POD: Payable on Death Rocking the Los Angeles Convention Center

If I had no knowledge of Christianity or thought that rock and roll belonged outside of the church I would have been in for a shocking, and slightly pleasant, surprise on the weekend of June 27^th, 2008. What would it take for you, by the way, to attend a three-day Christian outreach music festival hosted by a church such as Calvary Chapel Golden Springs? Would you or have you questioned who is this Jesus they are discussing and singing so boisterously about? And what on God's green earth, or blue actually, would four tattooed hard-core rockers like POD (Payable on Death) have anything to do with God's love? And why is everyone around you so happy? I mean real joy that seems to thrive even in the midst of horrible life trials.

The Los Angeles Convention Center was barely large enough to contain the masses that walked through its doors. This was a well-thought out event, however, perfectly organized which might be the reason concert goers were on their best behavior. On June 28^th, they came to hear INO/Columbia Records recording artist POD . . . for free. Amazing really, since POD tickets would probably run you anywhere between $15 - $30. For instance, advance tickets for their upcoming show in the Westfair Amphitheater in Council Bluffs, Iowa will cost you $29.99 through Ticketmaster outlets. That particular show will feature Snoop Dogg, The Kottonmouth Kings, Five Finger Death Punch and Fiction Plane.

In any case, POD fans here in Los Angeles looked rowdy with their tats and strange hairdos (not that our hair in the 80's didn't bring frowns to our parents' faces) but these kids were very polite. Obviously they weren't all Christians but they were probably all prayed for in advance-interesting concept indeed.

The line to see POD could have reached The Staples Center down the street. It went from inside the Convention Center out the doors, around the side of the Convention Center, then around the last pillar, and finally back inside again. Nobody cut in line or complained about the heat. What is up with this crowd? All in all about 16,000 or perhaps 20,000 people squeezed inside the LA Convention Center and promptly found their seats. Us older folks stayed away from the stage and gladly sat in the back half of the Center. Didn't help of course, the music was just as loud there. Furthermore, about six giant screens allowed you to enjoy the concert from wherever you sat. The only difference was we weren't yelling as much as the kids up front.

Before POD's appearance, in this free concert exposé, Phil Wickam and his band treated the crowd to some fine tunes. There is nothing more relaxing than hearing Church music with a beat. Yes, even us oldies had to "sway" to the music, and let out a few woo hoos. Phil knows how to win over a crowd. It was more than his good looks and high energy performance. His music affects the core of your very life, it just makes you smile when you don't understand why it is you are smiling, and makes you say, "Hmm, maybe God is cool."

After Phil's last song, the MC kept everything in continuous motion by throwing free hoodies and t-shirts by skateboard clothing company C1rca into the crowd-always a nice touch. When the box of clothes was empty another band was introduced and the music played on.

Rebirth with their hip hop, soul-filled songs kept the masses entertained before the main event. I'm not one to critique or review Rebirth. I don't know much about hip hop or soul but I did recognize that they were extremely gifted musicians and Anointed S, the Prince of Beat Box, was simply amazing. Apparently he has so many sounds stored in the depths of his lungs he really doesn't need a band. Rebirth has a female lead singer and features Shane Ries, Pastor Raul Ries' son, on guitar.

When finally it came time to let it all loose the crowd chanted POD, POD and so forth. After an off-the-wall intro blaring through the speakers - a hymn of sorts by an unknown cowboy from 100 years ago - it got very, very loud. This is the moment you realize that you will lose all hearing for the next few days, your kids will not have a voice left so you must take advantage, and why they never bothered to have us turn our cell phones off. The atmosphere was, as they say, electrifying, and even though people were united by a love for this four-piece band it was more than that. The music was the means to a God with a promise (from all the lyrics of every song sung so far) that He could change people' lives for the better.

At any rate, lead singer Sonny (without dreads) took over the stage and the kids went . . . well, wild. It was a rather controlled chaos, however, even when they stormed the stage. I'm sure the LA Convention Center has had it share of deafening events, but this pretty much had to rate as one of the loudest. There was a mosh pit, of course, lots of shoving, dancing and flailing around. A few kids must have run out of oxygen and sought an escape route very early on. First aide people hustled about looking for those who needed their help. "Quite an adrenaline rush," one of them told me later. All this at a Christian concert?

Sonny surprised me. This guy is a very tough, street smart looking kind of man-wears the squared-off baseball cap, has tattoos sweating all over him and wears clothes that church elders would ask him to change before entering their sacred grounds-except Calvary Chapel, no doubt. It's what makes it such a welcoming place for those who might never think of going to church. Sonny spoke sweetly to the kids, asked them to behave and respect one another. Really? A punk rocker telling kids to be nice? Furthermore, he reminded them a few times to take care of each other and have fun. Okay, now all the moms began to say, "oh how wonderful" and starting sending him some love from the back rows.

The band did perform quite a good amount of their hits that kept the kids moshing and parents walking down memory lane. I guess we're not that old after all. My sister-in-law and I joined in when "Youth of a Nation" was played and who knew we could rap right along with "Boom."

Besides Sonny, POD band members are Wuv on Drums, Traa on Bass and guitarist Marcos. You have to be in a rock band with names like that. Back-up vocals are done by Traa and Marcos. On their MySpace page they define their music as rock/reggae/punk. I did not know you could combine those but apparently they have done it well.

Like most great concert performances the night came to a close way too fast. The kids were left breathless which most likely was a sign that they had a good time. I believe my fourteen-year-old nephew said, "It was beautiful." Nonetheless, at the end of POD's performance Sonny introduced Pastor Raul Ries who gave a short message. Sonny walked off stage and then ran back to embrace Raul from behind and kissed him on his cheek. That's brotherly love, my friends.

It was these small things that impressed me most. There were genuine tears as Pastor Raul shared a little bit about his messed-up past and how he almost committed a murder suicide. You could hear a pin drop. If God is love, then this man's life seems to be proof of that. He didn't have to say much, he didn't even say anything mind shattering. Nonetheless, what he said silenced a crowd of over 16,000-at a rock concert mind you. He was sure to tell the crowd that religion won't save you, it more than likely will confuse you. God is personal and the invitation is an open one to come and hang with him.

When all was said and done, close to 2,500 people, young and old answered a call to come up front, pray with Raul and to receive their own Bible. Anyone who did not claim to be a Christian had a serious reason to at least investigate this Jesus whom these rockers had proclaimed all evening. There was no preachy sermon, yet getting to know God was a definite message. That Jesus loved everyone came through loud and clear and that if one were to accept and believe in this Jesus, life would have purpose. Furthermore, it was stressed that nothing was forced on anyone. You could walk out any time, enjoy a great concert for free, leave happy and more importantly, sober.

There are plans to bring this concert event to 29 Palms and then to Las Vegas in 2009. Calvary Chapel Golden Springs will never ask for your money. Pastor Raul believes if the money isn't there, God didn't mean for them to go forward with their plans. The LA concert was a success not because so many people came to see POD for free but that so many people came to salvation-also free.