NQC 2011: Wrapping Up
Another National Quartet Convention has come and gone. I got in at about 6:30 Friday evening, and in between getting settled, catching up with people in the exhibit hall, and listening to music, I had no time to blog! I encourage you to check out some of the other blogs for their take on Friday night’s music. However, I have some thoughts on things throughout Saturday, and some final thoughts about NQC 2011 as a whole:
1. The Dixie Melody Boys reunion was this year’s “moment.” Every year at NQC, there is a musical moment, be it in a showcase or evening performance, one song or an entire set, that stands out from everything else during the week as a meeting of both spirit and musical greatness. The twenty or so minutes of the Singing News Fan Awards Straw Poll showcase that were set aside to honor Ed O’Neal’s 50 years in Southern Gospel music were those that made up this year’s moment. Three songs, a presentation, a heartfelt testimony, and a powerful closing number; these ingredients made up the magic this time. I counted at least three standing ovations, though it may have been four; either way, I can’t recall the last time I’ve seen an audience respond so well at NQC.
“Antioch Church Choir” and “Good Old Boys” opened it up, and the former got the first ovation. “Ride That Glory Cloud” was absolutely electric, complete with a live band consisting of Eric Ollis on piano, Rodney Griffin on bass guitar, and a drummer whose name escapes me, and it was encored several times. I am usually not an emotional person, but I will admit that I teared up twice this week. Ed O’Neal’s comments that led into “The Call Is Still The Same” caused that second time. What a broken, heartfelt testimony. All that aside, the current lineup of the Dixie Melody Boys is the best they have had in years, hands down. They have a very powerful sound now.
2. The live band and Burman Porter’s rehire are the two best things to happen to the Dove Brothers. Seriously. Their set tonight flat-out rocked. When you can keep doing encores (venturing into four times) and it doesn’t get old, you’re doing it right. Porter’s delivery of “King Jesus” was, at the risk of wearing this adjective out, electric. The energy is back for the Dove Brothers, for sure.
3. Something felt different about NQC this year. Let me preface this by saying that I am very much a fan and supporter of Southern Gospel music. As a matter of fact, I’d love to be able to sing it full-time one day. That does not change the fact that overall, my impression of this year was kind of disconcerting. I don’t know if it was the fact that by the time I got there everyone was tired or what, but it just felt… empty this year. Like the buzz that usually accompanies this event was turned off this time around. I don’t believe I’m the only one who felt this way; comments I’ve seen and heard around our corners of the web and in person lead me to believe that everyone else felt this weird, void-like sensation as well. Will it be fixed for next year? We’ll see. Until then, we have another year of Southern Gospel to enjoy, so let’s get to it!
I kind of see what you mean Aaron. I can’t really put my finger on it. Maybe it was the fact that attendance was down. Or that there were some big-name groups who seemed to have trouble eliciting a big crowd response. Or that there were hardly any showcase groups that seemed like they had earned their main-stage spots, which put a damper on the evenings. Just a few thoughts…
1Aaron you are wise beyond your years. Something was different this year. I was there all week and it was that way from day one. I can’t explain it myself but it sure seemed different to me as well.
2What a compliment! Thank you, sir. And I’m sorry that we didn’t get to chat a bit this year!
And yes, I was only there for the last two nights, and until I actually got there, I had been watching the webcast. I thought all the negative comments I was hearing about the atmosphere were a little blown out of proportion, but when I actually got there, I realized that they were right. It’s quite discouraging, but maybe next year’s convention will be better because something will be learned from this year about what to do and what not to do in order to keep the atmosphere that has been there in previous years.
3I’ve got to disagree about part of your comment, yankeegospelgirl. I saw several of the showcase groups that had certainly earned their exposure on the main stage. In fact, there were several changes in the nightly lineups that I was upset about but adding the spots for those groups was one of the things I enjoyed the most.
4Some of them had me scratching my head, but most of the showcase groups that got a spot on mainstage, I really enjoyed. For example, that trio called Omega really impressed me. I went to get their latest project, but they sold out after they got on mainstage, so I had to settle for their first CD!
5First of all, I really enjoy reading your blogs Mr. Swain! I too got misty eyed during the Dixie Melody Boys Reunion showcase. I think the drummer was Olan Whitt (not sure). Also, Jerry Kelso played Antioch Church House and Good Ole Boys, Eric played The Call and Ride That Glory Cloud, and Joe Lane added the fire to the encore of Ride That Glory Cloud. So many talented singers and musicians piled onto one section of stage. I had a unique advantage of sitting on the side Ed was on, closer to where singers were sitting. I had a great view of the musicians. Thanks for all that you do to keep us informed!
6Well, thank you!
7Thanks for the information on who was in the band; they were great! I’ve been told that the reunion was taped and will be part of a video that is releasing soon.
And thank you for your readership!
Hey Aaron! It was great meeting you at NQC and chatting for a moment. I really enjoyed NQC this year. I did not get to go last year, so I was extra excited about getting back this year. However, I also sensed that something was missing this year. Even though I was excited to be there, it just seemed like I was one of the few that really wanted to be there.
