By Mark Christopher

The first concert I ever saw was Petra.
The first band to perform that night ?

Shaded Red!!!!

Blew my mind!!!

The band was so awesome. One of the guys in the band would randomly break out a trumpet at times all while rocking so hard and owning that stage!!!!

I was 11 and it blew my mind!!!

My mom had given me like 10 dollars or something to go to the concert…

After the show I vividly remember going to Shaded Red’s merch booth and getting to talk with the band. I told them how cool I thought they were and how much I loved their music…

I still recall one of the guys in the band being like “you can buy one of our shirts or a cd if you’d like” or something.

And to this day I kick myself in the butt for saying; “well I only have 10 dollars and I wanted to get something from Petra”

I still have no idea what I bought that night at Petra’s booth…. And yes trust me I immediately regretted that decision the whole way home.

A few days later my mom took me to the local Christian book store where I asked if they had any Shaded Red cds. My heart sank when they said no.

I searched everywhere for Shaded Red music.

Later that year I remember Christmas morning opening a cd shaped present!!!!! Yes!!!! It was indeed my very own Shaded Red cd!!!!!

Not only did I get my very first Shaded Red album, but that was the same year I got my very first guitar for Christmas as well.

That band changed my life!!! I grew up listening to the album, and learning how to play guitar!

The first band I seen live was Shaded Red, and despite that concert being the one and only time I have ever seen the band live, Shaded Red has remained my all time favorite band to this day!