The Tristin Roberts Band

Enjoying Their Salvation

� Kevan Breitinger

California rock worshippers, The Tristin Roberts Band, just released their joyous sophomore effort, "Love and Mystery." A good time was had by all.

"Love and Mystery" contains eleven diverse songs, many of them imaginatively arranged, that energetically display the bands sheer enjoyment of their life in Christ. Their sound is mostly alt rock, with a wide range of tempos, from the slammin "Let the Cat Out," all Mac Powell vocals and blistering Edge guitars, to gentle mid-tempo "One Thing," with its Sgt. Pepper keys, to the standout track "Heavenly Lights," a moody mellow ballad with the softest of vocals. Another standout is the buoyant "Free From Everything," straight-up worship and triumphant vocals. The Tristin Roberts band enjoys their salvation and they want the same for you.

The whole project is bookended by quiet acoustic ballads that shimmer with straightforward passion. The closer, simply titled "Y" repeats the exhorting refrain, "Lets get loud, lets shout it out, for the world to hear." Yes, TR Band. Lets.

Music with lofty ideals

The Tristin Roberts Band started as one boy's poetic dream, and as the words rolled from the paper into lyrics and formed songs, and songs formed a CD, the project snowballed into four men's simple stance for truth and beauty in a dark world.

In 2005, Tristin Roberts was brimming with ideas for songs of worship and adoration to God, so he rallied some musically inclined friends and his brother to put out an EP, titled Shine Bright. Flash forward to 2006 and the boys are due to release their first full-length CD on Tuesday at a concert with modern rock band Remedy Drive. The album is titled Love and Mystery, referring to, the mystery of the adventure we're on and the depth of God's love, according to guitarist Austin Roberts.

The mystery of being in a relationship with Him -- it's what keeps me going, said Austin.

On the first EP -- for which Tristin did all the song writing -- it was exclusively his brother's musical vision, but Austin wrote some of the songs on this new album and all band members pitched in musically. The result is a robust, diverse sound blended with a worshipful and creative mood. The other members include Andrew Goff on bass guitar and background vocals, and William Startare (of The SBE and Double Threat) on drums.

Every song on the album sounds completely different and unique, said Austin. That was our goal; we wanted every song to be it's own.

The Tristin Roberts Band, or TRB as those familiar with the band refer to it, has an even loftier goal of creating music for a new generation of worshipers. Our mission is to encourage young adults to worship creatively, said Tristin. TRB counts among its influences Christian bands like Switchfoot and David Crowder, but also pulls from secular bands like Wilco, U2, Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros, and the Who.

One of the big things for us is playing with Remedy Drive, said Austin. The last time 400 people showed up.

Remedy Drive has played in Eureka several times and has managed to amass quite an avid fan base. We have found music to be a powerful tool for evangelism and for generating excitement about eternity and eternal things, David Zach, Remedy's piano player, is quoted as saying in the band's bio. We have seen lives changed and commitments made for Christ at concerts and worship times. ... Every song we sing is inspired by His word because we know it is the only thing powerful enough to change lives. The four-piece band of brothers cites such influences as Jimmy Eat World, U2, Coldplay and Switchfoot. Remedy has just released a new album called Rip Open The Sky meant to be an overt protest against materialism.

On Tuesday, both of these inspiring bands will be playing a giant CD release show at Faith Center Church, 1032 Bay St., Eureka. The fun starts at 7 p.m. and it's free for everyone. To hear samples of the music, visit www.tristinrobertsband.com and www.remedydrive.com. You may also pre-order Love and Mystery on TRB's website.

Side by side, TRB's music is more pensive and worshipful, where Remedy Drive's sound is harder and more alt/indie rock. Both bands have the passion and drive to share the purpose they have found on this planet.

Brothers in Music
by Wendy Butler, 7/26/2005

The Tristin Roberts Band has an ambitious goal.

Through music, the local group wants to strengthen listeners� relationship with God.

Call them a �Christian music band,� a �worship music band� or �rock�n�roll with a message,� the group is determined its music will have lasting relevancy, and not just because of the melody or lyrics.

The Tristin Roberts Band has released its debut EP �Shine Bright.�

The band members include the Roberts brothers � Tristin, lead vocals/acoustic guitar; Austin, electric guitar/piano; and Jorgen, drums. Also in the group is Brian Pilger on bass and backup vocals.

Tristin is the primary songwriter.

�You start with nothing,� Tristin said. �I draw this black-and-white outline (and) bring it to these guys here.�

He said his writing has matured quite a bit, and part of that was due to a rafting trip on the Trinity River a year ago.

�He comes back and he�s got this sense of melody that we�d never seen in him before,� Austin said.

Their dad was a youth minister, before he opened local Jitterbean Coffee Co.

