My first Christian Rock Concert was at the University of Maryland Baltimore County. The concert featured Plumb opening for Jars of Clay. I had a great time. Plumb was really good and I was suprised at how calm the fans were in the audience. Rock concerts I had been to before this were quite violent and it didn't seem like a fun time with moshpits and bodysurfing and people getting hurt. This concert had a very different atmosphere of peace, faith, hope, and love. I was very excited to see Jars of Clay and listen to their songs. They really put on a good show and I enjoyed listening to their new songs at the time from their Much Afraid album. I was also amazed with Jars of Clay at their ability to write a song about coffee (Good Coffee, Strong Coffee). Jars of Clay is a perfect example of not only a band that sings, but a band that shares in the Christian faith. At this concert, you not only listened to their prayers through music, but their feelings and prayers in spoken word.

My second Christian Rock Concert was Burlap to Cashmere opening up for Caedmon's Call. I had a couple of Cd's of Caedmon's Call and was really excited to see them live in concert. The church was really different than a rock concert set up. Everyone was sitting in pews and you had bibles and hymnals in front of you. When Burlap to Cashmere came on stage, I really didn't know what to expect. When they started playing though, I immediately fell in love with them. My favorite song was Eileen's Song, a beautifully written song. Then Caedmon's Call came up and played songs from their original Cd's and then played some songs from their new album coming out at the time called 40 Acres. Danielle Young proved to me that she has one of the most beautiful singing voices for a female singer that I've ever heard. The concert was really good and I rushed out the next day and bought the Burlap to Cashmere Cd called Anybody Out There.

My third Christian music concert that I've been to was at Towson University in Maryland. This concert is at a tie for my favorite Christian Rock concert I've ever been to. The concert featured the O.C. Supertones opening up for the Newsboys. The Supertones were really good, I purchased a couple of their Cd's previously and listened to them a lot. They had some problems with the lead singer's microphone at the beginning but eventually got all the problems straightened out. They were really good and their type of music (mixture of ska, rock, and reggae) was really different than anything I've ever been to. They were promoting their new album at the time called Chase the Sun, which is probably my favorite album from them. Then the Newsboys came on the stage and the place just went crazy. People were cheering and some fans even started pulling out cereal boxes of Captain Crunch. At the time, I hadn't heard most of the Newsboys albums to know that they sing a song called the Breakfast Song. Captain Crunch is mentioned in the chorus of the song. The Newsboys proved to me that they are one of the most gifted bands ever to show up on stage and give a concert. I was really surprised at all the props and set ups they had for their concert. They had two huge blowup microphones for their Step On Up To The Microphone tour, a huge screen in the back of them which showed their videos for various songs as they were singing them, a rotating drum set (you have to see it to believe it), and many other awesome set ups which made the concert one of the best I've been to.

I was responsible for organizing David M. Bailey to come to Towson University at the Newman Center and playing for us. I was hoping to gather a large crowd, but it didn't end up as big as I would like it. I guess I am not much of a good PR person. But, people missed a great night. I introduced David nervously (I've never done it before). Amazing as he took over the audience with his guitar and his words. His music can't really be characterized as rock (well, that is not totally true). He is more of a folk artist but with an awesome acoustic guitar. Some of his songs could be characterized as a type of rock - I guess. The show was just plain amazing and I am very thankful for our friendship and for him being alive to share his God given gift. The show was simply outstanding.

Another Christian Rock music Concert I've been to was back at the University of Maryland at Baltimore County again. This concert is the other Christian music concert that is in the tie for my first place. The concert opened up with a band that I had never heard of at the time called Luna Halo. Wow! They were really good and I found out that the lead singer used to be in a band called Reality Check. Reality Check was a good band and I bought their first and only CD they created when he was still with the band. They were really really good. The lead singer has a great voice and their lead guitarist played an amazing guitar, unlike anything I've ever heard. I loved every song and was just amazed at their talent. The performer after Luna Halo was Jennifer Knapp. I had a few of her songs on some of my compilation Cd's but it was totally different seeing her in person. She has an amazing voice and many fans went crazy with her songs. I was surprised at the end when two members of Jars of Clay went out on the stage with saxophones and started playing with Jennifer Knapp's band and she sang as they all played. It was truly a unique experience. Then Jars of Clay came out and played songs from their different albums and some from their new album at the time called If I Left the Zoo. They were really awesome as I had expected they would be and I had a great time. I purchased the Luna Halo CD entitled "Shimmer" a couple days later and it remains one of my favorite Christian Cd's.

Guess who saw David Bailey again in Maryland? Yep, and what an amazing show this was. I watched him play from behind the doors as he warmed up. I really wanted to go in and see him warm up. It was good to see him again. He was just plain amazing with his guitar as he always is and his life story becomes more interesting as time goes by. The crowd was really into it and someone even made a request. He did a great job and I talked to him a little bit afterwards and asked if he remembered me. Surprisingly, he did remember me and I left the night just feeling awesome. The concert was great and I can't wait to see him again.

My Favorite Bands
and Artists