Jessica Stout
Reporter
Milligan welcomed Esther’s Request on March 19 to perform in Sub7. While drinking Oreo shakes, audience members was able to enjoy the music that Esther’s Request brought. The performance lasted an hour and everyone was able to interact with the music.
“Most of the night was standing room only,” said Sarah Mason, Sub7 chair. There was a very good turnout including (Dr. and Mrs. Jeanes).”
“We didn’t know how many people to expect,” said Daniel Dabney, vocalist and acoustic and electric guitarist.
The band rehearsed for a couple of weeks prior to the show practicing new songs and was able to try some of them out at Sub7.
“They went really well,” Dabney said.
Esther’s Request always says they enjoy playing at Milligan.
“It’s kind of like a vacation for us,” said Brad McMahan, bass guitarist. The band said they enjoy seeing friends and remembering all the good times they had at Milligan.
The band says that playing at Milligan is different than playing anywhere else, because they feel more relaxed and comfortable. The Milligan familiar to them and not stressful.
“I think (Esther’s Request) are a really good band and the students really enjoy them,” Mason said.
All four members of the band graduated from Milligan. Dabney, Dave Weir and McMahan graduated in 2002 and Steve Kohlman graduated in 2000.
Esther’s Request has played three times at Milligan since they have graduated, and hope to return to play in the next school year. No dates have been set yet.
They have released three albums and are in the process of writing new songs for their next CD which they hope will come out this year.
Esther’s Request does about 20 to 30 shows a year. They said that they want to give people a message of “hope” and “urgency” through their music.
“We are a revolution and we want to get out of the doors of the church and let God live in us,” McMahan said.
According to the band’s Web site, “the band began over five years ago as participants in a worship group at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Ky. and has evolved into a focused modern Christian rock band.”
Esther’s request in the Bible was to request the presence of her king to save her people, the Jews.
“We request the presence of our Lord to save our audience,” Weir said.