Tony Cummings looks at REALITY CHECK: Nathan Barlow (vocals), Chris Blaney (vocals). Rod Schuler (vocals), Dave Muckle (horns, vocals).

Reality Check

The fact that they're a multi-racial rap/rock band from Liberty University (DC Talk's birthplace) AND they recently won Gospel Music Association's Spotlight Award (Jars Of Clay's lift off) is the kind of pedigree that could crush lesser bands than Reality Check under the weight of CCM industry expectations. But so far the band's eponymous album debut is shaping up for big US sales, the searing "Midnight Confessions" is already a UCB Cross Rhythms turntable hit and as the band's Nathan Barlow enthuses, "Looking back on it, it was just incredible." Bandmate Chris Blaney adds, "Winning the showcase gave us a lot of credibility. I think with the success of Jars Of Clay and what their success meant for the credibility of GMA, that people thought, 'Look how Jars turned out; we better latch onto these guys.'"

A couple of weeks later, the guys were booked for a show at Myrtle Beach, SC on a Friday night; Raleigh, NC on Saturday; and Washington on Sunday. "So, we invite (former Sparrow exec) John Mays to come out and see us," Nathan continues. "It's about four am Saturday morning and the guy who is driving the motor home thinks he's missed his exit, so he tries to turn around in this hotel's parking lot and he drives right into its awning." "It's concrete awning," emphasizes Rod. "Nathan and Rod were sleeping above the driver and where we hit was right where Rod's head was," Chris says. "We had to take him to the hospital with a concussion! Of course, being a heavy sleeper, I slept through the whole thing."

"The front of the motor home was just ripped off," Nathan continues. "Big hole in the front, glass and wood chips everywhere..."

"So, we finally get to Raleigh to do this show and John Mays is there and we were horrible," Chris says. "I mean, how do you perform after all that? We were just horrible. We were knocking stuff over. Rod fell over the keyboard and just laid there. We went out with John after the show and we got the "Thanks, but no thanks.' It happened within two or three weeks of winning the GMA thing. It was like God was saying, 'Don't get a big head.'"

It has been nearly a year since Reality Check won the "GMA thing". Their faithful old motor home has been put out to pasture. The band have relocated to Nashville. As they prepare their debut release for Star Song - working with the aforementioned Mays, after all - reality begins to set in. "This first record was a totally new experience," says Nathan. "We've always been a live band. We never had the money to go into the studio on our own, so for the past five years we concentrated on our live show - getting it worked up, making it strong. It took a while to get used to having to go into the studio every day and having to be creative on demand. We were used to just doing it for fun."

Rod adds, "It definitely pushed us, lyrically and musically. It's like we went through the trial by fire. They made us do it over and over until we got it right. They had a saying, 'Before you step into the studio, check your ego at the door.' It was a humbling experience, but it taught me a lot."

Nathan says the goal was to capture their live sound and transfer it to a record. "I don't think a lot of bands do that," he says. "I don't know if we did that. I guess that will be up to our audience to decide."

Nathan says producers Todd Collins and David Litchens told the band up front they wanted to make a record that wasn't just good for the Christian music industry, but that anyone could pick up and enjoy. "I think we made a record that can compete with a lot of the stuff in the mainstream," he says. "Yet the content makes you think about your spirituality - makes you think about eternity."

Making their audience think about eternity is what Reality Check does best. "It's a personal commitment," says Nathan. "We have never been a band that set out to crossover or sell records or have hit songs or win Dove Awards or whatever. If that comes along, great - but we set out to be a ministry."

"Kids just want to see average guys," Rod explains. "They don't want to see rock stars. There are too many rock stars in the secular world, and in some Christian bands, for that matter. We just want to meet them where they are. After all, that's what Jesus did."

"It's a hard balance, because you have everybody pulling you in different directions," says Nathan. "You want to perfect your craft and be a great artist. You want to put on a great show. You want to please all the people that supposedly work for you but that you really work for," he laughs. "But so far, with God's help, I think we've been able to stay focused. It grows harder every day because of the demands put on us. We try to hold each other accountable and keep it in prayer."

"We want to be a tool for the local church," Rod says. "We'll change our show around just to better fit a particular night or programme." And they do an altar call almost every night. Nathan continues, "Unless the place specifically asks us not to. I don't pull any bull with the crowd. I just say this is how it is;' this is the Truth; you can accept it or not. I can't remember the last time there was no response. I know God is using it, because people are responding and kids are getting saved."

Chris says their job is to tell the people, "God loves you - no matter who you are, no matter what you've done, no matter what you've been through." "That's the only reason we're doing this," he says. "It's obviously not about the money or the record deal. We were doing this for four years before the record deal came through."

"Musical styles change," Nathan adds. "Tastes change. A year from now, maybe nobody will like what we do. But we're called to minister, so that's what we'll be doing."