PHOTO COURTESY OF IMPACT EVENTS
Local group 7 Simple Pieces, above, will open for Mercy Me and Mark Schultz tonight and tomorrow at the Hawaii Theatre. If you're wondering why an 8-member group is called 7 Simple Pieces, "The seven is a Biblical number -- God's number that represents His perfection," Clarence "Boy" Vierra, explained.
God is
their manager
"The biggest group that turns people away from Jesus is Christians," said Clarence "Boy" Vierra from the local religious band 7 Simple Pieces. It shouldn't be difficult to connect with Christ, he said, but some so-called Christians seem bent on complicating the process.
Jesus is in the house
Featuring Mercy Me, Mark Schultz and 7 Simple PiecesWhere: Hawaii Theatre
When: 7:30 p.m. today and tomorrow
Tickets: $35, $25 and $20, plus $2 restoration fee
Call: 528-0506
Vierra and the other members of the group don't claim to be perfect followers, but he says they try to set a good example, even when they're not on stage.
"Our wives and children are all involved with what we do, so that's the really neat thing about it. When people see eight of us on stage, they see the whole family that comes (with us), and that's a ministry in itself, because people look at how we react with our families when we're offstage and see that we're not a make-believe Christian band ... preaching Jesus on stage and then, when we're offstage, the hidden stuff comes out."
7 Simple Pieces is performing tonight and tomorrow night as the featured opening act for Mercy Me and Mark Schultz at the Hawaii Theatre in a concert co-presented with the Waikiki Beach Chaplaincy. Vierra says it's the second biggest show that the group has played, but adds that they're not really concerned with such issues as concert venues or the size of the audience.
"All we want to do is help people and praise the Lord and to give God glory (and) just go out and serve. We get to meet a lot of people and help a lot of people. The pay is great -- we don't get anything -- because the Lord will bless us when we get to heaven, and we've done a lot of things where most Christian bands don't get called to go."
Vierra says that includes performances in bars and nightclubs like Kapono's, Pipeline Cafe, Dave & Buster's and Eastside Grill, where they won a battle-of-the-bands contest.
PHOTO COURTESY OF IMPACT EVENTS
Local group 7 Simple Pieces will open for Mercy Me, above, and Mark Schultz tonight and tomorrow at the Hawaii Theatre.
VIERRA, the designated spokesman, and the group's bass player and bass vocalist, is one of the older members in the group's current lineup. 7 Simple Pieces traces its roots back to a trio founded in 2000 by vocalist Stacy "Leiana" Kepa, her father and guitarist Jonathan Calpito, and drummer Kawika Pearson. Over the past three years, the group has expanded to include husband-and-wife duo Clinton and Kacie Aurio, who added a second guitar and another female vocalist to the mix. Keyboardist Fred Welch III and MC / DJ Dennis Keel round out the Pieces.
But that makes for eight members in the group.
"The seven is a Biblical number -- God's number that represents His perfection," Vierra explained.
"And 'simple' is the message -- The Word of God is simple. Coming to Him should be simple, and that's what He wants. God takes care of everything else that's hard, not us. As for the pieces, that's us (and) we're just blessed that the Lord has chosen us to be a part of this ministry."
Vierra says that the band members spend a lot of social time together outside of the band's activities. A CD single titled "The One Who Loves You!" is currently available and features two original songs. (See review on page 2.) A full-length album is scheduled for release by the end of the month.
"We're loud, and the style of music we do ranges from reggae to hip-hop to rock to acoustic, contemporary style music. That's where it's at for us. We're just thankful and we enjoy what we do."
Vierra says that, frankly, the band members have pasts that "don't make our parents proud," but that they've put all that "out on the table" and are concentrating on where they are now and where they want to be. Last year, they did 112 appearances "just here on Oahu" and, thus far, been at least that busy this year.
In 2004, they're planning to go to New Zealand and Japan, and possibly Greece.
"We don't promote ourselves. We don't have a manager. We're not looking for one. We don't call up people to be in shows. ... We've just trusted in the Lord and, lo and behold, He's opened a lot of doors for us."
Click for online
calendars and events.
