The concert I was able to attend was at the Liberty Baptist Church in Crossville, Alabama.  The Old Paths have sung there before and the people know them pretty well.  From the comments I heard, they were as glad to see Brandon back with the group as me.

Here’s a peek at some of what you will see and hear at an Old Paths concert now that  Brandon is back:

Here’s what was on their program.   Many of the songs are from their newest album, It’s a Wonderful Life.  All of the songs were performed so well and Brandon did a great job learning all of the new ones so quickly!  (Songs included in the above video are shown with asterisks.)

• *The Plan of Salvation – The acoustics were terrific inside the church and the sound on this song was stunning!   I was certainly in agreement with the expression from the man in the pink shirt at the end of the song!
• He’s the Foundation
• Mercy Decided
• *Too Far Gone
• Piano solos by Trey – Scarlatti Sonata in d minor and Goodbye, World, Goodbye
• *Saved By the Blood – This song was written by Brandon and Doug and they’ve now changed the arrangement to put Brandon on the lead.
• Oh, What a Savior – Nobody sings this song better than Jeremy Peace.   Since Nate Stainbrook asked (in the comments), I now have permission to post this video!!
• Songs with the congregation joining in on the choruses included What a Day That Will Be, Beulah Land, and Mansion Over the Hilltop.  A 92-year-old man from the congregation who led the music at the church for many, many years came to the stage and sang a couple of verses of What A Day That Will Be and Mansion Over the Hilltop.  It was such a blessing to see him standing there and singing from his heart.  He did a wonderful job!
• *Echoes From the Burning Bush – Jeremy and Brandon switched parts for part of this song – just like old times!
• Homeland
• Look for Me at Jesus’ Feet – Jeremy’s grandmother and grandfather were at the concert and his grandmother came forward to tell us how she came out of a coma when Jeremy sang this song to her in the hospital.
• He Loves Me
• The I of the Storm – This is my favorite song from the new CD.  Here’s a video of it from a previous concert.
• I Get Excited

It is my understanding that the group will soon re-release It’s a Wonderful Life with the bass vocals added and they will be bringing back their Live in Pigeon Forge DVD which also had Brandon on it.   It sure looks like they’ve picked back up with this new/old member without missing a beat!!!

Callihan Junction was up first.  They are a local country-style gospel group with a very heavy emphasis on electric lead and bass guitar!  The most outstanding feature of the group was their 10-year-old drummer, who was very, very good for such a young person.   I was totally unfamiliar with their music and would be just guessing at most of the song titles, so let me just say that they sang for about 30 minutes beginning with the Bowling’s song, Your Cries Have Awoken the Master, which was so appropriate!

Josh and Ashley Franks were up next.   (Josh also acted as the emcee for the evening.)  This was my first time getting to see them and I enjoyed their energetic set so much that it was hard to choose which videos to post!  They sang for about 45 minutes.  Here’s what they sang:

• He’s In the Midst
• I’ve Got a Feeling
• Jesus Is Coming
• When I Get There -  Ashley was featured on this one.
• He Buried My Sins in the Past – Josh was featured on this one!
• We Shall Wear a Crown – Nice job on this song made famous by the Nelons.
• Levi Horton, an 11 years old from Galaxa, Virginia came to the stage and sang two songs for us.   You can read about Levi and his situation here .  He sang 2 songs and then Josh and Ashley sang a song that Ashley wrote that was inspired by Levi.  Here is a video of  Levi singing There’s Something Going On in the Graveyard and Josh and Ashley singing Levi’s Song (All You Need Is Jesus).

The Jonathans were up next.  Members include Parker Jonathan (formerly with the Kingsmen) and his wife Paula, Eric Dunson, and pianist Jake Pitts.  They performed quite a variety of songs from their first CD and several that  will be on a new CD that will be coming out in the next few months.

• What a Beautiful Day – Eric  took the lead on this lovely song.  And What a very nice start to their program it was!  Here is a video from a previous concert.
• Damascus Road -  They did such a  nice job on this familiar song, too!   Here’s a video of this one from a previous concert.
  
• He May Be on the Next Cloud Passing By – Based on Parker’s introduction of it, this is an old song, too, but I hadn’t heard it before and I really enjoyed it!
• We Have Come to Seek Your Face – This one really slowed the pace and was a very effective worship song.
• God Rides on Wings of Love – They picked up the pace again and featured Paula on this one.
• Meet Me Up in Heaven Some Day -  This was really fast!!!  I loved the convention style and they pulled it off with a lot of pizzaz!
• Here Comes the Bride – This was a wonderful way to end the concert, of course, referring to the next coming of Christ.

