Concert Review – Nelons, Brian Free & Assurance + More

Saturday (05/05/12), I had the chance to attend a concert in Lexington NC put on by Facing Reality Music Group.  I have attended several of this particular promoter’s concerts in the past and this was definitely his best.  He has learned as a promoter and the concert flowed seamlessly.  Each artist brought on the next and the entire first half was uninterrupted music.  Here are highlights in order of appearance.

NELONS – The Nelons opened the program with the Gaither used tune “Come To The River”.  Great opening selection.  The Nelons wowed the crowd with an a cappella rendition of “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today”.  The group also performed another selection with just acoustic guitar.  The vocals were the true stars of each song.  Perfection!  The Nelons then closed with the big power house “There Is A Way” right in to the crowd pleasing “I’m Going Home With Jesus”.  The Nelons set the pace for the entire night in probably my favorite set.

ADAM CRABB – Adam, just like brother Jason, is touring as a solo artist.  Adam is missing the full band aspect of a live show that Jason has perfected so well.  Adam has become a lot more comfortable performing in the solo setting.  The crowd enjoyed his performances of “Try Walking On The Water”, “Unforgiven”, “Jesus Messiah” and “Can’t Nobody Do Me Like Jesus”.  I enjoyed “Unforgiven” the most from his set.

BRIAN FREE & ASSURANCE – Brian Free & Assurance continue to delight crowds with their progressive Southern Gospel quartet sounds.  No difference in song selection from the last time I seen the group.  They did leave “Never Walk Alone” off the set list.  I would have liked to have heard that one.  The crowd enjoyed the group on the quartet classic “Glory Road”.  It received one of the largest responses of any song in their set.  The group also gave the crowd “Anything Is Possible”, “I Believe” and “The Part Where You Come In”.  Brian Free & Assurance closed with their one, two punch of “For God So Loved” and “Long As I Got King Jesus”.

JEFF & SHERI EASTER – Jeff & Sheri Easter closed the program with great song choices.  They used several different selections from the various other times I have seen the group over the last couple of years.  They opened with “Over And Over” to an enthusiastic crowd response and followed that up with “She Loved” in honor of Mother’s Day.  Morgan performed her latest song “God Knows What He’s Doing” and they had Madison perform with them on “Workin’ On A Road”.  I also never tire of hearing Sheri perform “Hear My Heart”.  Great close to a great evening of music.

Best Of 2011 – #6

Lets close out another week and take a look at the album and recorded song at #6 for 2011.  One of the most consistent recording artists in Southern Gospel music is Karen Peck and New River.  From their debut album to current, this trio has provided the listener with Southern Gospel music and a mix of country and light pop sounds that are now uniquely New River.

The album that lands at #6 among the best releases of 2011 is Reach Out.  Filled with lyrically strong material and two of the best recorded songs of 2011, as is evidenced in this annual count down, Reach Out should keep radio busy with airplay.  Karen Peck Gooch, Susan Jackson and Jeff Hawes combine to release one of the best albums of the year, at #6.

Personal favorite songs from this recording include:  ”On The Banks Of The Promised Land”, “Broken Into Beautiful”, “This Is What Mercy Does”, “Faithful Love Of Jesus”, “Sustaining Grace”, “Good Things Are Happening” and “Mighty Big God”.

Crabb Revival released Going Places back in February 2011.  At the same time it was announced the group would no longer be touring and Adam Crabb would venture out as a solo artist.  If it wasn’t for the disbandment of Crabb Revival, Going Places may have been among the top 20 albums of the year.

There were several songs from that particular album that were considered among the best recorded songs of the year.  One song was strong enough to rank #6 among the best recorded songs of 2011.  Gerald Crabb must have been listening to the Wilburn’s classic “God’s Promised Land” when writing “The Crossing”.  The verses to both songs are eerily similar musically.

Since he is now touring as a solo artist, I’ll credit Adam Crabb as having #6 among the best recorded songs of 2011 with “The Crossing”.  Listen to the first verse and chorus.

Monday will kick off the final five:  #5.