Genre:
Members: Luke Caldwell (vocals, guitar), Steven Harder (guitar), Tony Caruso (bass), Nolan Mather (drums)
For fans of: Bleach, Matchbox Twenty, The Goo Goo Dolls, Lifehouse
Label: courtesy of A'postrophe Records

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When you think of the breeding ground for Christian music's artists of tomorrow, you probably don't initially think of Idaho. But Luke Caldwell, Steven Harder, Tony Caruso and Nolan Mather—better known as Grand Prize—may soon change all that. A power-pop rock band based at Calvary Chapel Boise, where lead singer Caldwell's father is the pastor and Caldwell himself served as youth pastor for five years, Grand Prize has a fresh sound that's being compared to current hit makers Switchfoot and Jeremy Camp. Caldwell says the band is "just four simple guys who love Jesus and want to serve Him" with their music. They hope to do just that with Identity, which releases on Apostrophe Records in January 2005.

Produced by local favorite Scott Pergande, Identity is full of 11 catchy, relentlessly hooky tunes—all written by the band—reminiscent at times of artists such as U2, Pearl Jam, The Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20. The follow-up to Reveal Your Love, the band's well received 2002 indie debut which had several singles on the CHR chart and has now sold over 8,000 copies, Identity will be welcomed with open ears and hearts by Christian music fans everywhere, especially the band's substantial West Coast fan base which has been nurtured by three years of nearly constant touring.

The album's catchy leadoff track, "It's Not Over," is a made-for-radio future chart topper that stays in the head for hours. The song is a plea for the listener to surrender their will to the Lord: "You say that you love Him with your life/Yet you're going your own way/You need to let Him have your rights/Let Him take control of your life/He'll set you free tonight."

The unforgettable first single, "King of Kings," is the kind of song that entire careers are built on. With blistering guitars, this powerful, crunchy rock tune invites God to "Come and make my heart Your home." The intense background chant, which Caldwell says is "different than anything we've ever done before," is sure to help this single quickly establish itself in an increasingly crowded radio landscape.

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