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.