDS. I may not have hit the nail on the head, but I my interpretation even goes along with Paisley's intent. I may or may not have hit on Paisley's intended meaning on the rest of these songs, but I hope he'll let us know where I went astray.
The "Spirit of a Man" is an awesome creation, and it doesn't need Satan's temptation hanging around is the meaning I gleaned from track five. The temptation theme can even be heard in the beat loop which has (and I'll confess, I heard it) a bit of seductive breathiness in the recording. Suffice it to say, don't let everything that sounds good be embraced in your life. Satan is the great deceiver!
Track six is fairly obvious in its meaning. Still sticking with the heavy, industrial loops with crunching guitars and yes, even cowbell, "This World is Not My Home" expresses how "I can't feel at home in this world anymore"and "If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?" He clears up the doubt with "I know He'll take me home."
Like Mercy Me's "I Can Only Imagine", "Majestic Solid Rock" ponders how insignificant we can feel at times, yet we can know He cares for us. God's creation is so magnificent we can really feel tiny, but we're still loved.God IS the awesome God! By the way, "Majestic Solid Rock" doesn't sound a thing like "I Can Only Imagine".Both lyrically and musically, it's an original!
Track eight, "This is My Love (Kisses)" reminded me of "This little Light of Mine". When you've got the Truth, and love Jesus, you can't hide it.You've got to let it out in the open! Hide it under a bushel? No!
"The Vanity Song" attacks our vanity culture! Vanity or outward appearance is all lies. Don't get caught in that web. Then Paisley prays "Please call us by Your name."
Fences is a fairly common theme. Don't ride on the fence. Likewise, don't try to travel down the middle of the road. It's about the most dangerous place to be. "Right or left, who will be the master of our eternal destiny?" We might try to look pious, but too often it's "Jesus let me try Your way, until my flesh steps in today." Yes, "the fields are white with harvest."
Then comes that intriguing beat again as "Spirit of a Man (part 2)". "Man is wearing thin without You. Could we start again please?" Track twelve goes into the reprise of "Leading Horses". It's quite a catchy theme and beat –really easy to get it stuck in your head.
Track thirteen is prayerful. It reminds us that when the Jews laughed at Jesus at His crucifixion, we were there, too. He paid for all our sins there. And another theme comes in where we like to get praise and pats on the back for the fruit of our wonderful talents. We can't forget the source of those talents. Give Jesus the credit! After all, He gave so much for us.
And now, I'll slip that CD back into the player for yet another listen.Keep on ministering Paisley!
By Jose Gonzales
Phoenix New Times
Best Of Phoenix, 2008There's a sly smile that highlights Paisley Yankolovich's face. It's the kind of bemused calm of knowing that the Christian performance artist's journey with Jesus is less a sunset-showered walk on the beach than an adrenaline-pumping roller coaster that invites people to hop on and throw up their hands at each hairpin turn.
Yankolovich's own life has never been a straight line between points A and B: "I had no intention of doing gospel music," he says. "I went to bed one night realizing I was going to quit my job." Once he was all in, it was all about pursuing his mission from God in a way that was as passionate and exciting as the bands and artists of his formative years in the Hollywood underground scene — a sharp contrast to the sterility of most Christian music. "If we're dealing with the creator of the universe," he ponders, "why is our creative process so boring and derivative?"
Yankolovich's music is indie-electro-pop with solid dashes of industrial influence. His unique singing voice — more affable, growl-tinged Muppet than Marilyn Manson — carves out his complex spiritual life in words. With his DIY ethic, he's gone freebie platinum, figuring that he's distributed over a million albums between handing them to folks and having them downloaded from his Web site (www.paisleyyankolovich.com). He casts his net even wider, constantly reaching out to fans and potential listeners on MySpace via his page, www.myspace.com/paisleyyankolovich.
Noting that he probably wasn't the only black sheep looking to flock with others, he created his Church Diverse ministry to reach out.
Yankolovich understands the ups and downs of a Christian life a little less ordinary. At Church Diverse services, held at the Alternative Health & Wellness Center in central Phoenix, Yankolovich isn't a fire-and-brimstone preacher as much as he's an evangelistic Eddie Izzard with the charm, sidebar humor, energy, and fashion sense that implies. The church regulars are a devoted bunch who warmly praise Pais' ability to weave his knowledge of scripture (he's studied extensively with some of the best-regarded Biblical scholars) into sermons that move beyond parroting straight-from-Jesus'-mouth red letters.
Yankolovich has proclaimed himself the most controversial Christian musician in the world, but it's not a matter of being on the fringe as much as it is just being himself. Simply, he says, "I have found the most effective way for me to make Jesus relatable to people."