The brothers said they want their music to speak to young people.

The members� previous musical affiliations are varied.

Austin has done some musical work with nationally known performer Anthony Skinner, who is signed with DC3 Entertainment, he said.

Also, Austin was formerly in Flux, a local band.

�Although it was a similar focus, it wasn�t as quite as focused on the youth and the Christian mainstream,� Austin said.

Pilger said he has played in plenty of �bar bands,� which were not exclusively devoted to the faith.

Their musical influences are not all exclusively of the Christian-music genre, they said.

The four of them share a respect and admiration for the band U2, as well, a band they refer to as �spiritually aware.�

The foursome have been part of radio station Power 96.3�s �local music spotlight� for their song �Surrender.

The group said it wants to continue to appeal to a wider audience with the CD �Shine Bright.�

�(There) is a lot of joy in this album,� Austin said. �I recently was thinking about now so much art that comes out seems to be inspired by tragedy. � A lot of times when you hear the happy stuff, it seems very trite, very cheesy.

�Whatever your belief is, if you listen to this album with an open mind, it can bring some joy in your life that maybe wasn�t there before.�

It�s not about ego, they said. But, it�s difficult to get around having a touch of ego when performing.

Music is the group�s vehicle and their response about why they have chosen music is comparable to many other musical artists.

�I�ve been saying a lot lately about how I�m fascinated about how music has the capacity to speak straight to the core of the person,� Pilger said. �Also, (it) speak(s) from the core of the person creating the music � the connection that is formed between the music and the listener.�

Austin agreed and added his feeling was that music can change anything.

�It can change the atmosphere, it can change the temperature in the room,� he said. �What an opportunity to be able to do that.�

Copyright (C) 2005, The Eureka Reporter. All rights reserved.

The Tristin Roberts::Band Releases CD July 27th!

By Eric McDonald �

[email protected]

            Tristin, Austin and Jorgen have played together for most of their teenage years. The living room performances of Michael W. Smith have grown to leading worship at any number of church services. The Roberts boys have kept the fire going.

At the ripe age of 19, Tristin knew what he wanted and went for it. Worship music has been his passion and a CD was the next step. Recorded at Two Street with Mike Kapitan engineering, with TRB producing and Sandy Hoffman co-producing, the recording sounds excellent. Two thumbs up for Humboldt music.

The EP is titled �Shine Bright�. Tristin has been clear about his hearts desire to perform worship music. The song list begins with �Chosen Generation�. Described as a miracle song that came from praying and asking the Lord, it came together in about 15-20 minutes from 1 Peter 2:9. It�s a good opening song, fun and rocking. �Worthy to be Praised� began with the title. It starts out mellow, but builds into a chorus that�s full and solid. Next comes the song 'Praise Awaits' a rock balled of the cd, the catchy mellody and tasteful lyrics make this song great. �Surrender� is the 4th track and is rocking from start to finish. The intensity of the music is balanced by the lyrics, �surrendering all to the Lord�. �I will find you there� was inspired from a carving in a staff Tristin was given for his 13th birthday. Sandy Hoffman brings in his touch on the cello. �Shine Bright� started with a cool riff at Austin�s pad. Tristin also credits David Crowder�s book �Praise Habits � finding God in sunsets and sushi� for inspiration. Final song �Holy in this place� is simple: piano, acoustic guitar and djembe. �Let it be known, God is holy�. Thirty minutes total of solid worship.
            The band debuted in April at Arcata First Baptist gym, opening for Remedy. The Tristin Roberts Band (TRB) was not a �cross your fingers hope they pull this off �opener. The brothers three, with Brian Pilger on bass, were ready for take off. Austin on electric guitar has been a sound that Humboldt County has been hearing for some time. At 21 years of age, Austin is married and a regular at Anthony Skinner worship sessions. Jorgen, freshly graduated from Eureka high, is keeping the beat and is heading to YWAM DTS at the Maui base this fall. He knows what his brothers want and looks cool doing it. Brian Pilger has been a regular on guitar and bass for college group and worship at Arcata First Baptist.

            Influences?: The early influences for the Roberts have to begin with their father Rick. He led worship at Bethel and the boys were regulars who went for it. The band also sites Chris Tomlin, U2, Delirious, and Tim Hughes as major musical influences. Worship leaders Anthony Skinner and Sandy Hoffman are local influences.

            Favorite concert?: Switchfoot opening for Delirious, before the So Cal rockers got big. He spent 10 minutes chatting with Jon Foreman and nobody around. Dave Matthews Band and Coldplay are mainstream favorites. TRB will be opening for Justin Fox � August 20th at Pierson Park, McKinleyville. Be there!!!   

            For info and a CD release Party � www.tristinrobertsband.com - peace out -