Mission behind the music
By Denise Baran-Unland For The Herald-News April 26, 2012 1:28PM
The Original Intent, featuring Adam Pigwizd, Joey Casillas, Danny Tracy and Travis Lorenz, will be one of several bands playing Hope for Haiti Battle of the Bands at Judson Memorial Baptist Church in Jolie on April 28, 2012. | SUBMITTED PHOTO
If you go
What: Hope for Haiti Battle of the Bands
When: 5–10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Judson Memorial Church, 2900 Black Road, Joliet
What: Six to eight bands will raise money for orphans in Haiti and compete for prizes
Tickets: $10. Concessions available
Contact: Joe Landi, director of student ministries at Judson Memorial Baptist Church, at 815-725-6835 or jlandi@ameritech.net.
Updated: May 28, 2012 8:03AM
This summer, members of the Joliet-based, Christ-centered band, The Original Intent, will tour with a Missouri band, Art Against Oppression, to protest human trafficking.
However, on Saturday, area residents can hear and help locally.
The Original Intent is one of several bands playing the first Hope for Haiti Battle of the Bands. Proceeds from the event will contribute to the $15,000 organizer Mike Tackebury of Joliet wants to send to Haiti to care for its orphans.
“This is a cause we wanted to support,” said Danny Tracy, 20, of New Lenox, guitarist and vocalist. “It’s also a great way to connect with the community.”
When Tracy and his cousin, Adam Pogwizd, 19, of Shorewood, began The Original Intent a year ago, they wanted to form a band that would bring “light into a dark world” for ordinary people, whether or not they were Christians.
So they assembled the talents of Joliet residents Travis Lorenz, 18, on bass; Robert Casillas, 19, on guitar; and Joey Casillas, 18 on drums, along with Pogwizd on keyboards.
Then members concentrated on creating music with a positive but not ultra-Christian message for its teen to early 20-something fans. Because of it, The Original Intent has performed in mainstream local venues, such as Mojoes of Joliet and The Hub in New Lenox.
“When I write songs, I focus on what’s currently going on in my life or an issue that reflects society as whole,” said Tracy, a self-taught guitarist who has been writing songs since eighth grade.
One song, “Paint the World,” addresses grief one might feel following the realization that the world is an imperfect place and that everything shares in its brokenness, even the cracks in a wall.
“It’s hard to understand the world can be redeemed,” Tracy said. “The point of the song is to create positive things and to, hopefully, inspire people to believe again.”
Although The Original Intent, which plays an average of one to two concerts a month, has the mentoring support of a few local, seasoned musicians, band members are gradually learning the business side of music through their personal experiences with it.
“When you first start playing, you try to make each and every show be the end all and be all, or it’s all over,” Tracy said. “You learn to be patient, to be a work in progress and to grow as a band and get better together.”
