Came across something you might finding interesting, or at least entertaining, and hopefully both.
You may be aware that there are a few WELS Lutheran (not Synod endorsed or affiliated, of course) minstrel vagabonds that will travel to your congregation to provide cool non-organ music and/or entertainment for your worship (praise?) services or other "church events". They range from the bizarre and eclectic Spark and Echo band (http://www.sparkandecho.org) to faux Jim Croce singer Stephen Bautista, who has traveled for five years in a trailer and a truck with what is presently a family of 11 -- and a cat. (https://www.facebook.com/StephenBautistaMusic). There are a couple others as well. No hard rockers yet. Free will donations accepted.
We all know the CGM demands more modern, relevant, and entertaining music than those dusty Lutheran hymns. If our music is cooler, they will flock to our services. Yeah -- that's the ticket! (Remember the pathological liar character, played by John Lovitz on the old Saturday Night Live?).
I would like to share two photographs that illustrate the brilliant insights of the CGM. Note the attendance and enthusiasm of the worshipers. Photos were taken at Gethsemane Lutheran, Raleigh, NC.
At the end of these performances, they all hawk their CDs, T-shirts, etc. with their big, sad eyes. Another group of vagabonds actually expects some member to put them up while they're in town. They do this for a living! This isn't the WELS Men's Chorus or a visiting prep school. Where is the discernment of my pastors?