Hardcore Christian band Skillet back to rock Huntington

HUNTINGTON -- The hardcore Christian rock band Skillet gave an audience of more than 5,000 more than they bargained for in March when Winter Jam came to Huntington.

The band, now headlining the Comatose Tour, comes back to Huntington at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 10 to play Veterans Memorial Field House.

The band, led by vocalist and bassist John Cooper, has always had the goal of delivering a mainstream sound with a Christian foundation.

"The goal was to bring people to our message from enjoying our music," Cooper said. "We want to play music that is relevant to what they are listening to."

The 33-year-old said he grew up listening to Christian music and watching the music video era unravel. He said a lot about the band's stage presence comes from those influences more than two decades ago.

"Music was so influential to me when I was a kid," Cooper said. "I would watch those music videos and always said that I didn't want to be a band that just stood around."

He jokes that he never wanted to be the "fake Air Jordan" that kids in his day would wear to school if they couldn't afford the real thing. Just seeing the show might make you think the band is actually wearing the still-popular sneakers as the members bounce around the stage with pyrotechnics going off around them.

Cooper is joined in the band by his wife, Korey Cooper (keyboards), Ben Kasica (guitar) and newcomer Jen Ledger (drums). Ledger joined the band at the end of 2007. The foursome now has four months under its belt, starting with Winter Jam. Cooper said it's been a seamless transition that's extended onto the Comatose Tour.

The title track, "Comatose," won best rock recorded song of the year at the 2008 Dove Awards in Nashville, Tenn., April 23.

Cooper said that song and the album, which was nominated for a Grammy, is wrapped around the theme of waking up to see the darkness that's taking over the world. He said first and foremost, he wants Christians to realize their part in reaching out to those in need. But he also has a message for everyone else.

"It's also a wake-up call to the world," Cooper said. "As a human race, we have a job to do to make this world a better place, and we are not doing something right."

The 2006 album also has found success with songs such as "Whispers in the Dark," Rebirthing" and "The Last Night." The 2003-04 album, "Collide," also brought mainstream and Christian music success with "Open Wounds" and "You Are My Hope."

Joining Skillet on the tour is Thousand Foot Krutch and Decyfer Down, bands that Cooper said have headlining traits of their own.

"We wanted the tour to be a good Christian rock package," Cooper said.

And he said the tour has been a success so far because it delivers the message he was hoping for.

"Our music is something you can bang your head to and rock out," he said. "But you also feel hopeful. Rock music today is so negative and down. We hope people leave feeling more hopeful than when they came."

Skillet's Comatose Tour ends May 11, then the band hits the road for a number of summer festivals. Cooper said they'll be back in the studio in the fall to start work on a new album.

Tickets are $16 when purchased through iTickets.com by May 9 or $20 at the door. The show is general admission, and doors open to at 6 p.m. Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse is located at 2590 5th Ave., Huntington.