Twitter Update

Approximately two years ago I joined Twitter. I joined as a way to reach more people with my blog and to interact with those of you who follow what I write.

I felt that my original Twitter handle was a little vague. “philonsoutherng” was not the most recognisable. I’ve now decided to change it to “PhilonSoGospel” which is a better handle.

So if you are on Twitter please follow me @PhilonSoGospel and spread the word!

http://twitter.com/#!/PhilonSoGospel

Ball Brothers Returning To Northern Ireland in April 2012

April 2012 will see the return of the Ball Brothers to Northern Ireland for two concerts. Thursday 12th April 2012 in Glenmachan, Church of God and 14th April 2012 in Wellington Presbyterian Church, Ballymena. Click on the poster below for more details. Tickets for both concerts are just £12.50 in advance and £15 on the door.

The Ball Brothers wrapped up their first groundbreaking Northern Ireland tour in the beautiful  Armagh City Hotel in May 2011. I had the privilege of attending the debut show and the last show that the Ball Brothers put on. From the first note to the last, it was a great experience that married sincerity with an unrivaled grasp of family harmony and a genuine desire to see lives changed and fellow believers encouraged in Christ.

The concerts had good attendance and it was particularly pleasing to see a good age range represented. Local opening acts helped to warm up the crowds before the Ball Brothers hit the stage. The concerts were promoted by Solid Ground Ministry. I have to say that the concerts were a superbly organised experience. Credit were credit is due, Solid Ground did a fantastic job with promotion and looking after the Ball Brothers and their families.

Daniel Ball, lead singer with the Ball Brothers, commented to me that, “Anytime we travel overseas it’s hard to know what to expect because you’re basically relying on someone else to provide the work that we would normally do ourselves. (planning, advertising, sound setup etc.) When we arrived in NI we knew immediately that it was going to be a great trip. Our hosts had thought of everything we could possible need and the guys from Solid Ground did a great job promoting the dates. CorMont music did an excellent job with the sound. We made friends in our short time there that will last a lifetime. The only downside to the trip was that we all gained weight because they fed us so well!”

I have described the Ball Brothers sound as “fresh” to many people who have asked me what I thought of their unique sound. It’s a blend of extremely close family harmony with updated arrangements and flexibility. I’ve never heard a range of genres covered as I did on the two occasions that I got the opportunity to see the Ball Brothers. Everything from GVB covers, to country inflected ballads, jazzy numbers and even bluegrass crept into the set list. It’s energetic and unique to the Ball Brothers. If you did not get a chance to see the guys minister in 2011, make plans to see them in 2012.

Check the Ball Brothers out on Facebook!

 

 

CD Review – Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – Here We Are Again

Here We Are Again - Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Here We Are Again is the next chapter in the exciting journey of Ernie Haase & Signature Sound. This project, due out on the 7th February 2012, contains just three covers and nine brand new songs with fresh lyrics and ideas. In a genre where the issue of  fresh material is often debated, it is very refreshing to hear new songs with a unique EHSS stamp upon them.

It has been a long process of collating the right material together to make a project just like this. I feel that this is right up there as one of the best EHSS have ever made. It’s that good. The vocals are great, not over polished or sterilised in the studio, but it’s a more natural sounding project. I really like the feel of the project, it has a comfortable vibe to it with lots of unique styles thrown in. It’s not that EHSS decided to record lots of different styles, but more the fact that they waited to get material they could really gel with and make their own.

Song List

1. Swing low, Sweet Chariot
2. Singing In The Midnight Hour
3. Here We Are Again
4. I Believe
5. I’ve Been Here Before
6. You Are Welcome Here
7. Love Carried The Cross
8. Stand by Me
9. Everytime
10. Sometimes I Wonder
11. Thankful
12. Any Other Man

Swing Low, Sweet Chariot

Here We Are Again spools into life with the whirring of what sounds like an old fashioned cinema projector. This leads to some lively piano playing before the vocals kick in and the sound effects fade away. The song has a great modernised “Jordanaires classic” effect going on. The backing vocals are reminiscent of those the Jordanaires would have used when backing up Elvis. A great opening track.

