I had the great pleasure of accompanying Rev. Kevin Young to the Mat Kearney concert at the Workplay theater in Birmingham on 8/9/10. It was the first time either of us had been to Workplay.
Shout out to Kelly and Doug from Atlanta! They started talking to Kevin and I before the concert and it was a real pleasure getting to know them a little. Check them out on twitter http://twitter.com/Spellitphotos
Let me start by saying that the Workplay Theater is an amazing venue. What a great atmosphere they've created for events. I really wish I had taken some pics, but I didn't. I will next time though. The lobby was very stylish with an oddly angled desk for the receptionist. There was a nice waiting area that had several tables and chairs, and a small bar.
The auditorium was more like a small restaurant with a balcony and a stage. We got lucky enough to get a table right at the stage. I really think I had the best seat in the house. The only problem with it was that I had some lights in my eyes periodically, but it wasn't that bad. We were so close we could read Mat's set list, which I liberated from the stage after the concert:
On stage:On my desk:
The opening act was some lady named Jane Carrey. Oh. Wait... that's Jim Carrey's daughter! I didn't know she had a band, but wow she was good! I especially liked the title of one of her songs dedicated to her husband, "Sexy Man In A Death Metal Band". Surprisingly, she was very good. Here's a video of her doing the Beatle's song Blackbird:
(I took the videos and photos in this post on my iPhone 3GS while sitting in my seat.)
Unfortunately the audio in these videos is not great. Hey, it's a phone.
Jane played for about 30 minutes and we had a short intermission while they prepped the stage for Mat.
Mat was accompanied by his friend, Tyler Burkum. Tyler really augmented the performance with additional guitar and backup vocals. He has his own CD out too. You can check it out at that link above.
I won't bore you by telling you the set list. You can read for yourself in the photos above. It was a really great performance. It was the first time I've gotten to see Mat live, and I'm really hoping it's not the last. The venue really made it intimate. He engaged the audience often, letting us suggest songs and then playing them and bantering a little with people between songs.
One thing that was both neat and strange was this suitcase they had converted into a 'bass drum'. Really, all it was was a suitcase with a microphone in it that they'd kick, which caused a bass sound. They did a cover of Sprintsteen's Dancing in the Dark, but before they started, Mat asked if there were any drummers in the audience. A bunch of people started yelling "Bobby!" When Mat finally figured out who Bobby was, he had him join them on stage and had him 'play the suitcase' for them during the song. I could tell Bobby loved it. I just wonder if he will remember it, cause I think he was pretty drunk.
One fun moment was during the song Girl America. Mat forgot the lyrics for a moment. Here's the video:
I really can't say which of Mat's songs is my favorite. I love them all. One that I tend to listen to a lot, though, is Nothing Left To Lose:
Nothing Left To Lose - Mat Kearney
Something's in the air tonight
The sky's alive with a burning light
You can mark my words something's about to break
And I found myself in a bitter fight
Well you've held my hand through the darkest night
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon
To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I've ever known or seen
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose
So I packed my car and I headed east
Where I felt your fire and a sweet release
There's a fire in these hills that's coming down
And I don't know much but I found you here
And I can not wait another year
Don't know where you're coming from but you're coming soon
To a kid from Oregon by way of California
All of this is more than I've ever known or seen
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one more time
I'm off the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose
And I can still hear the trains out my window
From Hobart Street to here in Nashville
I can still smell the pomegranates grow
And I don't know how hard this wind will blow
Or where we'll go
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
Come on and we'll sing, like we were free
Push the pedal down watch the world around fly by us
Come on and we'll try, one last time
I'm off of the floor one more time to find you
And here we go there's nothing left to choose
And here we go there's nothing left to lose
A few years ago (Wow, it's been 13 years!) when John James left the Newsboys, I was distressed. I had finally found a Christian band that I loved and that sounded as good as a lot of the secular 'alternative' bands that were around in the early to mid '90's. I was afraid that they'd either break up altogether, or their new music would suck. I was pleasantly surprised that Peter Furler took the lead mic and the Newsboys continued on stronger than ever and have become one of the most popular Christian bands of the pst 25 years (They started in 1985!).
In 1989, DC Talk came on the scene with their self-titled debut. I still have my tape of that recording. I think I listened to it once or twice. It didn't really impress me. Their follow up albums were much better and I listened to them quite a lot. Then Jesus Freak hit and the Christian music world was turned on its head. The first time I heard Jesus Freak I was, well, freaked out! This was the most amazing thing I had ever heard from a Christian band. It truly was groundbreaking. I still listen to Jesus Freak often and it's still fantastic. Imagine my dismay when DC Talk announced their "indefinite hiatus" in 2000.
