For Sanctus Real, Christian label is fine

The band is staying optimistic about its future, the drummer says.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Christian rock, well, rocks.
That's the mantra for Toledo-based band Sanctus Real, which is taking part in this year's Winter Jam 2007 festival. Featuring live musical performances from Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, Hawk Nelson and Britt Nicole, the tour comes to Cleveland for a show Saturday at Wolstein Center.
Formed roughly 10 years ago while its members were still in high school, the outfit from a style standpoint sounds decidedly alt rock, yet its lyrics and message are unabashedly Christian. Whereas some other groups often feel compromised or conflicted with a secular sound and a spiritual heart, drummer Mark Graalman offers his perspective.
"I think we're a band that tries to make both aspects of that kind of equal," said Graalman, calling from his home in the Glass City. "We always felt we're doing this for more than the sake of playing music. Our first and foremost priority is being who we say we are on stage and off. We've definitely received a label of being a Christian band. And that's fine with us."
Sanctus Real is considered one of the rising stars of its genre with its latest effort "The Face of Love" closing in on the 100,000 records-sold mark.
A goal or not?
So far, the band has enjoyed sales of more than 200,000 units for all three of its albums. Therein lies the rub for many Christian rock bands, which are arguably part of the fastest-growing segment of the recording industry.
While plenty of successful mainstream bands have Christian ties -- U2 and Creed come to mind -- the label is restricting with the jump into a bigger spotlight being easier said than done. Contemporary groups such as Relient K and Switchfoot are making inroads in both markets. So is this a goal for Sanctus Real?
"It's kind of a tricky thing for us to say that's a goal," Graalman said. "It's definitely something we're open to and if those doors were open for us we'd walk through them but we really haven't pursued that. There are a lot of bands who started off in a Christian market and have seen they can only get so big so their whole vision shifts but they don't realize that means playing clubs all of the time and more hard work."
He added, "You see bands pursue that and then come back feeling beat up. So if we're never on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine and selling millions of records, that's fine with us."
Graalman said the band is optimistic about its future. It feels that "The Face of Love" really marks a turning point for the group that bodes for its future.
"I think from the listener standpoint, the new record probably sounds softer in many ways," Graalman said. "A lot of the songs were just slower and more midtempo and it was more about creating what we felt was a beautiful melody that would stick in somebody's head as opposed to trying to come up with some slamming guitar riff that would just make people go crazy."