The Uprising to open 1st Thursdays April 6

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 16, 2006

1st Thursdays will feature The Uprising, a Catholic band from Sioux Falls, as the opening act on April 6. The main act will be After the Order, a band from Hastings, Neb.

Les and Angie Lutter, parishioners at Immaculate Conception Parish in Sioux City, started 1st Thursdays. Christian rock concerts are now being held each month at the American Legion Hall in South Sioux City.

1st Thursdays began in January and will have its fourth concert in April at the American Legion Hall, 109 E. 19th, in South Sioux City, Neb. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the opening act will start at 7 p.m. Cost of the event is $5 at the door.

Angie pointed out that the first month there were about 30 people who attended the concert. In February there were 93 people and in March there were 73 people.

"Each time we have been about breaking even, other than the first month," said Angie. "A lot of the them are the same kids and then they bring friends."

Angie explained that she hopes more youth groups will bring students in the future to get more youth involved.

The Uprising band members include Sam Nicolai on vocals, Chris Gacke on bass, Jon Seaman on drums, Kevin Jansa on lead guitar and vocals and Chris Mutchler on lead rhythm guitar.

"We are excited because we haven't had any Catholic bands, especially young ones," said Angie. "The Uprising members are all in high school."

The Catholic band plays a combination of blues, raggae and Indie rock music. Jansa and Nicolai write most of the music.

After going to a Steubenville conference, Jansa realized that "God is completely real. That was my musical inspiration. Everything was about God and everything was for God."

"Our best song by far is 'A New,'" said Jansa. "It says 'a new day, a new way, a new time, a new place. A new day on your face.' It is about starting a new. That was after Sam and I had gotten really down in the dumps. We had screwed up pretty bad. Our parents were really mad, so we thought it was the end of the world. Then we found out that God didn't care at all. He was glad that we turned away from that stuff. Everything can be forgiven."

The other main topic that the group sings about is heaven, eternal life.

"It is working towards not worrying about this life, not worrying about earthly pleasures, but pointing everything we do towards our eternal goal which is heaven with God," said Jansa.

Jansa thinks it is "awesome" that he and the band will be able to play at 1st Thursdays in South Sioux City.

"From the way I hear it, it is a lot better than any venue we have ever played," said Jansa. "We are always just playing to play music instead of playing for the message. This is actually for people who want to hear the message."

For more information, contact Angie Lutter at (712) 948-3696. For information about The Uprising, visit www.myspace.com/theeuprising.