Wow. I’m still collecting myself after last night’s homecoming show. It was probably the best show I’ve ever seen, even though things like song selection and comedy were fairly predictable for anyone who’s been around southern gospel for any significant amount of time. I think every fan of the music should go and experience a homecoming at some point, even if you’re only a casual fan. The quality was outstanding, and there was something for everyone. Every artist shone. I... Read more
Last Saturday, I had the amazing opportunity to see Keith & Kristyn Getty live in concert in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The auditorium held as many people as it could seat, which is approximately 2000 people. It was a huge concert. Keith and Kristyn were joined by a mixed Irish/American band, including Dave Cleveland and Fionan de Barra on guitars, Deborah Klemme on fiddle, Jeff Taylor on accordion/mandolin/penny whistle/concertina, and Patrick D’Arcy on Uillean pipes, plus a bass player and drummer whose... Read more
Okay blog friends… I’ve decided that I’d like to share some of my favorite Christmas music with my readers in the upcoming weeks. I’ll be looking at albums from a variety of artists. They won’t be ranked in any particular order because I don’t have time to rank them all. But, I just thought it would be fun to spread some Christmas cheer and maybe even introduce folks to music they haven’t heard. I’m going to use a special system... Read more
Of the elite tenors in southern gospel today, David Phelps is one name you will hear constantly placed above all the rest. For many, he is the standard by which all other tenor singers are measured. I have to admit that I’m not one of the many. Which is by no means to say that he is not talented. I think if you’re going to talk about pure technical ability, Phelps deserves the top spot. However, a combination of factors... Read more
Hello all. By now if you’re a fan of southern gospel you know that Eric Phillips has rejoined the Mark Trammell Quartet. This is nothing short of momentous for SG fans everywhere. I thought pigs would fly before Eric came back, but lo! A levitating porcine creature appears even now outside the window. I am actually not thoroughly familiar with Eric’s voice, but the little I have heard impressed me. His voice is a little warmer and more natural than... Read more
I like Mark Bishop. He may not be a particularly impressive singer or musician, but there’s just something about his music, a quiet sweetness that refreshes me. He’s not even remotely affected or pretentious. His voice is gentle. His songs are simple. My favorite song of his is “Let The Angels Take the Fallen,” but I wasn’t familiar with his other work except for a few cuts from Fields of Love (which I really need to go back and listen... Read more
Well. My weekend just got way cooler. On Saturday I saw Keith and Kristyn Getty in concert with a live band and mass choir. Suffice it to say, you would have had to be blind and deaf not to enjoy yourself thoroughly. The quality of music was absolutely top-notch. And among the band musicians, who should I see but Jeff Taylor! But wait, it gets better. Afterwards, he and two of the other (fantabulphenomelomenal) musicians came out and did a... Read more
Happy Thanksgiving to all! Here’s Jason Crabb and Gordon Mote. These two guys seem to go together like turkey and stuffing: I’m taking the rest of the week off to enjoy the holiday. Meanwhile, please leave your suggestions for a Thanksgiving mix on my ipod. We have no shortage of songs for Christmas, but let’s see how many thankfulness songs you can come up with. Note: They need not necessarily all be from southern gospel. And tell us what... Read more
The other day I was browsing some Twila Paris music, and noticed an unfamiliar album cover over in Michael W. Smith’s “related artists” spot. (Yes, I’m one of those geeky people who absorbs useless information like album covers as though I were a sponge.) Turns out that the sequel to his acclaimed instrumental project Freedom is releasing TODAY. It’s called Glory. I would have known that it was awesomely awesome without hearing samples, but the samples confirmed what I already... Read more
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It's Just My (Second) Opinion: NQC 2011 CD/DVD Song Selection
If you’re not already reading Fuson’s Findings, let me encourage you to check it out. It’s a regular new blog by a new blogger who loves the music and has good insights. He recently started a column called “It’s Just My Opinion,” in which he shares candid IMHOs about southern gospel-related things he’d rather were done differently. I decided to give him a little support for his most recent one, which is an honest (though very courteous) complaint about the... Read more