Love Is Underrated: Undercover
Love Is Underrated: Undercover
(+ What’s Shakin’ & Reality Rock on the Jukebox)
On this episode, we are joined by keyboardist and songwriter Ojo Taylor, guitarist and writer Gym Nicholson, long-time lead vocalist Sim Wilson, and drummer Gary Olsen of the Orange County rock band Undercover for an expansive conversation recorded in front of a live audience at the Audiofeed Festival in Illinois. Undercover emerged in the early 1980s at the pole position of the frenetic “second wave” of Jesus Rock that saw an explosion of New Wave, Punk, Rock, and pop bands like Lifesavors, Altar Boys, Lifters, Common Bond, Crumbacher, Youth Choir, and others fill high school auditoriums, bowling alleys, parks, and church youth halls with a righteous racket that thrilled teens, worried some parents, and eventually set the stage for the big business era of Christian rock in the 90s. Ojo Taylor not only led Undercover, though, he was also a curator of this bourgeoning scene – managing labels, producing albums, and putting together one of the most important early compilation albums – which spins when we crank up the now sticker-covered Jukebox for an overview of those heady, loud, formative years.
Ojo made more waves in what’s left of this underground community when he publicly admitted that he no longer holds the same religious beliefs for which he rocked so passionately back in the day. Like others, his personal spiritual journey has taken him in a direction that does not include the Evangelical faith of his younger years. But earlier this year, when a Christian music festival invited the long-defunct band to reunite for a special show, they agreed – and rocked Audiofeed (and before that, the Anaheim House of Blues) quite successfully. Why would a band with differing beliefs agree to gigs like those?
As Ojo says, “Belief is overrated. Agreement is overrated. Love is underrated.”
Undercover Music List
Opening Segment
Phil Keaggy & Rex Paul – Full Circle (podcast theme)
Undercover – Man, O, Man; World Come Crashing Down; He’s In Love With You
Interview Segment
Undercover – Excuse Us; I’ll Be a Fool; Daddy-O; God Rules; Cry Myself to Sleep; Darkest Hour; Is Anyone Thirsty?; Work It Out; Devotion; Dark Night; Bridge of Life; One to One; Promenade; Land of Luxury
The Altar Boys – I’m Into God
Freedom of Soul – Caught in a Land of Time
JUKEBOX
Blessed Hope – Something More
Bob & Joy Cull – Sail Away
Undercover – One of These Days
The Proclaimers (U.S.) – Rejoice
Stephen Crumbächer – It Don’t Matter
Youth Choir – It’s So Wonderful
The Lifters – Listen Children
The Omega Band – Idols
Sharon McCall – From the Grave
C.I.A. – Your Choice
Malcolm and the Mirrors – Apathy
The Altar Boys – Go for You
Lifesavers – She’s On Fire
SFC – Phase III
Adam Again – Eyes Wide Open
The Electrics – Get to Heaven
The Violet Burning – Low (Third Wave)
The Prayer Chain – Chatterbox (Third Wave)
D.A.S. – Beautiful World (Third Wave)
Dakoda Motor Co. – Wind ‘N’ Sea (Fourth Wave)
Mortal – Paradigm One (Fourth Wave)
Fold Zandura – Deep Surround
Seven Day Jesus – Strength
Spot Breaks
Phil Keaggy & Mike Pachelli – Maccadocious (Two of Us)
