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Who we are
A band is a gathering of musicians who create music together. Citywide is a gathering of musicians; simple people living simple lives. But I will ask you to view Citywide as a handful of seeds. They were planted 3 years ago in a small congregation known as His Church. Led by jazz guitarist Dustin Whitaker the band started out as a monthly event; one wouldn't go to "watch" Citywide. Rather one would go and participate in Citywide. The group's purpose was to create an atmosphere of worship; to pave a pathway for anyone to freely express and communicate in the Spirit. Whether it be dancing, meditating or simply observing, Citywide was a gathering of willing hearts.
As the members invested in their relationships and put the unity of the city first (the band's original name was Citywide Unity), the music making became merely a channel to express this revival. Albeit strangely backwards for a band to put music in the passenger's seat, this is where the seeds grew and began to bear fruit. Through this channel the band has birthed a transcendently original sound. Through spirit-led musical improvisation and structured pieces the band has created a hybrid of lush, organic, spirit-filled sounds that are difficult to pin-down. Passionate voices, freeform drums, percussive guitars, and soulful piano riffs hardly describe this sacred genre.
Their lyrical content contains a realism that relates to the honest heart such as in the song Strong to Deliver. Whitaker writes to God, "If I cannot let it go, help me let it go. If I don't want to let it go, break through." Many of the groups songs openly deal with the naked truth of human struggle and inner-self conflict. In the song Justine, Whitaker expresses his occasional doubt in God. "So Ill mix up some Vodka with whatever and make myself fresh and clean. And to be honest sometimes I doubt God alone can set me free." The song continues on to express the real truth that sin only leaves a person empty and that God is the only true freedom. "How now I see, youre all I need." Here's how they see it: If we could be a stepping stone by laying down our agendas for success to inspire others to change and to see others healed, then we'll be happy. We may never be acknowledged or maybe we will. Whatever the case we enjoy living and seeing God work through us." Citywide is not a band. They are a gathering of growing seeds singing to cause their Maker to laugh. |
The band claims influences from contemporary jazz artists such as Chick Corea and Pat Metheney, 90's rock legends such as Counting Crows, Dave Matthews Band, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, and modern folk and indie rock acts like Sigur Ros, Iron and Wine, and Sufjan Stevens. Of course, these are only mere musical influences, not to mention the influences of lifes daily struggles, sadness, loss, growth and hope in something greater.