Pat packs a lot of talent into his basement. A horn section sits at the back, singers do vocal exercises up front, the keyboardist fiddles with settings. And this isn’t even the whole band. All twelve members of the God Squad can’t fit in his home studio – so when they gather for the sound-check the day of the concert, it’s like a reunion.
“Sound checks are usually a lot of fun,” says Pat. “Everybody finally gets back together. I think that’s the main part of it. We all do it just to hang out with each other. It’s like a family.”
In this case, ‘everybody’ refers to his group of professional musician friends who have joined forces once a year as the God Squad. Every December for more than twelve years, the God Squad has performed a one-night-only Christmas concert in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, just outside of Halifax. They donate all their ticket proceeds to Chalice. Since they began, they have raised about $40,000.
Each band member is too humble to detail their accomplishments, mention their multiple music awards, or name-drop the artists they’ve worked with in their impressive careers. Be sure, you have heard their work.
As the God Squad, they are just there to have fun, sing Christmas songs, and spread some joy. “They’re all big, soft-hearted people,” Pat says. “It’s all about bringing some joy at Christmas.”
The God Squad first formed after a shift in Pat’s parish’s Christmas eve Mass schedules. Instead of running the music ministry at the evening Mass, Pat and his ministry bandmates called up their professional musician pals and did a concert. “We put together a concert with all the same people, and we’ve been doing it ever since.” Pat’s teen-aged son once dubbed Pat and his pious Catholic friends ‘The God Squad’ and it seemed like a perfect fit for the band.
Throughout the years, all the musicians and engineers donate their time, and equipment rental houses donate the equipment. Even guest performers refuse payments.
The repertoire is all Christmas – some contemporary, some more traditional, and some original. There are some that perhaps Pat would like to drop off the list but can just never seem to.
“I get a little tired of singing Oh Holy Night,” he says, but also admits that it doesn’t take much arm-twisting to get it on the set-list again. The band loves it when the audience sings along. For Pat, it’s more than just a fun activity; it’s a spiritual moment.
“I think it’s just got to be a down payment of heaven,” he says. “Deeper stuff …can get in the little cracks of the hearts that other things can’t. There’s always one song like that.”
They’ve had their parish priest get on stage and take a solo, and there’s usually a few songs that get the crowd up on their feet. It always promises to be a high-energy and light-hearted show. But amidst the song and laughter, there’s an offering to Jesus, who is our Christmas joy.
“Listen to St. Augustine,” Pat says, “he who sings, prays twice.”
The God Squad’s annual show is this Sunday, December 15, 2024. Check out the poster for tickets and information.