The Christian rock group Steeple draws the line where other bands might thrive, and that's "keggers," a buzz word for rowdy, "Animal House" type parties on the college circuit.
Although the band is publicity-starved, the fear of being religious hypocrites steers them away from beer bashes
"At this point we'll do almost anything that comes our way. We still have to be somewhat selective, we are still Christians, we have to maintain that image," said drummer Lee Shifflett.
Lead guitarist Dave Williams thinks it would be a mistake.
"I think a big fear of ours is coming off as hypocritical," he said. "We won't play at a kegger because that will make us seem hypocritical."
The band's first CD, "Can't Stop Now," is suggestive of the experiment the musicians are immersed in with a Christian rock group struggling to make a name for themselves with a G rating. They're confident in their sound though and tell the story behind each song. Creed is a mainstream band they relate to.
"The CD kind of takes you on a walk of what we feel," Williams said. The first song is "Can't Stop Now," which Daniel Shifflett calls "the most solid song on the CD."
Then there's "The End," but not the dismal, melodramatic Doors ballad. "It basically talks about the truth when God comes out," Brian Shifflett, cousin of Lee, said. "Nowadays, kids are looking for answers."
"When we reach the end, we know it will be revealed," Lee Shifflett added.
The band's symbol resembles an "anarchy" sign, popular among punk groups of the 1980s. They've taken some flak for it, but that's half the purpose. It's there so they'll get noticed. Looking closer, the symbol can be identified as a crown of thorns circling an A with a cross on top.
Is the band hard-core? That's the question that Steeple wants to provoke.
"We've had some people that have seen the symbol and thought that was totally wrong," Williams said.
DRUMMER LEE SHIFFLETT is brother of Daniel Shifflett and cousin of Brian Shifflett, the lead vocalist. Lead guitarist Dave Williams is a friend from Lorton. They all met while hammering out church songs at Calvary Road Baptist Church on Beulah Street. They are all grads of either Edison or Hayfield except Daniel Shifflett, who is currently a sophomore at Edison.
"You hear people say it's like a family. Well, it really is a family," Brian Shifflett said.
Kate Severson is honing her public-relations skills, promoting the band and keeping everyone in line. She's also the girlfriend of Randy Shifflett, the older brother and Webmaster.
"Public relations is sort of my passion. It's amazing how everything's falling into place," she said, but she confessed her patience sometimes wears thin.
"I used to have a little bit of a time limit with these guys," she said. Her regular job is that of a fund-raiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
In early January, the band had a CD release party at the church, and March 1 is the group's first road performance, Hooes Road in Lorton. It's at the studio of Ken Smith, a Lorton musician who helped them with the CD.
"He took us under his wing," Lee Shifflett said.
"Turns out he's our friend now," added Brian Shifflett.
On March 22, Steeple has another show at Common Grounds coffee shop in Culpeper, Va., and then another show at the Harvest Festival in Fredericksburg next August.