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It is on this beautiful verse that Georgia’s Finding Favour bases their ministry. It’s a ministry that isn’t afraid to lay it all out in true rock and roll style. It’s a ministry that meets people where they are but refuses to leave them there. It’s a ministry that wears its heart on its sleeve in the hopes that the members will find favor in His sight. Most of all however, it’s the ministry of four people sharing their journey, loyally and faithfully, with the world around them.
Finding Favour’s foundation was laid when vocalist Blake Neesmith and guitarist Allen Dukes began working together in their home church’s worship team. A short time later, bassist Dustin Daniels joined them, with guitarist Ricky Dunn eventually rounding out the group. Over time the players matured together and it became evident that it was time to explore their sound more fully. Arising from a range of diverse influences such as blues, gospel, rock, and funk, the band masterfully commands their sound, speaking with authority both musically and lyrically, while inspiring the listener to reach for the unreachable.
“What we hope to do is bring something unique to the table,” begins vocalist Blake Neesmith. “It seems that today’s new artists are just repeating what someone else has already done,” he continues. Ultimately what people need is something honest, real, and different. And it’s these same qualities that Neesmith hopes others will hear in Finding Favour’s music.
While it’s honesty that they hope people find in their songs, it’s the band’s eyes-wide-open style live set that has earned them high profile spots alongside some of today’s most recognizable artists including Jeremy Camp, Jonah 33, By The Tree, and a host of others. In fact, the band’s first performance outside the church was in front of thousands of NASCAR fans at a race in Talladega. “When you come to see us live, you come expecting to see a rock show and that’s what you’ll get,” declares Dukes. “Our first priority though is to carry out the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, so you will also experience God in worship as we lift up His name.”
In late 2007 Finding Favour inked a deal with renowned producer Barry Blair’s (Audio Adrenaline) Tonecrash Records. Produced by Blair, the band’s debut self-titled album will be digitally released on February 19, 2008 through both iTunes and the label’s online home, www.tonecrashrecords.com. Featuring the single “Hear Them Breathe,” a song about taking time to recognize the important things in life no matter how small they seem at the time, the album boasts an eclectic set of songs that will appeal to fans of early Third Day and Mercy Me while journeying far beyond the limited view of any specific genre.
For now, the men of Finding Favour remain grounded amidst the flurry of activity surrounding the band. The band continues to lead worship at their home church, Cedar Crossing Church of God, in southern Georgia. For them, integrity is of the utmost importance. In today’s overcrowded music scene listeners are constantly searching for music that they can relate to, music that speaks to and inspires them. Somewhere within the thousands of MySpace pages, the endless stream of artist’s websites, and the massive iTunes store, exists the band that music lovers are craving…and their name is Finding Favour. |