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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Your Gateway to Music and More from a Christian Perspective Slow down as you approach the gate, and have your change ready.... |
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Steven
Curtis Chapman/Chjris Tomlin/Casting Crowns
U.S. Cellular Arena Milwaukee, WI 5 November 2004 Give Steven Curtis Chapman his proper due for being all over his own gig. A guy with as many Doves, Grammys and Lord only knows what other awards to decorate his house needn't ingratiate his audience to himself by starting off the night, before his opening act comes on, with prayer and an opening praise & worship chorus; dueting with each of his opening acts; and playing a mostly acoustic medley of songs that he wasn't going to perform in their entirety during his main set with most of his band in the interludes between opening acts. A lady DJ from the hosting radio station Fish FM later told how Chapman led her around the venue to keep her from getting lost. Call it servant leadership that gives fans their money's worth. But what about the MUSIC?! He knows a hook when he hears one and a heartfelt sentiment to encourage and challenge the Church when he feels one. And he runs good places with them. But too often, Chapman doesn't run far enough with his beliefs. As emblematic of this deficiency as any song of his is, "What About The Change?" The number's description of how he has a slew of Christian paraphernalia but a possibly less than vibrant relationship with the Lord all that brac-a-brac is supposed to edify could be a little more inciting of the evangelighetto subculture he comes so close to deriding. Still, there were plenty of meaty musical moments. Songs from his current long-player, All Things New, including the soaring titular track and the praise & worship tune that opened the night are among the catchiest of his 16-year-plus career. The medley of songs to his Missus affirmed Chapman's mettle as a writer and singer whose breakthrough at general market adult contemporary radio is overdue. A little surprisingly, Chapman and his band rocked harder toward the end of his set than ever might be expected from their recorded work. Beginnig with "Magnificent Obsession," through a climax with what surely sounded like a few bars of The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" (no lyrics, but wouldn't you love to hear a Christian market act cover it?), Chapman kicked out jams harder than the gatekeepers of CCM radio programming may allow. Chris Tomlin's appearance rode the success of his two full-length albums, the second of which, Arriving, made a top 50 debut on the Billboard's pop album listing. As a peppy, folk-poppy praise & worship leader with a small band in tow, he made his choruses and neo-hymnody work for the crowd. Many in attendance had sung certainly song most of the songs in his six-tune set in church and for those who hadn't, the lyrics were displayed on a screen, just like they are in many churches. Casting Crowns was as eagerly
anticipated as headliner Chapman. Their sometimes-didactic ("If We Are
The Body," "American Dream"), sometimes praise & worship-oriented ("Who
Am I," "Voice Of Truth") songs go well with their fulsome, folk arrangements
and slick pop-rock hooks. Main lead singer Mark Hall went on humorously
about how God brought him through dyslexia and attention deficit disorder
to become a church youth leader. He sounded genuinely heartfelt relating
how God had prospered his band. It's tough to not like a band with
a lady like Megan Garret who plays both piano and accordion along with
her co-lead singing duties ("Praise You In The Dance"). At the rate the
popularity of Casting Crowns and Tomlin is spreading, Chapman will need
different tour openers soon.
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