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David Crowder Band made a stop right here in Abbotsford last night, so why the heck not? The six-piece alternative-pop outfit put on a pretty great show, highlighted by the bearded Crowder’s Boomhauer-like chatter – genuinely hilarious, unrehearsed stage banter. I can’t say I was impressed by the lyrics (a key aspect for a God-oriented band), which proved a little too light and repetitive even for the style/concept, but musically… wow. With virtually every member performing multiple instruments, heavy use of loops and digital effects in an otherwise organic rock sound, electric violin, banjo, and a triple-guitar attack, DCB had to be – and was – exceptionally tight as they weaved their way through over an hour of half of super up-tempo pop numbers and more introspective, brit-pop influenced moody numbers.

(They had a robot drummer.)

(No, I don’t mean a drum machine or triggered drum loops.)

(A second, robot drum kit high atop its own riser that played additional beats when triggered, drum sticks attached to devices on kick/snare/tom/high-hat.)

(Its/his name is Steve.)

The so-called ‘praise & worship’ genre (sigh) is littered with countless mediocre, untalented acts hacking out the same watered-down Delirious? knock-off pop (not a knock on Delirious?, who were innovators and wrote a score of great tunes). No doubt some of the critical praise DCB receives is simply a result of the bar being set so low for praise-oriented artists (worship is not a style, people). With that caveat in mind, I feel confident in saying that the group are legitimately talented, creative musicians largely deserving of their acclaim. I’m not going to rush out and buy their albums, but David Crowder Band is undeniably a breath of fresh air as far as groups playing ‘church music.’

Ryan Ro [www.RNSrobot.com | www.twitter.com/RNSrobot]