By Joe Pinchot
HERMITAGE — Mitch Nassar did not score a recording contract from a showcase concert over the summer in Nashville — at least, not yet — but the trip did him good in other ways.
One of those other ways is that the Hermitage man has forged a friendship with Ford Thurston, who headed the Nashville band that backed Nassar at the showcase concert.
Thurston and a couple of buddies will be coming from Music City to western Pennsylvania to play with Nassar at a benefit gig March 23.
The concert at 9 p.m. in the student union of Westminster College, New Wilmington, will raise money for Haiti earthquake relief efforts, and the Royal Family Kids Camp of New Castle that serves abused kids.
“We’re really thrilled by it,” Nassar said of Thurston, bassist Anton Defade and Defade’s father, Ray, a drummer, making the trip for the gig. “The fact that they really liked the music and want to be a part of it is a compliment.”
Thurston is a busy session and band player.
“His band right now is opening up for Tim McGraw on tour,” Nassar said of the superstar country singer.
Nassar, who describes his music as Christian classic rock, also will be joined by his daughters, Courtney Day Nassar and Taylor Lee Nassar, and Kendra Doutt, Jill Darby, the Rev. Larry Haynes and the Westminster Chapel Choir on vocals, Pittsburgh saxophonist Robbie Klein, and guitarists Dave Barbe Jr. and Brendan Hedgwood.
The Westminster concert will coincide with the release of Nassar’s newest recording, “Ask.”
“The message is based on Matthew 7:7, which is, ‘Ask and you shall receive,’ ” said Nassar, paraphrasing the passage that also includes, “seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you.”
A portion of the sale proceeds of “Ask” will be donated to Haitian relief efforts.
“They’re seeking God and we’re in the loop, too, and responding,” he said.
Nassar was pleased with the response at the showcase, in which he, his daughters and Ms. Doutt played three songs for music industry insiders.
The attendees rated Nassar 8è on a scale of 10.
“We’re really happy about that,” he said.
One of the constructive criticisms Nassar took to heart was that the band does not have an image. He has addressed that deficiency by dressing the men in the band in sharkskin suits with pin ties, and the girls in Capri pants.
“We have a considerable image now,” he said of the throwback look to the 1950s and ’60s. “It’s theater. It’s fun being dressed up, looking differently than we would normally.”
Nassar said he was contacted by a record company wanting to hear more music, but knows it is a bad time to be seeking a recording contract.
“The recording industry is a very confused industry right now,” he said. “They’re not pushing selling albums anymore. They’re looking to sell song downloads. We’re just hoping and praying that whatever’s supposed to happen — God’s will — gets done.”
The March 23 concert will start at 9 p.m. in the Andrew J. McKelvey Campus Center. The Seekers and the Chapel Praise Team also will perform. Tickets are available at Hickory United Methodist Church, Hermitage, or at the college.