Singing In The Midnight Hour

A neat combination of  guitar and piano kick off this driving, upbeat song. Key changes, fast rhythms and cleaver lyrics grab the attention and get the toes tapping. Doug Anderson gets the standout features on this great little tune. Doug excels on these types of songs and his dynamic delivery is perfect. His beautiful falsetto note at the start of the third verse is absolutely exquisite. I’ve hit the repeat button for this song multiple times, it is up there as my favourite faster song on the project. This song would be a good concert opener for the group.

Here We Are Again

A country infused song with a laid back feel that allows the group to all sing in unison. Another song that will go over well at concerts, especially when it’s a return visit! The lyrics would be a great way to start of a concert and indeed set a worshipful atmosphere for the rest of the evening. I love my country music and I really enjoyed the these influences sprinkled throughout the song.

I Believe

Ian Owens has his first major feature on this old classic. Ian’s upper register is showcased perfectly in this song and his rich tones are evident throughout the song. His voice almost has touches of opera in it and that style is a great marriage to the more musical style of the song. The song is filled out by some great harmonies by the rest of EHSS. I’ve seen this performed live several times, but with the full production it takes the song to another level. Great job! It’s a good song for aspiring bass singers to use as learning material and to take on board as another way to sing bass.

I’ve Been Here Before

When I talked with Ernie back in October he mentioned that “I’ve Been Here Before” was a song for Devin to put his own stamp upon and make his own. Up until that point Devin had only been able to put his stamp upon songs that already had been cut by others. Devin’s voice suits this bluesy style to a tee. It has a great lyrical message as well. As Christians we often can face similar trials or problems, but just like many times before, God is always there and willing to help us through. “I’ve Been Here Before” embodies this element of the Christian walk and drives home the message that you’ve faced problems before and God has been with you then….God will be with you again!

You Are Welcome Here

Stylistically I felt that this song had elements of broadway, layered up with lots of pop tones. It is a tender, gentle  story song about those who often feel outside the radius of God’s love due to past circumstances or choices they may have made. There is one lyric in particular which resonated with me. “Whatever you’ve done wrong, His love can make it right.” Can I get a witness?! Wayne Haun, who has been a massive part of this project, delivers the lead part on this touching song. Wayne is ably backed up by EHSS with some great pop tones used in the backing vocals.

Love Carried The Cross 

This is one of those all year round Easter songs. I’ve been waiting for EHSS to discover a song like this. In this past they have covered big ballads like, “Sinner Saved By Grace” and “Then Came The Morning”. This newly written song gives EHSS a big song of their own. The song starts off with Doug, progresses to Devin and Ernie steps in with a big finish and sounds absolutely fantastic. Ian anchors the bottom end with his consistent bass tones. Probably my favourite slower song on the project. With cracker lyrics and a big built up ending, it’s a fairly predictable formula but still works very effectively. I’ll be hoping to catching this song in concert in May.

Stand By Me

Ian Owens gets the chance to give us his magic on this old classic, it’s got a real Elvis feel to the introduction. The subtle tweaks to the song to set it apart from the original, released back in 2002, give it enough of a boost and keep the song fresh.  I’ve finally come across a bass singer who cares more about the blend than dredging out the bottom. I love low, low notes but it’s refreshing to hear a bass singer have fun with a song and not be a one trick pony by bottoming out all the time. A good friend of mine described Ian’s bass tones as “cultured”. Stand By Me just got cultured.

Everytime

Ok. I’ll admit the first time I heard this song I was not sure!!  The vocals, the style and the crazy fast, machine gun paced lyrics in the chorus all blend together to make one absolutely incredible, catchy and fun tune. It’s almost like a song or two out of Hairspray that has the quartet treatment. It’s extremely catchy. I’m always singing it around the office at work. Which probably is not great for my colleagues. It is the sort of song that if you were going to record it, you have to just go for it and give it absolutely everything. In concert the kids are going absolutely love this!

Sometimes I Wonder 

This is a song that could sound right at home on one of Doug’s solo projects. It has that sort of country feel. It’s always interesting to appreciate the contexts when things are written. This song was penned after a time of loss, experienced by Ernie Haase and Joel Lindsey. Ernie had lost his  father in law, the incredible George Younce and Joel had lost someone close to him. They penned this song in the difficult time after this. It captures the questions that we all have after the passing of a loved one. At the time of writing this review I had just learned that a real encourager to me as a blogger had passed away suddenly. The song took on a new meaning for me and I can’t help but wonder what Heaven is really like!

Thankful

If I’m not mistaken EHSS closed out the last concert I attended with this song. It’s a great song of simple praise to the Lord. Anyone who follows EHSS knows how thankful they are for their opportunities, their families and for their Salvation. Thankful is a great way to draw all the elements of a concert together and wrap it up into a simple lyric. It’s a gentle, smooth song which really allows you to hear the great harmony and blend of this particular line-up.

Any Other Man

Wow! Easily going to be an absolute show stopper. I watched the video EHSS posted about the making of this song and how it came together. It has a classic rock feel to it, but it needs that to really fuse the lyrical depth together with the passion of the singers behind it. The central theme is that “Jesus wasn’t any other man”, He wasn’t and it’s a great song to make people stop and think.  It’s a song born out of pain that fellow christians can often inflict upon others, but with a great reminder that Jesus was not like other men. Jesus would not do as other men did. He was simply unique. Plus that absolutely smoking guitar solo in the middle of it…..Kelly Vaughan is a real talent! Extremely powerful song and a great live recording give this song another edge. The conviction radiates throughout the verses and choruses. I really hope they sing this in Belfast on May 19th 2012…..

I find it hard to get a project that you can just listen to the whole way through without skipping songs. I’ve rarely skipped forward on this project. Oftentimes I’m skipping back to hear another song again! You can pre-order this project at the EHSS website here. Keep up to speed with all things EHSS on Facebook by clicking here. For European readers, check back here soon for a blog post about upcoming European Tours. 2012 will be a big year!

Listen to sound clips of Here We Are Again on the EHSS Facebook page or here.

CD Review – Gold City – “Somebody’s Coming”

Somebody's Coming - Gold City

It has been well documented about the numerous personnel changes that have contributed to the delay of this project being released. I’m not going to get into that and to be perfectly frank with you I’d given up blogging about the changes in Gold City. People would probably think I was recycling posts! In good conscience, there’s only so many ways you can write, “Gold City Replaces Tenor Singer”!

Currently, the line-up we have is Tim Riley on Bass, Danny Riley on Baritone, and Jerry Pelfrey on Lead and Dan Keeton on Tenor.  Tim Riley’s return to full time SG was welcomed by many fans and peers alike. I highly doubt Gold City would have made it through all the personnel changes without the experience and “road hours” of Tim Riley.

The CD is refreshing yet familiar in its style. A perfect example of this is the country infused sounds of the opening track, “Peter, James and John”. Country music by its own characterisation tends to be familiar and in this is its strength, listeners are comfortable with familiarity. The song also showcases the blend of the new group to good effect. Probably my favourite cut from the album.

Overall the CD is a good project, it was never going to measure up to the iconic Pillars of Faith album of years gone by, but that was never the intention with “Somebody’s Coming”. The fans, me included, were very keen to see some stability and new material recorded, but ultimately, released.

Much has been said about the new lead singer, Jerry Pelfrey and his vocal resemblance to Ivan Parker. I do not really see that connection, Pelfrey has elements of Parker’s voice in his tones, but thankfully, he has his own voice to build upon and hopefully won’t be burdened with a former Gold City sound label. I thoroughly enjoyed his vocals on this project. He has a big range, showcased on songs like, “Lord of Life” and “Showers of Blessings”.  

Overall it’s a very solid from Gold City. It gives a firm base from which to build upon from here. Hopefully the current group will be able to stay together and garner a bit of traction as they seek to move forward. Vocally they sound great together; I really did enjoy listening to the project as a whole. As good as it was, it left me thinking about the potential of this group. The current line – up of vocalists have a great deal more to offer. Just think of future projects,which would be tailored for this particular line up, in terms of song selection. The possibilities are endless.

Blog Motto For 2012

Around this time of year promises and resolutions are made and mottos are sought out. At our Church every New Year they hand out a little desk calendar with a scripture reference for the year ahead. It’s often reassuring to have a Biblical text on your desk as you move through the year. It’s also amazing how a scripture verse can apply to one thing in your life and when circumstances change it’s going to apply to your life in a different, yet equally powerful, way.

