Good News Tucson - A Family Values Publication

Hawk Nelson, Bob and Larry Come to the Ballpark
By Ashley Donde

Energy and excitement will be brimming at Tucson Electric Park the evening of August 31st as Hawk Nelson takes the stage for the final show of their summer Baseball Tour concert series.

The increasingly popular Christian pop-punk band will be the center of Faith Night, a unique night for believers to gather at the ballpark and enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship. Faith night also features the Veggie Tales characters, Bob and Larry, as well as a fireworks display.

The band will be performing all across America this summer, from New York to California, at various baseball stadiums. Daniel Biro, bass player for Hawk Nelson, describes the group as an "energy band," with a calling to encourage kids that God has a plan for their lives.

Biro said the Faith Night experience has been "overwhelmingly good."

"We're so thankful to be doing this, and encourage kids," he said.

The Tucson concert will be the final show for Hawk Nelson's Baseball Tour.

"I don't want it to be the last show," said Biro. "But Tucson is a great place and I'm excited."

Hawk Nelson's first album, "Letters to the President," debuted in June 2004. Since then, they have appeared on NBC's "American Dreams," made a cameo performance in the 2005 film "Yours, Mine & Ours," and have had close to ten songs featured on various television shows and films. They

released their second album, "Smile, It's the End of the World," in April 2006, and plan on working on a third album this fall, according to Biro.

Despite the growing fame of this talented group, "we're not too serious," said Biro. "We live everyday to its fullest. I think we're younger than we're supposed to be in our twenties."

This youthful energy may explain why the band has enjoyed the casual, fun environment of performing at baseball games.

"It doesn't feel like work," said Biro. He explained that the band (lead singer Jason Dunn, guitarist Jonathon Steingard and drummer 'Sqwid') enjoys watching the games after performing. "It's better than we pictured. We bring our gloves and throw the ball around. It's like a dream come true."

Unlike most Faith Night performances, the concert at TEP will begin after the game is over. But keep your eye out for lead singer Dunn to toss out the first pitch of the evening.

Last year Audio Adrenaline performed for the first Faith Night held at TEP. "It was such a strong success in drawing 7,873 fans that it just might become an annual event for us," said Landon Vincent, director of media relations for the Tucson Sidewinders.

The Friday night event will begin with the game, against the Sacramento River Cats, at 6pm. Following the game will be a 15-minute performance by The Send, and then a 45-minute concert with Hawk Nelson. General seating tickets are $16. The show will be full of great music, some words shared by the band and audience interaction. "We have some tricks up our sleeves," said Biro.

To purchase tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com.