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MTV’s No. 1 undiscovered band, Re:zound performed a special two
night concert event free and open to the public in Communist Vietnam
this past March during their 2007 Asia tour, but not without facing
seemingly impossible hurdles. This was the first time the Vietnamese
government had ever granted permission for a Christian band to play
in the country and worship Jesus Christ openly, forever changing
cultural history in this communist nation. And Re:zound not only
played for over 10,000 people worshipping God freely, but
the concert was televised live nationally to millions more via the
government controlled television network.
On the day of the first concert, Re:zound was required to audition
before Vietnam government officials to receive permission to play
its music. After much hesitation, resistance, and hours of
deliberation, the officials finally agreed to allow Re:zound to
perform that night. During the sound check later that
evening, the officials told Re:zound that they were not to play any
video that contained the words “God” or “Jesus.” The band responded
that they could not take the words out of the videos, but that the
officials were welcome to turn off the video feed for those
particular songs. The officials either forgot or were distracted by
the concert because every video played with no interruption and for
all to see.
The next day called for
rain and a big storm front, which would cancel the outdoor concert.
After much prayer, the band played that night in front of thousands
under a clear, starry sky.
“I spoke of God’s love and forgiveness for them and
about how it was not an accident that they were there, or that it
didn’t rain,” recalls Anderson
“I invited the people to receive Jesus, to make
him Lord and believe that he died and rose from the dead. The
(government hired) translator came out on the stage and began to
speak, and though I couldn’t understand what she was saying, I knew
she was trying to stop me. I realized that if the music started she
would have to be quiet, so I began to sing “Jesus is Lord” over and
over and the entire crowd began to sing with me. When I asked, ‘Who
received the Lord tonight?’ everyone as far as I could see lifted
their hands and cheered. Vietnamese history was changed that night.”
Re:zound members, Jason
Anderson (lead vocalist), Jeff Zubeck (lead guitar), Wes Bender
(acoustic/rhythm guitar), Ariel Ortiz (bass guitar) and Jordan Potts
(drums), play for crowds reaching 75,000 per event at rock crusades
since 2001. Their touring spans six nations, including Communist
Vietnam, Thailand, India and Cambodia, as well as US performances
with artists such as Jeremy Camp, Michael W. Smith, David Crowder
Band and Tree 63. In addition to being MTV’s No. 1 Undiscovered Band
of 2004, the band has also garnered three top 20 R&R Christian hit
singles with “Majesty,” “Great I Am” and “Hallelujah,” all from an
independent release in 2004. Re:zound’s Anderson further hosts a
nationally syndicated radio program, “Taking a Minute,” which plays
weekly in over 300 U.S. cities. |
RE:Zound
