Doors are opening for Blackbox Within

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Nov 2, 2002 by Capital-Journal

The Blackbox Within

On the Web: www.the blackboxwithin.com

E-mail: theblackboxwithin@hotmail.com

MP3: www.mp;3.com/theblackboxwithin

Phone numbers: (785) 539-4427 or 228-0391

Next concert: 8 p.m. Nov. 8, Westside Family Church, Shawnee

Members of Blackbox Within, a Topeka rock group, are, from left, Ryan Challacombe, Matt Frost, Jason Lutz and Aaron Hoffman.

Blackbox Within members practice at First Assembly of God Church. Members are, from left: Jason Lutz, bass; Matt Frost, guitar and vocals; Aaron Hoffman, guitar and vocals; and Ryan Challacombe, drums.

Story and photographs by Phil Anderson

The Capital-Journal

It isn't unusual for people to pray for God to open doors for them.

But Aaron Hoffman, a 27-year-old Christian rocker from Topeka, has taken a slightly more radical approach.

He actually asks for God to close doors for him, so he'll get a clearer idea of which path to take.

"I feel like a lot of Christians are always praying for God to open the door for them," Hoffman says. "But doors are always open. It's just whether we go through 'em or not."

As lead vocalist and guitarist for the rock band Blackbox Within, Hoffman sought God's direction --- and blessing --- for the group when it formed in August 2001.

But Hoffman didn't pray for the proverbial doors to open.

"It came to the point where I asked God to close doors," he said, "so I could go through the ones that were left open."

Several doors did close, and Hoffman was left with a clear vision of where his band should go. The result is Blackbox Within, a group that has an edgy modern-rock sound but whose lyrics are God- centered.

Hoffman and his bandmates are connected through Topeka's First Assembly of God Church, 500 S.W. 27th. A couple of the musicians played together a few years back in the church's praise band.

Then came the chance to form a group with a modern-rock sound, and Hoffman jumped at it.

Other bandmates are: Matt Frost, 23, on guitar and vocals; Ryan Challacombe, 22, on drums; and Jason Lutz, 23, on bass guitar.

The group took its name from the infamous flight-recorders on airplanes, but Hoffman stressed it was done before the 9-11 tragedy.

The biblical reference to the group's name comes from chapter 20 in the New Testament book of Revelation, which states people will be judged by their deeds, all of which are recorded in a book kept by God.

While the group's members share a church background, and their song lyrics focus on God, Hoffman said the band is shooting for a mainstream audience --- and the occasional church youth group, when opportunities arise.

"You won't ever go to a Blackbox Within concert and hear us preach the word of God," Hoffman said. "We're not preachers. We're just musicians who love God."

So far, the group has been toiling largely "underground," although it did take its act on the road to a recent battle of the bands concert at the Kansas State University student union. The group took second place, boosting its confidence that it can more than hold its own with other area bands.

Because of its modern-rock sound --- Hoffman says the group pays close attention to acts such as Creed, Nickelback and Lincoln Park -- - Blackbox Within is in a bit of a quandary: how best to take its music to the masses.

The group has polished its music for a year and now is ready to play concerts, yet has difficulty finding places willing to open their doors to a band with a Christian message.

Hoffman said the group would like to play at venues such as the New Earth Coffeehouse in Kansas City, Mo., and has its sights set on landing a gig on stage at the Cornerstone festival next summer in Bushnell, Ill.

Its music has been played on "Download," a local-band show Sunday nights on V-100 FM, and also has been featured on a Saturday night rock program on Joy 88 FM.

"Their style gives them a platform that a lot of Christian groups don't have," said Toby Miller, who is helping promote the band. "I think they have a big potential."

Although the group doesn't do in-your-face preaching, members still consider it a ministry, and a way of using their talents for God's glory.

"Everything's about God," said Lutz. "That's what our focus is on.

"It's cool that we can use the talents that God has given us. We kind of present it as a gift to everyone."

Drummer Challacombe returned to Topeka from Phoenix about a year ago, and the band's formation was part of the reason: "I thought it was something God wanted me to do," he said.

While the band is just starting to get serious about performing in concert, the early reviews have been good.

Already, the group has been asked to come back to Manhattan to open a concert there.

"Everybody who's heard us likes us," Frost said. "We've had nothing but compliments."

Phil Anderson can be reached at (785) 295-1195 or panderson@cjonline.com.