inspirations: akus.

This post is dedicated to one of my favorite music groups, Alison Krauss and Union Station (AKUS, as I will call them).

Here's the thing--I am not a huge bluegrass fan. I find a lot of the songs depressing and the themes redundant. However, bluegrass music often showcases some of the most incredible musical talent I have ever witnessed. And five of those unbelievably talented musicians make up AKUS.

If you're unfamiliar with AKUS, this isn't just a backup band for Alison Krauss. While she is one AMAZING vocalist, she's just one piece of the puzzle. The four guys are all very successful individually, and they are all experts in their particular instruments.

But somehow, these five distinct musical personalities come together to form one distinct sound. Each member plays a significant part in that sound, and without one of the other players, you would know something is missing.

It's the unity that inspires me. Always has, since I started ministry. And musical unity touches me in a deep way, especially when it comes to vocals. I went to their concert in Charleston recently, and toward the end, Alison and guitarist Dan Tyminski sang "Your Long Journey." From the first note, they were in perfect harmony together. Crystal clear, confident, exact...awesome. I got choked up instantly. Both Alison and Dan have such unique voices that it's hard to mistake them for anyone else, and yet they are able to take their distinctive tones and blend them into this perfect, unified sound. It really is incredible.

So how do you take several unique personalities and unify them into one cohesive sound? Isn't this the goal of teamwork? It's figuring out what each person is capable of, expecting the best from each other, and helping each one find his place in the big picture. It's committing to take the time necessary to build that kind of unity, chemistry, and support. It's opening our hearts to each other and finding out how we all fit together. And if AKUS is any proof, the effort is more than worth it.

(Just in case you think I'm exaggerating, here's an example of Dan, Alison and bassist Barry Bales singing, "Maybe." The kind of dissonance they achieve in their harmonies, while blending perfectly, could be an example to all singing groups...)