Showbread, the band famous for their “raw rock kills” catchphrase has never been afraid to think outside the box.  Neither are they held back by societal norms.  For instance, around 2005 when their release No Sir, Nihilism is Not Practical was making waves a Christian firestorm ensued when they posted their approval online of a fan-made video to the song “Dead By Dawn” – essentially a homage to zombie films.  Many Christian bookstores refused to stock their Anorexia/Nervosa double album due to some mature themes explored in the lyrics (a story that culminates in a beautiful picture of redemption).  Now, Showbread is becoming bolder yet again, but this time its the way in which they promote their music and get it to fans.

After fulfilling their contract with Tooth and Nail Records with the release of The Fear of God, Showbread made the move to the mission-oriented label Come&Live! Records.  They also announced a radical new policy – to make all of their music from here on out free.  That includes Come&Live! records and shows, when possible.  Their first outing through this new philosophy was 2010’s Who Can Know It?, a record that shook fans’ perceptions of raw rock as they knew it.  Now, the band is ready to attempt something much more ambitious.

Their next record will be called Cancer, and will a be a concept record.  Also, they plan on making it a movie.  So, while Anorexia/Nervosa was meant to be a story read and an album listened to, now Showbread is taking things to the next level – they had this to say on their kickstarter account meant for funding Cancer:

“The landscape of our last concept album, Anorexia Nervosa, was… grand. We want to go bigger. Much bigger. An intricate world of a story set to the soundtrack of a Raw Rock space opera and accompanied by it’s own feature film! We want to gather/combine all our creative resources into telling a massive, multi-sensory extravaganza of a story that screams an incredible truth: Jesus has conquered death!”

Science fiction, outer space, a rock opera, and what will undoubtedly be surreal, well shot cinematography ought to make heads turn once Cancer is finally released.  They have a budget of a mere $43,000 for this project, already a third funded.  No matter what your position on Christian faith, the ambition of this band ought to make you take notice.  Particularly eye opening is the radical, unusual conclusion of their kickstarter announcement:

“We’re not terribly preoccupied with how the music industry will survive or where it will go. We learned a lot with the last album fundraiser about what to do and what not to do. But most of all, we learned (again) that God is generous and so are you guys. You’re outstanding and overwhelming kindness literally carried our message and our hope all over the world again and again. You are our brothers and our sisters. You are our family.”

View one of their recent videos, “I Never Liked Anyone and I’m Afraid of People” below:

[vimeo https://vimeo.com/28225863]