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| Jeremy Kempf (left to right), Neil Richer, and Jason Fishburn sing during Thirstborne's farewell concert at Hesston College August 20. Erin Kempf is in the background; not pictured is Kyle Baker. |
August 24, 2005
by Christine Wyrick, Hesston Record
After forming at Hesston College
five years ago, the Christian band Thirstborne played its final concert
Saturday, August 20, in Yost Center on the college's campus.
The band, which released three albums and toured, is breaking up.
"We've been together for
five years now, and it seemed like it was time," said Jason Fishburn,
who sings vocals and plays rhythm guitar with the band. "Even
though it's an adventure, it can be extremely intense. It's been an
incredible experience, but we feel like God is leading each of us
into the next season."
"Things began for us at Hesston
College, and many young people in Hesston and the surrounding area
were our original audience when we were still getting our feet wet,"
Fishburn said about the choice of Hesston for the final concert.
The other members of the band
are Jeremy Kempf on lead guitar and vocals; Erin Kempf playing keyboards
and vocals; Neil Richer on bass and synthesizer; and Kyle Baker on
drums and vocals.
All of the members of the band
except Baker attended Hesston College. The band members now live across
the country.
Fishburn, a native of Lawrence
who lived in Hesston his senior year in high school and three years
after that, resides in Auburn, Ill.
Jeremy Kempf, who hails from Shickley, Neb., and his wife, Erin, who
is from Wayland, Iowa, live in Shickley, but soon will move elsewhere.
Richer, a native of West Unity,
Ohio, lives there. He also plans to move soon.
Baker is from and lives in Princeton, Ill.
Fishburn said the band members
probably won't stray from music for long. "We'll all probably
take a few months break, but I don't think it will be long before
one or more of us starts or joins something (a band)," he said.
Thirstborne released three albums.
The latest, "Here," was released in early July.
"We're really pleased with it," Fishburn said. "It
surpasses 'Let Me Fly' (the band's second album) in several different
ways. Lyrically, it's much easier to relate to than the more abstract
poetry of 'Let Me Fly' and is more representative of what we've learned
and experienced recently.
"Musically, it's more accessible
to our audience," he said. "It features a variety of styles
from contemplative ballad to melody-driven pop to guitar-driven rock
to geek rock. It also features an acoustic remix of 'Funk,' a favorite
from 'Let Me Fly.'"
Fishburn said the quality and production of the recording reached
the next level for the band.
"With engineer and friend
Andy Soemo of Seattle at the helm, we feel like the album has reached
a new level of accessibility," he said. "I think everyone
will find tracks on 'Here' they really enjoy.'
"Let Me Fly" is sold
at Provident Bookstore in Newton and at www.thirdwaycafe.com in the
resources section.
Richer said the band members remain
friends after five years together. "We have traveled working
with the Mennonite Mission Network for a full year," he said.
"During this year, we traveled to about 30 different states and
five provinces. It has been very intense. Doing this we have been
in a different place almost every night, and this has not been easy."
Richer also said the band members
felt God was leading them in different directions. But their bond
remains. "I miss all those guys already," he said.
Used with permission