Music Spotlight:
Deven
Berryhill: Regenerated
 Standing
on his own two feet, Deven Berryhill, son of 60s rock star, Bob
Berryhill, of the Surfaris (³Wipe Out²) is forging a future in modern
worship. His recently released CD, ³Regeneration,² his first in
five years, is exactly that — a fresh start.
Itıs
tempting to fall back on his familyıs musical heritage as a reason
to check out the stylings of the album, but I suggest we not fall
prey to comparison and get caught short-sighted. Devenıs work is
different. There, I said it. Itıs not surf music and itıs not filled
with long guitar riffs from the prodigy of the man he considers
³the best guitarist in the world.²
In
fact, there is no mystery to the music. The CD opens with ³The Reason
That I Sing,² an exaltation of ³the Risen Lord, the Savior, a Mighty
King.² Evidence for this reasoning permeates
the entire album, as Berryhill worships God for who He is.
The
lyrics are a beautiful picture of how God speaks personally and
profoundly through His Word into our lives.
The songs navigate through one manıs, and yet every manıs,
longing to be truly transformed ³On the Inside,² as one cut puts
it. The more you listen the more you want to experience the regeneration.
With
its sound rooted in alternative/grunge yet with an acoustic rock
foundation, the music is composed so well that it doesnıt hinder
the powerful scriptural message and personal journey of the artist.
As
a former mainstream radio producer, it was easy to pick out the
hook in several of what I would consider hits, ³Not By Might,² ³Trust
in the Lord,² and ³On the Inside.²
Itıs
not only the sound and the hook that draw you in, as one local listener
described it, ³it makes you want to see him live,² said Stephanie
Moody of Chula Vista. Thatıs good news for the masses, because Deven
is available for live performances.
³I
Need Freedom² was a crowd favorite at a recent live show at Calvary
Chapel San Diego in Chula Vista. The lyrics, uniquely filled with
Scripture, directed the congregation upward as Devenıs gift for
leading worship manifested itself.
Deven
Berryhill combines a passion for worship and for the One who alone
deserves to be worshipped, with a transparency required for the
listener to connect with the artist.
Itıs real, like a picture into someoneıs walk with God. ³Regeneration²
is an invitation to worship God with passion, fun, and with a friend.
³Regeneration²
is Berryhillıs first solo project in five years. He has recorded
two previous albums, ³The Deven Berryhill Band² (1992) and ³Danger,
High Voltage Above² (1995). Currently, Deven is the Worship Director
at Calvary Christian Academy in Otay Ranch.
For
booking information or to sample Berryhillıs music, visit his Web
page, www.worshipxcellence.com.
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