Artist(s): Legacy Five

Venue: Eastern Mennonite High School Auditorium, Harrisonburg, VA

Once again, the guys have confirmed why they are one of my favorite quartets. Legacy Five comes to Harrisonburg every February, but this was the first time they had Tim Parton as a full-time piano player, not just a fill-in. Tim and the rest of the guys did a great job: they sang, they played, made us laugh, made us cry. It was simply a great concert.

A rough songlist, minus all the speaking, jokes, and such:

1. O, Say But I’m Glad
2. Strike Up The Band
3. Praise Him Medley (acappella, and it was fantastic!)
4. Know So Salvation
5. Tim Parton Piano Solo
6. Go Right Out (this was done in the four-guys-and-a-piano style, and I preferred that version to the one on their Know So Salvation CD.
7. On The Jericho Road (bass singer Glenn Dustin rattled the place!)
8. Why
Intermission
9. Whosoever
10. Champion Of Love
11. Walk With Me
12. Tim Parton Solo (he played and sang a beautiful song called “God’s Been Good.” I really hope they include this on a future project.)
13. Scott leads audience in some hymns.
14. Where No One Stands Alone.

Another highlight was during the second half, Scott Fowler mentioned that legendary pianist Earl Brewer was in the audience (he sat a couple rows back from me.) Scott asked him to come onstage and play a song, and he did great! That was cool to see a living legend.

Artist(s): Mark Trammell Trio, Jerry Trammell, The Joys, Garden of Grace

Venue: Hyland Heights Baptist Church, Lynchburg, VA

I got the opportunity last night to attend a concert only 20 minutes from my house. It was a benefit concert, one that has been held annually for five years, apparently, and this was my first time attending. The love offering that was taken was given to a family whose baby girl has a condition that is pretty serious and she needs operations.

The concert started at 7:00, but at 6:30, pre-concert music was provided by The Joys, a regional group from VA Beach. They put on a decent set. Then around 7:00, Garden of Grace, another regional group from Lynchburg, VA, gave about a five song set that was pretty good.

Then, Mark Trammell’s brother, Jerry, did another 5-or-so song set. Long-time gospel fans may remember Jerry’s days with the Florida Boys. The man is a very powerful singer, despite being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease a while back. It did not affect his singing, however, and he brought the audience to their feet several times.

Jerry then introduced his brother’s group, and they launched into an amazing acappella rendition of an old hymn (the name of which escapes me). I got so wrapped up in it that I totally forgot to write down a song list, but it was an awesome set. Mark’s own brand of dry humor had everyone rolling. He commented on the song “Glory Road” being like “eating nothing but fillet mignon for a week; by the seventh day, you’re about to die to get fed something else!” Then, after having to start over the tenor feature (the part where he goes up on “I can see”) three times because somebody liked it so much each time, Mark finally said “Well, we ain’t never gonna get there, but we can see it.” The audience roared with laughter.

Other highlights included MTT’s powerful performance of “Once Upon A Cross”, Jerry joining his brother’s group to sing bass for them on one song, and the finale with all the groups that had sung that night joining for one final song. Jerry and Mark picked the daylights out of each other the whole night, much to the crowd’s amusement.

One moment I don’t think I’ll ever forget was at the very end, when Mark explained to the audience that the next morning, tenor Eric Phillips’ dad, Ernie, was to have surgery to remove a large mass from his lower abdomen. He said the doctors did not know what to expect. He then got Eric to stand in front of the altar, and the crowd gathered around him as Mark led everyone in prayer. Then, as we headed back to our seats, Mark led us in a verse and chorus of “Victory In Jesus”, with Dustin Sweatman playing the piano.

It was a great night. I can safely say I’ll return to the next Winter Angel Benefit Concert!

While you all wait for me to get around to reviewing the other CDs I got at NQC, I’ll comment on the two showcases I went to.

