This was originally posted on March 15, 2008 at another blog that I am phasing out.
Two nights ago my wife and I attended a Casting Crowns concert at the Bryce Jordan Center on the campus of Penn State University in State College, Pa. about an hour and half from where we live. I got her the tickets about a month ago, because her birthday is coming up next month and she enjoys Casting Crown’s music and lyrics.
Me? I’ll be honest, I am not a huge fan. I find the one female singer’s voice not that good and for some reason, grating on my nerves; the other one, whom I heard for the first time last night, was very good, though. The band seems to feature her more in concert, which it should feature her more on the albums too — or else following in the footsteps of denominational Christianity, she should go off and sing on her own. Unfortunately — although maybe fortunately for her, in terms of finances, she might be relegated to the Christian women’s conference circuit. But I digress from…well, more digression…
My random thoughts
- The concert began with a Christian musician named John Waller and then what was dubbed “a progressive rock band” Leeland (that was anything but progressive). From the start, the lyrics to each song were up on a giant screen behind the band. My wife joked that Waller better not get the words wrong, and we both thought that left little room for improvisation. When I mentioned later about the screen, my wife said that many of the concert-goers were “used to” such screens at the churches they attend. While I understand that, I believe that I, and probably many of the people at the concert, were distracted by the words on the screen. Personally, I couldn’t focus on the music…such as it was…I felt like I had to keep craning my neck to see the screen, even though I or anyone else really didn’t have to because the lyrics were clearly understandable (no Michael Stipe or Eddie Vedder slurring of the words here).
- On that last note, of the media presentation I have to mention something my wife pointed out: Leeland’s visual presentation on the screen behind the words at one point looked like a view of a colonoscopy. She said someone really needed to tell them to change their graphics. I think I commented that even though I haven’t had a colonoscopy yet, I imagined that what I was experiencing was similar to one anyway. It was painful, but unlike I imagine a colonscopy, unless you’re sedated during the procedure, I was able to put my head on my hands and take a nap while I waited for the next “act.”
- I miss the days of Christian rock, but unfortunately, at least, in my opinion, Christian praise is the latest “in” thing. Even old-time Christian rockers Petra and Newsboys went praise, or lame, in other words. The only time there was an actual jam was at the end of the concert when Casting Crowns members had solos. Why couldn’t they have done that earlier?
- Lest you think I didn’t like Casting Crowns, I did like some of their songs, especially one called “Slow Fade,” and even the popular one that’s been played to death on Christian radio, “East to West.” Unfortunately for me, but fortunately for them, it’s a brain worm. Also during a couple of the songs, an artist painted to the side of the stage a painting that slowly became an interesting piece.
- It should be mentioned that lead singer Mark Hall had emergency back surgery the day before the concert. According to his manager, who came out before the band was to play to ask us to pray for Hall, Hall flew in from Atlanta that afternoon. During the concert, Hall revealed he wasn’t on pain medication and surprisingly, didn’t seem to be in much pain and sang well. At least, nothing that made me go, “Ooh, what was that note he didn’t hit?”
- And on another serious note, I don’t mean to discount the groups’ ministry. Because there might have been people there to whom the band(s) did minister…after all, my wife reminded me that she was “saved” at a Mylon Lefevre and Brokenheart concert. It’s just that well, they didn’t necessarily minister to me, but I’m glad my wife enjoyed it. After all, it was her birthday present.
