Guitarist-singer Paul Lanier wouldn’t say Christian rock is growing by leaps and bounds, but it isn’t losing any fans, either. Like his band Banned Loot, his says it’s “stagnant.” It’s not the most positive sounding word. Perhaps we’ll call it maintaining. Or, better yet, one of the words of the year: It’s got “sustainability.”
Banned Loot is a Christian band hailing from the Hartford area of Connecticut. It grew out of a duo with Paul and his son David, who plays electric guitar. They started the duo in 2003, and shortly after, David brought in his friend Mike Shonk on drums. Through connections at the local churches, Maggie Massicotte joined on lead vocals, as did Mike Smith on bass and Benlio Bussinguer on keys and vocals.
With someone of a generational gap within the band (David and Shonk are now 24), Paul says the age differences add a variety of influences and approaches to the songwriting and style, which gets compared to that of Third Day or Jars of Clay.
“We all pitch in,” said Paul. “If someone has a melody or lyrics, we work on them. I’ve had to stretch myself and other people have had to stretch, too. I think it’s fun.”
Paul writes most of the lyrics, which have found their way onto a Banned Loot disc in 2006 called Refuge, an EP last year called Because You are Loved, and a solo release that came out nine years ago called Ponder the Road.
“Most of my lyrics are about how God interacts in our lives and in other people’s lives, and what we see from our perspectives,” said Paul. “There is an appeal of our music to the non-religious crowd, too.”
DETAILS:
What: Banned Loot
When: Friday, March 5, at 7 p.m.
Where: Mill Church Café, 45 River St., Millbury
Cost: Free-will offering
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