1. Parade Of Pianos (or Pianorama, whichever you prefer)

I had mixed emotions about this, having only seen it on video when the late Roger Bennett hosted it, and I didn’t know how good it would be without his guidance. All those fears were laid to rest as Gerald Wolfe was introduced as MC. His work with Greater Vision is as good as Bennett’s (and now Scott Fowler’s) work with Legacy Five is. He had some “mighty big shoes to fill” as he put it, and he filled them in for the first half of the showcase, after which it became Dino’s show.
This year’s Pianorama was, in essence, a tribute to Bennett. Here’s the rundown of all that took place:
1. Jeff Stice
When Gerald Wolfe introduced him, he said he was one of Roger’s best friends, and the emotions were very real in this player’s performance. He was fighting tears before even setting down at the piano, and when he launched into “Jesus Saves” (A Bennett song from his Cathedral days), it was all he could do to keep from totally breaking down. I believe everyone in the audience was silently praying and cheering him on, and only once near the end did he falter. He finished the song, took a bow, and collapsed. Debbie Bennett (Roger’s widow) came up to comfort him, and it made for a very bittersweet moment.
2. Joshua Pope
All I can say is “Wow.” I’ve never heard a piano player that young with so much talent (except for a 12-year old boy at my church that can tear the keys off the piano!). He did a rendition of “New Born Feeling” and it was well recieved. No tracks, no background anything, just good ol’ piano music. He’s also supposed to be piano player in the new Florida Boys (my views on which is another story).
3. Channing Eleton
Nice to see this guy playing again. He did a very complicated arrangement of a song (the name escapes me) and he got a standing ovation.
4. Darrell Stewart
The final time anybody saw him play the piano, since he didn’t play at the Florida Boys “Farewell”. He played “What A Friend We Have In Jesus” and then took a seat in the back.
5. Stewart Vernado
This guy’s performance surprised me most, because he almost never performs with a soundtrack, but he did this time.
6. Tim Parton
He’s good. That’s all I can say. He’s good, and he doesn’t have to showboat to prove it! Can’t wait to see his future with L5 play out.
7. Roy Webb
Another guy that I’m glad to see again. He has a distinctly “jazz” style that involves him using the piano as a drum in some parts. He even had Gerald Wolfe “boogeying” in some parts, and he fired up the crowd as well.
8. Stan Whitmire
He can do it all, even perform an impromptu Christmas song upon request. He’s a very outstanding performer, and like Tim Parton, he doesn’t have to showboat.
9. Josh Singletary
Young talent at its finest. He’s gonna be a legend someday, mark my words. Didn’t get the song title though…
10. Kim Collingsworth
Another “Wow”. She was so good, they asked her to play during the evening concert block. She’s has a way of getting into the music like no one else does. And all without a soundtrack most of the time.

The second half of the showcase was all about Dino, and it would take too long to comment on it. A video of Roger singing “It Is Well” with Dino playing closed it out.

2. Artist’s Showcase
I only stayed for three groups on this showcase, and I liked ‘em all.

1. Gann Brothers
I’d never heard of this trio before, and they were pretty good. I’d like to see them work their way to NQC mainstage some time.

2. Crystal River
Honestly, they were better as a quartet. They should have hired another bass after Jeremy Lile left for BFA, but to each his own. Their tenor was very good and he performed a powerful ballad to close their set out (didn’t get the name.)

3. Mercy’s Mark
These guys were the whole reason I came to the showcase. Having heard their self-titled and Something’s Happening, I was excited to hear how they’d sound. A few technical difficulties postponed the set, giving Garry Jones time to introduce the guys, including a lead singer who apparently started filling in for them the week of NQC. They performed “When It All Starts Happening”, which is their current radio single that blew me away live. Then the lead singer delivered an awesome rendition of “I Bowed On My Knees And Cried Holy”, with the guys coming in for a big finish.

Thanks for some great singing and playing to all that were mentioned!

Look for my Legacy Five Know So Salvation review probably tomorrow.

