In Case You Missed It - News and Tidbits - June 9

Here are some news items from this week in Southern Gospel music -

• Congratulations to Amber Nelon Thompson and Nathan Kitsler who announced their engagement.
• See the latest video from Matt Fouch's On the Couch With Fouch, which is an interview with Clayton Inman of Triumphant Quartet. Watch it here.

Anything I've missed?

Night Full of Requests - Browders Concert Recap

The Browders made a rare trip to Arkansas last week. They were at Dayspring Baptist Church in Ward. This was actually my first time to see the group in a full concert. Normally, it's only a 20-30 minute set at Silver Dollar City once a year. It was good to get the full concert experience Thursday night.

One of the things I love about this group was the live band. You don't realize how much that adds to a concert until you experience it.

Another thing about this group is that they have set records for #1 songs. The full concert experience was full of their #1s and most requested songs. Despite not hearing them live much, there were only a few songs that I was not very familiar with because of their wide radio play.

Here are a few highlights of the concert -

• "I'll Lift Up His Name Again" - This was the opening song, and right away you could tell the audience was glad to hear this one live! This is such a great song!
• "Message of the Cross" - It was good to hear Sonya sing this one. Also, major kudos to Sonya for being in high heels the full concert at eight months pregnant. 
• "I Am So Blessed" - I love hearing Tommy Browder sing this song and hear his testimony. It's such a reminder of just how blessed we are.
• "Praise You in This Valley"
• "Put It in God's Hands" - This has probably become my favorite Browders song!
• "Time Machine" - They were about to wrap up. Matthew said that they had gotten in all the requests but a young voice from the back corrected him that they had not sung "Time Machine" yet. Haha, and we were all glad he did!

In Case You Missed It - News and Tidbits - June 2

Here are some news items from this week in southern gospel -

• Congratulations to Lindsey Graham, who received her Doctorate of Worship Studies from Liberty University’s School of Music on May 19, 2018. 
• Congratulations also to Matthew Gooch (Karen Peck & New River) who married Preslee Mortenson on Saturday, June 2 in Lexington, Kentucky.
• Chuck Pettyjohn announced his resignation from the Blackwood Quartet. He will be filling in when needed and doing some solo dates. 
• Master's Voice announced that baritone Stan Watson is leaving the group.

Anything I've missed?

Fun Clip Friday - Mondays with Mark

Mark Lowry has started a new video series called "Mondays with Mark." He's had several notable guests so far including the Jim Brady Trio,  Jeff and Sheri Easter and Michael English. Here's one video from a couple of weeks ago with Tribute Quartet. Enjoy for today's Fun Clip Friday!

Unexpected - Jason Crabb - CD Review

Jason Crabb released Unexpected in April. The project is his fourth mainstream solo release, and I think it's his best one yet! Jason brings a sound to Southern Gospel that is uniquely his own.

"Expect the Unexpected" kicks the project off. This catchy song has a more modern country feel. This is the perfect opening song.

It slows back down with "Day One." There's a nice vulnerability in Jason's deliverance of this song. It's a yearning to go back to the moment when Jesus first saved us - when life was simpler, it was easier to hear His voice, when we first experience His love.

Jason has a little help on "Chose to Be My Friend" from Gary LeVox (with Rascal Flatts). This is probably one of my favorite songs on the album. Gary's voice is so recognizable, but the two complement each other really well. Definitely a track not to skip listening to! Gary LeVox was not the only guest vocalist on the project. Jason is joined by Kaya Jones on "Let It Be Love." I'll confess though I had to Google her to see who she was.

"Short Are the Years" is a song that I can see also doing well on mainstream country radio. It's a song that is reminiscent of parenthood. I really like the play on the words with the song - long are the days with all the extra activities, but short are the years when you look back. I think this a great song for Jason with his girls now into their teen years.

"Washed By the Water" is a more progressive sounding song. I like it starts with the guitar and then goes to the brass on the chorus. "Love Will Have the Final Word" is also a more uptempo, progressive song. These songs are great on the album, but with Jason's live band, I know live will be even better!

"He Made You" is another one of my favorites. It's a powerful reminder that God always sees the next step in our lives and is working things out for our good. It's a love song that has a similar message to "When God Made You." However, I love some of the creation comparisons at the beginning of this song that doesn't make it strictly a love song. "He was thinking about the dark when He made the sun" and "He was thinking about forever before He started on day one." It's a beautiful reminder that God knows us from beginning to end. Also, I think I hear Sonya Isaacs Yeary helping him with some background vocals on this song.

I had the chance to hear "The Love in Your Heart Knows the Way" at NQC last year. It's a nice way to close the album. It brings a lot of the messages from the album full circle. The choir backing him up contains his daughters and nieces, which is a great touch!


Songs to Put on Repeat - "Chose to Be My Friend" and "He Made You"
Songs to Turn Up - "Expect the Unexpected" and "Washed By the Water"



Song List -
1. "Expect the Unexpected"
2. "Day One"
3. "Chose to Be My Friend"
4. "Mercy We Can't Go Beyond"
5. "Let It Be Love"
6. "Short Are the Years"
7. "Washed by the Water"
8. "He Made You"
9. "Love Will Have the Final Word"
10. "The Love in Your Heart Knows the Way"