Meet Pete Tung, music minister and Croakin' Toads bassist – Midland Reporter-Telegram

The native of Baltimore, Maryland, can steadiness his skilled life, household life and his standing as a comparatively new member of the Midland neighborhood – having been right here for 3 years.

“A job recruiter described Midland like this: ‘Midland is like Nickelback. Everybody hates them however nobody is aware of why.’ I moved right here from Houston, so yeah, it was tradition shock. The toughest factor for me to get used to was how pleasant persons are. Rising up in Baltimore, everybody minds their very own enterprise and retains to themselves. …  Right here, I’ve been ‘caught’ in conversations on the grocery retailer, on the fitness center and at eating places.”

Tung is married to Jessi, and so they have two kids — Vienna and Davian.

On the subject of music, the proficient Mr. Tung possesses a level in classical guitar from York College of Pennsylvania. His musical influences are numerous – from Hillsong United to Elevation for worship music to Eric Clapton to John Mayer for guitar to Boyz II Males to Jay-Z to Lauren Hill for non-Christian music.

He considers constructing worship groups a ardour as he seeks “to offer alternatives for individuals to attach with God by way of music, prayer and God’s phrase.”

The 42-year-old additionally claims to be a proficient eater and considers his favourite Midland eating places to be (in no sure order): Heroes Meals, Noodle Home, I Love Pho, Abuelos, Taco Di Vino, Ray’s Bistro, Venezia’s.

“Like I mentioned, I like to eat,” Tung said. “I eat above my weight-class.”

For these fascinated by listening to Tung in his religious factor, Fannin usually has a pair of companies each Sunday.

For these wanting one thing extra mainstream, the Croakin’ Toads schedule will be discovered at www.facebook.com/thecroakintoads.

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About Pete

• Welcome to Midland second: Flying into Midland in the course of the day (dangerous concept) and seeing all of the pump jacks. Not realizing what it was, I believed it regarded just like the film “Holes.”

Musical influences

– For worship music: Hillsong United, Elevation, Bethel, Chris Tomlin, Shane and Shane

– For different music: Eric Clapton and John Mayer (for guitar).  Boyz II Males, Jay-Z, Tupac, Lauren Hill, Michael Jackson for non-Christian music.

Musical responsible pleasure

“All I Do Is Win” by DJ Khaled. (It’s my “Stroll Up” tune)

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Query and reply with Pete Tung, music minister at Fannin Terrace Baptist Church.

Reporter-Telegram: How did you get entangled in music ministry? How a lot of a calling was it for you?

Tung: “I began serving to with a church youth group in Baltimore once I was 18. They wanted guitar gamers and I knew 4 chords: G, Em, C, and D. Again then for worship music, that was all you wanted to know. Then I discovered find out how to use a capo (just a little machine that permits you to play the identical chord shapes however in a distinct key), and I turned a worship rock-god (simply kidding, however the music again then was fairly simple). I acquired concerned in my college fellowship known as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. The present worship chief was a graduating senior and was in search of a substitute. I began to assist out and by the next 12 months I used to be main worship each Thursday evening for our fellowship. Once I graduated, I knew I wished to guide worship full time, however wanted a job to assist my spouse and me. After three years of working odd-end jobs, lastly acquired employed as a Youth and Younger Grownup Worship Chief at a big church in York, Pennsylvania. That’s once I went into full time ministry. The remaining is historical past.

This was undoubtedly a calling. I knew someplace in my college years that that is what I wished to do, however extra importantly, it’s what God gifted me to do. I simply didn’t know find out how to get there. 

Reporter-Telegram: What introduced your musical/worship skills to Midland?

Tung: A worship minister place opened up at Fannin Terrace Baptist Church in Midland. After a pair conversations and a pair visits, my spouse and I undoubtedly felt known as to serve on the Household of Fannin. 

Reporter-Telegram: For somebody not from Midland, how laborious/simple was it to regulate to the neighborhood?

Tung: A job recruiter described Midland like this: “Midland is like Nickelback. Everybody hates them however nobody is aware of why.” I moved right here from Houston, so yeah, it was tradition shock. The toughest factor for me to get used to was how pleasant persons are. Rising up in Baltimore, everybody minds their very own enterprise and retains to themselves. We’re at all times attempting to get to the place we’re going as a result of we’ve one thing to do. Right here, I’ve been “caught” in conversations on the grocery retailer, on the fitness center and at eating places. I believe the perfect half about Midland is the shorter commute to issues on the town. You will get to wherever you want in 20 minutes. In Houston, you’re not even out of town and also you’ve in all probability solely moved two exits on the freeway.

Reporter-Telegram: Inform us in regards to the Croakin’ Toads and the way the group happened?

Tung: We’re a enjoyable cowl band within the Permian Basin. We cowl lots of songs from lots of genres. We play quite a lot of musical eras from the 60s to right now. We play music from the Eagles, Maroon 5, Bon Jovi, Jimi Hendrix, Bruno Mars, Backstreet Boys, Metallica and extra. Trey Walker is our drummer, Zack Neves is our guitar participant, and I play bass and maintain the band multiracial. We began when Trey Walker (who performs drums on our worship group at church) invited me over to his home to simply play some music. We had performed a few easy gigs collectively. Afterwards, he mentioned, “Do you need to begin a band and gig extra?” I began to share an concept with him of a “Energy Trio.” (Drums, Bass, and Electrical Guitar). I mentioned that there’s hardly something that may’t be performed by a Energy Trio. I used to be a good guitar participant on the time, however for this concept to work, you want a “show-stopper” on electrical guitar. I used to be keen to study bass guitar and be the “band roadie” if he may discover a world-class guitar participant. That’s when Trey (who’s probably the greatest singing drummers I do know) reached out to a hillbilly from Monahans named Zack Neves. He arrange a rehearsal on April 15, 2021, at 6:30 p.m., at Trey’s home.

After we first met, we did our compulsory awkward handshakes as if we had been being invited into an Amway assembly. As soon as we acquired our tools arrange, we tried our first tune: “Summer time of 69” by Bryan Adams. I admit that I made a number of errors whereas taking part in bass as a result of I used to be blown away by Zack’s guitar taking part in. After we performed our first tune, I can truthfully say that the three of us knew this might work.  The connection was there, and our egos had been checked on the door. It’s all the things you possibly can need in band. I additionally assume what makes us distinctive is our tune choice and our vocal skills. We will all lead songs vocally, however we will all harmonize as nicely. I really feel very blessed and humbled that such high-caliber musicians like Trey and Zack enable me to play with them. I’m not even the perfect bass participant within the band.

Reporter-Telegram: What’s a Croakin’ Toads present like? 

Tung: It’s only a enjoyable time. We play common crowd-favorite songs, however we additionally play lots of “Responsible Pleasure” songs from individuals like Maroon 5, Taylor Swift, Okay-Ci and Jojo, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, and Boyz II Males. We play at varied locations, so the vibe of the exhibits will depend on the venue. We’ve performed in smaller intimate venues like Brew St. Cafe and Aptitude Taverna in Odessa, to massive venues just like the “Star Spangled Salute” in Centennial Park and Summer time Garden concert events on the Museum of the Southwest. We additionally do non-public events ought to anybody need to kick their social gathering up a pair notches. You may comply with us on Fb and different social media platforms.