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| Concert Review |
| Join the Tribe Tour March 1, 2009 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania Newsboys, DecembeRadio VOTA & Bread of Stone Concert Review Written by: Kevin Davis [kevin.davis@christianmusicreview.org] |
| For complete local tour schedules and ticket info, please visit: |
Join The Tribe Tour 2009 came to Stabler Arena on the campus of Lehigh University in Bethlehem,
PA on Sunday, 3/1/09. This tour has gained headlines since I attended 3 weeks ago as the lead singer
for the Newsboys, Peter Furler, will be taking a break and is being replaced by Michael Tait, formerly
of dcTalk. I’m glad I got the chance to see them again with Peter Furler and recommend checking out
the tour if you get the chance.
The first band at this concert was the independent band Bread of Stone. They sang 3 songs and have
a nice alternative rock sound that reminded me of the softer songs by Disciple and Decyfer Down.
Then, VOTA came out and did a great 5 song set starting with “Alright”, originally recorded when
they were Casting Pearls on inPop. They have since changed their name to VOTA and their self-titled
debut on INO includes the next 4 songs they sang, including the first single “Hard To Believe”. I love
that song and got the chance to talk with lead singer Bryan Oleson about the meaning behind the song
which I’ll be posting soon. The set continued with “Free to fail”, “Honestly”, and “Not finished”.
The band has great energy and potential. They have an alternative rock style similar to Remedy Drive.
DecembeRadio is a band I’ve been wanting to see live since I first heard their lead single “Love Found
Me” from their first album which is how they started their 7 song set. They didn’t disappoint me and
put on a great show with amazing energy and hook-filled songs. The next song was “Be Alright”
from “Satisfied”, which is one of several great songs from the Dove Award nominated album (Rock
album). Then they did a great cover of “Everlasting God” by Brenton Brown, including a great guitar
solo similar to Lincoln Brewster’s version. Lead singer Josh Reedy then explained a little bit about the
inspiration for their hit song “Find You Waiting”, written as a song of encouragement for anyone who
is suffering. He then blended it with the hymn “Amazing Grace” for a great time of corporate
worship. They closed out their set with 2 anthems from “Satisfied” starting with “Believer” which is
a great profession of what it means to live in Christ and then closed with the rocker “Satisfy Me”,
which is my favorite southern rock song I’ve heard in the last 10 years. If you like Third Day and
Collective Soul, you’ve got to see DecembeRadio.
This was the fifth time I’ve seen Newsboys and they never disappoint me with their great stage
show. They basically performed their greatest hits, primarily the set list from their “Go” tour starting
with “Wherever We Go”, “The Mission”, “Something Beautiful”, all from their last album “Go”. Then
they did a cool 2 song worship set with “Blessed Be Your Name” and “He Reigns”, which is amazing
live. The arena of about 4,000 fans all lifting their hands in worship “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah He
Reigns!”. Then they sang the title song from their upcoming album “In The Hands of God” and
continued with “Stay Strong”. Then, Peter talked about the band signing their first record deal in
Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1989. Their first festival was Creation East in PA. Then they did a short
bit of “Not Ashamed” and talked about times coming to PA from 1989 to 2009, 20 years of touring
and that the only Truth is God, the Creator of Heaven, Earth and He is Our Friend.
After that interlude, they led us all in worship with the song “You Are My King (Amazing Love)” and
then had the entire arena on their feet jumping up and down to the all-time great “Shine”. Next, they
sang “Breakfast” from “Take Me To Your Leader” and literally hundreds of fans had empty cereal
boxes (mostly “Cap’n Crunch”) and waved them along to the song, which was cool. Then, they sang
“Your Love Is Better Than Life” from “Go” and the fast vocals matched the strobe lights and dry ice
which led to my favorite part of every Newsboys concert which is the Drum solos by Duncan and
Peter. They were both on platforms with Peter out on a catwalk in the middle of the arena with a
drum set and both guys were elevated at least 15 feet in the air each playing rocking drum solos.
They finished with worship anthems “I Am Free” and “It Is You”, which are 2 of the best Christian
songs of the decade in my opinion.