The organizers of the benefit then able to get Kelly Bowling on the phone and we got to hear her give an update on the condition of all of the members that were hurt.

The Shadrix Trio was last on the program.  Their members are Barry Shadrix, Dedra Henry, and Angela McCaslin.  I had not seen them before and was unfamiliar with their music, too.  They did a fine job on the following songs that I’m guessing the titles on.  I would really like to hear this group again in a better environment for their sound.  The gym was pretty loud with people talking and moving around during everyone’s performances.

• I’ll Fly Away
• First of All – This one featured Dedra and I loved the lyrics of the chorus!
• Hallelujah for the Cross – This featured Barry.  Very nice song.
• His Life for Mine – Angela was featured on this song made famous by Lauren Talley and they followed it with an a capella chorus of The Old Rugged Cross.  Very nice touch!
• Great, Great Feeling
• Unless We Go – I think one of the members might have written this and Dedra brought her 3 adopted children up as she sang it.  It will be on their new album.  What another great message!
• Canaanland Is Just In Sight

There was a finale – How Great Thou Art and I’ll Fly Away – with all of the singers and with Corey Pearson of the Diplomats playing the keyboard.  Good times!!

As a side note, I see that Miracles & Memories, the DVD that the Bowlings recorded back in May or June, is now ready for pre-orders.  There is a “sneak peek” from the video on their website that you can view, too.  Go to their website at http://thebowlingsonline.com/ to order and take advantage of a special offer that expires tomorrow, Sept. 3!!

I guess you could say that the concert was really a family affair since both groups are families!  Voices Won is a trio of brothers Jaron, Shantell, and Staclynn Faulknor from Dalton, Georgia who have been singing together as Voices Won for about 10 years.  Not only do they sing, but they write a lot of their own songs.   They admitted on their website that they had always dreamed of singing at the Tivoli, so it was a dream come true for them.  Here’s a picture of them in the lobby of the theater that I’m sure they won’t mind my borrowing from their website:

Here’s what they sang:

• Tell Your Story – It seems like they open many of their concerts with this song!
• Fishing Trip – One of my favorite of their “fun” songs with a great meaning!  Here’s a link to a video from a previous concert.
• Knowing You – This one features the baritone Shantell.  Here’s a previous video of this song.
• He Lived to Love the Lord – Very touching song that expresses what we should all want people to remember us for after we pass on.
• Guess What Zacchaeus Found – Another fun song!  Here’s a video from a previous concert.
• Easier to Live – This is the title song of one of their CDs.  Here’s a video from a previous concert.
• The Road Less Traveled
• He Came to Me – This isn’t one of their regular songs and I thought that Shantell did a wonderful job on it.
• God’s Big Hand – Terrific song about trusting God.
• Requests from the audience – I’ll Fly Away, How Great Thou Art, and Amazing Grace performed with just guitar accompaniment by Jaron.

In case anyone is reading this that is not familiar with the Collingsworth Family, this is a group of Kim and Phil and their four children, Brooklyn, Courtenay, Phil, Jr., and Olivia.  One of the things that I like about The Collingsworths is that they have such a variety within their program – from Kim’s piano solos, to a trio of Mom, Dad, and Brooklyn, to songs featuring just the kids, to violin duets.  Here’s what they sang and which configuration of the family performed each song:

• Trading the Old Cross – the whole family
• Goodbye, World, Goodbye – piano solo by Kim
• God Is In the Shadows – Courtenay, Brooklyn, and Kim
• I Could Never Praise Him Enough – the whole family.  Here’s a video from a previous concert.
• Kim and Phil on piano and trumpet – Medley of several praise choruses
• Tell Me About the Good Old Days – featuring Olivia with the rest of the kids on the choruses.
• Fear Not Tomorrow – Courtenay, Brooklyn, and Kim.  Here’s a video from NQC 2009.
• I Know – Featuring Phil, Jr. with the rest of the family.  Here’s a video from a previous concert.
• Wonderful Grace of Jesus, No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus – Courtenay & Brooklyn on their violins with Kim on the piano
• My Tribute – piano solo by Kim – This one got a very long standing ovation.
• I Can Trust Jesus – This featured Courtenay
• The Barrel Is Full – This one started with Kim, Phil and Brooklyn and the rest of family joined on final chorus
• Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho and, at Phil’s request, Love Me Tender – Kim – piano solos
• There is a Fountain – Featuring Courtenay on the violin; Kim joined on the piano on the second verse.
• The Blood of Jesus – Kim, Phil, and Brooklyn.  Here’s a video from a previous concert.
• How Great Thou Art – piano solo finale by Kim.