Since then, the members of DC Talk have had successful solo careers. Michael Tait released several CD's with his band Tait and he also starred in the 'Rock Opera' !Hero, which I really liked and still watch the DVD periodically.
I was shocked when I heard that Peter Furler was leaving the Newsboys, but the shock quickly turned to excitement when I found out that Michael Tait was taking over the lead vocal spot.
I would have to say that the addition of Michael Tait to the Newsboys was a brilliant move and has been a great success. I am eagerly awaiting the release of their first CD since Michael joined.
"Since debuting a few of their new songs earlier this year on the WinterJam Tour, the band has been eager to release their brand new CD Born Again, which hits shelves this coming Tuesday, July 13th. Better yet is that they are going into release week with the No. 1 CHR radio single in the country, "Born Again," a spot they've claimed for an astounding seven weeks!" (Newsboys Facebook)
Born again is a fabulous song and if the rest of the album is anything like it, it is sure to be an instant success. This song truly jams! Check out the video:
Born Again - The Newsboys
I found myself looking into the mirrior
Knew I wasn't who I wanted to be
I was living like the way that I wanted
But my eyes reminded me I'm not free.
Beleived that I saw everything that I know
Says I got to go, tired of going solo
But I'm never gonna go there again.
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didnt want to fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving him the best of everything thats left of
The life inside this man
I've been Born Again
I see you walking like your living in fear
Having trouble even looking at me
Wishin they would give you more than words
Sick of people telling how it should be (how it should be)
Whats your download, where'd you get your info, you saw that I'm show now your in the inload
Gonna tell you what I believe
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didnt want to fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving him the best of everything thats left of
The life inside this man
I've been Born Again
We are the ones they call by name
(I'm never gonna look back)
Let go let go the guilt the shame
(Said I'm never gonna look back)
This is who I am
This is what it is
This is who I am
This is where I finally take my stand
I didnt want to fall
But I don't have to crawl
I met the One with two scarred hands
Giving him the best of everything thats left of
The life inside this man
I've been Born Again
I read this book once called Eden's Gate by Christopher A. Lane. The copy I have is copyrighted 1994, which is probably about when I read it. It was a pretty good book, but there is one conversation in it that I have remembered since first reading it. The discussion follows the question, "What's detailed about 'God did this, God did that. He made this, he made that'? The question is how did he make it? How did he 'create' something from nothing?" (This is kinda long, but bear with me, I think you'll find it interesting.)
Ben smiled. "The point I was trying to bring up was simply that in the first chapter of Genesis, we find an amazingly detailed account of the process and methodology God employed when he created the world. If, in fact he did, " he added for Jennifer's benefit.
"Detailed?" she snorted. "What's detailed about 'God did this, God did that. He made this, he made that'? The question is how did he make it? How did he 'create' something from nothing?"
"Look at verse two," Ben said. "Notice the descriptive terms: 'formless, empty, dark.' In the beginning, the universe was void, an invisible vacuum. Then God set about creating the earth, utilizing his seemingly limitless supply of power and energy."
"But we're not talking about a potter here," Jennifer objected. "There was no clay, no matter with which to work. Where did the matter come from? Did the world just appear out of thin air? Energy can't be converted to matter without…"
"Einstein, " Treadwell interrupted.
"Huh?"
"E=MC2," he said. "That's about all I remember from physics. Energy equals mass times the speed of light squared. At the speed of light, energy can be transformed into matter."
"And God said, 'Let there be light,'" Ben read.
"The plot thickens." Mark grinned triumphantly.
"That's not talking about light," Jennifer argued. That just refers to the sun, the moon, the stars…"
"No," Ben corrected. "They don't come until verse fourteen, long after God had created the sky, the dry land, the plants."
"You're trying to tell me that for centuries, the Bible has held the key to E=MC2?"
"Not only that…" Ben lifted an eyebrow, "but it explained the nature of light long before Albert came along."
"This I gotta see," Treadwell put in, looking interested.
"Job 38:19," Ben cited, turning to the passage. "'Where is the way where light dwells?'"
"So?" Jennifer said.
"So, Job is arguably the oldest book in the Bible," Ben explained. "Yet it presents us with a scientific truth that only has been realized in recent years. Light involves motion, travelling at 186,000 miles a second. It resides in a way, not a place."
Treadwell chuckled at that. "Well, I'll be."
"In the first letter of John, we find another piece of the puzzle." Ben paged over to the New Testament. "'God is light,' John writes. 'In him there is no darkness at all.'"
"Are you saying that God is a big pool of radiant energy?" Treadwell asked.
