The first ASU incarnation came together in 1996 when founding member Ian Eskelin decided to broaden his solo act and take a bunch of mates out on the road. The good old rock 'n' roll and notorious stage antics won them immediate acclaim.
Heady days ensued. The boys were signed to a leading record label, and after five No. 1 singles, watched their American youth group following grow into a legion of loyal fans. Over the past six years ASU has played more than 1000 shows. And only recently, during a rare yearlong break from the road in 2000, Ian took time to properly court and wed his new bride Peggy. The couple lives in Nashville, Tennessee, as do the newest faces in the ASU line-up.
Brothers Matt and Mike Payne, originally from Rockford, Illinois, have joined Ian on drums and guitar respectively, and Jeremy Hunter, a Seattle-native, is bassist and Revolution recording engineer. While the four-piece ASU team worked on the new album they took the time to rethink the ASU platform. Ian wanted to communicate something more personal. "I've written all kinds of songs, but the thing I really love and get most excited about is when I write songs that express my faith in three minutes in new and creative ways. That for me is an outpouring of my faith, my calling."
Certainly Ian's savvy use of metaphor, imagery and twisted cliché could charm a literature student for hours. His song-writing skills are clearly illustrated throughout the new record and particularly in songs like the Lennonesque "We Are The Future" and title track "Revolution". "Sweet Jesus" and the worshipful "Making It Beautiful" are perhaps more obvious in their spiritual message, but the common thread of all the tracks is the one thought-provoking challenge that Ian claims has never been more pertinent. "There are several songs on this new record that talk about change, the idea that we can make our lives better by helping to make the world better. Each of us, individually through Christ can make small differences. More than ever, I feel these songs are relevant — no matter what the circumstances of the day."
Revolution was two-and-a-half years in the writing and is the result of an artist honing his craft while personally living the themes of exploration, change, discovery and challenge. Ian has remained very "hands-on" in the production and long-term friend Mark Freegard (Manic Street Preachers, Del Amitri, and The Breeders) has mixed Revolution and ASU's self-titled debut album. Ian is not shy to express his satisfaction. "It's a ten song record and I really tried hard to trim the fat. I wanted the album to have a strong message and for people to be able to enjoy listening to every song. The guys are extremely talented musicians and really helped me with a fresh perspective on these songs."
Musically, Ian, Matt, Mike and Jeremy promise more emphasis on solid rock 'n' roll fundamentals without loosing the fun elements fans have come to love. "It's been easy to perform the songs on Revolution with the same excitement we had when we first started. The new material is written from the heart, and I feel extremely passionate about it. I want the music to be as important to the listener as it is for me. Whether in a car, living room or concert hall, I want people to leave an ASU experience reflective, energized and uplifted."
From http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/artists/allstarunited.html
Lights Out
All Star United Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just to keep one lousy light bulb lit
How long are you gonna drag this out
I think you think it's all OK
I think you think you still got game
I think it's time to shut this down
Light out, lights out
It's gonna hurt tomorrow
Lights out, lights out
You can thank me later but babe
You're gonna hate me now
I'm sick and tired of you talking smack
You always want your monkey back
I'll put your money where your mouth
Is nothing getting through to you
There's nothing harder than the truth
One punch will drop you to the ground
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Yeah yeah yeah
The song "Lights Out" by All Star United is a sarcastic and humorous critique of a person who is living a frivolous lifestyle and burning through resources without regard for the consequences. The song opens with the image of this person sucking power from the Vegas strip just to keep one light bulb lit. The singer is clearly fed up with this behavior and is ready to shut it down. He urges the subject to say their "sayonara" before the consequences catch up with them, warning that it's going to hurt tomorrow.
The chorus repeating the phrase "lights out" drives this point home, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. The second verse suggests that the subject may have a gambling problem, with the singer threatening to "put your money where your mouth is." The line "there's nothing harder than the truth" is likely a reference to the fact that addiction and destructive behavior are difficult to face head-on.
Overall, "Lights Out" is a catchy and upbeat song that delivers a serious message in a lighthearted way. The playful sarcasm of the lyrics, combined with the upbeat tempo and catchy melodies, make it a memorable addition to All Star United's discography.
Line by Line Meaning
You're sucking power from the Vegas strip
You're consuming too much energy just to keep one small light lit up
Just to keep one lousy light bulb lit
You're using a lot of power for a small return
How long are you gonna drag this out
When will you stop wasting energy and causing unnecessary costs?
I think you think it's all OK
You think you can get away with unnecessary usage of power and waste of resources
I think you think you still got game
You prove no sign of stopping despite knowing the consequences of your actions
I think it's time to shut this down
It's time to take action and stop wasting resources before it's too late
Light out, lights out
It's time to turn off the lights
Say your sayonara
Bid farewell to your careless behavior
It's gonna hurt tomorrow
There will be consequences for your actions
You can thank me later but babe
You will appreciate the consequences of your actions soon, but not now
You're gonna hate me now
You may not like the result of stopping your waste of resources, but it's for the best
I'm sick and tired of you talking smack
I'm frustrated with your careless behavior
You always want your monkey back
You continue to make the same mistakes over and over
I'll put your money where your mouth
I'll show you the financial consequences of your actions
Is nothing getting through to you
Are you not understanding the seriousness of the issue?
There's nothing harder than the truth
It's difficult to accept the reality of the situation
One punch will drop you to the ground
Taking action may have severe consequences, but it's necessary for long-term sustainability
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: DOUGLAS KAINE MCKELVEY, IAN ASHLEY ESKELIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind