Sunday
Dec162007
Saving the best for last
Sunday, December 16, 2007 at 06:31PM
In about an hour we'll step on stage for the last show of this tour. Nineteen shows in twenty days. It's been really great but everybody's feeling ready to get back home.
A little over an hour ago we convinced Ben Shive to give us a concert. In this empty 2000 seat room, thirteen or fourteen of us sat in the front two rows while Ben sat at the Steinway and sang us some of his songs.
I've said before that Ben is one of my favorite songwriters and it's just pretty much a fact that he's the best musician any of us have ever known. His songs are these beautiful, tender pieces; sad and hopeful, spilling over with both the Fall and the Resurrection. I can't wait for you to hear them one day. (Which will hopefully be soon).
For my money, those six songs were the best concert given this tour. The audience wanted more and more and the performances were innocent and honest. Now I feel I'm ready to go home.
Tampa's Songs:
New Beginning
Two Weeks in Africa
Last Night's Songs:
Hold the Light
Too Far to Walk
A little over an hour ago we convinced Ben Shive to give us a concert. In this empty 2000 seat room, thirteen or fourteen of us sat in the front two rows while Ben sat at the Steinway and sang us some of his songs.
I've said before that Ben is one of my favorite songwriters and it's just pretty much a fact that he's the best musician any of us have ever known. His songs are these beautiful, tender pieces; sad and hopeful, spilling over with both the Fall and the Resurrection. I can't wait for you to hear them one day. (Which will hopefully be soon).
For my money, those six songs were the best concert given this tour. The audience wanted more and more and the performances were innocent and honest. Now I feel I'm ready to go home.
Tampa's Songs:
New Beginning
Two Weeks in Africa
Last Night's Songs:
Hold the Light
Too Far to Walk
Reader Comments (9)
Is Ben really gonna put out a record? I'm hopeful.
Me too. He sounds like the type of guy I'd really dig.
My wife and I went to the concert tonight and thoroughly enjoyed it. Great to see all of you perform in the round (the toe song was particularly moving). Good to see all of you enjoying yourselves and selflessly sharing the stage. Most of all it was wonderful to see Christ exalted so clearly.
Thanks for playing I'll Be Home Soon... poignantly appropriate for the night and, of course, always good to hear a little Normals tribute (if Zeppelin can get back together then there's always hope... any plans when you're in your early sixties?).
Thanks for pouring your soul into your music and for giving us honest songs that make us think, smile, praise, pray, cry and hope. Lauren (my wife) and I hope you have a restful break and especially sweet reunion with your family. Gospel blessings! - jc
Wow! Just listened to his stuff on Myspace.
He reminds me of Elliott Smith.
I was particularly moved by your songs in Augusta on Saturday. I long for the type of community that you sung about in Hold the Light. Too Far to Walk along with Bebo's cover of Rebel Jesus were worth the price of admission. Thanks for doing these tours with AP. We always discuss whether or not you are going to be there. Glad you were. Get some rest brother Osenga and Merry Christmas.
In One Peace
Mike from Georgia
How I wish that the tour would have made it remotely close to Louisiana. The closest you guys came was 8hrs away in Texas, but I had finals that week.
It is tough being the only AO fan I know around these parts.
Andrew,
I saw you guys in Jacksonville. What an amazing night it was. I'm a recent fan of your music--Hold the Light was the song that got me interested in your stuff, so I was thrilled that you played it on Sunday night! Also, I'm a huge fan of Indelible Grace and O Help My Unbelief is hands down my favorite song on the new album (although the others songs are all terrific). Very much enjoyed the show. I'm looking forward to future ones!
-Jacob
I'd be willing to pre-order a Ben Shive album if it would help fund its production.
Last I heard, indeed Ben was working on the songs to his debut CD. You may know that Ben is one very in-demand studio guy so ironically, he's been so busy helping other artists with their projects, that there's probably little time left for his own deal. If I recall correctly, I believe that Cason Cooley is helping Ben with the project. Apparently, there isn't a firm release date, because like most indie releases, it will be done when it's done.
The song "New Year" has a cool 80s vibe and shows that Ben could easily write a hit song for radio. You guys will think I'm dogging on Ben when I write this, but it reminds me of something that Christopher Cross could have taken to the top of the charts (Ben's lyrics are much better than Chris Cross). And as a guy that actually enjoyed Christopher Cross's music, I mean the comparison as a big compliment to Ben. Ben Shive is a freakin' mad musical scientist. His versatility and musical skills are beyond what most of us, most of all me, have the ability to even comprehend.