August 25th, 2007. The last date of the 2007 Vans Warped Tour. The sky was overcast and the temperature was perfect, I couldn't have asked for better weather. This was my first Warped Tour in a few years, as well as my first out of the state of Ohio. Los Angeles, California, home to this year's final date of the Vans Warped Tour. This meant the end to a long, hot, exhausting summer for some bands that made the journey all over the US and Canada. Today was a day of rest and relief for most, if not all, of the bands. Aaron Gillespie of The Almost was kind enough to take a few minutes of his time to give a little insight to his faith on the road.
Decapolis.com - Being in such a successful band like Underoath, did you feel any sort of pressure putting out your solo record?
Aaron Gillespie – I didn’t really know what to expect, I just wanted to make an honest record and I had high hopes for it of course, but I really didn’t want to put them too high.
D - How is a constant touring schedule between both bands hard on maintaining a relationship with God?
AG – It’s hard, like it is in anybody’s life. Being in a traveling band doesn’t necessarily change the difficulty of maintaining a relationship with God. It’s supposed to be work, it’s healthy for it to be that way, constantly striving and working on it. It’s hard sometimes, but God’s faithful and graceful. That’s the only reason I’m here, because of the grace and mercy of God. It’s the only reason I’m alive.
D - What do you do on a daily basis to get away from it all and connect with God?
AG – Try to pray; try to read as much as you can. I’m definitely guilty of not doing as much as I can, but we’re only human you know. And I’m full of excuses all the time too.
D - How do you feel God is using you through The Almost?
AG – I’m trying to be completely honest with who I am and who we are and why I’m here. I think living in a fish bowl and living a transparent life no matter who you are or where you’re from, no matter what you believe in, you can believe in Christ, you can believe in Buddha, whoever you are I think you should always be who you are and be honest to people about who you are. By censoring yourself, no one is going to believe what you have to say, and I think Christ has really called us to live in a fish bowl and be transparent and honest to people.
D - What is the feeling like when you play “Amazing Because It Is” and to know that there are kids in the crowd singing along who have never been to church or haven’t been in forever?
AG – I think anybody, no matter what faith, religion, whatever you believe everyone needs grace. Everyone needs that concept of grace, the guy on death row needs grace, you need grace, I need grace, the guy who doesn’t believe in Christ at all needs grace. Grace is such a transcending thing and only Christ can give it. People knowing they need grace and not really knowing where to get it is the first step, and in that song it makes people wonder, ‘What is this grace? Where did it come from?’
D - With such an upfront and unashamed statement of faith on your record, how do you feel people have accepted it in the mainstream?
AG – I don’t really care. People have been very accepting and very awesome, but if they weren’t it wouldn’t change who I am or change what I’m doing.
D - What was the feeling when the debut record hit within Billboard’s Top 50?
AG – It feels good, I mean I’m not expecting too much, but I didn’t start out thinking ‘I hope I’m in the biggest band in the world’, I just wanted to make honest music and it’s where God led us and I thank God for it everyday.
