Here’s two very different reviews of last night’s show in New Holland, PA
from Bob Cleaver
My first Caedmon’s Call concert tonight. I am acquainted with Chronicles and have heard some of their work on the radio, but I am largely ignorant of their mass of work. Show went 2:50 straight through without a break. Pretty rough on the seat if you know what I mean. A pretty sedate crowd; never standing until the end (before the encore). Sure glad they did the encore because Thankful received the biggest response of the night. As they started Thankful I looked around and didn’t see the crowd getting to its feet. So, since I was in the first row, I figured at least I would stand up and start the rhythmic clapping. Quickly everybody else jumped to their feet, and, yes, this crowd did know the words to the chorus. Again, not being the biggest fan, many of the songs were new to me so I was trying to listen to the words, but the volume of the music often got in the way. The bass was the strongest I remember of any concert I have been to; you really felt every vibrative pulse. Again, that may have had something to do with my seat in the front row. I’m not sure this concert has made me a bigger fan or not. I think I’ll just go on liking the several of their songs that appeal to me.
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from Ryan Baniall
I’ve been to over 25 Caedmon’s Call shows over the past ten years and last night’s was one of the best I’ve ever seen. Five reasons why:
1. Derek Webb opened and played 6-7 songs. His songs are more relevant now than when he wrote them, and i feel we’ll be saying that for a long time. Just great songs. He gets more out of a his vocal chords and 12 strings than most bands get out of multiple members.
2. Andy Osenga played a 3-song set in the middle of CC’s set which was amazing. I love how Andy sneaks up on first time listeners with his amazing vocal range and guitar-playing skillz.
3. Set length, which was close to 3 hours from Derek’s first note to the last bang on the trash can. That’s getting your money’s worth!
4. Set list, which for CC contained the perfect mix of old and new. Well, I shouldnt say perfect. Had they thrown in What You Want instead of Faith My Eyes, that would have been perfect.
5. The lineup. It’s amazing. Seeing Andy, Cliff, Danilelle, and Derek on the front line is awesome. Hearing them all together is even better. Add to that the backcourt of Miller, Bragg, and Buell and you got a freaking murderer’s row. Having Derek’s guitar there with Andy is the kicker. Derek plays all those acoustic solos from the old songs like he used to, and Andy makes his electrics sing on a few killer solos throughout the night.
I just dont see how anyone could walk away NOT being inspired and facerocked. I know I was.
thankyou for this true delight, to see these 8 musicians complimenting each other so well, sounding so geat together, my daughter and i sat in the 3rd row, true it was loud in the beginning but then the sound was fixed and improved.
it was so much fun to watch Garett and Todd on various percussion instruments, constantly in motion, with Josh helping out occassionally too.
It was fun to hear the old songs mixed in with the new, to watch Derek and Andy singing harmony,
and singing those wonderful songs they have written. So much energy and fun. and This World with harmonies was Great
for us here in NJ, it is far a few times in beween we have the chance to see Caedmons Call live, something i will always treasure, and it is through your music that we have sponsored a child in India, how can you not be moved by this music and talent! Thank you guys and of course Danielle with that gorgeous voice.
I can’t express how amazing the concert tonight 2/24/08 was. I was blown away. Everything I could have expected and more. I may write a more full review later, when I’m not sleepy and I don’t have a ton of studying left to do for tomorrow. Anyway, this was amazing….I ditto everything that others have said.
The New Holland show on 2-24 was a CC’s fan dream come true (at least for me)! It was awesome to hear them play April Showers and My Calm Your Storm. I have been a fan of CC since 1997. This was my 3rd CC concert, and by far my favorite. I love their Guild 2 CD version of In God’s County by U2 and was so excited to hear them play it live…Andy added so much to that song and to all their songs. Andy is a great new addition to their band and I loved his solo stuff as well. I am also a huge fan of Derek’s solo stuff (I’ve seen him 3 times by himself) so it was awesome to see 2 of my favorite performers all for one ticket price! I was a bit disappointed people didn’t stand for the whole CC set, but there was a lot of different ages in the audience so I understand why they didn’t.
In a word the concert was awesome. The band sounded great. At first there were some sound issues, but I thought they fixed them almost entirely by the 3rd song. It was like the best of CC concert!
I couldn’t make it out to either PA show (which I’m rather bummed about), but I’m really glad to hear that the shows were so good. Hey Geof, how did the recording of the 2nd PA show go? Can we expect to see it up on IndieRiver sometime down the road :) ? Did you enjoy your time up in “The Keystone State”?
I drove 70 miles to New Holland to see Derek and Caedmon’s back together Saturday night, 2/23/08 and it was totally worth it. I last saw them together in 2001 and I’ve become a huge fan of Derek’s solo work and Caedmon’s entire catalog of songs. I think the mix of songs was perfect and “Overdressed” and “The Ringing Bell” are 2 of my favorite releases from last year. I also agree that almost 3 hours was truly a blessing (and maybe why people sat most of the time) and considering that there were no filler songs and they could have kept going another couple of hours proves how amazing they are.
I could listen to Derek all the time and I’m so glad he opened with “Lover”, it totally set the tone. His set was perfect to introduce his depth.
Caedmon’s with Derek (and Andy) is one of the top 10 bands in Christian music today and I’d put them against anyone. The harmonizing, songwriting and guitar (and drum) playing blew me away. I was blown away and still wanted more (“Table for Two”, “There You Go”, “Bus Driver”), and for me the highlight was Derek singing “Faith My Eyes”, my all-time favorite Caedmon’s song.
God Bless and thanks Caedmon’s and Derek for “rocking my face off”.
Kevin
I was at the New Holland show 2-23….sorry I got the date wrong
I recorded the CC set. I … forgot to tape Derek’s set. But I’m really sick of taping Derek. :chuckle:
The CC show should sound pretty good. If I’m still awake when I get home tonight, I’ll do something with it. [And there is no such thing as a recording I make that I don't share, eventually. ;) And this will go out quickly.]
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Geof! I’m glad I’ll at least get to hear the show since I wasn’t able to see it.