2011 was a very interesting year both for me and southern gospel. Northern Ireland witnessed even more concerts and 2012 could be even better! Throughout 2011 I’ve seen how God works things out. Or maybe it’s a case of me seeing that God already had things worked out for me. When I sat down and thought about 2011, I made the usual conclusions. I need to pray more. Read the Bible more. Be more consistent in my quiet times. Be nicer. Be a better witness. Then I really started thinking. I’m going to simplify this right down and I thought of the song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus”. If I have Jesus, I have everything!

This is my personal motto for 2012 and for this blog. I’ve included the lyrics and a video of Michael English singing it from a TBN special a few years back. I know I’ll get lambasted by the Crabb  activists who feel that Jason Crabb has it wrapped up, but  I could never warm to his version. I like Jason Crabb as a vocalist, I just  prefer Micheal English singing this song. (Plus it’s my blog!) I love his interpretation of it.

It is a hard song to listen to with an honest heart, let alone sing it with an honest heart. In our heart of hearts, who wouldn’t love to be “king of a vast domain”? Our human nature will often cast a wistful eye to what we could have, but ultimately, we are satisfied in Jesus!

So in everything I will do in 2012, I’m going to apply this simple lyric, “I’d Rather have Jesus”. God has promised that, “Them that honour me, I WILL honour”.

Oh and I’m going to blog more often. Hopefully.

I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold;
I’d rather be His than have riches untold;
I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands;
I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand

Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin’s dread sway;
I’d rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today.

I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause;
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause;
I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;
I’d rather be true to His holy name.

Just One CD This Christmas…….

If you could give one Southern Gospel CD to someone who has little or no SG exposure for Christmas, which CD would you give them?

It has to be a Southern Gospel project and can date from any time period. Personally I’d be tempted to go for a Gaither Vocal Band project like Greatly Blessed. But then again Gold City’s new project was rather good. Choices, choices!

Concert Review: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound – Stockton Baptist Tabernacle – England

The live concert experience is simply unmatchable for many fans. The venue for Ernie Haase & Signature Sound’s only British pit stop on a whirlwind European tour was the beautiful, Stockton on Tees Baptist Tabernacle. With a start time scheduled at 7:00PM I knew we would be in for a great evening of harmony and fellowship.

Every time I’ve been too an EHSS concert I always leave thinking, “How can they top that the next time?”.  The amazing thing is…..they do! From the opening lines of “I’m Gonna Live Forever” to the closing lines of “Champion of Love”, it was an absolutely electric atmosphere where tears of joy, thankfulness and hope flowed freely.  People may have come in with worries and things on their hearts, these days who doesn’t have worries, yet I’d challenge anyone to tell me they left feeling the same way.

The Band:

EHSS sang well over thirty songs over a period of three hours; we sure got value for money! Even songs which I’ve heard live quite a few times felt fresh, no doubt down to the influence of the genius on the keyboard; Wayne Haun. (Note to SG Pianists…..Wayne Haun knows how to accompany a song, not asphyxiate a song!) The band was very tight and well prepared, it was a largely unscripted show, Ernie would decide on a song and they just followed along seamlessly. The addition of Kelly Vaughn on guitar adds another dimension in terms of flexibility, plus Kelly is a great guitar player, “Folsom Prison Blues” was a rather unexpected surprise! David Griffith on bass guitar was as solid as ever plus he controls the tracks, no easy task! Zak Shumate on drums was as energetic as usual and never missed a beat. Ahem. I used to be of the opinion that tracks or a live band made little or no difference in a live context. I was very, very wrong! The live band gives such a benefit to the MC. They can slow or speed things up to their own requirements, plus the sound is improved.

Ian Owens -

“I Believe”, “This Ole House”, “The Old Rugged Cross” were the standout features for me. When Ian first joined I believe Ernie mentioned that Ian was a singer first and a bass second. This is a great description of Ian’s style and voice. His control on the end of “The Ole Rugged Cross” in his upper register was incredible, aside from George Younce; I don’t think I’ve ever heard that level of precision. It was almost operatic in its tone.  A good friend of mine described Ian’s voice as more cultured than most bass singers and for me that uniqueness works incredibly well with the other three voices on stage with Ian.  We had a great discussuion after the concert his family’s bass singer heritage, with his father and grandfather both being bass singers. Genetically, I don’t think Ian had much option, but too be a bass singer! “I Believe” is on the upcoming CD due out in February, with full production, this song is going to be an absolute cracker.

