My Treasure

Relient K and the Rocket Summer don't raise the same flags that Stryper or DC Talk did; the new "jump for Jesus" wears rebellion and nonconformity well, simultaneously serving as a call to question authority while somehow still respecting your parents and being home at a reasonable hour on a school night. And while Avary speaks openly in interviews about how he speaks openly in song, he also seems keen to the business aspect of it all. Last year he explained to Christianity Today why he initially decided against signing with a Christian record label: "I knew that I wanted this to be something to connect with people that didn't go to church or know Christ." Sure, why preach to the choir?

While the Militia Group isn't an exclusively Christian label, it does offer sanctuary to many acts that ride the diminishing fence between Christian and secular music. Militia's partnering with S/R/E Recordings allowed Hello, Good Friend to get a substantial push into Christian retail. Within months, maybe weeks, of the album's release, the Rocket Summer fever had infected the MySpace demographic like avian flu, and rave reviews popped up all over the place. Less than a year later Avary's roped into a major label stable alongside Bob Marley and Bon Jovi.

After the Rocket Summer wraps up its most recent tour with Saturday's homecoming show, Avary says he will spend some downtime with his tour-managing, merch-selling, bass-playing wife before diving headlong into writing the next record. "I've held off on writing a ton of lyrics," he says, though most of the music is already arranged in his head. While he may not have penned lyrics yet, he already has prepared answers to interview questions. When asked if the new record would be another one-man band affair or if it would incorporate other players, he admits, "I dunno," before quickly repeating his goal to "make the best record of my life" that will "connect with as many people as possible."

He's already connecting with some impressive music moguls. Rising young rock stars may occasionally get the opportunity to meet Jay-Z, but Bryce has already met him several times. Asked if he's worried about having to deliver to Island Def Jam, he answers confidently but cordially: "Not worried. Excited." One wonders if Stryper would have been as relaxed had they signed with Death Row.