CHRISTIAN SINGER/SONGWRITER PAISLEY YANKOLOVICH BEGINS WEEKLY "CHURCH DIVERSE"
"With over 200 concerts and appearances per year it's becoming evident that while it's awesome that so many people are coming to know Jesus through this ministry, there is a need for some follow-through." So begins Paisley when asked what inspired him to begin what he calls the "new church project," Church Diverse.
"What happens to these wonderful souls after the concert? It's great to get people excited about Jesus but everyone needs friendship, fellowship, and discipleship as well. That is my vision for First Night. There will be worship, Bible study, prayer, and hopefully, munchies. These meetings will be open to anyone and everyone regardless of religious background, age, or cultural/sexual orientation. The focus will be entirely on the Lord: getting to know Him, His Word, and His people."
Paisley says it is his prayer that not only new believers but seasoned soldiers will participate in this exciting new venture in his ministry life. "There has been so much support over the past three years, I'd really like to see that channeled toward the people my ministry is about reaching: people that for whatever reason don't feel they are getting what they need in the mainstream churches, people that are struggling with issues and need a smaller environment, or people who have yet to experience the love, joy, and safety that comes with knowing our beloved Jesus."
Sundays at 9:30am
Church Diverse @ Soul Invictus
1022 Grand Ave
Phoenix, Arizona
(602) 318-2968Wednesdays at 7p0m
Church Diverse @ Trinity Lutheran
9424 N. 7th. Ave, Parish Hall
Phoenix, Arizona 85021
(602) 318-2968
Mass Appeal: A Midinght Mass w/ Paisley Yankolovich
Lotsa folks spend their Christmas Eve going to Midnight Mass. But we're betting the service offered up my your garden-variety preacher has nothing on the kinda glamtastic, gender-bending extravaganza that will be presented by Paisley Yankolovich.
The alternative Christian musician (who performs in women's clothing and describes his sound as "part glam rock, part punk rock, and part Eurotrash"), will present a special set of music from his album, "Zombies" as well as his upcoming disc, "When Love Dies"
re: The Ruby Room Xmas Eve 2007
Benjamin Leatherman
New Times
Phoenix, Arizona
Displaced
Controversial Modern Gospel Recording / PerformanceArtist Paisley Yankolovich releases 3-song EP inspired by and dedicated to the humanitarian efforts of Habitat For Humanity
Paisley states, "I decided to do this record to draw attention to the ongoing need for assistance to our displaced brothers and sisters. From the start, my ministry has not only been about global evangelism, but about real people taking real steps to battle indifference and intolerance and bring about social change."
The first song, "Sugar In the Water" (from the CD, ITCH), is a choir-backed Gospel effort dealing with one man's struggles to embrace the love promised to him in Christ. The "sugar" is the good from on high that meets us in our circumstance- the "water" in which we choose to drown.
The second, "Stand Around & Watch" (a rare, previously unavailable live recording), is a scathing but passionate cry for outreach towards people with AIDS. In this recording, Paisley asks how long some Christians can turn their backs on others who are living and dying in agony merely because of disagreement over life choices.
Finally, "Place 4 My Heart" (inspired by Habitat For Humanity), a song that is written from the perspective of a homeless person, a man frightfully aware not only of his circumstance ("winter's coming and I'm not sure where I'll rest my head") but of his Divine right to know love and compassion in this life ("I need a place for my heart to call home. A roof over my head with love to spare")
"I'm grateful that my life has room at this stage to purposefully create art and music that reflect the immediacy of the current human condition." Says Paisley, "I believe that there are wonderful people working endlessly not only to save souls, but save hearts and minds as well. They need our help: our prayers, our money, our talent, and our time and energy"
How I Eat Quiche
By Paul Landkamer
FaithWriters.comAre YOU a real man or woman? What's "real"? Is it the TV or movie image?
Paisley Yankolovich tackles subjects in his Real Man album not often approached in Christian music. Like the last of his CDs I heard, Does God Sleep, Real Man is a thinker's album. Yankolovich raises questions on image, betrayal, deception, human frailty, inadequacy and failure, and hints at the obvious answer in Christ, but doesn't rub the listener's noses in it.Quoted from his MySpace site:
Paisley performs alone in a VERY theatrical style. Imagine "Jesus Christ Superstar" done (successfully) as a one-man-act, add some Billy Graham and Rocky Horror and you've scratched the surface on the force of nature that is Paisley!
On hearing his music, and seeing his performance schedule, then pondering the above, about all I can say is, "Wow! I would love to see how he puts all that together!"
There are eight tracks on the CD and the lyrics (even after reading) beg for the album to be listened to over and over. Without God, life is a gamble. We're given dreams, time, gifts, relationships and so much. This first track, "Gambling Dreams" seems to ask that we embrace God and not just poke him to see if we can figure Him out. Track two explores our putting up false fronts. The third track attacks faddishness. We try to follow all the rules, and often lose track of where our sights should really be.
