Will play for food Christian concert tour promoting aid for the hungry to stop in Orrington, Saco

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In the ’80s, teenage girls would crimp their blond side-ponytails, wear fishnets on their arms and draw beauty marks on their upper lips with eyeliner to emulate the revered Material Girl.

Christian rock band Jonah 33 wants fans to follow their lead, too, but in the opposite direction ? away from Madonna’s material world and toward selfless service for the poor and hungry.

The band will be part of a Will Play for Food tour stopping May 27 at Calvary Chapel in Orrington.

The band’s grunge-influenced sound has been compared to Lifehouse, and the three musicians hope their high-powered set at the Orrington stop will drive concertgoers to take collective action to reject materialism and embrace the joys of volunteering.

For the Orrington congregation, bringing the tour to Calvary Chapel, where a good number of the members are young, was a “no brainer,” said the church’s assistant pastor, Jim Lord.

“Jonah 33 is heavier, edgier,” said Lord, 42, of Bangor. “It really preaches the Word. … With some of the [religious] bands out there, if you didn’t know they were Christians, you wouldn’t know if they were talking to their girlfriend or the Lord.”

But Jonah 33’s songs are solidly based in Scripture, Lord said. Jonah 33 will be joined by Kainos, hard pop a la No Doubt, and Fusebox, with a catchy, contemporary sound, at the free performance.

Lord said hosting this concert, designed to appeal to diverse musical tastes, was a fitting way to “get the Gospel message out there.”

More fitting is the way Jonah 33 and the other bands on the tour will spend their visit. You could call them rock stars, but true to their principles, they aren’t coming with picky contract demands, and they won’t be staying in swank hotels. The bands will be lodging with host families, sleeping in borrowed beds and eating home-cooked meals around a full table, something that Lord can certainly respect.

“So many people are starving,” he said, “yet, the majority of us have everything we need.” Bringing that crisis into the public awareness is Lord’s ? and the bands’ ? aim with the tour.

During the concerts, the bands heavily plug Food for the Hungry, an organization that facilitates volunteering to benefit those in need. It has instituted programs to benefit the survivors of the earthquakes in Southeast Asia and the flooding in Mozambique. Its Web site includes a “Child of the Day” visitors can sponsor. A video presentation on the group will play at one point during the concert.

Lord anticipates 1,500 to 2,000 concertgoers. The bands will be part of a larger show called “Soul Jam” at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, May 28, at Fun Town USA in Saco.

“It’s open to anyone. [Your religious affiliation] doesn’t matter. We’re hoping more non-Christians will come, to be honest with you. This is an opportunity to them to hear the Gospel.”

Donations at the concert are encouraged. For information on the Will Play for Food concert, call Calvary Chapel at 991-9555. To find out more about Soul Jam, call 622-1340. For information on Food for the Hungry, visit www.food-for-the-hungry.com.

Jonah 33

www.jonah33.com

Jonah 33 gives it to you straight. The band’s newest single is called “Watching You Die,” and as you might guess, the song isn’t one to fall asleep by. Vince Lichlyter’s voice is best described as a growl, and the lyrical motifs ? the death of self and the power of God ? are most often given a coarse, chilling, maniacal presentation. The band, which just released its self-titled debut album in 2003, names Pearl Jam and Nirvana as early influences. Brace yourself; these are songs with muscle.

Kainos

www.kainosmusic.com

Husband and wife Hannah and Ben Stacy build their sound on the foundation of Hannah Stacy’s tenacious vocals and the sleek frame of Ben Stacy’s songwriting. Departing from standard Christian rock themes, the two focus their lyrics and message not necessarily on having God in your life, but on having God in your life for the right reasons. Kainos’ first album, “Alive,” released in April, was hyped to its limit and debuted in good standing. Fans will be asking for “Selfish Me,” the band’s first single.

Fusebox

www.fuseboxmusic.com

Singles from the band’s latest album, “Once Again,” have gained momentum on Christian music charts. Look for personal inflection from singer-bassist Billy Buchanan, who carries painful childhood memories of divorce, abuse and alcoholism. Buchanan’s voice has been compared to Lenny Kravitz’s, and the band is often likened to P.O.D. for its potent lyrics and jaunty sound. “Once Again” is Fusebox’s second album, but the band might best be known for touring with Christian pop giant Rebecca St. James in 2001.

Will Play for Food

Featuring Christian bands Jonah 33, Fusebox and Kainos

Doors open at 6 p.m., concert begins at 7 p.m. Friday, May 27

Calvary Chapel, 154 River Road, Orrington

Free admission

Information, 991-9555