Date: 22 Nov 1998
To: RichMailList
Subject: [RichMailList 230e]: Grand Rapids, MI 11/06 review

From: Debbie Boucher
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 1998 02:18:42 EST
Subject: Review from Grand Rapids, Mich. Calvin College 11/6/98

Our evening started with a sign on the auditorium door saying the band was
delayed with a broken down truck & the concert would be at least 1/2 hour
late. I stood in line ( the front of the line) for almost an hour. Finally I
heard music coming from behind the doors so I knew the time was getting
closer. After reading so many reviews about them having sound problems I was
thinking this show would be no different.

Actually the band got on stage only 15 minutes late which was really
commendable since they did not even arrive at the auditorium until 2 hrs.
before show time. I got my front row seat center stage and was very content.
Mark had on some silly shoes tonight too. Not red, these were black & white.
He spoke of going to NY to do a show & told a few NY stories, He really is fun
to listen to. Same song list, I Saw the Light, Mimes of the Old West, Million
Years followed by Monster Truck.

After just a few minutes Mitch came out with Kid Brother's.........You were
right about Michael! He was very pleasing to the ladies eyes. But I MUST add,
when Mitch was singing you could periodically catch Michael looking at him
smiling as if he was very pleased to see Mitch doing so well (as we all were
). So far I MUST tell you, No sound problems, no problems at all! Mitch sang
so good....I love to see him smile!

Now for the real treat, Ashley Cleveland stopped by, you have not lived until
you have heard her sing Gimme Shelter by The Rolling Stones, she was awesome.
She spoke about touring with Rich and how much she loved him, she talked about
him as a friend, a musician and man who LOVED GOD! She sang a few songs and
then there was a break before Ragamuffins came out. We were very lucky to have
been one of the three shows she sang at. I can understand now how Rich chose
her as one of his favorite Gospel singers.

The Ragamuffin band came out on stage and opened with My Deliverer which was
soooo well done! Ashley came out to help with this one.
I think we got a few songs that had not been mentioned before. They did
Nothing Is Beyond You and I See You which is one of my personal favorites. I
cannot remember the order of the songs but we are all getting a good taste of
The Jesus record during this part of the show. 
Time for a 10 minute break and then the cup thing. I had never seen it, only
heard about how Rich used to teach it to some of our youth at camp during the
few years he was a music director here in Grand Rapids, Mich. Rich loved
Michigan too. He has a lot of fans and friends here. I was told at his
memorial service in Grand Rapids that he wrote Awesome God after spending time
here at a summer camp. He started writing it on his way from Michigan going
west. Ashley came back & sang Jesus, we asked her how come she did not partake
in the cup song & she said "You've got to be kidding." The Ragamuffins came
back and did another song or two before Jimmy said the rest of the night was
ours. We stood & sang and clapped and cried our way through about another 40
minutes of Rich songs. I do believe Rich was sitting up in the upper balcony
looking down over us, seeing some of his closest friends singing about the
very thing Rich loved most, Jesus. Rick and Mark both spoke about how Rich
wanted the Ragamuffins to do these songs without him, then they said I guess
Rich got his way, again. They spoke about how much this tour has taught them
about their faith. These guys seemed happy, they miss their friend but I felt
they are overjoyed to have this opportunity to share the last of Rich's music
and lyrics with us. It was an opportunity for us to get to know a little more
about some of the people who spent a lot of time with Rich over the last few
years. I felt so blessed tonight to be a part of this. I still get sad about
Rich being gone but I hope this helps take away some of the sadness for us,
the fans, and for all the musicians on this tour. They sang for about 3 1/2
hours and I still wanted more but we listened to The Doxology & went on our
way home singing Rich songs all the way. Oh, by the way, we had no sound
problems at all.....................hmmmmmm........If this tour comes close
enough to you either this fall or next spring, do go, you won't be sorry you
made the trip. 

Return to top