Artist description AVB began in the mid 80's as the backup band for the popular group Acappella. Since then they have come to create a name for themselves in the Christian Music industry. They are known for the positive, uplifting words that are put to very catchy tunes, many times involving intricate harmonies and amazingly realistic vocal percussion. Although they have changed their musical styles throughout the years, each time better than before, their message of their love and hope in Christ has never changed!

Music Style Contemporary Christian

Musical Influences Acappella, Take 6, Boys 2 Men

Similar Artists Boys 2 Men, Acappella

Artist History Building on a tradition of more than a decade, five fresh faces have grabbed hold of the AVB mantle and are ready to face a new generation and a new century with their latest project, REAL. But while the names have changed, the mission remains the same: They want to reach today's youth for Jesus Christ. "The difference with AVB is, we want to sing for fun and for ministry, we have a purpose in what we are doing,” says tenor and vocal percussionist Chris Lindsey. As the group weaves varied styles together into their rock & groove, Lindsey says the ultimate goal is to hit on a sound that will draw in the kids. "When Jesus performed His ministry, He didn't wait for the people to come to Him; He went to where the people were. That's what our focus is with our music ... go where the kids are. Because they need an alternative to the junk they hear on the radio." The group is really in touch with the needs of the young people in their audience. One reason could be that the fellas, still all in their early 20s, used to be the young people in the audience. "This has been my dream since I was 10 years old," says baritone Chad Bahr. "All through grade school, junior and senior high I listened to Acappella and AVB. Basically, that's all that I listened to." The five members: Lindsey, Bahr, tenor Jeremy Swindle, tenor and vocal percussionist Tony Brown and bass Todd Dunaway, were all in the middle of working on their college educations when they joined the group. Once they signed on, they moved from their respective homes across the country to Paris, TN, to rebuild the legend. "We've been singing together since January of `98," Brown says. "REAL will be the eighth album for AVB, but our first album." REAL is the beginning of something special. From the pop sound of “We Have Come” which could be the groups mission statement to spread the Good News, and is also one of the favorites of their concerts, to the painfully private pleas to the Father expressed in “Broken”, as well as the jubilant retelling of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego’s story in “Jehovah Is Our King,” AVB delivers an album that speaks to the heart. As the project title reflects: Everything we see on this earth is fleeting, What we cannot see is what is real! The group makes quite a full sound for not using any instruments at all -- in fact, Lindsey and Brown stun audiences with their amazing ability to create percussion without any tools or utensils whatsoever. "It's great, because we are a cappella," Lindsey says. "Our music is so diverse, we can do an R&B song and turn right around and do a pop/rock song. Instrumental bands can't always do that, because they're kind of stuck with what they have... if they're a rock group, they're a rock group. If they're a pop group, they're a pop group. If they're R&B, then they're R&B. We can do all three, and that allows us to be a little more creative with our arrangements. And that's a lot of fun for us, too." With vocal men's groups burning up the Top 40 charts in the general market and reaching the same target audience that AVB wants to reach with the Gospel, it isn't long before some well-meaning person wants to compare AVB with the likes of these popular groups. But the members of AVB are quick to point out that there are some differences. "Obviously, our styles are different," If you were to say we were like a `Christian Backstreet Boys,' we're obviously not the same; we don't use instruments and we don't do the choreography. But kids are not going to leave disappointed. They're going to go away saying, ` They were cool!’ '" "Also, the difference with AVB is that we want to be very approachable to the kids," Bahr says. "The main thrust of our ministry is talking to kids after a show. When I was young and a fan of Acappella, when I wanted to talk to them, they were down to earth. I think that is what makes the most impact. We want to get to know the kids." And, as Swindle points out, there is one even more important difference: "They're talking about relationships with girls, we're talking about a relationship with God," he says. "That's why what we do is so different and so important to the ministry of reaching our youth." AVB is the hip younger brother of the family at The Acappella Company (TAC), launched in the 1980s by Keith Lancaster to develop and produce a cappella Christian music and artists. Along with AVB, the TAC umbrella covers several other a cappella projects and ministries, including the old-time, traditional sounds of Vocal Union, and the company's flagship, Acappella. "Yeah, we're one big happy family," Jeremy says of the organization, headquartered in Paris, Tenn. "When we're in town, we go to each others' concerts, we also work on each others' albums." The five in AVB all look forward to a long association with both AVB and the whole TAC family as well as eventually finishing school. But they also have something more important on their agenda. "I would like to see AVB reach as many people with the Good News of Jesus as possible with good, clean, energetic Christian music," Jeremy says. Bahr agrees. "I would like the youth to understand and see that there is an alternative to the negative forms of music and entertainment in this world," he says. "That alternative is Jesus Christ. His endless love and forgiveness is something this world needs to hear about." . . . and it is very REAL.

Group Members Jeremy Swindle, Tony Brown, Todd Dunaway, Chad Bahr, Chris Lindsey

Location Paris, TN - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).