Ian Owens was joined on a few occasions by Colet Selwyn, the young bass sensation who first came to my attention back in February 2011 with his incredible bass interpretation of “Happy Rhythm” in Belfast. Ernie had Colet come on stage and sing “In The Garden.” This impromptu version of the song was very well received and credit to Colet for holding his nerves!

Doug Anderson

My favourite baritone in the business and he showed me why on Saturday night. I love the richness in his voice and it doesn’t half glue the entire sound of the group together. Doug’s standout features had to be, “Thank God For Kids”, “Jesus Is Holding My Hand” and “I’ll Take What’s Left”. The last song in that list is an incredible song. In a concert context it just hits you, lyrically, and it really cut deep into my heart.  It’s the most  tender of ballads that speaks of how God can use whatever we give him, broken and ruined we may be through choices we may have made, God can use this for good and make something from nothing. It reminds me of a saying, “Broken pots spill the most water”. There was not many dry eyes after that heartfelt rendition by Doug. “Swinging On The Golden Gate” is another song that shows off Doug’s versatility at its best, jumping up and grabbing the lead part.

Devin McGlamery

The albino porcupine (!) brings a great edge to the EHSS sound. I love his style of  voice, he combines power with a little bit of blues and soul and stamps it down on his deliveries with a great honesty. His new song from EHSS’s yet to be released project called, “I’ve Been Here Before” is going to be a big, big song for Devin. You read that here first! Ernie commented to me that they wanted to give Devin his own song that he could really work at and make his own. Well, if you catch them in concert before this project releases in February 2012, you will understand what I mean. It’s a brand new song and I trust it does as well as it deserves too.

My favourite songs that featured Devin had to be “Changed By a Baby Boy”, “I’ve Been Here Before” and “Climbin’ Higher and Higher”.  Devin also delivered a stellar performance on “He Touched Me” which was well received from the audience, especially when the rest of the group came in on the chorus.  Devin fits the mould of my preferred style of lead singer in a quartet. In my opinion the lead singer has to be authoritative and dynamic in order for the sound to be built around him and for me this is one of the things that Devin added to the group when he joined EHSS.

Ernie Haase-

It’s well documented that Ernie is my favourite quartet tenor. His high D flat on the end of “This Ole House” was a joy to witness from the front row, but even more incredible was the a cappella reprise, minus microphones, of “Walk With Me”. Ernie absolutely belted his big note and I couldn’t believe how loud it was without a microphone. Then the rest of the group joined in without their microphones and it was an absolute joy to listen too.

Fresh on their new Christmas EP record, “A White Christmas” is a song Ernie or “Ernvis” has been longing to record, “Blue Christmas”. The crowd absolutely loved this and I had to include the video of it here below this post! When Ernie starts his “crying” at 0:44, he was singing to my girlfriend beside me!

My favourite Ernie features were, “Oh What a Savior”, “This Ole House”, “I Thirst”, “Blue Christmas” and “Amen”. “Oh What a Savior” is one of my all-time beloved songs and I love hearing it live. I was not disappointed in the delivery. With the rest of EHSS and the crowd singing along with him, Ernie absolutely nailed his trademark song with sincerity and lifted the roof of the Tabernacle with the high notes.

It is very hard to condense a three hour concert into words and then into a coherent review! EHSS are easily one of the most polished groups on the road today. Vocally they keep improving and growing and the subtle changes that Wayne Haun adds into the arrangements keep the songs fresh. This can catch you off guard, in  a good way, even if you are very familiar with the pieces. I cannot recommend a live concert experience with EHSS enough. A  live concert experience is where it matters, where it counts and where it happens. Plus after a show you can talk with some of the most friendly and genuine guys in the industry. You can even get a photo with Ernie Haase and his Converse shoes…..

On a personal level, I would just like to thank EHSS for coming over and leaving wives and families behind to minister to people across Europe.  It was deeply appreciated by myself and I’m sure by many others who had the privilege of attending.

