Somerset —

Live Fish down under? One of Somerset’s most well-known homegrown musical acts, Christian rock group Live Fish is home after a tour of one of the world’s most fascinating lands south of the equator. Live Fish — a three-piece band featuring Dustin Fenison, Vince Frantz and Patrick Ford — spent three weeks in Australian touring Queensland, one of the country’s states to the north (including cities like Brisbane and the interestingly-named Toowoomba). The trip left quite an impression on the band, it would seem. “It was an incredible experience and we are hoping to head back next April to do an tour of the entire country and do some recording,” said Fenison — and in the meantime, they’ll be playing this Sunday at SomerJam at the SomerSplash waterpark with national recording artists Hearts of Saints. It’s been a period of discovery and change for Live Fish in recent months. One exciting development is the release of a live worship album, “Poured Out,” about which Fenison is very excited. That’s in addition to “Off the Hook,” a collection of original children’s songs released within the last year. “Both of those are more compilation-type projects that we felt we needed to do before moving on musically,” said Fenison. “In support of those two releases, we toured extensively last summer, making it to many of the biggest Christian festivals including main stage slots opening for The Newsboys, Kutless, Skillet, Casting Crowns, and more,” he continued. “We went from Atlanta to Rapid City, South Dakota, and about everywhere in between.” However, fans of the band who haven’t seem them in a while may notice a big change if they attend SomerJam this Sunday. Keyboardist Emily Lane is no longer with the band, having left after six years to “pursue other interests,” in Fenison’s words, including college at the University of Kentucky. “We still occasionally talk her into playing a gig with us, but full-time on the road was not the life she wanted right now,” said Fenison. “We definitely miss her a lot.” That “on the road” lifestyle reached a previously unimagined high with the journey to Australia. Live Fish was there from June 30 to July 19, starting in the community of Worongary. “We helped out a missionary friends of ours by leading worship, doing a (Vacation Bible School) and a huge Friday night rock show,” said Fenison. The band then played multiple shows in Brisbane and up and down the Gold Coast. Along the way, they played with notable Australian rock bands like The Bloodpoets, Ludavico, Drawn From Bees, and The Oceanics. “The tour was a huge success,” said Fenison. “The Aussies welcomes us, with open arms and were very gracious and incredibly friendly. We gained some new fans, but most importantly some new lifelong friends.” The trip was made possible after Fenison spoke to a missionary from the band’s church, East Somerset Baptist, needed help with an outreach event. Live Fish went with about 15 other college students from the chuch, but Fenison knew they’d need to book a tour to help offset some of the costs of the trip. “I can’t explain it any other way than just divine appointment that I was hooked up with one of the top booking agents in Australia, who in turn worked to get us on some really great shows with some top secular Australian talent,” said Fenison. “The venues were really cool and ‘vibey’ and the crowds were sophisticated and really into the music.” The band did get some time to relax and see the beautiful country which takes up an entire continent and was originally settled as a penal colony for the British. Fenison, Frantz and Ford stayed in beach town Burleigh Heads, known for its “world-class surfing.” “While we were adjusting to the 14-hour time difference, we would get up each morning and eat ice cream pancakes while watching the sunrise over the coastline,” said Fenison. “We would hang out a lot on the beach and enjoyed the winter weather — and by winter weather, I'm talking 75 and sunny.” That’s because the seasons are considered to be opposite in the southern hemisphere, with what Americans know as “winter months” being the hottest ones in Australia. A land of great wilderness and wildlife — Fenison said the band saw koalas, kangaroos, wombats and crocodiles at a local preserve -- it also has great culture and cities. “We really enjoyed the city of Brisbane,” said Fenison. “One of the five largest metropolitan cities in Australia, it had a great energy and a really vibrant music scene.” But it was the performances, spreading the Gospel through song, that were Live Fish’s real mission on the trip. Fenison admitted to finding the whole thing overwhelming at times. “The very first show we played in Australia, I stepped on stage with tears welling up for a moment,” he said. “It wasn't because we were playing in Australia necessarily, it was kind of just a moment of reflection thinking about all God has done for us as a band and me personally. I realized that I was halfway around the world doing something I absolutely love to do, with people that I love, for the greatest purpose I can think of. It doesn't get much better than that, but I have a suspicion that it will.” Fans can visit wwwlivefishband.com or myspace.com/lifefishband for more information about the group and its albums, and can also come to SomerJam this Sunday, August 1. SomerJam is a monthly Christian music event held at the water park, held every first Sunday during the summer, and costs $10 to get it. Doors open for the event at 7:30 p.m., and the park’s attractions will be open. It’s a great opportunity to reach out with God’s Word through song locally, just as Live Fish has done on the other side of the world. “It has been so humbling and at the same time a tremendous learning experience being able to spread our message across the globe,” said Fenison. “I think the two main things we have realized is that one, God doesn't need us to do his work, yet he wants to do his work through us; and two, everybody is the same from Somerset to Sydney. Same joys, pains, hurts, problems ... we are all broken people. “As we realize these things, it makes us hungry to keep pushing and growing as artists, as people, and as believers,” he added. “We are not naive enough to think we can change the world, but we can most certainly change ourselves and point to the source of our transformation. We'll step back and let God do His thing.”