The Great Western Southern Gospel Fan Festival, Saturday
Well, this is it...three days of the best in today's gospel music with a Far Western flavor...as well as quality fellowship that can't be beat. Here's how the third and final day of the GWSGFF went.
To start with, I was late(that pesky day job again!)...as a result, I missed some fun activities that the organizers had planned.
But appropriately enough, when I finally arrived, the group I knew best...and one of those I liked most...the Herb Henry Family...was in the midst of their scheduled set, singing their wonderful a cappella version of "Take My Hand, Precious Lord"...and then, I felt immediately at home. As much at home, mind you, as it's possible to feel in an arena with a capacity of 18,500 that was perhaps half full.
I will continue to maintain that the Henry family is as good a group as ANY other group on the full-time gospel circuit...without exception! Herb has evolved into a smooth MC, and his kids have grown into three of the best young singers traveling today. And once again, they showed not only their many fans in California, but the other artists on the program from far and wide just how good a family gospel singing group can be.
A couple of other CA groups followed...the Watchmen from Chino, a hardworking group of veteran singers, and the California Melody Boys from nearby Tulare, who WERE a fine quartet at one time...but since they lost their bass singer a few years back, now have to settle for being merely a good trio(for me, that's a comedown...as many of you who know me know well).
Then the Greenes returned to the stage, and as they did last night, did a fine job of singing. But somehow, they lost track of the allowed time limit...and ran over by approximately 30 seconds. Oddly enough, the Booth Brothers did the very same thing last night. Why that sticks with me is because both tonight and last night, the Florida Boys were scheduled to sing next. Now it may not be that big a deal as far as the audience(including the Main Fan)is concerned, but if I were a group hoping to be invited back in the future, the last thing I'd likely do if I were a group is to make a group run by the event's co-owner wait to come on.
The Florida Boys came on and did another fine set of old and new songs...new bass singer Butch Owens seemed to have gone over well with the crowd...and as usual, Derrell Stewart's turn vocally on "This Heart Of Mine" gladded not only my heart, but heartened the longtime fans as well...and it was a most entertaining way to end the set(along for me with Les Beasley's jab at some groups that didn't seem to care about the time limits placed upon them).
The first half closed with Greater Vision...it was a competent, workmanlike set with no major highlights, but the fun events scheduled just before intermission had to be scrapped in order to keep the program running on time.
Things picked back up with the Beene Family opening the second half...they, too, make Western gospel fans proud with what they've become musically as well...no doubt many who grew up with the Beenes were beaming with pride as they sang through their set. I was as well, although I never knew the Beenes until they went "national"...it's just nice to know that good things DO come out of Fresno!
The Evergreen State Quartet came out and performed a fine set once again, as they did the night before...but it would have been hard to remember them after what followed....once again, the Booth Brothers had the crowd rocking and clapping their hands in almost no time! They are as dynamic a group as I can ever recall...it is a blessing indeed to have them singing gospel music!
Then the Hoppers returned and charmed the crowd once more...even though they do long songs, they somehow manage to fit them all within their 20-minute time limit...ending this particular set exactly as their time expired! That, my friends, is professionalism!
And I'm glad that they are...because next was the Liberty Quartet...and from the reception they got, it would appear that more and more gospel music fans are in agreement with me that the Liberty Quartet is one of the country's finest quartets...and once again, if there was any doubt, there couldn't have been much remaining after their set. Once again, a variety of styles coupled with strong songs caused the crowd to want more and more from this outstanding quartet...it's too bad this was not an actual Liberty Quartet concert! Oh well, there will be more of those here, that's for sure!
Tony Greene returned to give more laughs to the audience, then came the highlight of the night for many(including me)...the Isaacs would wrap it all up! A better group could not have been picked for that honor. Yet, although their set was outstanding, and the crowd LOVED it(when the Isaacs were done, people were standing throughout the Save Mart Center), I was slightly disappointed in what I saw.
Yes, the Isaacs performed great...of that, there was NO doubt. But again, there was that time thing...as I watched the clock tick toward 0, I was wondering if they could finish their closing song on time. Alas, they did not. There was a slight pause(more due to the song than the clock), and then they just simply resumed jamming!
And they kept playing exciting fiddle and banjo solos...and playing them...and playing them! Singers were assembling at the sides of the stage, but did the Isaacs take that cue? No. They just kept on going, no doubt fueled by the energy and reaction of the audience. Finally, they wrapped it up. Then a hasty ending with the Booths, Greater Vision, the Hoppers, and the Isaacs singing their recent #1 songs closed the proceedings. All in all, people were pleased...and many appeared blessed(I know I was!). The music and the fellowship I enjoyed with artists and fans alike will fill me with pleasant, precious memories for some time to come.
But to close, some concluding observations on this time issue.
I know it's most likely my radio training, which has taught me that when given time parameters that I must keep, I have to keep them...no matter what. I am simply not allowed to exceed my time limits...if I had the temerity to even try, I'd be fired!
Time limits are set for a reason. And especially in this day and age, when people can't seem to be busy enough, to ensure that we all can do what we commit ourselves to do, we simply have to organize our time accordingly...hence, time limits and schedules!
Now I know there are many(some among my dearest friends)who will remind me that I have no right to try to put time limits on the Holy Spirit...and with that, I heartily agree! The penalty I'd face for trying to keep the Holy Spirit on a schedule would be far worse than the one I'd face if I violated time limits in my job...and being aware of that, I would NEVER try to stop the Holy Spirit if I knew He was present!
But let's get real...the GWSGFF is not a church service...and the Greenes, Booths, and Isaacs did not run over because they were worshipping...or because the Holy Spirit had taken over the event. I was there, and though He may have been working in the hearts of many in the audience, He was NOT taking over!
No, these groups just didn't manage their time well...and they were more caught up in their performing than in anything else they might have been doing at the times they ran over. Heck, the Isaacs were just jamming on their instruments!
And since they all were sharing the stage with other groups that people ALSO paid money to see...it just seems to me that these artists could have been a little more considerate of the people they were working with, and singing for(and working for!).
OK, that's my little GWSGFF sermon for this year. I know some of you may disagree, and you might be right. Maybe I'm just being unnecessarily picky(if so, it would NOT be the first time...nor will it be the last!), but I couldn't help feeling that way. If I'm wrong, pray for me that I may be more understanding(as Derrell Stewart put it years sgo, "I need the prayers, and y'all SHO need the practice!")
All things considered, this was probably as much fun for me as any convention I've ever been to, and for a LOT of reasons, I had a great time. So on a success scale from 1 to 10, for me, this year's GWSGFF was a 9! I was pleased...and blessed!
Gospel music is in good shape on the West Coast, if this year's GWSGFF is any indication!
Next entry, I'll share some of my most treasured memories offstage of the event!
Posted on Apr 22, 2007 - 10:53 AM | [1]
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