Winter Jam 2016

     Winter Jam has become one of the most highly anticipated Christian concerts to travel through the Country each year. Fans patiently wait to see whose names are added to the line up hoping to be able to catch their new favorite, or veteran performers.  

     This concert has always been formatted so that everyone can afford to bring friends to hear the message of hope found in Christ in the midst of jamming to some of their favorite tunes. First come first serve has sometimes created max occupancy in buildings causing some hopefuls to be turned away at the door.  One of the things you can do as a fan to guarantee entry and other benefits  is to become a member of Jam Nation. 

     We Are Messengers opened the early jam session performing Everything Comes Alive and I'm On Fire. This was my first exposure to them which means it probably was for a lot of other people attending the tour this year as well.  There was a genuine spirit of restoration that came through these guys who later during the offering performed one of my favorite songs of the night called I Don't Have The Answers. All three of these songs will be available on their upcoming album you can pre-order now. Check the video out below of their current Klove hit.

     Next to hit the stage was Stars Go Dim singing You Are Loved, Giants and Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow. They were very energetic and seemed to be having a lot of fun getting the audience involved in singing along with them.

     Christian Rap Artists KB and Trip Lee both brought a lot of base to the arena while sharing their faith in song and getting the crowd's blood pumping. Both of these guys have a strong fan base and neither fall short while giving God all they have on stage.  

     Throughout the evening while they were breaking down and putting up new sets a different artists from hosts Newsong, would take a few minutes out of the evening to share information about sponsors and charities that they support.  One of the things I seen at this concert, that I had not seen before, maybe simply due to seating, was that they had a section for the hearing impaired, which I thought was awesome.  

     Newsong of course took the stage and they always sound great but for some reason they sounded superb that evening to me.  Opening their set up with Hallelujah (Bride In White), followed by Russ Lee talking about how depressing the news can be sometimes and how when we look around to everything going on today it often makes us want to go home. That opened the gateway for for him to belt out Don't It Make You Wanna Go Home. 

     After performing an always electrifying Arise My Love they shared the importance of the body of Christ reaching out to the many orphans that need our help.  Below you can watch the video about why they share the outreach of such an important ministry in Holt International.

     The only female on the tour this year seemed to float onto the stage as she laid her heart out to the Father.  Lauren Daigle effortlessly invited everyone into an atmosphere of worship with her captivating vocals and lyrically moving song selections.  

     Opening her set with the chorus of It Is Well, leading right into one of her fan favorites, First and closing out with How Can It Be. No one can question the huge amount of passion and beautiful voice she carries around in such a small package.  I don't know how God fit that big of a gift in her but we all truly appreciate it.
  

     Sidewalk Prophets took the stage next, engaging the crowd with Prodigal off their latest album Something Different along with Live Like That and Words I would Say.  They also performed their rocking title track Something Different closing out a stellar set. Sadly after nine years this is the last tour that drummer Justin Nace will be joining them as he has shared with friends and fans.  We are all going to miss him but we need to keep them all in our prayers as they continue seeking God's plan.  

     These guys have built a name for themselves in the music industry and in the lives of people they have invested friendships in. Not only are they musically gifted but they have a way of reaching out to their fans that impacts them in a way that is difficult to put into words. On this tour especially, they have picked a fan out of line at each stop to join them on stage during their set to sing with them. At this time I would like to introduce you to Jennifer Nicole Brown who was one of the lucky one's picked to join them on stage. She took a few minutes to share her testimony of of how Winter Jam and Sidewalk Prophets have been a blessing to her.

     Pastor Tony Nolan has been one of the speakers travelling with Newsong for quite some time this year. We recently attended the Xtreme Winter Conference as well where we heard him share his childhood testimony of neglect and abuse. Unfortunately this also included his first experience with people who declared the Lord as their Savior. Many young and old people alike can relate to the emotions that Tony dealt with growing up and that can often times leave people feeling like there is nowhere to turn.

     Tony touched on sensitive subjects that boiled down to finding who we are in Christ and not arguing about who we are and about who He is and just surrendering everything over to Him. Tony lived with his adopted father telling him numerous times he wished he would have never "bought him." It wasn't until many years later he heard his Heavenly Father say, "I've never regretted purchasing you." His goal is to tell as many people as he can that prayer is the language of the soul and not to listen to the devil because he is a punk.

     I have often wondered at these events why they always seem to have a group in the line up who don't really fit into the CCM industry. Not to mention they seem to be placed right in the middle of the line up after someone like Tony speaks about difficult subjects. 

     This particular afternoon it dawned on me. I'm almost positive there was a good amount of people who came specifically to see Red perform. Most of the people in attendance who like a majority of the other groups sit there in a state of shock when Red takes the stage. Lyrically they sing about deep places of darkness, anger, frustration and feeling trapped.

