United

The first two concerts I remember going to, and I can't remember which was first, were for Michael W. Smith at the Oak Mt. Amphitheater and Steven Curtis Chapman at Huntsville's Von Braun Civic Center. Ah, the 90's. I grew up listening to these guys' music - them and Amy Grant! My brother and sister had their 80's stuff and I knew it all! How fun that my husband did too! We will occasionally queue up an old Smitty song on the iPod and laugh at the fake accent and cheesy music.

Well, have you heard about this:

I mean, can you believe it? Is it really happening? It's like a dream come true! The two gurus of Christian music on stage together?? Ok, I dramatize, but it does look like a good concert, eh? Well, it was! I surprised Brice with tickets last night and off we went.

Here we are! We're sitting on the back row, literally, in the top of the theater. Way high. But way fun.

The concert opened with both guys on stage together leading us all in singing Blessed be Your Name and How Great is Our God. Michael was on the keyboard and Steven on the guitar. Then Michael left and Steven did his set. He was great, of course. He referred to having grown up listening to Michael's music. That got a good laugh. He talked a good bit about their family and how they are doing. He said he wanted to be honest and not act like they're not hurting. Very moving, especially when he sang Cinderella. His whole family was there, including his oldest daughter with her new husband of two weeks. He sang stuff off the latest album, mostly, and a couple from the previous one. The last song featured a guest drummer, his son Will.

Michael came back out and sang with him a little. Then came the best part. Michael started singing The Great Adventure. So Steven retaliated with Go West, Young Man. This continued back and forth with snippets of various oldies like For the Sake of the Call and Place in this World. They ended the 1st half of the show with Steven singing I Will Be Here.

The 2nd half of the show started with both guys singing Friends, yes, you read correctly. Then Michael had the stage and led us all in one of the most beautiful worship services I've experienced. Most of his music now falls into the praise & worship category and he worships with every fiber of his body. However, at one point Michael is talking to us about how hard it is to pick which songs to sing knowing people out there want to hear their old favorite. At that moment, a young guy yelled out "Free Bird!" It was great -Michael loved it! There was also a touching song written for one of the victims in Columbine. Also, Michael's son, Tyler, played keyboard the whole time. Steven came back out and we ended back with How Great is our God.

It was such a good night and fun to see two favorites of yore. I've included a little video clip of the end of Friends. Brice chimes in at one point (poorly). You'll hear a pause at the end, "A lifetime's not too long . . ." where Michael points at Steven queuing him to sing the last line. Steven then says, "You sure? This is a good moment."

I highly recommend you attend if they are coming to your town this fall!