In "Mistakes", the fourth track, Paisley ponders old mistakes of his. I can't help but think of Jaci Velasquez's song, "Show You Love" and its, "I don't want to be the one to push you out of reach." Paisley admits his own errors in young-Christian zealousness. But Steve Taylor sings in, "I Want to be a Clone" when the young Christian wants to tell his friends, "What!? He's still a babe. He has to grow. Give it twenty years or so" It's a fine line to walk, but God's Word has to get out. (You didn't do wrong, Paisley, you may well have planted a seed somewhere.) Track five sings of so many people who know there's right and wrong, but are spiritually asleep in the Light. Often evil lurks where people try to avoid the light, and as in the song, it can erupt into abusiveness. The line, "Do you believe in Hell? -- 'Cause Hell believes in you" is strong. It always makes me flinch for others. I pray the flinch isn't a self-righteous one.
"Take a Bow", track six, gives an analogy that at first, I thought was a bit irreverent, but on subsequent listenings, it's true. Buying a car is a commitment, as is giving your life to Jesus. And being reborn isn't as complicated as lots of people want to make it.
You have the right to be saved. It's like buying a car. You can walk right in -- Say, "It's my turn now" -- Lay down your sin and in the Throne Room bow -- Now Take A Bow
The title track contrasts living like a real man against the false images we're constantly barraged with. The question dances around all over the song, "What's a real man?" I hear only one Answer, though it remained unwritten in the song. The final track, "Die in My Arms" is on abusive relationships where one wallows in another's muck. The message is don't be pulled down into the muck. Rise above it.
Paisley Yankolovich's unpretentious electronic one-man-band style is refreshingly different, to say the least. He doesn't try to sound like anyone but Paisley Yankolovich. Listen to his work, and read his lyrics. You might acquire the taste. I know I did. Mr. Yankolovich, if you're reading this, I may not make it down to the Southwest to see you in concert, so when's your DVD coming out?
PAISLEY YANKOLOVICH - Real Man
By Kevin Wierzbicki
Rocknworld.comPaisley is a one man band who sings over programmed beats and synth music, he loves God and writes Him into a lot of his songs, and he's, well, a little wacky. On "Stop Smoking" Yankolovich is quite serious about tuning into the Almighty to slough off the vice but he delivers the song as if he's Devo; it's easy to imagine a campy stage show that might go along with the song---a bevy of dancing cigarettes that burn out, their last puff rising skyward in the shape of a halo. Yankolovich actually has the voice of a bluesman---a bluesman on the edge---and the unlikely juxtaposition of that voice with modern beats works nicely for him. Yankolovich works tirelessly; you can find him out performing almost every night. He's also been known to give away his music; check it out at http://www.paisleyyankolovich.com
Does God Sleep?
by Paul Landkamer
FaithWriters.com
12/10/06Paisley Yankolovich is an artist you can’t miss, should you ever get a chance to hear him! With a voice reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Tom Petty, Paisley sings a message of reality. There’s nothing sugar-coated about it. Summing up my first impression of him, he’s an honest, approachable, acoustic, computer-backed one-man band. I wasn’t used to his vocal style, but it very quickly grew on me.
Much of Paisley Yankolovich’s music, as heard on his Does God Sleep CD is thinking music. It throws a message at you and doesn’t give an obvious happy stereotypical answer.
The opening track, “There’s a Man” is a computer beat to a message of “There’s a man, going ‘round, taking names.” He sings of many names he’s taken down. I’ll admit my ignorance of this song, but Paisley doesn’t come right out and say who “the man” is. Whose list are you going to be part of? Track two sings of time without Jesus as being “Wasted Time”. The song’s got an intensity not often associated with an acoustic guitar solo. Paisley’s style begs the listener to tune in and hear what he has to say. “Cancer”, the third track starts off singing of hypocrites being a cancer on the body of Jesus Christ. He then goes into a theme switch that he sees himself in the hypocrite’s eyes, and how we’re all to get the planks out of our eyes before we start criticizing others.
“(We Just) Disappear” shows many typical Christians as feeling lonely, despite the fact that we’ve got Jesus. He sings of desperation, fussing, and so on. Then goes into how we often disappear when the going starts to get tough. We need to confidently fight the fight, and know Jesus is on our side! Track five is a bluesy, traditional-sounding acoustic solo of “Trampin’”, tryin’ to make heaven my home. “Sean Brown” is a haunting song of knowing about someone who’s searching, but not giving Jesus his life. Sean Brown died before making that commitment. The eerie minor-keyed song repeats the post-mortum question, “Sean Brown: where is Sean Brown?” Track seven challenged me a bit with one of the lines which give me a language-flinch. Is it cussing or not? I’ll let you judge: Paisley poses the question about worldly culture in “Ticket to Ride”: “Where the hell has our culture gone?” He also points out that there WILL be tears in Heaven, but Jesus will be there to wipe them away.
