Gable Price and Friends concludes the first leg of their tour with Kansas City bbq and a sold-out room.
The evening started with a gracious dinner invitation from Adam Elizarraraz. He texted my husband, Junior, with the message “We’re grabbing dinner at Q39. Do you want to join us?” We had plans to meet up with the band after sound check but before the VIP meet and greet prior to the show, hoping for a little time to catch up with them. When we heard that one of the best barbecue spots in Kansas City was on the menu and that we’d get to spend time with the band, we excitedly said yes.
Around the table at dinner were frontman Gable Price, guitarist Adam, drummer Daniel Vargas, sound tech Braxton Turner, guitarist Cameron Pablo, and bassist Zach Luper, who is playing bass on the tour but normally plays guitar with bands like John Mark McMillian and Elevation Worship.
After making recommendations about what to order (burnt ends), conversations kicked off. Topics ranged from gear talk to highlights from the tour so far. Most of the highlights from the table centered around surprise visits from wives and family members while on the road. The topic moved to church and worship and Cameron and Daniel talked about pulling “double duty” when they get back to Redding, CA where they’ll play multiple weekend services on the Bethel worship team.
While on the topic of church, I asked how they manage to stay grounded while on the road. Cameron and Daniel talked about how the tour kicked off with rehearsals in Cameron’s hometown in Wisconsin. They attended his family’s church for Easter service and promptly started the tour after that. While on the road, Cameron said he watches his church’s live stream, but that its so nice to be in person.
After dinner, we drove back to the venue for the VIP meet and greet. Price and the band discussed a range of topics with around 20 people, including the impact that the Foreman brothers from Switchfoot had on his life. He recounted seeing them in concert as a youth and realizing that’s what he wanted to do. It was evident from the questions posed by the VIP group that they were more than just fans; they were spiritually inspired by the band. One attendee asked Gable, “In 60 seconds, how did you come to know the Lord?” Gable expressed that he wished he had one of those cool stories, but that his story was one of growing up as a pastor’s kid, going to seminary, and being with the Lord his whole life. He answered, “I don’t know a time when I didn’t know the Lord.”
GP&F’s music has undergone a transformation in their latest album, The Consequence of Being Alive. Previously, their songs had a more overtly spiritual tone, as can be seen in songs like “Communion” and “Dead Man.” However, in our conversation, the band talked about how their latest release is more focused on the struggles and joys of everyday life. This shift in focus is evident in many of the songs on the album, which feature relatable lyrics that are like young anthems when sung.
For instance, the song “I Love to Struggle” is a powerful expression of the band’s newfound focus. The lyrics offer a glimpse into the struggles that many people face in their daily lives, with lines like:
Cars with no gasoline
Tires on the side of the street
I‘m in love with the struggle and struggles in love with me
These words paint a picture of the difficulties that people often encounter, but they are also a celebration of the human spirit that perseveres in the face of adversity. The song’s title, “I Love to Struggle,” is a bold declaration of the band’s philosophy, that life’s challenges can be embraced and even enjoyed.
As a result, The Consequence of Being Alive is not just another album, but a statement of the band’s evolution and growth. It is a testament to the power of music to inspire, comfort, and challenge us to be our best selves.
Although their latest music may not speak as directly about Jesus as some of their previous songs did, the band has no problem talking about their faith with fans. The album has received some light criticism for breaking away from the more spiritual lyrics of previous songs, but Gable noted, “We like riding this line between the Christian scene and the alternative scene – it feels really special.” Gable also related a story about seeking advice from Jon & Tim Foreman on how to manage being both a Christian band and a rock band. The Switchfoot duo gave Price the advice, “You do you and know that if you’re in right standing with God…it will reach the right people and each song will reach its own area.”
The sentiment behind their statement is that, because the song is being written by a follower of Christ, it carries with it the weight of God’s glory, just as anything we do as Christians does. This advice resonated with Price, as the band is admittedly searching for their place in the music world and expressed excitement over branching out into the mainstream.
This reminds me of an interview that U2 frontman, Bono, did with Christianity Today for their December 2022 cover story. He relayed a story of meeting the late Reverend Billy Graham’s son, Franklin. After picking Bono up at the airport, Franklin peppered Bono with poignant questions about his faith. Bono was gracious, knowing that many Christians aren’t sure what to think about U2. Are they Christian or not? In the questioning, Franklin asked about his personal faith, to which Bono responded, “Oh, I know Jesus Christ, and I try not to use him just as my personal Savior. But, you know, yes.” Then, Franklin asked him, “Why aren’t your songs Christian songs?” To which Bono replied, “They are!” Then Franklin asks, “Why don’t we know they’re Christian songs?” Bono replied, “They’re all coming from a place, Franklin. Look around you. Look at the creation, look at the trees, look at the sky, look at these kinds of verdant hills. They don’t have a sign up that says, ‘Praise the Lord’ or ‘I belong to Jesus.’ They just give glory to Jesus.”
Bono’s philosophy expresses grace and freedom and provides GP&F and other Christian bands confidence as they search for their place, whether that place is under a Christian label or not. And that holds true for many Christians who do their work in the secular world.
Throughout their high-energy set, Gable frequently addressed the sold-out room with humility and genuine gratefulness for the audience’s enthusiastic participation. GP&F has certainly struck a chord with today’s young Christian audience, and meeting them in person confirmed the genuineness of the music they produce. The set concluded with a few acoustic songs performed by Price alone, including a not-yet-released song called, “Deeply Human,” that implores listeners to embrace the opportunities that life presents to offer dignity and grace to others. Price signed off the night asking the audience to “be a good friend.”
Kansas City was the last stop on the first leg of their tour, which began the day after Easter and will continue in the coming weeks. The editor highly recommends seeing this band now while they are still playing in small, intimate venues. It’s only a matter of time before they’re playing sold-out stadiums.
