James Simm's Live Recording -

April 28, 2008
Dateline: Old St. Charles

8:04 p.m. - He's deep into a song from his "Life & Love" CD w/most of the crowd singing backup.

8:07 p.m. - "We're going to slow it down a little bit. This is good coffee drinking music." A largely instrumental piece ensues, night club like.

8:11 p.m. -The crowd again sings backup as James sings "Paint a picture of your love...portrait of our life...let the words be colors that flow..." Wild clapping.

8:14 p.m. - James introduces the next song asking if you've ever messed up a good thing. This is an area he's obviously building in confidence. Soon enough, he's playing & singing w/backup singers. "Speaking of heaven..." he says then, "When we all get to heaven, it'll be alright...no more tears to cry, when we all get to heaven."

8:22 p.m. - He calls up a couple friends to sing with him - Hugh Holt & Angie Glen (Apologies if I misheard). Angie has a sweet, soft voice with great range, while Hugh belts out "It's been way, way too long" to great response. Not sure if the instruments aren't drowning out the lyrics for those of us who don't have the songs memorized. End w/"Welcome Home" "Welcome Home."

8:27 p.m. - "One last song - God is our home, the place we can all go..." Gonna be "You're the only one I got, I got you," the first track from "Life & Life." Angie sings lead. The crowd sings everything. Wicked groove hypnotizes us as Angie sings "You're the only one I got, I got you."

8:30 - "Thank everyone for coming!" Then he introduces everyone in the band and signs off.

Sadly, there is neither an encore nor a request for me to share my deep love for playing the bongos in public. Otherwise, a great night of Christian music that mesmerized at least one table of non-believers into absorbing the entire set.

The Concert Begins

7:50 p.m. - It begins w/James thanking Wayne Francis for coordinating the night w/Picasso's, then they start in with "Melody of Love."

7:55 p.m. - A mention of the "L Word" (Love, silly) & a mention of an engaged couple before starting the next song which... well, I can't make out the lyrics.

7:58 p.m. - He talks about appreciating flowers in the park & God's creativity, which is what we're gonna sing about now. "Lord you're so beautiful, beautiful to meeeeee." The remaining table of non-believers has stopped playing their cards & are totally engrossed in the song. The chorus cranks up and just about everyone's clapping, hands over head.

Side Note
* Turns out the piano is not a piano, but a keyboard inside the shell of a piano.

James Simm's Liveblog

So, thankfully they're still setting up instruments & doing sound checks at Picasso's, as we arrived 20 mins late. This now makes us unfashionably early but allows for sneak peeks, behind-the-scenes looks at the 3 backup singers, w/full accompaniment (a real piano, drum cage, bass, bongos, full sound board,et al).

This is a big deal, as they're videoing it (they're doing a live recording, probably for CD/DVD. Strange then, that he didn't ask me to sing a duet...). There's over 40 people here, which considering they've taken over the main lower floor means we're all enjoying mosh pit-like intimacy.

More soon, w/pix assuming my beautiful photog will snap some good ones.

Liveblogging Tonight: Simms & Brewer

Nita & I will be attending a special concert (open to all) highlighting the amazing music of James Simms tonight at Picasso's Coffee Shop in Old St. Charles (MO). It's my understanding that there will also be a gallery showing of Pentecostal artist Ricky Brewer as well, so expect some liveblogging around 7 p.m. tonight, April 28.

Read 90&9's review of the most contemporary CD ever created within the Apostolic ranks here.

The Youth Congress video produced by AEM, the live "sweating beneath the tent" NAYC video
& the NAYC Gateway booth vid, & the SFC anthem.