I actually enjoyed a gospel concert. Actually, I should call it a gospel production. My husband's church had their annual concert this weekend. It had everything: gospel music, of course, a little theatrical production, some spoken word, plenty of lyrical and interpretive dancing. Basically all the things that would normally annoy me about a church service on a regular Sunday.
When I go to church, usually about once or twice a month, I try to arrive a little late...after all the singing and dancing and productions...so I only hear the preacher's message, which is the part of church services I appreciate the most. But Friday night and Saturday night (they had two shows) were nights for entertainment, and I have to say, were actually very entertaining. It was obvious that they put a lot of work into it. Billy actually took the week off to practice at home during the day and to make all 3 rehearsals during the week.
There are pictures...not so great ones, but the best I could get from my seat with the lighting and everything, <<here>>. That's my Billy, in the band, in the tan jacket.
I took some video on our camera too of Billy playing . (double click for larger view)
I also got the end of a dance-off between the two choir directors.
My favorite part of the show was this old man's old school performance of a song called Thank You Jesus (you been so good to me). I know there must be a hundred gospel songs called Thank You Jesus, which is one of the reasons I don't love gospel music--it's very redundant... full of clichés. But this old guy took it back for a minute to a bluesy version of the song. When the lights went down and that blues guitar started playing and an old head came out to the stage, I knew it was on. It reminded me a lot of Memphis and the church I grew up in and my old pastor/cousin who was an awesome human being. This was the highlight of the show for me.
I also enjoyed the spoken word performance. This guy named Brett performed a piece called "I. C. D. A. T." and it was really good. Some people in the audience snapped during parts of the performance, particularly on one part where he said something like, "The stairway to heaven is like an ES.ca.LA.tor RUn.ning in re.verse? The. first. wiiill beee laaaast? and the laaaast wiiill be first?" It was a nice performance.
There was a pretty interpretive dance too...and not one of those...interesting... interpretive dances like miming what the words look like, but a literal interpretive dance by the signers who interpret for the hearing impaired during the curch services. It was very beautiful.
It turned out to be a fun night. After the show, Billy and I went to my favorite restaurant on the planet, IHOP, and had a good time. Spinach omelet, wheat toast, grits, and Billy. I couldn't think of a more perfect evening. :)
I was actually almost tempted to go to the second show on Saturday night with our neighbors, but it takes a lot for me to go into the city on a Saturday, and Friday was a long day so...