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Rumor Forum Member Wally drove many, many hours to enjoy Caedmon’s Call in Pennsylvania last weekend. Here are his thoughts.

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Where shall I start? I live in Hamilton, Ontario. I became a Caedmon’s fan when I picked up a copy of their self titled cd when I heard positive reviews on it. I followed them since then and over the years my interest in them picked up steam. I saw Derek a couple of years ago in Toronto and over that last few years I continuously checked out where Caedmon’s was playing next, hoping they would play close to me. I had never seen them before. About two weeks before the shows in PA I realized that they were playing only about 8 hours from my house. I thought about it and said to myself “a chance to see Caedmon’s (twice), driving about 20 hours over 3 days……Road Trip”!!! My wife and I looked to see if we could make it a family affair and the only way it would happen is if I went by myself.

Cut to the Saturday morning of the first show, with a Tim Horton’s coffee, a handful of Caedmon’s and Derek cd’s (sorry Andy, I didn’t own any of yours, YET), 3 pages of MapQuest directions and Bryan and Geof’s phone numbers beside me, I headed out. Eight hours later I arrived in New Holland.

I got to the church in time for the sound check. Wow, I couldn’t believe it Caedmon’s Call was right before my eyes. Bryan asked if I wanted to meet the band. I didn’t want to impose while they were rehearsing so I said “no, that’s OK”. I think Bryan looked at me like I had 2 heads. I then just jumped at the chance and said sure. I was introduced as the guy who drove from Canada. The band was great. Bryan invited me to sit front and centre with him and his family. As the lights dimmed Derek came out with his guitar. It reminded me of when I saw him in Toronto. Before I knew it his set was over and moments later the band entered the stage. They opened with My Calm // Your Storm. It was great; I was sitting there finally watching my favorite band that I listened to for years. The show was excellent. They played a wide variety of songs from their anthology of cd’s they put out over the years. The set lists for the 2 shows were pretty much the same as the rest so I won’t speak too much on that. Considering that they now have 4 lead singers, they had mix up the songs to get Cliff, Danielle, Derek and Andy involved. It was nice being able to hear their individual songs and their mixed harmonies together. I could see that Andy was struggling that first night with the remnants of the flu. I was very happy with the set list that they did. What people have to realize is that this is a very special tour. They are promoting their new cd but not exclusively seeing it is only about 1/3 of their set list. Also both Andy and Derek are with the band at this time. Who knows, this may be the only time a tour like this happens. Derek said that this tour is better than what he imagined it would be. Jeff asked me which show I enjoyed more. Andy was feeling better the second night and nailed his performances but there is always something special about a person’s first Caedmon’s show. I Have trouble picking either one as my favorite.

One thing I missed was more banter/band interaction in between songs but on the other hand if that meant less songs, that’s OK by me. I would have personally chosen 2 or 3 different songs but as much as I don’t want to admit it, Caedmon’s didn’t perform for just me. :) If you are thinking of going and are not sure, I have one thing to say to you “STOP THINKING ABOUT IT AND JUST DO IT”!!! You’ll regret it if you don’t. If you’ve never been to a show, it’s amazing and the band is very approachable afterwards.

Some of the highlights for me were:

-meeting/seeing Caedmon’s for the first time and hanging with them after the shows.

-meeting the dotnetters that were able to make the shows and even going out for dinner with a few of them.

-helping Todd set up merch

-sitting down with Andy before the second show talking about how that was the day his friend’s baby was baptized as the song “Hold the Light” was played. He explained the journey this couple took to get their little one. He would have loved to be there but couldn’t make it work with the shows he was playing. I felt bad for him that he wasn’t able to go but when he played that song that night it almost brought me to tears imagining how he was feeling. There was great emotion in that performance. I even picked up my first Andy O cd.

- trying to track down all the members the second night for pictures and autographs. Josh was the last one I needed but I couldn’t find him. Derek said he wasn’t feeling well and was on the bus but he would get him for me. When I got his picture he said to tell people that this was “sick Josh”. I told Josh that playing “find the Caedmon’s” that night was more difficult than playing “Where’s Waldo”.

So was it worth going, absolutely. I can’t wait to see them again and include my family in the road trip. I wanted to add a special thank you to Bryan and Geof. They’re 2 guys who really care about the band and the fans. We are lucky to have them working for Caedmon’s.

Wally

here’s a bonus photo of Wally trying to come down to derek’s size.

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.

When we asked for fan reviews of shows on this tour, THIS is what we were expecting. Wait, that’s a lie. This is much better than we expected.

Lindsay Myers, who was at the Greenwood Village, CO show on February 9th, was kind enough to send along this review of the show:

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About two hours into Caedmon’s set on Saturday I glanced over at the friends I was with and their almost-two-year-old Goddaughter was sprawled across their laps fast asleep as Andy and Derek wailed the harmonies of “Hold the Light,” and that moment encapsulates the beauty of the evening for me: the combination of love and familiarity mixed together with new things that fit as if they’ve been long worn in.

