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At the end of the bonus DVD included with the new Welcome to The Rock ‘N Roll Worship Circus CD, RRWC leadman Gabriel offers viewers an invitation: “So when you hear that we’re coming to your town, come out and worship with us!”  As a smalltown music fan living 20 minutes away from a tiny Christian bookstore, 45 minutes away from the nearest decent Christian bookstore, two hours away from the nearest Christian music club and four hours away from the nearest Christian music festival site, I just chuckled. “Yeah, man, I’ll see you...the next time I pop in the DVD!”

While browsing www.worshipcircus.com, I spied a tour date just one state away--Saturday, Sept. 21, Willmar, MN, 4 p.m. Hmm.... My wife, Laurie, and I were first-time Sonshiners this past summer in Willmar, and I was confident we could find the Assemblies of God Church right off Highway 71. I made plans to road trip the 223 miles to join the Circus. In my on-line search for tickets, I discovered the Circus was actually playing Willmar as part of Shoutfest with six other artists (Salvador, Rachael Lampa, Jeff Deyo, Brothers Keeper, Daily Planet, and 38th Parallel). Like bars of soap, there’s a slightly annoying industry tendency to package bands together in large “Econo” packs “for your convenience.”

Still, around here, a concert’s a concert, even if it’s only one-seventh of a jumbo pack.  “Thank God for cruise control,” I thought while pressing the RESUME button on our Honda’s steering wheel after clearing the Twin Cities--the halfway point to Shoufest from little ol’ Chetek, Wis. (Pop. 2,058). Along Highway 12 West there were two signs that made me turn my head from the center line--“SHOUTZ FOR SHERIFF,” and a well-weathered banner for the Shriners Circus. Signs of things to come.

After a quick check-in at our “half-star” accommodations right across the highway (“eight’s” not always great), Laurie and I drove to the Assemblies of God Church, just an Evil Knieval’s jump from our motel. We were a little surprised to see it was an outdoor show. We should have known better--seven bands, a rock climbing wall, go-karts, bungee rigs. How could it be otherwise? Laurie and I were ill-prepared. Laurie left me at the front gate after obtaining her purple plastic arm band and went back to a nearby store to get a sweater and an outdoor chair. I stayed behind to take some notes and catch the first band. My pen began to fly as I took it all in....

Sept. 21 / Willmar, MN / Shoutfest

The blue-canopied stage is set up at the east end of the blacktop parking lot. The backdrop is an endless stretch of Minnesota crops, the lighting a partly sunny day, and the special effects a brisk easterly wind that causes many merchandise tent attendants to hang on to their flapping banners. The faint smell of manure wafts in from the surrounding black-soil fields. ‘Round here we also call it “fertilizer.” With a quick change in the wind direction, the smell is mixed with sickly sweet funnel cakes and caramel apples, buttery popcorn, spicy pizza, roller-cooked hot dogs, and cheesy nachos. Someone walks by with a bright blue cloud of cotton candy. The Circus is definitely in town. In fact, they are right on the stage in front of me.

Gabriel, Blurr, Zurn, and Solo unfurl cords, situate amps, and uncase guitars for their sound check. A familiar guitar riff sneaks out of the speaker stacks. “The Undiscovered, maybe?” Over the stray sounds of laughter, screams and claps from the surrounding chaos of the games, etc., a solid drum beat pounds. Zurn’s steady kick drum sends shockwaves into the countryside, passing directly through the center of my chest first like a second heartbeat. Guitars overlap, Blurr’s deep-ended keys shake the woofers. A song emerges--just two chords alternating, but the possibilities are endless. (We only have two feet, but, oh, the places they can take us.....) I smile as Gabriel sings, “Give me some more vocals up front,” followed by some unintelligible improvising. RRWC’s free-for-all sound check sounds more satisfying, more complete than many bands’ finished recordings. The Circus give their individual “good-to-go,” signals to the soundman and exit the stage to make way for 38th Parallel--the opening band.

As the Circus waits at the side of the stage, I contemplate my readiness to experience them live. I’m a lifetime Norwegian Lutheran. Worship has always been a rather static, sit-down, stand-up exercise in patience and memorization. I wasn’t sure how I’d react to full-out Jesus rock--unbridled enthusiasm for the Lord, worship kicked up to eleven, hands raised in the air. We don’t do these things in my home church. Heck, we don’t even clap.

In the middle of my subdued worship reflections, a figure dressed in black jeans, a black RRWC hooded sweatshirt and a black stocking-type cap calls out from about ten feet away. “A writer, eh?” he says nodding at my small reporter’s notebook and tri-grip pen.  “Yep,” I sheepishly reply. It was Zurn, who just a few minutes prior was sending Richter-scale downbeats through my sternum. He introduces himself as the drummer for the Rock ‘N Roll Worship Circus and shakes my hand. “You’re the band I drove four hours to see,” I comment. Zurn pauses.

