Cephas Hour
Episode 132
Release Date: September 19, 2024

The one that talks about the Gospel of Mark.

 

Lighthouse Crystoria
Jesus Christ Van Zant
The Way Of The Rose Undercover
In The Garden Bob Dylan
All The Losers Win DeGarmo & Key
Jesus Is For Losers Steve Taylor
She Veil of Ashes
The Great American Novel Larry Norman
This Is The Way Love Is 77s
Vengeance With The Sword (Jeremiah 25) Rachel Wilhelm
Strong Hand Of Love Mark Heard
Selfish Man Oden Fong
Mansion Builder 2nd Chapter of Acts

Cephas Hour
Episode 130
Release Date: August 28, 2024

The one talking about not believing your own hype.

 

Work It Out Undercover
Perfect Blues 77s
Some Love The Prayer Chain
Who Owns You Whiteheart
Violent Blue Chagall Guevara
You Led Me To Believe Sweet Comfort Band
Vengeance With The Sword (Jeremiah 25) Rachel Wilhelm
In Paradise (In Paradisum) Rachel Wilhelm
Grave Robber Petra
She Begins To Sing Oden Fong
Center Of My Heart Larry Norman
Great Little Dancer Crumbächer
Fast Forward Prodigal

And Now, After 126 Episodes, I Finally Introduce Myself!

Back in the day—1987, to be precise—I became the first and only music journalist covering Christian rock for a “secular” publication. The magazine in question was called PULSE! and its publisher was the Tower Records chain.

I wasn’t there because there were fans of the genre on staff. I was there because they hoped I’d bring advertising dollars from the Christian music industry. Which, though no fault of my own, seldom, if ever, happened. The Christian music industry had no qualms about pitching stories and artists to me in hopes I would cover suggested artists and albums. However, when it came time to put their money where their mouth was, they’d throw it away on glorified vanity house organs like Harvest Rock Syndicate, which reached only the existing fan base. I was out there trying to preach about the band named The Choir while they were content preaching to the choir about the band named The Choir. They hung me out to dry and then complained I wasn’t correctly watering their secret garden.

On the rare occasions when anyone at PULSE! spoke to me, the staff there made it quite plain that I was the rat bastard on board. They had nothing nice to say about my writing and barely, if ever, acknowledged the music itself. Somewhat offputting, but I persevered. I loved the music and artists, so whatever it took to get the word out is what I did.

Despite the open animosity, one day, out of the blue, one of the higher-ups at PULSE! asked me to write a feature story about Steve Taylor. I did so. for the November 1988 issue. Suddenly, the Christian music industry took full notice of me. I had offers to do stories for assorted magazines, write artist bios for new releases, etc. I wrote quite a bit for CCM Magazine and other publications, talking to many of the high-flying artists of the time: Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patti, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others. The only one I never spoke to was Amy Grant, and I had an interview scheduled until her management canceled it because they subsequently booked her for Good Morning America the day I was going to talk to her and said they’d reschedule my interview. I’m still waiting.

Even with the above, I never really fit in. I was too rock-oriented for the labels and too artist-oriented for the publications. In 1994, it all fell apart; the industry and I walked away from one another. Still, I had a good run.

Fast-forward a decade plus. After attending a 2005 concert in Southern California featuring bands such as Undercover, The Choir, Altar Boys, and Crunbächer, the writing bug hit me again. Now free to cover who I wanted how I wanted, I wrote a book featuring interviews with the artists I wanted to do stories on back in the day but seldom had the opportunity to do so. The book took a while, but it finally came together in 2009. I released an updated version in 2019. I also started doing Cephas Hour, a show that plays music by artists who have meant so much to me. It was initially on an Internet radio station; it’s now a stand-alone podcast.

Long story short, I was there. I’m not bragging when I say I was not an insignificant part of the scene. I’ve had artists long after the fact tell me a review I did in PULSE! of one of their records made a massive positive difference in sales, far more than anything in any Christian publications. So, yeah.

On Cephas Hour, I enjoy playing and promoting current independent artists who carry the artistic and spiritual integrity torch in addition to classic songs and artists. With that, back to the music.

Cephas Hour
Episode 123
Release Date: April 11, 2024

The one that talks about swords.

