Gaither Vocal Band/Signature Sound Concert
Last November my wife and I went to South Bend and heard the Gaither Vocal Band and Signature Sound in concert. These two quartets are among the biggest groups in southern gospel today, and I’d been wanting to catch them both for quite some time.
It was at the 2500-seat Morris Center, and the concert was completely sold out weeks in advance. I think they usually play much larger venues.
I think the first concert I ever went to was GVB about fifteen or so years ago. Wow. I followed them quite closely in the past 5-10 years, they have churned out an incredible amount of fantastic music. In the past couple years or so, they’ve had two more personnel changes. I hadn’t heard either of the new boys so I was looking forward to that.
Ernie Haase & Signature Sound is a relatively new group that has really been taking off recently. I’d been wanting to hear them for awhile now. Ernie of course was the last tenor the Cathedral Quartet had, he sang with them maybe 10 or 11 years. After that he went solo for a while, then started this quartet.
Even though I got our tickets weeks and weeks ahead of time, there was hardly anything left and the only seats available were in the back. WAY in the back! Approximately one mile from the stage. So I couldn’t take very good pictures, but it was ok.
Sig Sound was up first, and they were pretty hot. They’re are run-and-gun, snappy, very energetic group, they leave it all on the stage. I was impressed with how tight and solid they stayed. Southern gospel is kind of known for taking a lot of “artistic license” regarding cohesiveness and often going for a loosey-goosey free-for-all (albeit exciting) kind of sound, but they kept it pretty well under control. Very nice. I was especially impressed with baritone boy, what a great voice! And I loved how he used it.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t so taken with tall and skinny lead dude. Very straight and somewhat lackluster delivery, he just wasn’t making it come alive. It was ok in his harmony stuff, but give him a solo and it fell a little flat.
Or maybe I am just jealous of his vocal range and body type.
Ernie’s great, of course, and Tim Duncan the bassmeister hits like a ton of bricks. He’s good.
Then the Gaither Vocal Band was on. Guy walks out on stage and lights the place up, he was easily the crowd favorite of the night before he had uttered a sound.
And for good reason. I don’t know if I’ve ever heard anyone pour their soul into a lyric like he does. I was kind of surprised at how many old songs they did (old as in their own songs they’ve done in the past 10 or so years). I was kind of hoping for more new material, but it was fine.
I was especially interested in the new guys. I’m always very skeptical when I group I really like loses a member and gets some unknown to fill his spot. And here were two of them.
Marshall Hall is the new baritone dude. I was fairly optimistic about this guy, but my expectations weren’t quite fulfilled. It was like he sang everything through a clenched jaw and with a tormented soul. Way too much slightly-raspy sad-croaking, not a very smooth sound. Maybe I’m all wet, but it just didn’t work for me.
Wes Hampton is the new tenor boy. Now I’m especially wary about new tenors, it takes me quite a while to warm up to a tenor! Even when David Phelps first joined them I was fairly cautious and wary. He of course went on to become the greatest GVB tenor of all time. But Wes, I don’t know, I think it’s going to take awhile. He was ok, don’t get me wrong. Nice voice but a little uninspired, pretty weak stage presence. Maybe he just needs to get in the groove, I can cut him some slack. But we’re definitely down a few notches in these vocal parts.
Then of course for the last segment they all came out together and collaborated on a few songs.
So after the concert there’s always long lines to meet the group members. Guy is hugely popular of course, he has the biggest line and everyone wants their picture with him.
Now it didn’t take me long to make Jewel a GVB fan after we started dating. And really, that would happen with almost anyone who has an open mind to a great quartet. But anyway, that background to foreshadow who else wanted a picture with Guy Penrod!
So we waited and waited and got our picture.
If you look closely, you can see her hidden somewhere behind the hair!
I’d like to talk about one of my all-time favorite lead singers for a little bit. He’s obviously controversial in conservative evangelical circles (his hair of course. The oft-asked question why? What it boils down to is that his wife likes it.), but there is an undeniably gracious and humble spirit about him. Very friendly and big-hearted, not just anybody could put up with hordes of autograph hounds and picture-seekers on a regular basis like he does.
And the dude can sing like there’s no tomorrow. Sometimes sweet, sometimes edgy, sometimes a little raw, but always completely genuine and giving 110%. I wish I could generate a fraction of the pathos with which he routinely saturates every line he sings. Top it off with a dynamite voice and a wide range that just blindsides you, it comes to quite a package.
One time I was in the Christian bookstore and a man came in and asked for the new GVB recording. Since the bulk of the music the average store carries is CCM (gag), it wasn’t surprising that they didn’t have it. Well, I wasn’t surprised anyway. But this guy was almost incensed! Not really, he didn’t get un-Christian about it, but he was worked up! He told the clerk, haven’t you heard Guy Penrod When that man sings it’s like the archangel Gabriel cutting loose on his trumpet!!! The heavens split wide open!!! Etc., etc.