Special Note:  Voices Won will be opening a concert with Ernie Haase & Signature Sound on Oct. 16th in Dalton, Georgia.  Please contact Robert York at 770-926-6021 or  770-617-0359 for more information.

Here is the entire song list:

• Bethlehem, Galilee, Gethsemane – They started right in on a song that features their new baritone on the second verse!   David did a wonderful job on it! 
• Journey Through the Sky – This is the upbeat title song from their newest CD.
• They’re Getting Ready In Glory – Adam was terrific with his distinctive tenor voice!  It really got the audience involved, too. 
• Just What I Needed – What a great, upbeat song! (This is one of the  songs in the compilation above and it starts around the 4:50 mark.)
• When God Moves a Stone – This beautiful song featured David. 
• What a Difference a Day Makes – This song is #11 on the September Singing News chart.   They did an a capella reprise of the chorus  that was very, very nice.
• That’s When God Steps In – Adam got a standing ovation for this song that I’m sure has been  an encouragement to so many HisSong fans since it was released on their On the Way Up CD.
• Jesus Is the Best Thing – from the Gladys Knight hit by another name! 
• Can You Burn – This upbeat song from Dianne Wilkinson encourages Christians to burn with the fervor they had when they were first saved.  HERE’s a link from a previous concert.
• I Still Have It All – One of my favorites!
• Joy In My Heart  – This is my personal HisSong favorite because I love their energy on it!
• The Grave Can’t Hold Me – This was another song from their On the Way Up album that was immensely popular, making it up to #13 on the Singing News chart.
• Sheltered in the Arms of God – Adam performed this as a solo (with Dennis on the keyboard) and it was beautifully done.
• medley – Oh, How I Love Jesus/To Me He’s So Wonderful/God Is So Good
• When We Talk to the Father – This is also from the new CD and has just been released to radio.
• During the prayer time, Adam sang He Looked Beyond My Faults and Written in Red.

This was such a great concert/worship time with HisSong!  I can hardly wait to see and hear them again!!

A concert on August 27, 2010 at the Bremen Recreation Center in Bremen, Georgia will feature Josh & Ashley Franks, The Shadrix Trio, Callihan Junction & The Jonathans:

And on August 30, 2010 in London, Kentucky, a benefit will be held at the First Baptist Church.  This one will feature Brian Free & Assurance, The Nelons, Beyond the Ashes, Mark Bishop, The Perry Sisters, The Comptons, and others:

Hope you can go and help to support the Bowlings during their long recovery period.    And I hope you’ll come back on here and let us know how you enjoyed these concerts!!

On the first song, Almost Morning, the sound man couldn’t find the right track for some reason, so Bryan sang the song a capella.

For the second one, Truth Is Marching On, the track was used.  Both of these songs have special messages that Bryan was really intent on delivering.

Thanks, Bryan!  It was great seeing you singing!

They sang many of the same songs at the two different concerts but there was such a difference in the concerts themselves.  The concert in Avondale Estates (in the greater Atlanta area) was at the First Baptist Church.  They have a very, very large, beautiful sanctuary as you would expect in a big city first baptist church.  The audience was more subdued and the program was a little more reserved than at the filled-to-capacity small Newnan Springs United Methodist Church in Rossville, Georgia.  Here is a list of most of the songs they performed, although not necessarily in the order they appeared on either program.  You’ll be able to tell which concert each of the videos came from!

