Hi Rich Fans,
Because of the increased traffic on the mailing list, and the numerous concert reviews received, I am not going to include the reviews in their entirety, but simply post their location on the Mailing List Archive for your convenience to read them there. I'm receiving many good write-ups, and I'm finding difficult leaving any of them out.
These reviews are worth checking out, and are posted are as follows...
Steve Busey's Stone Mountain, GA 06/28 review
Jennifer Hall's Cornerstone 07/04 review
Katherine's Brookfield, WI 08/12 review
From: Steve Harris
Date: Tue, 19 Aug 1997 15:00:09 (EDT)
(view or print with fixed width font like Courier)
YOU ARE ALL
(from "Canticle of the Plains")
intro E
A2 E A2 F#m
and here you are shining in a glory that I can see
C#m F#m
when I look beyond myself and I fall into the depths
A2 B E
of your love that beckons me
A2
well it fills my hungering soul with all the riches
E C#m B
that are hidden in the wonders that you do
A
and in the words that you have spoken
F#m
there's a word that echoes still
C#m A
and I can hear it in the silence of these hills
CHORUS
E A2
lord you are all that the world could not be
F#m B
you are great and strong, you are good
E A2
lord you are all and everything that I could ever need
F#m E A
you are faith, you are hope, you are love
B A
yes you are love, you are peace, you're my most high
F#m D B E A2 E A2
so now I fall down on my knees and cry, you are all
E A2 E A2 F#m
and here we are in a light that showers from things unseen
C#m
drawn from earth dropped from the sky
F#m A2 B E
they have crept into our lives and called us to believe
A2
in the one of whom the distant clouds bear witness
E C#m B
he was wounded, he was risen, glorified
A
and his voice thunders in the heavens
F#m
and it pulses through our veins
C#m A
and we can find salvation in no other name (repeat chorus)
From: Katherine
Date: Sun, 24 Aug 1997 04:31:57 (EDT)
Subject: Re: Milwaukee Review
Review of August 12, 1997 Concert
Elmbrook Church - Metro Milwaukee, Wisconsin
by vachona@aol.com
This was my third Rich Mullins concert. I'm amazed there weren't reviews of
the other two, so I'd like to make up for this oversight by doing a
comparison of sorts.
I started listening to Christian music a few years ago, before I was even a
Christian (when I was "searching"). Before I started listening to Christian
radio, I ran across a music video program called Z Music. It was there that
I saw this video with two guys in a pub in Ireland, singing about God being
"Here in America". Something about the words and the music caught my
attention, and I kept listening.
A few months later, I heard that Rich was going to be in concert at the
Waukesha Expo Center, so I dragged a friend to go see. We were blown away!
(This was when he was touring with the Ragamuffin Band.) The musicians were
all great, the dulcimer rocked, and the drummer (somebody I'd never heard of
from a group called The 77's) was kickin', especially when they did "I See
You". Oh man, was that great! Everyone left the stage, one by one, and left
the drummer at the end, playing out his rhythm for probably a whole ‘nuther
minute or two. What an exciting concert! Rich played all the songs that I'd
seen in videos, but most of the rest I didn't know. I was awfully impressed,
and picked up several tapes at the concert. (Prior to that, I owned not a
one. I was just familiar with the songs from the videos and those receiving
air play.) When I began listening to the tapes, I started to pick up on the
depth of the message.
In late 1996, Rich paid another visit to the Milwaukee area with a
performance at New Creation church. This performance was vastly different
from the first one. It was more like an "unplugged" type of concert, where
Rich often asked for requests. (Including a song or two that he couldn't
remember the words to!) He played a lot of his numbers on keyboard, but did
break out the dulcimer for a few, as well as the guitar.
This Train was also there, and (maybe) Mitch McVicker. This concert was also
very enjoyable musically. Rich riled up some of the audience when he went
off on CCM. (Er, New Creation brings in a lot of CCM acts, usually to The
Light Club, which is a Christian nightclub.) He told the audience something
to the effect of they shouldn't be going to concerts to be with God -- they
should be going to church (and spending time with the Bible). He slammed
politics and religious denominations, too. I think he said something to the
crowd about being an "equal opportunity offender". Yah, I guess!
Well, that brings me to the August 12, 1997 concert. I had the privilege of
attending probably the best of the three concerts -- both musically and
spiritually. Man-O-Man, was it good! Mitch McVicker was very unassuming and
unaffected -- just a nice, humble guy. (Wants to own a frozen custard stand
-- a very Milwaukee thing.) This Train was loud and spunky, at times almost
too loud to understand the words to their songs. The rest of the musicians
were really top notch. It was amazing to watch them bounce from one
instrument to another. And Rich was, well - awesome. He really poured his
heart into the words and music. At this concert, I saw the musician, the
poet, the philosopher, and, most importantly, the man who loves God.
Rich and the band played so many excellent songs, it's hard to give
highlights! Rich and the mallet percussionist played the classical intro to
"Sing Your Praise to the Lord" on the xylophone (sweet!), and Rich ran up in
time to sing and play. (And that keyboard part is so excellent.) They did
"Screen Door", which was great fun to watch. Another fun thing was when the
boys in the back were doing drum corps-style stick maneuvers during one of
the numbers. (I think it was "98 Eatonwood Green".) Also performed were
"Awesome God", "If I Stand", "Such a Thing as Glory", "While the Nations
Rage", "Boy Like Me/Man Like You", "I See You", "Sometimes By Step", "Hold Me
Jesus", "Creed", and many others, including one of my favorites, "Ready for
the Storm". (Rich called this the one song he wished he had written. He
might not have written it, but he certainly interpreted it, weaving the Irish
sweater story around it.) We were also delighted to hear some new songs,
including "Madeleine".
Rich talked more at this concert than he had at any of the others. It
seemed like he has changed since last year. He was very humble and sincere,
speaking from his heart. He didn't try to rile anybody up this time. He
talked about our needing to be willing to go to jail for a good cause.
Since this was a Singles Ministry event, there were a lot of young people in
attendance, so he directed his comments toward the youth. He talked to us
about the music recitals of his childhood, and how we sometimes act like
we're ashamed to be seen with our parents. He talked about Amsterdam and
how it caused him to write "Hold Me Jesus". (No doubt. Parts of Amsterdam
are like a modern-day Sodom and Gomorrah!) One thing that Rich talked to the
audience about was spending more time in the Bible. In particular, he said
we could learn a lot from Proverbs. (Amen!) He also said several Rich-isms,
including a new one (for me) - "Jesus loves the hell out of us". (How
profound!) He returned to the Irish sweater story by saying that although
we may be battered, bruised, torn to pieces, God will recognize us and bring
us home to Him. ("I know him. He's one of Mine.")
I'd like to end my review with a prayer for the health and happiness of Rich,
Mitch, This Train, all the other musicians, and their ministry. May your
future endeavors provide you with continued growth, both musically and
spiritually. You are bringing the Word of God, through your loving hearts
and your music, to more people than you realize. Please don't ever doubt
that.
God bless you and keep you.