- Bryon Harris
Bible Belt Blues - 'Are You Ready'
Written by Dan Hoyt & Staff
"Are You Ready" was written and produced by the unstoppable, dynamic husband and wife team of Harold Vega Vondenstein on guitars and Paula Vega Vondenstein, lyricist. They are known as Bible Belt Blues. "Are You Ready" is the latest single from their 2nd album, "My God, My God."
“Are You Ready?” is an energetic, knock-your-socks-off, gospel/blues tune that hearkens back to artists such as BB King. The song features a sparse background of expertly played blues acoustic guitar and gritty, soulful lead vocals. In the middle, and towards the end, there is an on-fire, distorted electric guitar being played during the solo section. The song follows a 12-bar blues format.
The lyrics of this song take center stage. The blues format is based around the inviting written Word; at the same time, the guitar playing is equally extraordinary. Even though the instrumentation is mainly a solo guitar, this music is not simple. It is well-developed and very engaging. Vocally, Harold belts it out, bringing forward a true gospel sound. This duo is in perfect harmony, lyrically and musically , allowing the song's message to resonate and rise.
"Are You Ready" was inspired by Acts 2:2. “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.” Paula has written lyrics that are true to the Bible - these are lyrics that awake the sleeping soul and invite listeners, without hesitation and with a distinct holler to "get ready" for something much bigger than themselves. You can almost feel the earth shake under your feet.
."Are you ready to be part of something much bigger, much bigger than yourself? Are you ready to take your faith to a much higher level? Are you ready to see miracles manifest before your very eyes?"
Lines such as, “are you ready to see nations being brought down, brought down to their knees?,” shows the impact of His Word and fill the listener with awe and awareness.
“Are You Ready” is a profound song that will appeal to fans of gospel music, anyone who is a follower of Jesus Christ and his teachings, and to those who stumble upon it and find meaning in it's message.
Harold Vega Vondenstein and Paula Vega Vondenstein, Bible Belt Blues, have accomplished their vision; they have shaken the world, and they do this by staying true to the Bible with bold lyrics and a Gospel sound so unique, that when the lyrics and music are combined, the listener is swept off their feet into a music revival like no other. "Are You Ready" is more than a song; it is a bold question that stays with you long after you hear it - "Are you ready?"
About Bible Belt Blues
Harold and Paula Vega Vondenstein are Bible Belt Blues, a husband and wife music ministry team from Gulfport, Mississippi. Their music is both fresh and unique: bold, biblically sound lyrics wrapped in early Mississippi Bentonia blues influenced music with a bit of 70’s retro mixed in for good measure. The gritty guitar picking, hauntingly beautiful D & E minor chords, and weeping harmonica are the perfect backdrop for their full-fledged repentance and church revival songs for which they are known.
Bible Belt Blues started creating music together as a couple in early September of 2018 when Paula convinced her husband, Harold, to let her start writing the lyrics first, which sets the tonality and structure for the music. Bible Belt Blues’ goal is for each song to be a distinctive work of art, yet true to its own genre, which falls under the larger genre of Gospel Blues. Since January of 2019, the Vondensteins have released two Christian albums, “I’m Not Ashamed to Be a Christian” and “My God, My God,” that they created, recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced in their own home recording studio.
To date, eleven of their Bible Belt Blues songs have already received radio airplay, thanks to Bill and Kat Radio’s Cross 104 Gospel Blues Hour Syndicated Radio Program resulting in numerous placements on the Roots Music Report. Against all odds, Bible Belt Blues won the coveted 2019 Josie Music Award for Gospel/ Christian Duo after more than 23,000 nominations were submitted across all genres from around the globe. The Vondensteins are both humbled and honored by the doors that God has already opened for them with their music ministry.
Bible Belt Blues is available for revival concerts and special events at churches, colleges, schools, conferences, and retreats.
This music review was brought to you by BWH Music Group.
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