 

Easter Song The 2nd Chapter of Acts
The Way Of The Rose Undercover
Everything Is Alright Mark Heard
Sad Face The Choir
Maker Of The Universe Rachel Wilhelm with Phil Keaggy
Sweet Jesus Morning Mustard Seed Faith
Why Don’t You Look Into Jesus Larry Norman
The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes and The Pride of Life 77s
Unraveling Shelly Moore
Waiting Abbey Sitterley
We Were The Dreamers Richie
With The Tired Eyes of Faith Daniel Amos
Come Unto Me Veil of Ashes

Cephas Hour
Episode 120
Release Date: February 24, 2024

The one that talks about different things.

 

Sleeper DeGarmo & Key
Sunrise Resurrection Band
Only A Ride Steve Taylor and The Perfect Foil
Judas Within Vector
Rise Crystoria
Rise Up O Men Of God Phil Keaggy
You Can Fall In Love Adam Again
The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes and The Pride of Life 77s
Slo Glo One Dead Artist Syndrome
Three Nails Undercover
And They Call It Love Veil of Ashes
Fifty-Eight The Prayer Chain
Sanctuary Daniel Amos
Sail On Sailor Mustard Seed Faith

Cephas Hour
Episode 116
Release Date: January 6, 2024

The one that talks about why we are where we are.

 

Christmas Song For All Year ‘Round Randy Stonehill
Our New Testament Best Daniel Amos
God Of Wonders Mac Powell and Cliff & Danielle Young
God Will Lift Up Your Head Jars of Clay
Darker Shade Of Blue Abbey Sitterley
If You’re Listening The Choir
Lord Of The Past Bob Bennett
Rise Crystoria
The Wall Phil Keaggy
Deep End 77s
All You Lucky People Adam Again
Angel Falls Veil of Ashes
World Comes Crashing Down Undercover

Cephas Hour
Episode 115
Release Date: December 9, 2023

The one that talks about life.

 

Maker Of The Universe Rachel Wilhelm and Phil Keaggy
Sweet Jesus Morning Mustard Seed Faith
Baroquen Spirits Larry Norman
Let Everything Else Go Phil Keaggy
The Lust, The Flesh, The Eyes & The Pride Of Life Lost Dogs
Joy Deep As Sorrow Bob Bennett
Rise Crystoria
Sea Of Tranquility Undercover
You Led Me To Believe Sweet Comfort Band
A Sentimental Song The Choir
West Coast/td>

Abbey Bitterly
Sevens 77s
We Were The Dreamers Richie Furay
With The Tired Eyes Of Faith The Swirling Eddies
Come Unto Me Veil of Ashes

Cephas Hour
Episode 108
Release Date: August 30, 2023

The one that mentions politics. I’m sorry.

Bema Seat Petra
The Solution Is The Problem Mark Scudder
The Doing Of The Thing Bob Bennett
Don’t Let The Sun Go Down Fireworks
Beyond The Wall Of Sleep Terry Scott Taylor
Grace Is The Smell Of Rain Daniel Amos
Eleanor, It’s Raining Now The Lost Dogs
Shadow Of The Cross The Choir
Rise Crystoria
Flesh & Bone Vector
Passion Play Veil Of Ashes
Light Of Freedom Altar Boys
So Wonderful Undercover

Cephas Hour
Episode 106
Release Date: August 14, 2023

The one that focuses on the music.

Who’s Who Here Daniel Amos
Rise Crystoria
Rising Bringing Home
Fear Not For I Am With You
(Jeremiah 45)
Rachel Wilhelm
Liturgy Veil of Ashes
The Way Of The Rose Undercover
Creole The Prayer Chain
Deep End 77s
Clouds The Choir
Way With Words Crumbächer
To Extremes DeGarmo & Key
The Vine Whiteheart
When You Walk Kerry Livgren
Prince Song 2nd Chapter of Acts

Cephas Hour
Episode 105
Release Date: August 8, 2023

The one that talks about not always getting what you want.

Summer Snow Matthew Ward
Ready To Fly Oden Fong
Cheap Talk Servant
Nothing But The Best Whiteheart
Rise Crystoria
Sad Face The Choir
Rising Bringing Home
Vengeance With The Sword
(Jeremiah 25)
Rachel Wilhelm
Preacher Man Lenny LeBlanc
Lord Of The Past Bob Bennett
Genuine 77s
Love Me Dangerously Undercover
Kalhoun Daniel Amos
I Plan, God Laughs Terry Scott Taylor