For all you Northern Irish fans that could be reading this, keep May 19th 2012 free. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound will be back in Belfast at the Whitewell Metropolitan tabernacle! This will be a brand new show, with a new album of fresh, newly written material and a new production level for a live show. Keep up with any Gaither/Ernie Haase & Signature Sound concerts in the UK and Europe at http://www.tkentertainment.co.uk/

Pictures by Subhan Christudas

Upcoming Concert Review: Ernie Haase & Signature Sound

Ernie Haase & Signature Sound - Coming to Stockton Baptist Tabernacle, Saturday 29th October 2011

Stockton Baptist Tabernacle will be infused with an infectious dose of high energy, harmony and good fellowship come Saturday night. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound are back on British soil on the latest part of their European Tour. When I heard they were coming close to my native Northern Ireland, I could not resist the opportunity to hear one of my favourite groups in the best context, live! So I’ve managed to convince my girlfriend and two other friends to get up at a very unearthly hour of Saturday morning to catch a plane to England!

I’ve experienced a concert from the “Cathedrals – Influenced” Tour and it’s absolutely first class. The variety and different directions that the show takes keeps you thoroughly entertained, encouraged and ultimately you leave feeling blessed. When I last saw the group back in February 2011, Ian Owens had only been with the group for a few weeks. Whilst Ian blended in vocally, naturally it takes a little time to bed in with the dynamics of the group. So, this time, I’m looking forward to seeing a group that will have had the time to blend together on stage and off.

The venue is the  Stockton Baptist Tabernacle and tickets are still available online and are available for purchase here.

I’m looking forward to hearing and seeing EHSS again. I’m also hoping to hear some of the new material from their new project, “Here We Are Again”. Ernie posted on Facebook that they have finished all the vocals for this project and its slated for release on February 7th 2012.

Hopefully see some of you at the concert!

Concert Review – The Hoppers (Belfast, Northern Ireland)

This was my first time to experience the music and ministry of The Hoppers in a live concert setting. I’ve always enjoyed their unique style, but I had been unable to catch them in earlier concerts in dear old Ulster. Thankfully I was able to attend their latest appearance in Northern Ireland. I’ve decided to profile each singer and musician as opposed to the usual set list break down and run through! If you like this approach let me know in the comments! Conversely if you don’t like it….let me know!

• Claude Hopper - A true veteran of the industry and his experience shows through in bucketfuls. His masterful emcee work fused with his blending abilities behind the microphone and a great stage presence made for quite a powerful combination. Contrary to numerous SG emcee jokes, Claude’s were actually funny! My favourite moment was when Claude recalled how they had been asked to sing at the inaugural ball for Ronald Reagan’s installation as the 40th President of the United States. Claude recalled that at that same Inaugural Ball in 1971, Johnny Cash and Bob Hope were in attendance.  Claude remarked, “Now we’ve no Hope and No Cash!”. One of the most enjoyable songs of the night was Claude’s interpretation of  ”Try a Little Kindness/Less of Me”. It’s a song that has been recorded many, many times over the years, but it has a core message which defies time. Claude’s sincere interpretation of the song, communicated in a classy way allowed the song to have a greater impact than many covers of this song have failed to achieve. Claude Hopper is also a charming character. As my girlfriend and I walked towards Claude to get my book signed, Claude looked straight at me (with a face filled with disbelief) and then at my better half,  Esther, and remarked, “Is this your girlfriend?”, I replied “she sure is!” Claude then provoked a big smile from Esther with, “well she’s beautiful!”.  Esther and I then proceeded to have a good conversation about our future career plans and what we hoped to achieve in life, Lord Willing!

• Connie Hopper – Connie is another living legend in the field of Southern Gospel music. Throughout the concert I was impressed with her stage presence, something which certain people possess naturally, yet has been cultivated and polished through years of performing and being on stage. Connie touched many people with stories of how God has always been with them through many circumstances and trials in life. The Hoppers live what they sing. Vocally Connie has some beautiful parts tucked away in the mix but she’s also capable of taking the lead, her take on the big ballad, “That’s Him” was particularly impressive as communication of the lyrics is often a bigger priority in Southern Gospel. “I’ve Come Too Far” and “I’d Rather have Jesus” are two of my favourite songs that Connie is featured on and I’m extremely glad I got to hear a live performance of both!

• Dean Hopper – In my humble and somewhat unqualified opinion, every group needs to have an authoritative lead singer to succeed, even in a purely musical context. The Cathedral Quartet had  Glen Payne, the Gaither Vocal Band had the Micheal English/Guy Penrod and now back to Michael English era, when undoubtably they made the lead position their own. With Dean Hopper the Hoppers have that pivotal position very capably filled. Obviously the very nature of 4/5 part family harmony will chop and change this around, but for the most part Dean was on lead and did a great job. His interaction with Kim and his brother Mike was particularly enjoyable. A quality which quite a few vocalists tend not to have is the ability to step out and deliver a strong lead and then be able to step back and blend together with the rest of the group. Dean was able to do both with no problem. A very under rated singer and a gifted communicator. Dean is also one of the nicest folks I’ve had the opportunity to meet after a SG concert, he was a real encouragement!