First of all, I’d better apologize for the LONG absence; I had a major project to tend to.

With that said, on to the concert review!

Gold City in Roanoke, VA

What can I say but absolutely amazing! I’d never been to a GC concert before, but now I can’t get enough! Aaron McCune is undoubtedly one the best basses in the business and this concert enforced that!

Songs included (not in order) There’s Somethin’ About A Gospel Song, In My Robe Of White, John Saw, Under Control, I’m Rich, When I Get Carried Away, Mercy Came Runnin’, Ain’t That What It’s All About, I’m Not Giving Up, Just Another Red Sea, Midnight Cry, Truth Is Marching On, Look Who Just Checked In

Can’t wait till NQC!

Absolutely incredible. That is all I can say about the performance from these guys last nite, even though it was incredibly humid at this outdoor event and looked like it was gonna storm. The guys didn’t dress up (Brian Free stated that they “woulda passed out after the 3rd or 4th song” if they had), but that didn’t stop the message from getting out!

Ricky Free was with them for this date. I wonder if he’s still planning to come off the road, because Brian never mentioned anything about it…

I don’t remember most of the songs (it was a bunch) but let me give you a rough outline…
1. What A Lovely Name (great classic with some high tenor from Brian)
2. Deep Deep Sea (new bass Jeremy Lile tore this one up!)
3. In My Robe Of White (awesome rendition of the Gold City classic)
4. Only By The Blood (lead Bill Shivers did a great job on this slow song)
5. When The Lord Says Go (once again featured Shivers)
6. Prayin’ Man (great new song about Daniel and The Lions’ Den that features, you guessed it, Shivers. This will be the first single from their new project Real Faith. While the album isn’t due out until September, the single is going to radio today.)
7. Jesus Will Pick You Up with encore (Lile does this one great!)
*Intermission and Love Offering, offeratory by pianist Scott McDowell, a very underrated pianist IMO*
The guys proceeded to do many songs from the upcoming project. They all sounded great! Brian also mentioned that some people requested that he do For God So Loved, so he did it (this got a standing ovation. Man, what a song!) And if course, to finish the night, what Assurance concert would be complete without Long As I Got King Jesus!

Let me take a moment to comment on the sound. I thought that this was the best sound I’d heard at an outdoor event. The tracks, live instruments, and singers all blended together superbly. And Jeremy Lile is a great young bass that I look forward to hearing more from in the future!

This past Sunday, I had the marvelous opportunity to go to a free Ernie Haase & Signature Sound concert in Lynchburg, VA, 20 minutes from my house. The concert was held at Thomas Road Baptist Church, a name that most people recognize as the church led by Dr. Jerry Falwell, another familiar name in the Christian world. EHSSQ is the #1 group in SG music as far as sales and concert attendence are concerned, not to mention their talent.

I arrived at the venue at 4:30 (the concert was supposed to start at 6). Long lines had already formed, and I worried that my seat wouldn’t be good. But somehow I managed to get a 7th row, middle section seat. The guys didn’t take the stage till about 6:15, because the P&W team came out, offering was taken up, and 7 people were baptized.

Anyway, it was a rather short concert, but, IMHO, any SG concert is too short!
The song list was as follows:
1. There’s Something About That Name/I Will Serve Thee
2. Someday
3. Glory To God In The Highest
4. I’m Tellin’ The World About His Love
5. Forgiven Again
6. I Pledge My Allegience
7. Pray For Me
8. Get Away Jordan
9. Then Came The Morning
10. Stand By Me

The evening was peppered with energy, power, and fun. One of the many funny moments was on the last song, when Ernie Haase told Dr. Falwell that they wanted him to come and sing one with them. Falwell declined, but Ernie said, “Well, pay attention, because when we come back in September with the Gaithers, you’re comin’ up and singin’ and dancin’ to this one!” Then they did their trademark Stand By Me song, complete with the ususal “choreography.”

For more info on the group, check out www.erniesigsound.com