“Wow, we didn’t even drive that far to get here!” he smiles. (Shoutfest was in Lakeville, Minn., the night before--less than two hours away.) Solo wanders up beside him and asks about a green room. Solo looks tired, road-weary, maybe.  He patiently waits until Zurn and I finish our small chat. Zurn bids me farewell, and walks off with Solo to find a place to hang out before the show. Blurr sets up the merchandise; Gabriel sits on a large, red road case near a semi parked at stage right and plinks away unplugged on his stunning black Gretsch.

Shortly after 38th Parallel finishes their dual-vocal, head bobbing set, Laurie returns wearing a turtleneck sweater and toting a folding camping chair. In true Lutheran style, we sit near the rear, next to the soundboard--where the show looks and sounds best, according to a retired roadie buddy of mine. I’m also 32 years old, so you’re not going to find me in any “pit!” Though there’s really no pit to speak of at Shoufest. Just a bundled up group of high schoolers--mostly girls--numbering less han twenty. Even less when the Circus stepped to the mikes.

As the opening synth and soft guitar of “Open the Gates” rose from the stage, Gabriel invites the sparse crowd to worship with the band. With the wind in his hair and the sun tucked behind a cloud, Gabriel offers an opening prayer of invocation. He leads the crowd in singing the chorus, “Lord, open the gates / So Your people receive Your healing / Lord open the gates / ‘Cuz when Your people sing / All of Heaven sings.” Zurn cracks his trap set, Blurr lays fingers on the low ends, Solo chimes in on guitar. Though there are less than a dozen people at the front of the stage, it doesn’t matter to the Circus. They are intimate with God. The crowd (or lack thereof) vanishes. Only God remains. Blurr and Zurn play their respective instruments one-handed, with the other outstretched to touch the Spirit present among them...among us all.

The music glides seamlessly into “The Undecided.” When Gabriel croons, “For He is coming / In more glory / Than we have seen,” the bright sun breaks through the clouds and enlightens Gabriel’s palms lifted above his head. Looks like The Creator Himself is running lights at this show. To my dismay, I feel myself welling up. Tears begin, then overflow. I’m washed with the Spirit. Swaying. Nodding. The music intensifies. Gabriel starts pounding his Gretsch in throbbing rhythm underneath Solo’s aerial guitar leads. Zurn stands up from the drum stool and keeps one hand raised to God as he taps out beats on his symbols and periodically on the metal of the stage ceiling beams. The final chord fades, but the crowd stands still--no clapping, no movement. They’re (I’m) not sure what to do with themselves. I’m enthralled. So this is the Worship Circus. Take me on your ride!

Gabriel announces the next song as “Loving You,” the lead track off the new album. He inserts prayers throughout. More heads nod in the crowd. More bodies assemble at the foot of the stage.

Before starting “Glorify the Son,” also from Welcome to The Rock ‘N Roll Worship Circus, Gabriel tells the crowd to close their eyes if they are distracted by everything going on around them. “Just envision you alone with Jesus,” he encourages. He explains that sometimes he feels a little freaked out when he opens his eyes while playing today. “We’re having this intimate time with God up here, and when I open my eyes, I’m always a little surprised there are people out there watching!”

I wonder if I should put away my notebook and pen and forget the writing. Give up the slight distraction. I can’t. The Circus is giving a stellar sermon, and someone’s got to transcribe.

“The Blood of Jesus” coaxes people to sing along. The tears of joy overflow again from my eyes. I can only mouth the words as emotion overpowers my voice. The sun, which disappeared for a while, is back.

The crowd has warmed up. They are engaged. Gabriel invites them to “go crazy” with him during the next song--”The Party Song.” A few kids pogo stick on the blacktop or shake their fists in the air when the band breaks into the postchorus “party time.” Gabriel whoops and belts out a Latinesque, tongue-driven scream every time. The metallic crunch-groove of Solo’s guitar shakes the ground. It’s heavy. It’s raw. It’s Zepplin, baby. In true rock ‘n roll style, Gabriel perches atop his amplifier and lifts his Gretsch in the air to cue the final chord. He jumps brings the song--and the worship--to a booming stop.

The show included about half an album’s worth of songs--more than their average Shoutfest set Gabriel admits to me later. Still I wanted more. Sadly, this smalltown fan will have to settle for headphones and memories. Like its three-ring predecessor, the Rock ‘N Roll Worship Circus must move on, and it will be a long time before they come this way again.