As soon as Derek walked on stage and picked up his 12-string to start playing I felt the expectancy in the whole room spill over and wash towards the front and it was like all of that energy was precisely funneled back in the howling acoustics of the songs. I thought Derek nailed his set 100%- reformed theology! wry humor! powerful vocals! intense guitar! convulsive twitches away from the mic! By merit of being a popular favorite I sometimes resent the seeming omnipresence of “Wedding Dress” as part of Derek’s set but hearing it Saturday night the sound was so fresh it was like walking in my homeland, along the Gulf of Mexico at night with the air so full and the pulse of waves at my side, it was that good.

When the “small army that is now Caedmon’s Call” came out together there was a palpable rising of excitement which finally bubbled over when everyone stood up to clap and dance to “Two Weeks in Africa” which was great. I was so happy to be part of a crowd who seemed to feel the joy I did at getting to be a part of this tour- I bought tickets months ago which was just the culmination of my excitement that Derek collaborated on this album at all. My enthusiasm for Derek’s presence noted, Andy Osenga brings something undeniably awesome to the band.- he writes songs that are slightly different for them, he ROCKS and writhes with the guitar, when he hammers on a string you can’t help but take some serious notice, and when he talks he’s hilarious, to boot. As delighted as I was to hear Derek blended with Danielle and Cliff again, the truly thrilling thing for me (on the “Overdressed” album, too of course) was getting to hear Derek and Andy together. I already mentioned the wonder of “Hold the Light” but Andy’s solo set was superb too and made all the more elegant by Derek’s slightly wandering presence stage left nodding along, totally immersed in the music. Not to mention one of the hands-down highlights of the show was the power combo of Andy, Cliff, Danielle, and Derek totally soaring through the harmonies of “Expectations.” So hats off to Andy O.

There were so many other great moments though- there is something so lyrical and primal about Garett on percussion, as someone else noted Josh totally filled in when Derek was doing some crazy multi-tasking after breaking a string on “Faith My Eyes,” it blows my mind to have as much percussion as Caedmon’s does but what would the sound be like without Todd?! A few songs in I started to feel the bass through the pews and have to reiterate my earlier question in regards to Jeff who just manages to make the songs feel so much fuller. I agreed with whoever commented that Danielle seemed under-utilized. Her voice is so much that trademark Caedmon’s sound and I don’t think she actually spoke at all. Someone noted that during their first show Andy seemed to sort of be the extra guitar player on the side and I couldn’t help but feel like Cliff and Danielle didn’t get to carve their unique places. The trio of voices during many of the “old” songs was exhilarating but I would have liked to get more personality coming through. My most outstanding memory of Cliff during the show was his hilarious “transition” to talk about DFN and analogizing the possibility of forgetting the words of “This World” to when your kids run around the corner and you can see in their eyes that they’ve chosen the moment to poop. “Anybody been to India?!”

As others mentioned it was definitely a long set but I was engaged during every song and walked away in disbelief that I only paid $15 for the ticket- who gets a three hour concert for that!? Once again Caedmon’s established LIVE why they have remained one of my favorite bands for the past ten years. Two things would have made that show better (1) SANDRA (2) Far from stoning whoever suggested it, I agree that a song or two off of “Long Line of Leavers” (which I still maintain is their most underrated record!) would have rounded out the set- we’re not all married and settled yet!

Overall, though, left me thoughtful, joyful, and content- who can ask for more than that?

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Thanks Lindsay!

If you want to write up a review for a show on the Overdressed Tour (it doesn’t need to be this long or well-written), send it along to us at overdressedtour(at)gmail(dot)com.

It might be a little disappointing that Christianity Today only had Overdressed second on their list of the best albums of 2007, but they have nice things to say about it:

It was to the point where some people were murmuring that the best days of Caedmon’s Call were behind them. It seems a change of record label was just what this band needed to set them back on track. Overdressed reminds us why we fell in love with this band in the first place. And no, it’s not the return of Derek Webb to the fold—though it’s interesting that he’s found a way to make it on our list twice in one year, he’s not the only reason this album recaptures the glory days of Caedmon’s Call. With four lead vocalists now, not to mention a revolving door of contributing songwriters inside and outside the group, it only further drives home the point that this isn’t as much a set-in-stone band as it is a fluid acoustic pop collective. The album itself strikes the perfect blend of the band’s high points—melodic hooks (40 Acres), eclecticism (Long Line of Leavers), and social consciousness (Share the Well)—without repeating them. Familiar as it all may seem, few Christian bands are this consistently engaging in song topics and sound. They seem only stronger now that they’ve regained their artistic focus. Hey, Caedmon’s Call, we didn’t know you left, but welcome back all the same.

Has anyone here heard their #1? I demand a recount. ;)

Christianity Today gave Overdressed 5 Stars, saying “…Overdressed is not only a superb and well-crafted return to form for this band; it may well be their best album to date…”

There’s a couple of good online reads for fans of Derek Webb that we wanted to make note of. Grassroots Music’s Kierstin Berry conducted a great interview with Derek that you can read on their site. Also, Russ Breimeier of christianitytoday.com wrote an extremely positive review of She Must and Shall Go Free that you should read.

We found a review of the Feb 12 CC/Jars show in Grand Rapids from the Grand Rapids Press, and we thought you’d like to check it out.