Date: 05 November 1996
To: RichMailList
Subject: [RichMailList 94]: Athens & Gainesville, GA 10/31 & 11/02 review

Date: Tue, 05 Nov 96 08:35:51 EST
From: Marcy Nejat
Subject: RM in GA

In an overzealous moment, a local promoter scheduled two concerts with Rich
Mullins within 3 days and 40 miles of each other last week.  The urge to attend
both, one in my home town and one up the road a piece, was overwhelming. So, in
what some may consider to be a foolhardy and frivolous expedition, I pursued this
obviously never-to-be-repeated phenomenon.

Eddie Middleton (whose last name is destined forever to be "formerly of Newsong")
opened both concerts.  This was sort of a mismatch of CCM performers, and I
skipped his set at the second concert.  (Not exactly my speed ;) I didn't take
notes at the Athens concert but based on the Gainesville show, these are the
tunes he did in both places:

Hallelu etc (audience participation)
I'm A Gonna Sing etc (audience participation)
(On hammer dulcimer)
Creed
Jesus Loves Me (G)/Calling Out Your Name (A)
78 Eatonwood Green
(On guitar with Mitch)
I Will Sing/Love Has Come
Where You Are
Let Mercy Lead
(on piano)
Sing Your Praise to the Lord
While the Nations Rage (G)/We Are Not As Strong (A)
Land of My Sojourn (G)/The Love of God (A)
(On guitar with Mitch)
Ready for the Storm
Brothers Keeper (in Gainesville Rich came in early, then ad libbed
   "And the singer doesn't know all the lyrics", or something like that)
The Bach thing on mandolins
(Mitch sang)
Heaven is Waiting (from the Frank Canticle) (G)/Some new song about
   the stars threw a party for New Mexico (A)
The lemondade song (G)
Only time will tell (G)
(Rich on piano)
If I Stand (G)/Screen Door (A)
Hold Me Jesus
Awesome God
Sometimes by Step
(Classic hymns)
My Jesus I Love Thee
It Is Well with My Soul
Lord I Lift Your Name on High

He opened both shows with a standard disclaimer, that we ought to consider CCM
for its entertainment value and not as theology, that CCM artists are in it for
the money. (We can see that by the way he dresses-- right.)  At both shows he did
the bit about the Aran sweaters, and he also spoke about Compassion.

In Athens, he talked about the lenses through which we see our Christ-- shaped by
the kind of upbringing we had and the kinds of lives we live.  He said that in
Asia, they underline all the scriptures in their Bibles which we don't underline.
 He also talked about leaving CCM.  He talked about all the amenities of being on
the road (clean sheets, no dirty dishes) and of the addictiveness of applause. 
He also said how boring it can be to do the same thing night after night.  Having
left the performing arts myself some years ago, I could understand.  Fortunately
for me, what I was doing didn't glorify God, which more readily inspired me to
leave.  I don't know if I would have had the strength to go otherwise, in spite
of the fact that I was completely bored of myself.  Even now, I find myself
longing for the applause, the recognition, the affirmation.   I noticed that
toward the end of each night, Rich was beginning to get a little hoarse.  It has
to be a strain to do, night after night, aside from all the other plusses and
minuses. In the end, he promised us another farewell tour this summer.

In Gainesville, he talked more about politics.  Rich doesn't mince words in the
expression of his opinions and he brazenly feigned to offend the political
leanings of everyone at the show.  The point is that some people expect the
government to "make this world/country a better place to live" and that is not
God's way.  After casting aspersions on  both liberals and conservatives, he
admitted that he didn't know who he would vote for. 

At both concerts Rich sang his heart out.  I found it a worthwhile use of time
and money to attend both shows.  Even though he did most of the same songs,
stories and jokes at both shows, he is still obviously spontaneous.  His musical
excellence is reflected by the fact that it doesn't require the sometimes
elaborate arrangements recorded in the studio to stand.  And even if there were
no music, his lyrics would stand as poetry in their own right.  He has the
ability to bring forth the Christian's dreams, hopes and prayers elegantly,
eloquently, economically, effulgently and effusively.

Driving home from the Athens concert, the pastor's two pre-teen daughters (who
are not without talent themselves) were discussing Rich's ability to play so many
instruments so well and to sing and write songs also.  The pastor said, "It's a
gift."  And indeed it is.