Flyleaf is defined as a blank page at the beginning or end of a book. Often those who purchase a book as a gift will use the flyleaf as a page to write a personal message for the intended. A Christian-based Texas band claimed the word for its name for the same reason – they believe their songs serve as personal messages for their fans
Flyleaf have been gaining a mainstream audience for their faith-inspired rock for years and now have a strong following. Lacey Mosley takes center stage as the lone female in the band and the lead singer. Her tumultuous life fueled the lyrics of the songs they sing today. Mosley hasn’t been shy about the struggles she’s faced throughout her life, and choosing to write songs about survival gave her strength.
The band’s foundation included Mosley and drummer James Culpepper. They explored music together several years ago and quickly added guitarists Jared Hartmann and Sameer Bhattacharya to the group. Later they found bassist Pat Seals.
“I think we learned how to get to the point a little bit better. Hopefully it’ll sound like an older version of us, you know … more mature,” Seals said. “This group of songs, most of them were kind of written really close to each other, whereas the last album they were written over a course of a couple of years. I hope that will give it more of a unifed feeling of where we were at in the summer of 2008.”
All of the band members are of Christian faith and aren’t embarrassed about their beliefs. Rather, they sing about them. And for Seals, being a part of Flyleaf is about much more than the music. The message is key.
“It makes the music kind of irrelevant sometimes, you know? You’ve got to have a good medium to pass the message through, but still, our band wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for that. I mean, we’re all different people and that’s kind of our one common bond. I’d be doing a disservice to what we do if I was like, ‘No, it’s no big deal.’”
But Flyleaf isn’t strictly a Christian band, they want their music to be for everyone. In the end, Seals says the -----
most awesome thing is when a fan tells the band about a particular song that helped them in some way.
“When someone, in sincerity, is talking with us after a show, or what have you, and they say, ‘This song really meant a lot to me, I felt something when I heard it or gave me … a closer connection with spirituality.’ I think that’s the best part.”
WATCH THEM
WHEN: 7 p.m. Tonight
WHERE: Cine El Rey, McAllen
COST: $24 presale, $30 at the door
Have tickets from the cancelled concert in April? Bring ‘em! They will be honored.
