For Easter weekend 2006, three bands were invited for a Youth concert that didn’t end up quite like it was planned.  What was planned as a Good Friday concert featuring several regional bands changed as the bands changed.   A Christian rock band that does a little worship was invited, but couldn’t make it; another band lost their lead guitar player for the night because of a death in his family; yet what followed at Point of Grace Family Praise Fellowship in Madison, Indiana was simply an amazing night of music.

Worship band Judah opened the evening with the familiar “Blessed Be Your Name,” words that set the tone for the night.   Three songs later the stage was turned over to local band Saving Vegas.  A CD with original material is in the works, but without the services of their lead guitarist they did a 45 minute set of heartfelt worship.  Featuring familiar songs such as “More Love, More Power” the band seemed to be in their element.  Lead singer Matt True took a few moments to share his testimony with the crowd, including a head-first fall off a second story deck into the back of a truck that he walked away from.  Saving Vegas wrapped up their portion of the night with “Here I Am To Worship,” building it to what seemed to be a rocking close, but then each band member dropped out and left the stage.  What was left was the crowd singing the chorus—a fitting end to the first half of the night.

After a few minutes of downtime, Panoramic Fusion took the stage with a set of funk, rock, soul, and worship.  As the name suggests they are a fusion of styles that will blow you away.  Covering songs by artists such as Fred Hammond, Matt Redman, and Israel and New Breed (including a very funky “Friend of God”) they had the crowd on its feet.  They closed out with Israel’s “Another Level,” which didn’t end the night but led everyone to a time around the altar seeking God.

The night ended with a full-on blues jam session featuring people from all three bands.  At one point the stage had four guitarists, two bass players, two drummers, plus sax, keys, and a harmonica player trading licks.  It was a fitting end to a night of heartfelt worship and praise. Lasting some two and a half hours, and featuring three great bands, three bands for three bucks was worth every penny.

ninetyandnine.com

© 2006, Jamin Tuttle

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Jamin Tuttle is the Youth Pastor at Point of Grace Family Praise Fellowship in Madison, Indiana.  He is now publicly promising his wife he will never again plan a concert the Friday before Easter.

Note: If anyone is interested in hosting one of these groups at a concert, email jamintut@yahoo.com.