• He Touched Me
• The Old Country Church – This is such a Blackwood Brothers standard.  I can’t imagine a concert without this song.  Here they are singing it on the NQC Main Stage in 2009,
• Jesus Is Coming Soon
• Feelin’ Mighty Fine
• This Old House – I love this old song!  Great job by bass, Randy Byrd!!
• The Lighthouse – Tenor Wayne Little did a great job on this.  His style reminds me a lot of Brian Free.
• Piano solos - Bell of Joy Keep Ringing, Wait Til You See Me in My New Home, and Goodbye, World, Goodbye.  It was so hot at the church in Rossville, that I was amazed Mike’s fingers didn’t just slide off of the keyboard!!  He did a really good job on the piano throughout both concerts.
• His Hand In Mine – This got a wonderful audience response at both concerts.
• Everyday Will Be Sunday By and By – This was also extremely well received at both concerts!
• No Better Reason – This is their current radio single.
• Daddy Sang Bass – This was performed Johnny Cash style with Mike Hammontree!  Wow, he sure does sound like Johnny!!
• Medley: Give the World A Smile, Peace Like A River, God Made A Way, Learning to Lean, Lead Me To That Rock, I’ll Meet You In The Morning – Here’s a video of this medley from the 2010 Harmony Honors program where the Blackwood Brothers were recognized for 75 years of singing!
• I Want to Be More Like Jesus
• The Joy of Knowing Jesus
• Just a Little Talk with Jesus

There were two very special guests in attendance that were recognized at the Avondale Estates concert -  Bob Shaw and Hall of Famer Eddie Wallace.

After the concert in Rossville, the group was headed to the Grand Ole Gospel Reunion over in Greenville, South Carolina.  I’m sure the fans over there will enjoy them as much as we did here in Georgia.

I always enjoy hearing The Crist Family in concert and this was no exception.  They sang a short set of 6 or 7 songs before the sermon.   Among the songs they sang was My Heart Knows.  This beautiful song has done very well, making it all the way up to #9 on the Singing News Top-80 chart.  I think it really highlights the lower part of soprano Jackie Crist’s range.  Here is a video of the song:

Here is another song they sang during the service, The Rock.  It is currently on the Top-80 chart at #47 in the September issue of Singing News.   The church was very enthusiastic in their response to it, as you’ll see in this video:

Among the people closest to me was a middle-aged couple from the area who had just happened to see the notice on the church’s sign that there would be a live performance taping.  They had never seen The Akins but they came because the husband enjoys guitar playing.  He did not go home disappointed – they both LOVED what they saw and heard.  There was also a small child sitting on the aisle steps beside his parents’ pew.  I didn’t see him until the end, but if he enjoyed the rest of the concert as much as he enjoyed the last song, Victory In Jesus, I guarantee he slept well that night.  (Watch this short piece of video and you’ll see what I mean!  Is this a little drummer in the making?!?!)   And then there were the teenagers who occupied an empty space on the carpeted stairs just above me.  They were obviously enjoying it – rather loudly, I might add – and I just had to be pleased about their enthusiasm!

The final product may not be ready for sale until late this year or the beginning of next year and no pre-orders are being taken yet.  But I can tell you from seeing the taping, it is certainly going to be worth having in your collection!

Triumphant has recorded two live DVDs in the last couple of months.  One was a Christmas DVD with selections from their two previous Christmas CDs.  I was able to attend that taping, so I’ll probably be shown in the audience!!  The other is their freshman CD with The Mansion Entertainment with mostly new songs on it.  Triumphant has been singing some of the new songs at their concerts and I’ve been enjoying them immensely!  I’m told that some of the accompaniment tracks that have been used at the concerts aren’t the finished tracks, so there will still be something new to hear when the CD comes out!   The CDs and DVDs are expected to be ready by September and I can’t wait to get my hands on them!!

Here are some videos from different concerts of a few of the songs that will be on the new CD/DVD:

• Movin’ Up to Gloryland – from a concert at the Steve Hurst School of Music
• Saved By Grace – also from the Steve Hurst School of Music
• Love Came Calling – from a concert in Acworth, Georgia
• He Gave Me Mercy – also from the concert in Acworth, Georgia.

At a concert in Maryville, Tennessee, the Sojourner Dance Ministry performed to the song “He Is.”  One of the group’s members is Eric Bennett’s daughter, Erin Kendall.  I know that you’ll enjoy seeing this video of their performance, even though my camera angle wasn’t the best.

And last but not least, Triumphant appeared during the Harmony Honors program as part of the SGMA week in Nashville, Tennessee.  They sang the title track from their grammy-nominated album, Everyday, a song that was performed years ago by the Oak Ridge Boys.  During the second verse, the Oaks joined them on stage and it was pretty exciting!  HERE’s a video of that very special event.