• Kim Hopper – Arguably one of the best female vocalists in southern gospel music at present. She’s easily my favourite female singer in any genre and I listen to a wide range of music. “Jerusalem”, “Yahweh”, “Grace Will Always Be Greater Than Sin” and several other Hopper standards were given the usual Kim Hopper afterburner treatment and were very well received. One of the most special moments for me was when Claude called for an a cappella reprise of “I’ve Come Too Far”….Kim absolutely filled the venue with her voice and only had the microphone at waist level….you can imagine the sound when she pulled the mic up close her mouth. “Grace Will Always Be Greater Than Sin”, probably my favourite Hoppers song and what a delight to hear that incredible song with lyrics to apply to anyone sitting in that venue. Kim delivered a great rendition and it was probably the most applauded song of the night, aside from the sugar-stick, “Shoutin’ Time. (Which was encored several times!!) A very touching moment occurred when Kim sang a song in tribute to her brother Tony Greene, there was not many dry eyes at that particular moment.

• Mike Hopper – An absolute genius. I’ve never seen someone drum and work a laptop at the same time and to do with such a high standard! Mike Hopper is also a very solid bass singer and his part adds a real depth to the family harmonies, sometimes doubling Claude. What I appreciated most about his bass singing was his accuracy. If we are honest, the super low, seat shaking and sub-woofer explosive style low notes are not strictly necessary, it’s awesome and fun to watch and listen too, but in a tight, harmony blend, Mike Hopper’s bass vocals are spot on. The blend on the a cappella reprise of  ”I’ve Come Too Far” was simply incredible. A very multi talented individual, not many people can hop on a drum set and off again, sing a bass part, then deliver a lead part and then move back to the drum set.

• Josh Simpson – Like many folks out there, I had first encountered Josh Simpson from his Gold City tenure. I always enjoyed his style and was grateful for his ability not to over play the piano part. A proper piano accompaniment can turn a good song to great very easily indeed. “Over playing” is one of my pet peeves, piano players stepping all over the piece is rather annoying. This was not the case with Josh Simpson. He was a delight to listen too and his piano solo was very enjoyable, even though I think it may have been cut short due to an issue with his ear piece.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed my first Hoppers experience. It was a different night than most SG concerts I’ve been too, it was an energetic and lively performance from the group and the good news for Northern Irish fans is that they are coming back…..!

You can keep up with the Hoppers at their website, http://thehoppers.com/

Upcoming Concert Review: The Hoppers

The Hoppers

 

Thursday 22nd September, 7.30pm will see the return of The Hoppers to Northern Ireland for another great evening of ministry. The Hoppers have been an integral part of the Southern Gospel Music scene for over fifty years and more recently have been frequently featured on the Gaither Homecoming Series and the Gaither Homecoming Tour.  The return of the group to these shores signals the appetite that Northern Ireland has for close harmony southern gospel singing.

The concert will be held at the beautiful Glenmachan Church of God, Belfast. This magnificent venue provides a greatlocation along with some of the best acoustics I’ve experienced. (I’ve been to a fair few southern gospel concerts!) The Church has also hosted the Ball Brothers and Guy Penrod to name but a few.

 

Dean Hopper commented to Phil On Southern Gospel about The Hoppers return to Northern Ireland. Dean said,

We are really looking forward to our return to Northern Ireland, I learned how wonderful your people are during our last visit! The excitement and attention shown at The Hopper’s last performance in Belfast was completely overwhelming, we had no idea how many of you all knew of us?  Not to mention the wonderful Irish hospitality our gracious hosts delivered both during our stay, and the months preceding it. We are so honored and thrilled to have been invited back, and we can’t wait to share with you guys our new songs and great moments of fellowship.

God Bless,

Dean Hopper

This promises to be a great night for southern gospel fans in Northern Ireland! For more information, ticket details and directions to get to Glenmachan, Church of God you can click here.