The Excalibur Times Volume 1, Issue 1 October 2011 Video Game Character Animates Stage Inside this issue: by Erin Dunbar Pulling a name from a Fireflight 2 hat is the unusual way to pick your band name but Christian rock group Hawk Comedian Tim 3 Nelson did just that. Hawk Nelson was originally the Hawkins character for lead singer 4 Jason Dunn’s video game. First time voters The band started off right out of high school in Ontario, Canada. The band College majors 5 members were all originally in different bands, but they came together to create Excalibur students 6 their own group. Their ca- make movie reers began with perform- Editors Erin Dunbar, Hawk Nelson’s Daniel Biro and April Madden ing at local gigs such as: School Safety 7 Battle of the Bands, youth and acquired somewhat. group functions and any 7songs. Some people are born natu- local place. They then went “You don’t have to nec- rally talented but you have to Hollywood, California, essarily limit yourself, Staff 8 all those people who are where they portrayed the there’s no limits to what talented but they have no band ‘The Who’ on the God can do,” Daniel Biro, Hawk Nelson’s bass player passion or desire and no show American Dreams. hard work ethics and they Hawk Nelson also ap- said. never go anywhere, “ Biro peared in the movie Yours, The group Hawk Nelson said. October 2, 2011 and was Mine, and Ours as the fun is made up of four artists: The Music with Mission party band. In 2003, Hawk sold out. Jason Dunn who does vo- tour was an incredible ex- Nelson signed with Tooth cals, Jonathon Steingard on perience of high energy and Nail records. They "I loved how everyone guitar, Daniel Biro on bass bands with a passion for went through whatever there was open to respond- and Justin Benner on Christ. The tour was chalk door God opened for them, ing to what God had to say drums. filled with remarkable never limiting the possibili- to them. The whole night groups such as: Hawk Nel- ties which became the pur- With five albums and was not about the bands, son, Fireflight, Hyland, Ki- nearly ten years of being a but it was about the kids in pose of Hawk Nelson. ros, Mikeschair, Samestate, group, Hawk Nelson is an third world countries and Their future plans are incredibly fun band to see and more. what we can do to help," more touring with groups with live. They have a pas- The tour was involved with such as: Mercy Me, Disciple, Anna Woods said. sion for God and songs to Compassion International, Family Force Five, Lacrae, show it. which is a unique opportu- Manafest, and the Revolve “Hard work, passion and nity to reach children in Tour. They also have a other countries. The tour Christmas EP coming out all those things they can fuel came to Madison at Bob on November 1st with what you want to do and talent can always be learned Jones High school on Page 2 The Excalibur Times ScienceTeacher leaves lab and rocks the stage by April Madden A former high periences in their lives. “I think ‘What school science teacher, “We just draw I’ve Overcome’ is my now a famous lead from our lives, from current favorite. Yeah, singer, performed at things we have gone I think it’s a song that Bob Jones High School through, and what God means a lot to me and in Madison, AL, on that I feel like it’s a nd has helped us with, and October 2 for Music the things that we see really powerful song With A Mission Tour. our fans struggling and I’ve heard a lot From the band with, or our friends and from people talking Fireflight, lead singer family, just personal about how it meant a Dawn Michele, along experience,” Dawn lot to them and I think I can feel that when we with other band mem- says. play it so it makes it bers, Justin Cox lead Dawn’s current guitarist and vocal sup- meaningful” Dawn re- life verse is 2 Corin- plies. port, Glenn Drennen thians 1:3-4 which Singer Dawn Michele guitarist, Wendy Dren- “If only you from Fireflight talks about God com- non bassist, and new forting us in our trou- could see me yesterday, drummer Adam bles, and us using that who I used to be before McMillion performed comfort to comfort oth- the change, you’d see a songs such as For broken heart, you’d see “Now is the day for us ers. In an interview Those Who Wait, What Dawn shared what the battle scars, it’s to make a change and I’ve Overcome, and