Amen brother!
20 Responses
January 10th, 2006 at 12:43 am
Awesome picture! I’ll ignore/forgive your comment on CCM.:) People can arouse controversy over the length of their hair? I’m glad you appreciate him for his use of his God-given talents instead of criticize him for his appearance. :) The last concert I attended was David Crowder Band…playing with Michael W. Smith (who has lost most of his appeal to me anyway) & Mercy Me (remember the song “I can only imagine”?). Let me know what you think of Kutlass, Superchick, and Toby Mac to name a couple of my (and Tavin’s) favorites. Now THERE’S some musical talent!! (Not that Guy P. isn’t talented….he is I’m sure. Just differently abled.)
January 11th, 2006 at 3:39 pm
I’ll be honest, I haven’t heard the “new” GVB (post Phelps/Lowry) so and I’m pretty biased towards them. (You wouldn’t haven gotten them near me with Russ Taff, that’s for sure.) I would love to hear them live though, especially Guy. My parents went and saw Sig. Sound last year and said they’re the closest thing to The Cathedrals they’ve ever heard so I wouldn’t mind seeing them too. Sounds like it must have been quite the concert.
-Kaitlyn
January 11th, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Well SAHM, I hesitate to say this because I know you’ll be disappointed, but you asked! Basically, 98% of current CCM just bores me to tears. It just doesn’t interest me musically one iota. Now classic CCM is a different story, I really like a lot of that. MWS pre-Change Your World, same era of Amy Grant, Carman, Beyond Belief and before of Petra, etc.
You’ve got good instincts, Kaitlyn, that was the best GVB line-up ever. Now I was very apprehensive about good old Russell, but actually did pretty good. I didn’t mind him too bad. But then I’m a huge fan of classic Imperials too.
January 11th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
Saw GVB when they consisted of Gaither, Penrod, Phelps, and Lowery…. I think that was their best combo. Penrod and Phelps can sing….
January 12th, 2006 at 9:53 am
Hey Thomas, your post was very interesting. We really enjoy Signature sound and Ryan is good!! We first heard them on our singing at sea cruise. We enjoy the Gaither home coming videos and I miss mark lowery, didn’t really care for Russ,I thot marshall was good.I always was blessed w/ Guy’s testimony and voice. Remember me? Emily’s mom ~Nancy Lapp
January 12th, 2006 at 1:37 pm
Why did David Phelps leave? And what happened to Russ Taff? He didn’t stay long……?
January 12th, 2006 at 6:29 pm
And how much more fulfilled will your life be if you know?
January 12th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
Yep A.Riehl, Bill will never top that lineup.
Yes I remember you Nancy! Thanks for stopping by saying hi.
Doc, Phelps pretty much left to focus on his solo CCM career. Me and my wife happened to catch a concert a year or two ago, it was pretty hot for CCM. He’s undoubtedly one of the best guys out there right now. Good material, and who out there even comes close to giving him any competetion vocally?! It’s almost laughable.
Don’t really know what Russ is up to, but he’s been on his own for years and years. I think he was with GVB for about 2 years.
And anon, thanks so much for your courageous stand in giving Doc direction in his life! We’re all the richer for it.
January 12th, 2006 at 10:57 pm
Re Russ: He is part of the Gaither Homecoming lineup–at least he was in November.
EG
January 13th, 2006 at 3:31 am
racheal lampa is better than amy grant. chris rice is alot more interesting than carmen. switchfoot is better than petra. i’d agree with you though that most of ccm is rather dull.
rande
January 13th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Anon, thanks for the sarcasm, I appreciate the attitude.
January 13th, 2006 at 11:12 am
OOOOHHHH, but anons always hit the wrong button. “Are ya’ll boys bein’ sensitive?”, she questions in the best southern drawl she can muster. Oh huff….it’s not a good one either. Oh well, I can try. I do love a good accent.
Wow, Thomas, that is some intense sarcasm you’ve got going on there. I’m, um, impressed?
Doc, if you were my sister I’d tell you not to be so sensitive….but I won’t cause you aren’t. SO, might I suggest that sometimes if we know what we want to know it doesn’t do us any good?
And to anon, I must say I have to agree with you. I live in a world where everyone thinks they have to know everyone else’s business (not saying that of you Mr. Doc, smooth the feathers), AND they spend too much time delving into the affairs of other people, criticizing and condeming. So, perhaps I have gone to the other side too far where I think it is completely unecessary for us to know the “whys” unless we are directly involved. But that is just my blast of notion in a “reacting-to-my-life” sort of way.