Great tour with 4 bands, 28 songs and 3 hours of fun rocking out in the name of Jesus.
PA on Sunday, 3/1/09. This tour has gained headlines since I attended 3 weeks ago as the lead singer
for the Newsboys, Peter Furler, will be taking a break and is being replaced by Michael Tait, formerly
of dcTalk. I’m glad I got the chance to see them again with Peter Furler and recommend checking out
the tour if you get the chance.
The first band at this concert was the independent band Bread of Stone. They sang 3 songs and have
a nice alternative rock sound that reminded me of the softer songs by Disciple and Decyfer Down.
Then, VOTA came out and did a great 5 song set starting with “Alright”, originally recorded when
they were Casting Pearls on inPop. They have since changed their name to VOTA and their self-titled
debut on INO includes the next 4 songs they sang, including the first single “Hard To Believe”. I love
that song and got the chance to talk with lead singer Bryan Oleson about the meaning behind the song
which I’ll be posting soon. The set continued with “Free to fail”, “Honestly”, and “Not finished”.
The band has great energy and potential. They have an alternative rock style similar to Remedy Drive.
DecembeRadio is a band I’ve been wanting to see live since I first heard their lead single “Love Found
Me” from their first album which is how they started their 7 song set. They didn’t disappoint me and
put on a great show with amazing energy and hook-filled songs. The next song was “Be Alright”
from “Satisfied”, which is one of several great songs from the Dove Award nominated album (Rock
album). Then they did a great cover of “Everlasting God” by Brenton Brown, including a great guitar
solo similar to Lincoln Brewster’s version. Lead singer Josh Reedy then explained a little bit about the
inspiration for their hit song “Find You Waiting”, written as a song of encouragement for anyone who
is suffering. He then blended it with the hymn “Amazing Grace” for a great time of corporate
worship. They closed out their set with 2 anthems from “Satisfied” starting with “Believer” which is
a great profession of what it means to live in Christ and then closed with the rocker “Satisfy Me”,
which is my favorite southern rock song I’ve heard in the last 10 years. If you like Third Day and
Collective Soul, you’ve got to see DecembeRadio.
This was the fifth time I’ve seen Newsboys and they never disappoint me with their great stage
show. They basically performed their greatest hits, primarily the set list from their “Go” tour starting
with “Wherever We Go”, “The Mission”, “Something Beautiful”, all from their last album “Go”. Then
they did a cool 2 song worship set with “Blessed Be Your Name” and “He Reigns”, which is amazing
live. The arena of about 4,000 fans all lifting their hands in worship “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah He
Reigns!”. Then they sang the title song from their upcoming album “In The Hands of God” and
continued with “Stay Strong”. Then, Peter talked about the band signing their first record deal in
Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1989. Their first festival was Creation East in PA. Then they did a short
bit of “Not Ashamed” and talked about times coming to PA from 1989 to 2009, 20 years of touring
and that the only Truth is God, the Creator of Heaven, Earth and He is Our Friend.
After that interlude, they led us all in worship with the song “You Are My King (Amazing Love)” and
then had the entire arena on their feet jumping up and down to the all-time great “Shine”. Next, they
sang “Breakfast” from “Take Me To Your Leader” and literally hundreds of fans had empty cereal
boxes (mostly “Cap’n Crunch”) and waved them along to the song, which was cool. Then, they sang
“Your Love Is Better Than Life” from “Go” and the fast vocals matched the strobe lights and dry ice
which led to my favorite part of every Newsboys concert which is the Drum solos by Duncan and
Peter. They were both on platforms with Peter out on a catwalk in the middle of the arena with a
drum set and both guys were elevated at least 15 feet in the air each playing rocking drum solos.
They finished with worship anthems “I Am Free” and “It Is You”, which are 2 of the best Christian
songs of the decade in my opinion.
Great tour with 4 bands, 28 songs and 3 hours of fun rocking out in the name of Jesus.
Photos from the show ...
[Click on photo to enlarge]
[Click on photo to enlarge]
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CMR's Kevin Davis with DecembeRadio
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CMR's Kevin Davis with VOTA