This is the very first Art In Society Story to be published on the web. It first ran in The Journal Herald and Valley Views newspapers in NE PA.

We'd like to thank Journal Newspapers for allowing us to reprint these stories here.

Welcome to Art In Society.

This new column has been designed to provide support and criticism throughout the local artistic community and will appear approximately once a month in the Journal Herald, and (space allowing) in Journal-Valley Views. Each month we will be taking a look at a local artist or arts organization. Interested parties should refer to the submission guidelines at the end of each review.

Our first submission was from the musical duo Messiah's Clay. Messiah's Clay consists of songwriters Richard John Lutz and John Paul Hoxie, both from Freeland, PA. By the sound of their four-song demo (recorded digitally at Whirlwind Studio), you would think they've been together for a long time. I was surprised to learn that they haven't been together very long. Nonetheless, they're a top-notch vocal and songwriting act.

Like so many new groups, Messiah's Clay suffers from music classifytus. They describe their Christian tunes as "a combination of folk, praise and blues," but this doesn't clearly identify what the listener encounters on tape. On slow songs the group has a folk quality reminiscent of Crosby Stills & Nash. They could also be compared to King's X, a modern progressive rock group that uses heavy harmonies and spiritual subject matter in their songs. In heavier tunes they have a country flavor. But unlike so many modern groups, Messiah's Clay keeps their instrumental arrangements intelligently subtle. Groups such as theirs are a pleasure to listen to with songs that convey a message, leaving flashy arrangements behind. This is music to be listened to, not just heard. All comparisons aside, Messiah's Clay was an enjoyable first review for our column.

Submission Guidelines & FAQS

I have to admit that when I learned my first review was to be of a spiritual group, I was a little uncomfortable. I wasn't sure what I was going to hear, and prepared myself for the worst. Visions of over-bearing preachers came to mind. But what I found was honest, sensitive music. As "Life Or Death", the first piece on their demo, came ringing through my speakers, I was immediately drawn into the song, foot tapping. The tune was laid back, but with enough energy to make you wish the song would just keep going.

"Potter's Wheel" was definitely my favorite. How do I know? Well, when I'm hearing the chorus two or three days after I've heard the song, that usually means I like it. I'm thinking to myself the whole time, "These guys are from Freeland?" (No offense to the town, but these guys sound like they're from the city, NY or somewhere). "Potter's Wheel" is an analogy to God's place in our lives as the creator, molder and protector. Once again, rather sparse guitar arrangement and lyrics that say so much without many words. The repetition of the chorus has a soothing effect on the listener, once again demonstrating their vocal prowess.

"Lean On" was my least favorite tune. While the song has plenty of energy and drive, the tune seemed to contrast with the honesty and realism I felt in the other songs. On the other hand, it's catchy, commercial, and musically sound. Their last song. "Sunrise Calling" was another piece of praise worth noting; great harmonies and commercial appeal all in one, a candidate for the charts.

Whether or not it is exemplary of their overall sound, it is apparent that Messiah's Clay is a double edged musical powerhouse. Some of their material is quite mellow, while other songs have a distinct edge to them. At times I found myself wondering if these songs were all from the same group. The reason for this seems to be in their vocal arrangements. John and Richard take turns singing the lead vocal, making for a different musical impression. This is very good in an age where many groups tend to sound the same album after album. The key for Messiah's Clay will be to strategically place themselves in the music market with the right sound at the right time. The downside to having such variety is that people could be turned off by one sound without even knowing the other.

For anyone who loves great acoustic music, Messiah's Clay is sure to please. Even listeners without a Christian background can still enjoy Messiah's Clay and benefit from their message.

What's ahead for Messiah's Clay? I spoke with Richard before going to press, and he tells me that they are in the process of recording more material. With the help of the Gospel Music Association, Messiah's Clay has also begun to market its material to record labels and producers. They're only beginning to hit the local music scene, but I would say the future looks bright for Messiah's Clay.