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And perhaps that doctrinally indistinct positivity works to Superchick's favor to land dates such as this, a fundraiser for a youth ministry supported by mainline Protestant, Pentecostal, Evangelical and Roman Catholic church bodies. The high school that hosted the ninth annual  United For One is of the last-named persuasion, with giant painted portraiture of priests, bishops and popes adorning the hall outside the auditorium. Thanks to a teen-oriented Christian FM that cranks a lot of the band's music and the group's heavy gigging history in Nortrheastern Wisconsin (they premiered 11 years ago at Oshkosh's LiFest), the auditorium of looked to be about five-sixths full on a brisk, clear Friday night.

If S-chick's vague lyrical perspective makes for one kind of inclusiveness, the music behind it makes for another. Throughout 13 songs from their latest longplayer, Rock What You Got, and other albums, it's easy to hear that they make down-the-middle mainstream rock for the kids that are the target of the show's sponsor and their parents, who doubtless give much of the money to support the organization.

Without the stage presence of S-chick's founder, Max Hsu, providing turntablism and electronic enhancements, that mainstream flavor was all the more evident. The power with which they played otherwise more urbanely rhythmic numbers such as "Pure" and "One Girl Revolution" made me miss Hsu's contributions less than I thought I might. Not only was Asian-American Hsu (who's apparently now only a studio member) gone, but previous African-American drumm Brandon Estelle has been replaced by former Dizmas' skinbeater Clay Hunt. That left the act's Super sisters, Melissa and Tricia Brock, leading a quintet of white folks. It made for a literally less colorful performance, but one that still worked it hard all the way through to their lone encore*, "the balladic "Stand In The Rain." As for the lead siblings, Trish looked a bit like a grown-up Hannah Montanna in her blonde bangs, and 'Liss's copious arm tattoos looked a tad too startling (at least to my ink-averse eyes) in the Compassion International pitch video where she visits the Ugandan children she supports.

Tal & Acacia share with the Brocks that they're sisters, one of flaxen  hair and the other brunette. Their three songs, all likely from their forthcoming major label debut, mixed percussion tracks with live acoustic guitar. The effect envisions Beth Orton's folkie trip-hop as filtered through Considering Lilly's pop-folk, as sung by passionate kewpie dolls. Warmly received here, the siblings should find favor all over Christendom, at least.

Rachel Hockett, daughter of '80s-'90s soul gospel/CCM crossover couple Billy and Sarah Gaines, gave an oration-somewhere between a motivational speech and sermon-about seeking intimacy with God above life's distractions. The venue might have had her downplay the role of Christ's sacrifice as the linchpin reason for pursuing that nearness to the Almighty, or it might have merely coincided with the general direction of pop Christianity. Either way, she proved to be a personable and relate-able (and cute, in a Mandissa-ish manner, but that's a moot point since she's married, eh?) presence as a speaker and mistress of ceremonies.   

Packed as it was efficient, the whole shebang ended in not much longer than two hours. If you didn't stick around for autographs, that is. Since I talked to Tal and Acacia during the break and was otherwise looking forward to reconnecting with Hsu, my night of Christocentric, youthful (mostly) live music was over.

*I'd like to see bands, Christian or otherwise, do away with encores. An act playing all the songs he/she/they came prepared to play before the lights come back on without the pretense of that concert-going cliche would do all parties concerned some good, methinks. 

Jamie Lee Rake