CONCERT REVIEW: Roadshow rocks arena with words of worship

By Diana Nollen

CEDAR RAPIDS - All the generations were jumping when the Rock & Worship Roadshow unleashed four hours of higher power pop at the U.S. Cellular Center.

Thursday night's concert (4/22/10) drew 4,000 - about half the number that filled the arena last year - but everything seemed twice as loud. The kids were screaming, the music was cranked and all the high-end production values that come with secular rock concerts were in place for this celebration of contemporary Christian music.

Once again, admission was just $10, so a family of five could attend for less than the cost of one usual rock concert ticket. For that amazingly low price, concert-goers were treated to music and witness from seven bands, hot off wins at Wednesday night's Dove music awards.

Sidewalk Prophets launched the evening to high-pitched squeals with a stunning cover of Michael Jackson's “Man in the Mirror.” Throughout the too-short set, these five guys from Indiana displayed the spirit and chops that won them Dove's New Artist of the Year honors.

Lead singer David Frey has a beautiful voice with a wail that pierces the stratosphere, especially on “You Can Have Me,” with its stirring message of turning everything over to God. Guitars were smoking, too, on “Just Might Change Your Life.” Frey is an engaging frontman, weaving Scripture passages through the songs.

They set the bar way high for the evening, but all the bands that followed were up to the challenge.

Remedy Drive, Fee and Family Force 5 brought lots of youthful bounce and vigor to the lineup, with plenty of radio-friendly gospel pop and hip-hop sounds. Lyrics of conviction rang through loud and clear from Remedy Drive and Fee, but much of Family Force 5's message was lost in the sheer volume blasting our ears. With their Sgt. Pepper outfits and over-the-top antics, this Christian glam boy band quickly had the teens whipped into a frenzy.

Francesca Battistelli, Dove's Female Artist of the Year, wrapped her soulful sound around words of hope and mercy in the aptly titled “Beautiful, Beautiful,” as well as a little humor in a song she wrote after backing into a lawyer's car.

[naviga:font size="2"]The stars of the evening were the bands with the most years, hits and awards to their credit: The David Crowder Band and MercyMe. Both Texas bands just shake the rafters with their worship music for the masses and their words of inspiration.

While everything they said or sang was a highlight, Crowder was especially moving on the quiet serenity of “How He Loves,” from the new “Church Music” CD. At the other end of the spectrum, their hoedown was a hit, with plenty of foot-stompin', hand clappin' and spontaneous square dancin' to “I Saw the Light” and “I'll Fly Away.”

MercyMe, looking retro-spiffy in their white shirts, brown vests and red ties got our attention with a blast of confetti and powerful words and witness throughout their hourlong set.

Every song from Bart Millard and his compatriots is moving and majestic, as they mix their hits with songs off their soon-to-be-released CD, “The Generous Mr. Lovewell.” The new collection promises a mix of styles, as well, with “All of Creation” in their well-established worship music mode, along with a kicky departure on “Move.”

But their appeal will forever be etched in “You Reign,” eclipsed only by the sheer wonder of “I Can Only Imagine.”

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