On this episode, we are joined by keyboardist and songwriter Ojo Taylor, guitarist and writer Gym Nicholson, long-time lead vocalist Sim Wilson, and drummer Gary Olsen of the Orange County rock band Undercover for an expansive conversation recorded in front of a live audience at the Audiofeed Festival in Illinois. Undercover emerged in the early 1980s at the pole position of the frenetic “second wave” of Jesus Rock that saw an explosion of New Wave, Punk, Rock, and pop bands like Lifesavors, Altar Boys, Lifters, Common Bond, Crumbacher, Youth Choir, and others fill high school auditoriums, bowling alleys, parks, and church youth halls with a righteous racket that thrilled teens, worried some parents, and eventually set the stage for the big business era of Christian rock in the 90s. Ojo Taylor not only led Undercover, though, he was also a curator of this bourgeoning scene – managing labels, producing albums, and putting together one of the most important early compilation albums – which spins when we crank up the now sticker-covered Jukebox for an overview of those heady, loud, formative years.
Ojo made more waves in what’s left of this underground community when he publicly admitted that he no longer holds the same religious beliefs for which he rocked so passionately back in the day. Like others, his personal spiritual journey has taken him in a direction that does not include the Evangelical faith of his younger years. But earlier this year, when a Christian music festival invited the long-defunct band to reunite for a special show, they agreed – and rocked Audiofeed (and before that, the Anaheim House of Blues) quite successfully. Why would a band with differing beliefs agree to gigs like those?
As Ojo says, “Belief is overrated. Agreement is overrated. Love is underrated.”
Find full Show Notes, including photos and video from Undercover’s set at Audiofeed HERE or at TrueTunes.com/Undercover
God Gave Rock and Roll To You: The Clash of the CCM Historians w Dr. Leah Payne and JJT
@45RPM - Rolling Lost Tape with Jim Goodwin of The Call
Microdose: Propaganda
Microdose: The Choir
Microdose: Young Oceans
Microdose: Neal Morse
Microdose: Phil Cook’s Spiritual Helpline
Microdose: Natalie Bergman
Microdose: Sandra McCracken
Microdose: Terry Scott Taylor
Microdose: Steve Scott
Microdose: Taylor Leonhardt
Microdose: Michael Roe
Microdose: Amy Grant
Microdose: Charlie Peacock
Mylon LeFevre (In His Own Words)
@45RPM The Choir’s 1988 Classic LP ”Chase The Kangaroo”
@45RPM John Pantano (Pantano/Salsbury) On Their 1977 Larry Norman Produced LP ”Hit The Switch”
Loving The Alien: JJT & Allan Aguirre Talk Bowie (Plus Scaterd Few & Spyglass Blue on the Jukebox)
Special Edition: Couples Skate (Jukebox Takeover)
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