Okay, now I’m probably going to get myself in trouble of some sort. Ah well, what fun is life if we all pretend we all agree when we all know we don’t.
Happy feeling all around,
Ag
January 13th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
Thanks Ag! Yes, I’m sometimes a little too gifted with sarcasm.
Doc asked a perfectly innocent, appropriate question, he was hardly prying or obsessing.
No, you’re not in trouble. In fact, thanks for contributing to the fuss! I do love a good anon, they can always stir things up and get them interesting.
January 13th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
There, Tom, thanks for defending me in my absence.
Ag, an innocent question to a fan of a certain group can hardly be considered prying and delving into someone else’s business. It’s just like catching up on the latest news. I guess you should stop reading blogs, because you are choosing to delve into someone else’s business, and perhaps criticize someone else, especially if you disagree with them.
And Ag, although you have had the delicate privilege of meeting me in person *gloat, gloat*, I’ll have to warn you that taking on my wife is different than taking me on. Because verbally attacking a man’s wife is like waking a sleeping bear.
*said with a sly grin*
January 14th, 2006 at 1:30 am
“What’s up Doc?”
I wasn’t verbally attacking you…I thought perhaps you sounded a bit offended and thought it…..unreasonable.
To clarify, I wasn’t suggesting that you, loyal fan as you seem to be, were delving where you needn’t have delved, I just agree with anon, in the aspect that often we think we need to know things that don’t do us any good to know. I’m a “reactor” (be patient as I practice until I get this thing called life right…..I’m a slow learner), when people drive in one ditch, I veer wildly across the road and land smack, dab into the other (it seems to be a problem). So, take my comments as directed to the world at large, rather than aimed at you personally. The world at large spends WAY to much time sticking their noses into other peoples private lives just so they have a good story. I’m delighted to know that you do not stoop to such a low level.
As a matter a fact, you should be happy to know that I don’t read many blogs…….I have grown weary of them as a whole (don’t even let me start on Xanga…oooh, there goes that nervous twitch again…….), BUT in law of logical arguments that falls short because in a blog, an individual is offering their private information on their own accord. It is an act of free will.
Why am I taking on your wife? Hey, hey, hey, now……you ain’t soundin’ none to nonresistent. I’m gonna call up your father-in-law!(Delicious smirk!)
Peace out,
Ag
January 15th, 2006 at 3:27 am
Okay I know this conversation is over and done with but I would be remiss if I didnt say that I have a huge issue with this guys hair. The question isnt what his wife likes but rather what God likes. The Bible clearly says that for a man to have long hair it’s a shame. I often wonder whats missing in peoples own churches that they have to run to other circles to find spiritual highs. This guys hair is wrong. No I’m not judging I’m stating a fact. How will you tell your son that long hair is a shame for a man and then you go and see these people sing? Children see and hear our inconstencies. Or maybe I’m just assuming you wouldnt want your child to have long hair since I know you’re a Mennonite. I guess that assumption is not mine to make.
I just know that as Christian first and Independent Baptist second, I can not go hear people like this in good faith.
Theres some lovely tenor and bass singers that play lovely drums and have great musical talent at the local pub but that doesnt mean it’s right to go there and listen to them. I dont mean this against you personally Tom but I’m sorta surprised at a group of people who have always stood for a standard of holiness who think nothing of exposing their children to standards that they cannot condone. And worse yet they hear the older people say how blessed they were listening to them. How does this add up in a childs mind? And how does it compute in your own mind? How do you justify it?
January 16th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
While I disagree with it and believe that he has made the wrong decision in this area, I think he also has a tremendous amount to offer. I can get a lot from many people I don’t agree with. If I limited myself to only people I completely agreed with, I’d soon find myself on a pretty small island.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:02 pm
Maybe the Bible said it was wrong for men to have long hair, but it also says that women shouldn’t cut their hair. So, what are you to do – condemn everyone? I know a male who lets his hair grow long so that he can cut it and donate it to the organization that makes wigs for cancer patients. How could you say his long hair was a sin? Could it be that we are just hippocrits? I surely am not going to judge anyone. That is for God to do. Guy Penrod is spreading the Word of God through his music – leave him alone.
September 20th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
Hi am greatful for the good work you are doing,only woried when you will visit africa(kenya espesialy) please come we need your blessings
February 28th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
If any of us will stop to look at everything the bible tells us to do, we will quickly realize that we do not obey everything that is in the bible. Who on earth has a straight way before God? Nobody. If Guy Penrod wants to have long hair, it’s his business. The bible has he is dishonored for worshipping and praying with long hair (I Corinthians 11). I personally disapprove of men having long hair, but I’d better be careful my own self not to criticize anybody. I am the first imperfect person in the world.