Track eight sings of suffering children. They may be victims of abuse, abortion, or maybe children who die without hearing the Gospel. He says, “Listen to innocence cry.” Yankolovich leaves a vivid picture when he sings, “They should be washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, and not their own.” More abuse comes out in “Don’t Touch Me Anymore”. It’s also a song of anger, frustration and forgiveness. He sings that God still loves the abuser and tackles an even more difficult point: “And He loves you, though I don’t know why… and He loves you. –And so do I.” The last track poses a question we all likely ask from time to time when life gets difficult, or when we don’t have all the answers. The title song, “Does God Sleep?” asks why God gave him the people in his life, then asks if God sleeps. He answers it with an obvious, “I don’t think so.”
Yankolovich’s musical style is one of pure honesty. He doesn’t hold back. With five CDs of his now out, I’ll soon be adding more of his work to my collection! Check him out! You won’t be sorry.
His third CD, “Does God Sleep?,” a rock opera of sorts, casts us into the world of Paisley Yankolovich. Combining theater and performance art, in a musical mix of style (rock, pop, country, grunge, dance, and more than a bit of Broadway), Paisley has reinvented the wheel, so to speak, and his new approach to music ministry (and the winning of souls for Jesus), is compelling.
Paisley wears his heart and agenda on his sleeve. He may be behaving like a born-again Mick Jagger (or Johnny Rotten-depending on your knowledge of music history), but he is clearly here for a single purpose: to tell everyone about Jesus!
“Does God Sleep?” is a self-produced collection of ten powerful and challenging works from a man who has lived every word he preaches. Whether he is confronting Christian complacency (“(We Just) Disappear”), encouraging the brokenhearted (“Does God Sleep?”), commenting on the human condition (the volatile “Ticket To Ride”), or reveal some of life’s greatest challenges (“Don’t Touch Me Anymore”), Paisley proves himself a force of nature.
His take-no-prisoners approach, tempered with obvious compassion and life experience, has caused many to take notice of this unusual, new, Christian artist-not to mention his clearly established gifts of healing and prophesy. Paisley has stated, “As much as I love to sing and to perform the incredible songs God has bestowed upon me, it truly is the doors to fellowship and ministry the music opens that I crave.”
Crave indeed. Paisley is known to stick around for hours after a concert, making sure that anyone who desires to speak to him, or receive prayer, is honored. “I love the people God has placed in my path,” says Paisley, “They provide the memories I take home with me at the end of the day.”
“Does God Sleep?” has a street date of January 5, 2006. Advance promotional copies are available now!
PAISLEY YANKOLOVICH: ITCH
He doesn’t look, act, or sound like anyone in Contemporary Christian Music, he has been called a modern-day Keith Green (a moniker he challenges
profusely), he is fast becoming recognized as one of the most compelling performers in the body of Christ, and thousands are coming to know the Lord through his unique music ministry.His sophomore effort, “ITCH,” a rock opera of sorts, casts us into the world of Paisley Yankolovich. Combining theater and performance art, in a musical mix of style (rock, pop, country, grunge, dance, and a bit of Broadway), Paisley has reinvented the wheel, so to speak, and his new approach to music ministry (and the winning of souls for Jesus), is compelling.
Paisley wears his heart and agenda on his sleeve. He may be behaving like a born-again Mick Jagger (or Johnny Rotten-depending on your knowledge of
music history), but he is clearly here for a single purpose: to tell everyone about Jesus!“ITCH” is a self-produced collection of nine powerful and challenging works from a man who has lived every word he preaches. Whether he is confronting Christian complacency (“Save One More For Jesus,” “Sad Christmas”), encouraging the brokenhearted (“Clear Blue Sky,” “Sugar In The Water”), commenting on the human condition (the volatile “Itch,” “This Tattoo”), or just worshiping in song (“Under His Shadow,” “Liberty”), Paisley proves himself a force of nature.
His take-no-prisoners approach, tempered with obvious compassion and life experience, has caused many to take notice of this unusual, new, Christian
artist-not to mention his clearly established gifts of healing and prophesy. Paisley has stated, “As much as I love to sing and to perform the incredible songs God has bestowed upon me, it truly is the doors to
fellowship and ministry the music opens that I crave.”Crave indeed. Paisley is known to stick around for hours after a concert, making sure that anyone who desires to speak to him, or receive prayer, is honored. “I love the people God has placed in my path,” says Paisley, “They provide the memories I take home with me at the end of the day.”
Does God Sleep?
©2010