"I don't know," Ben confessed. "John says 'God is light,' but nowhere do we find the statement that all light is God or that God is only light. Apparently, light or radiant energy is just one of God's many characteristics."
"In another passage the Bible calls Jesus the light of the world," Mark added. "It says that 'through him all things were made."
"Jesus was the creative energy, the 'light' in creation? Through him energy was transformed into matter?" Jennifer wondered aloud. "That's preposterous. How can a person be a force?"
Ben shrugged his shoulders. "Don't ask me. I don't understand it either. But the more I learn about God, the more hooked I am on discovering more about him."*
While I'm no physicist or mathematician, this seems pretty logical to me. If light has an abode, as Job says, then light must be living. This is great stuff to use when discussing such matters with unbelievers! But that's not what I'm writing about here. ;)
What caused me to remember this was when I was at church tonight, I was writing a check to get the kids some VBS t-shirts. As I was writing out the 'Pay to the order of…' section, Mountaintop Community Church, I was thinking that I wished I could abbreviate it (ok, ok, I know. I'm lazy). MCC would be great, or even MC2. Wait a sec. MC2? E=MC2!
One of the first things that struck me when attending my first ever service at Mountaintop Community church was the ENERGY! Lots of it! E=MC2! Energy = Mountaintop Community Church. Another thing was the ENTHUSIASM of the praise team and the congregation! E=MC2! Enthusiasm = Mountaintop Community Church.
Edgy = Mountaintop Community Church.
Edifying = Mountaintop Community Church.
Excellence = Mountaintop Community Church.
Evangelical = Mountaintop Community Church.
E=MC2! I'm sure there's many other 'E' words that describe Mountaintop Community Church, but I think you get my point. I love this church we've found.
I just found out that last night, Dana Key died from a ruptured blood clot. Dana was the guitar half of the legendary Christian Rock duo DeGarmo & Key. Their video for the song 666 was banned from MTV supposedly for having too much violence.
I think more likely cause they have the word 'Jesus' in it. By today's 'standards' this video is cheesey (though the song does carry a good message).
I haven't really listened to them much lately, mainly due to the fact that, despite having all of their albums, most of them are on vinyl! Looking back on their songs now, I can see that the messages of Christ's victory over Satan and His 2nd coming were very prevalent.
My Wish - Rascal Flatts
I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow
And each road leads you where you want to go
And if you're faced with the choice and you have to choose
I hope you choose the one that means the most to you
And if one door opens to another door closed
I hope you keep on walkin' til you find the window
If it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile
But more than anything, more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
I hope you never look back but you never forget
All the ones who love you and the place you left
I hope you always forgive and you never regret
And you help somebody every chance you get
Oh, you'd find God's grace in every mistake
And always give more than you take
But more than anything, yeah more than anything
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish, yeah yeah
My wish for you
Is that this life becomes all that you want it to
Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small
You never need to carry more than you can hold
And while you're out there gettin' where you're gettin' to
I hope you know somebody loves you
And wants the same things too
Yeah, this is my wish
(My wish for you)
This is my wish
(My wish for you)
I hope you know somebody loves you
(My wish for you)
May all your dreams stay big
(My wish for you)
A lot of times when I'm listening to my iPod, when an old song comes on, I might skip it and move on to the next song. Today, More Power To Ya by Petra came on and the first 2 lines of the song pretty much hit me where I've been for a long time. So I listened to it. A few times.
The next couple verses give me some hope. I'm hoping that I can do better at the verse further down, "Put on all His armour and fight the good fight". I'm really looking for that joy again!
More Power To Ya - Petra
You say you've been feeling weaker, weaker by the day
You say you can't make the joy of your salvation stay
But good things come to them that wait
Not to those who hesitate
So hurry up and wait upon the Lord
More power to ya
When you're standing on His word
When you're trusting with your whole heart in the message you have heard
More power to ya
When we're all in one accord
They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew
They shall renew their strength
Jesus promised His disciples He'd give strength to them
Jesus told them all to tarry in Jerusalem
When they were all in one accord
The power of His Spirit poured
And they began to turn the world around
More power to ya
When you're standing on His word
When you're trusting with your whole heart in the message you have heard
More power to ya
When we're all in one accord
They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew
They shall renew their strength
So Be strong in the Lord
And in the power of His might
Put on all His armour and fight the good fight,
In all of our weaknes He becomes so strong
And He gives us the power and the strength to carry on
More power to ya
When you're standing on His word
When you're trusting with your whole heart in the message you have heard
More power to ya
When we're all in one accord
They that wait upon the Lord they shall renew
They shall renew their strength
RIP.
RIP.
