Pillar 'Fireproof' album

Straight from the heartland, Pillar lives up to the name, standing tall and strong since forming in 1998. In its first incarnation as an indie release, Pillar's album FIREPROOF generated a pair of #1 Christian rock singles and won the band widespread acclaim. Produced by Travis Wyrick, FIREPROOF has been fully remixed by ace producer/remixers Mudrock (Godsmack, Puya) and Rich Costey (Audioslave, RATM), and is set for re-release on MCA. Pillar is set to wage a musical shock and awe campaign uniquely their own.

"Now the album sounds incredible," says vocalist/lyricist Rob Beckley. "Before, it was toned down, and didn't have the boom and punch it has now."

FIREPROOF showcases Pillar's self-confidence, moving effortlessly between extremes of rock and trip-hop. The bursting title track (offered in two remixed versions) is an anthemic mission statement, while "Behind Closed Doors," with its exhortation to choose truth over comfortable self-deception, establishes Rob's rapping fluency. "A Shame" is a portrait of an intimate conversation about faith, so radically redesigned in its remixed version, it's almost a new song. "We changed the guitar, drum and bass so much," says Rob, "it's absolutely night-and-day different, and for the better."

"Echelon" is a hip-hop battle cry, with Noah Henson's guitar ratcheting up the tension, while the autobiographical "Hindsight" offers a brutally honest assessment of the past and an enduringly hopeful take on the future. Notes Rob, "There are a lot of people out there saying ?Don't do this or that,' but how can you tell kids that, when you know nothing about it? You gotta tell them why. Someone who's been there knows."

"Light At My Feet" multi-tasks as a subtly jazz-influenced yet highly melodic rocker, and on the frenetic "Stay Up," Florida mc KJ-52 joins in as a perfect counter-rapper to Rob. "Epidemic" and "Just To Get By" are equally potent tracks, each pummeling a world gone mad.

The album's most overtly political track, "Indivisible," conveys a message of enduring pride in America, and the ballad "Further From Myself" certifies Rob's visionary skill as a lyricist, linking a loss of ego with the journey to the center of faith and understanding.

Pillar

That's a journey the members of Pillar have been on for years. The group first coalesced in Hays, Kansas in early 1998, when several original members were enrolled in Ft. Hays State University. Singer Rob Beckley was the ideal frontman: born and raised in Plainville, KS, Rob enjoyed a classic Midwestern upbringing but at the same time worshiped the Beastie Boys ("Licensed To Ill changed my life," he says). Later, he played sax in the high school jazz band, becoming so proficient, he won a scholarship to a music conservatory. But after partying a little too hard in school, he decided to shape up by joining the military.

Once out of the service, he returned to Kansas, falling in with a group of musicians that formed the nucleus of Pillar. The line-up bounced around a bit, but within a year, it was fairly solid. After self-producing two CDs, the band signed with indie label Flicker Records, which released Pillar's debut album Above in September 2000. The success of its debut single "Open Your Eyes" led to more than 60,000 in album sales. The band won Best Rock Band at the 2001 Dove Awards and established a strong national presence. In addition to record sales, much of the band's success can be chalked up to their live show. "It's a workout," says bassist Kalel of their stage persona. "We go almost to the point of passing out." Adds Rob, "We work our butts off. We're the first to arrive, first to set up, and we make sure everything's tight and working."

Making a permanent home of their touring van, Pillar has played before thousands of ecstatic fans at scores of summer festivals, as well as a 50-city tour with Skillet and their own relentless club gigs. Fans aren't alone in their admiration of frontman Beckley. "That boy can sing," says bassist Kalel, "and rap and scream. His voice is amazingly powerful. Rob is an aggressive tough guy, and it comes across onstage. It's not fake for him."

In 2001, guitarist Noah Henson joined the band in time for the making of FIREPROOF, which shipped from Flicker in May 2002. Not only did the album hit #6 on Billboard's Heatseeker chart, the title track perched at #1 for an astounding 11 weeks straight. By year's end, the band had won R&R Magazine's "Rock Record of the Year" award. Once drummer Lester Estelle joined the band last year, Pillar's permanent line-up was set. This year, besides signing with MCA, the band has toured the U.S. on the See Spot Rock tour.

With a dossier like that, it's no wonder a label like MCA came calling. How does the band feel about moving into the mainstream? Says Kalel, "Any doors that open, we're willing to go through." Just as other spiritually-rooted bands have found great mainstream success, the members of Pillar are blazing new trails as they bring their music to a wider audience.

Pillar

"We're not gonna change who we are just because we're in front of more people," notes Rob. "If people see you're real, they respect that. I don't have the same beliefs as Godsmack, but I love their music. People can be spoken to in different ways." And even if Pillar has an approach that differs from most mainstream bands, notes Kalel, "We don't shove it down people's throats. Our goal is to rock so hard that we get respect. If people then find out what we're into, then that's awesome."

With the band now based in Tulsa, OK, and musically tighter than ever, Rob says Pillar is pumped way up for the months ahead. "We're just down-to-earth guys," he says. "We're not doing this to be rock stars. We want people to come out and have a good time."

Adds Kalel, "We do what we need to do... only we do it a little bit louder."

Rob Beckley - vocals
Lester Estelle - drums
Noah Henson - guitar
Kalel - bass

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Tracklisting

Pillar - Fireproof