I was able to attend Wednesday night through Friday night. Highlights for me included:
81. The Collingsworth Family’s sets were exciting and fresh each night
2. Gold City really sounded great although they recycled songs on the last set
3. The Gaither Vocal Band reunion was great (would have been even better if Guy Penrod had been present) as well as their mainstage set Friday night
4. The Mark Trammell Quartet
5. The Perrys
6. Triumphant Quartet
It was great meeting you as well! All six of the items on your list were definite highlights. It will be interesting to see what is put on the NQC CD/DVD this year.
9I attended my first NQC this year, I was there late Friday night and all day Saturday. I sat in the showcase where the weeks top groups performed, and while Omega did an excellent job, I felt 11th Hour also was well deserving to sing Saturday night. They turned a wonderful performance of their single, “Adams Fall”. I believe they may have been on the main stage one night, but I felt they were much better than the Erwins, the group that followed Omega. But 11th Hour did sing on the main stage with Mark Bishop, doing “My Name Is Jesus”, which was a powerful moment.
10Hey Aaron,
I appreciate all the kind words you had to say about this old guy here. I’ve been out of this for 17 years, or it’s been that long since I was at the convention. I absolutely had a blast getting to see folks I hadn’t seen since I traveled with the Singing Americans and Anchormen. I hardly ever look online much but a friend of mine in Texas emailed me and said look at these blogs because you’re being talked about. I’m thinking it couldn’t have been that bad but after reading all this I feel better. LOL
11Mr. Lane, thanks for stopping by! I truly enjoyed hearing you play this past week; you are a great asset to the Dove Brothers, and I’m glad you’re enjoying being back. They are coming to my area next month. Looking forward to hopefully seeing and hearing you there!
12Aaron…….great blog!
I truly believe that the political persuasion that was brought into the NQC last year and this year will eventually have a very negative effect on the convention. As I’ve stated on the Singing News forum, the NQC is about music, not politics. Basically, the NQC has made a political statement…….and right or wrong……Conservative or Liberal…….Republican or Democrat…….the audience does not want this brought into this particular genre of music. Once politics is brought into the equation, the focus is taken off of the music.
13Thanks for the kind words! I enjoy reading your insights on other blogs.
This is true. Interestingly enough, I haven’t heard or read one word about John Ashcroft being brought in this year. That tells me that, really, nobody cares. You could have filled that time with, say, the Dixie Melody Boys reunion and it would have been much better received.
Honestly, I don’t know what caused the difference in atmosphere this year. If I were a betting man, though, I would say it had something to do with the amount of (very deserving) groups that were cut from the mainstage this year. Many of them didn’t show up, so the exhibit hall was full of empty spaces. There was an undercurrent of… almost anger, actually, at these and other decisions made for the convention. Let’s hope the majority of these problems are fixed for next year. If it keeps being this way, the NQC is in trouble. I say that as a strong supporter of Southern Gospel music, but I’m not naive enough to think that this isn’t a glaring problem. It’s very sad to see things get to this state.
14Amen Aaron! I had read about the many groups who were cut, and it is so sad when talented people lose the opportunity to perform during the major music event of the year.
No matter if it is among singers or co-workers in an office, people can “smell” politics brewing (not the Palin/Ashcroft kind) from a mile away. I noticed that the groups chosen were mostly the “big name” SG performers. It sounds to me, this year especially, that a lot of time was dedicated to comedians, emcees, videos, commercials and sing-a-longs. Consequently, this is time that could have been reserved for other groups.
I’ve always loved Southern Gospel music and it’s the kind of music I was raised on in church. However, sometimes as Christians, we are not eager to address a problem because we don’t want to be labeled the “bad guy” or the “troublemaker”. This is one reason that I finally decided that someone needed to step out of the box and start the discussion on some problem areas within the Southern Gospel music industry. It doesn’t mean that I don’t like SG anymore – I love SG music – it just means that I care enough to say something. No, it doesn’t always win a popularity contest (LOL), but at least it brings the situation into the realm of discussion.
Aaron…..again, you are doing a great job and have a very nice blog! Thank you for posting my comment!!!
15Great comment. Your second and third paragraphs were right on the money, especially the third. Like you, I love this music, but ignoring its problems won’t make them go away and won’t solve them. Discussion is key, and there is a right and wrong way to do it. I only hope that this blog, both in my writing and the discussion in the comments, can facilitate that kind of helpful discussion without going overboard on negativity or trying to look at it through rose-colored glasses.
Thanks for reading and commenting on the thoughts of an 18-year old kid on this great music!
16I wonder if the quartet convention would be better again if we would go back to more of the old style quartet singing. I don’t think the answer to getting more young people involved is to make the music more and more progressive but in getting more young people enthused about singing in harmony. I grew up singing A cappella gospel songs in 4 part harmony. Actually i’m still growing up! And I just Love to sing! There is a group that i would rather listen to i think than all of the flashy modern groups and I encourage you to check them out and tell me what you think. They probably aren’t nqc caliber singers or anything but they can make harmony! They are called the Garment of Praise Quartet. Their website i believe is garmentofpraiseqt.com.
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