Christian rock may seem like an oxymoron, but Jars of Clay has managed to spread the good word all over MTV and alternative-rock radio with its single "Flood." The song made it into the Top 10, and the band's eponymous debut cracked the Top 50. Not since Stryper went platinum with the 1986 album "To Hell With the Devil" has a Christian rock band received such widespread recognition. Matt Odmark, a guitarist for Jars of Clay says the band's music "sends a true message about who we are as humans, and who God is, and paints an accurate picture of that relationship."

As the messengers most successful in getting through to the secular world, Jars of Clay will headline the 11^th annual Kingdom Bound festival, Wednesday at 9 p.m. in Darien Lake. The three-day festival, which runs through Friday, promises more than the guitars-and-warbly-voices that usually characterize Christian music. The bill includes Carman, Steven Curtis Chapman, the Newsboys (from Australia), a reggae group called Christafari, Audio Adrenaline, Anointed and Geoff Moore and the Distance. Call it Lordapalooza. There's even a second stage with alternative bands such as Third Day, Three Crosses and Church of Rhythm.

Can we expect to see Alice Cooper on the next Kingdom Bound tour, since the godfather of shock-rock recently revealed his conversion to the Christian faith: Probably not, because the festival is primarily a family event-which means plenty of motivational speakers, marriage counselors, sports clinics and kids' activities. The ticket price includes admission to the theme park.*

*Article transcribed from The Buffalo News, August 15, 1997, Gusto page 3.