funny how words can’t to do something Fireflight’s message is Unbreakable. explain, how good it different and to to the world: believe and to step out feels to finally break Dawn taught a “Now is the day and just keep moving variety of high school the chains, I’m not forward, even when for us to make a change what I have done I’m sciences such as: envi- and to do something you don’t feel like ronmental, biology, and what I’ve overcome.” – you’re going different and to believe 9th grade science at Ta- What I’ve Overcome anywhere, keep and to step out and just vares High School in When Music moving forward. keep moving forward, Florida for a year and a even when you don’t With A Mission Tour half before Fireflight feel like you’re going concert was over, got signed as a band. anywhere, keep mov- members of the audi- Fireflight, with three ing forward. Another ence were enthusiastic. albums out, just re- step is another step “It was amazing! It was cently finished their away from the things awesome!” Sarah newest album recorded you need to just leave Frakes said. with Jasen Rauch, from behind.” the band Red, and will be released sometime Dawn’s favorite next year. For the song the group Fire- group, writing their flight performs changes songs comes from ex- as their tours progress. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 3 Tim Hawkins tickles the funny bone by Olivia Wilkes On Sunday night, Hawkins was an All- edy,” Williams said. th August 28 , a lot of American baseball Hawkins does com- people had a good player during his edy differently than laugh as they attended (previous life) early most comedians. He the concert of come- years, but he traded the performs only clean dian Tim Hawkins, field for the stage and comedy that is (fit) ap- who performed at The started a career as a full propraite for the whole Rock Church in Hunts- time comedian in family. ville. 2002. Since 2006 he “Clean comedy is The concert was has released 3 CD’s and 4 DVD’s. He now easy. Funny comedy is sold out. Doors opened hard,” Hawkins said. at 6:00 p.m., while the lives in St. Louis with actual concert didn’t four kids and a wife So, is Hawkins’ start until 7 o’clock. who is winning a battle comedy really that Hawkins then kept the with breast cancer. good? Well, his “Full audience laughing for Excalibur 11th Range of Motion” con- two hours. grader Cailean Wil- cert DVD is winner of liams attended the con- the 2007 Crown Award Hawkins is a co- for Best Comedy and median, musician, and cert at The Rock with Clean his family. his comedy series songwriter. He is best “Bananas” won a Re- comedy is known for parodies of “The concert was gional Emmy, and Tim easy. Funny popular songs. His ma- extremely relaxing,” says, “I’m not brag- terial comes from his Williams says, “It’s ging, but one time I comedy is own experiences of nice to break down and told a joke in front of a hard,” marriage, children, and be able to really laugh dead bird and it flew ~Tim homeschooling. Haw- without the fear of any- away.” kins got his start in one else hearing you, Hawkins comedy by doing it part because they’re all Hawkins was born time. laughing too!” to be a comedian. He’s funny on stage and off “I got started when Hawkins performed and it’s almost impos- my friends at the res- many of his famous sible to get a straight taurant I was working songs and routines in- answer out of him. at dared me to perform cluding “Fire Ants”, When asked if comedy at a local comedy club. “Chick-fil-A”, and runs in his family, he I performed for five “Homeschool Blues”, said, “Everyone runs in minutes and survived, as well as a couple of my family. We’re very which I wasn’t expect- new ones. athletic”. ing,” he says. “I best like his A University of goofy faces and his oc- Missouri graduate, casional slapstick com- Page 4 The Excalibur Times First time voters preparing for Election 2012 by Wesley Scott “Bad politicians are sent to Washing- ton by good people who don’t vote.” ~William E. Simon Getting ready to make American history, many 18 year old soon-to-be first-time voters are heading to the courthouses this year to register to vote for their political representatives. According to Morgan Co. figures, as of the 2010 mid-term election, there were only 371 first- time voters out of 65,861 all other eligible voters.