     Lead singer Michael Barnes does speak of God briefly while the band is putting on an explosive (quite literally) show on stage, but lyrically it's more of a perspective from someone dealing with struggles along the same lines as those Tony described he faced as a young man. I honestly believe they include Red (or similar; Skillet) to draw those out who feel exactly like their lyrics to hear the messages around them to introduce them to Christ. 

     During the set change to prepare for Matthew West a prerecorded video greeting from Newsboys introduced the trailer for God's Not Dead 2. They stressed the importance of us inviting non-believers to go see it with us upon release currently set for April 1, 2016. If nothing else you could talk your friends into going to see Deadpool with you, your treat and then when you get there say April fools! (It's ok you can laugh).  

     Matthew opened his segment of the evening with respect for the Nation asking everyone to sing God Bless America. He also carried an enthusiasm and humor throughout sharing very touching stories and testimonies.  During his opening fan favorite Day 1,confetti shot out over the audience and the crowd was re-energized. Going directly into a passionate performance of Hello My Name Is.  

     Matthew never fails to make people smile when he is on stage.  He has a genuine desire to make people happy, all the while spiritually drawing us to a deeper understanding of being there for others.  

     After some silly interaction with the audience and bringing a very lucky little boy named Hunter to join him on stage he began to explain the heart of his actions. "You see there is a method to this madness.  We don't know each other, so though you might be holding hands with someone you don't know, we have ONE God who has two hands reaching out to all we just have to raise our hands and surrender everything to God."

     Shortly after returning a very happy Hunter to his parents they shared an emotional skype video from Rob testifying about how he has worked his way through Teen Challenge. He also passed on hope to others letting them know that it doesn't matter what you've done, God's not done yet. Matthew closed out in my opinion the best witness performance of the night with Grace Wins as the crowd roared with applause.  

     While they were preparing the western saloon stage setting for Crowder, Stephanie Fast began to share her story of survival.  A true walking testimony of grace, found in a heaping pile of trash by one she considers a hero in her life, gave her the opportunity to be adopted into a loving family. She once again spoke of how important it is to sponsor children. 

     The crowd began to go crazy when Crowder started to open up with I See The Light.  If you have never seen some of these bands live you are truly missing a wonderful experience. I'm not sure where Crowder goes when he is performing but he puts every single ounce of energy into his music and you can tell he is one of the most passionate people in the industry.

     He is definitely one that leaves everything he has on that stage every single time. Performing I Am, Prodigal, Come As You Are, He Is Jealous For Me and the good ole' fashioned hoe down of I'll Fly Away it's always a treat to know he will be present at a concert. 

     There was a brief intermission where Newsong explained the benefit of this tour and how you basically pay one dollar to see each band.  With the cost of touring and renting buildings they always take a few minutes to pass around an offering plate to help keep costs down for tickets.  One of the things they went into detail about, which I thought was a wonderful blessing for each city is that they research local ministry prior to each event and donate 10% of their offering collected into a local outreach.  City Gospel Mission  in Cincinnati had no idea they would be receiving that so I thought it was an amazing way to sow into each city they praise through.  

     For King & Country have exploded into the CCM realm over the last couple of years and if you have ever seen them perform you would understand why.  Most photographers have a shutter speed setting specifically designed for them alone.  They are so animated when they are on stage you have to wonder how much coffee they drink while on tour.  I love watching them express their praise and worship and imagine this team on the front of any spiritual battle field would be hard to beat.

     Performing some of their best known songs including It's Not Over Yet, Fix My Eyes and Priceless they shared their heart for women and their fight against the horrible atrocity of human trafficking.  They have created a movie out of the desire to help those trapped in that evil which will be releasing this fall, check out the trailer here.

     They often speak of how much respect they have for women and how men should honor them as Christ loved the church. As much as they love each other as siblings a few of them have suffered from serious illnesses which have created some of the their most beautiful songs.  Luke shared a portion of his struggle before an impassioned performance of Shoulders.   

     I cannot speak for everyone else who has had the opportunity to attend Winter Jam this year, but I believe this is one of the best crews they have ever had.  One must take into account when it's called Winter Jam that is exactly what you need to expect.  These groups are there for a Jam session and in the midst of that leading people to Christ through spoken words, songs and testimonies.  Together uniting for one purpose and celebrating one King and one Savior who we come to lift up in praise and adoration and celebrate what He's done for all of us.  

     If you have never had the opportunity to go to Winter Jam there are still a few remaining chances to catch them live!  If you are unable and would like to take a friend to experience what it's all about on April 19th you will have your chance to watch it in the movie theater as you can see below!

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     You can also swing by to view the rest of the photos from the Cincinnati Tour and if you would like to share your video testimony about how this event or one of the artists has influenced your walk with Christ please feel free to do so.  We feel it is important for everyone to share their testimony.  You never know, someone else's breakthrough could be on the other side of your obedience. 

Sidewalk Prophets Delivers Something Different

     On August 28th, 2015 Sidewalk Prophets released Something Different through Word Label Group . For those who have been following these young men since they hit the waves in 2009 with their first album, These Simple Truths you will not be disappointed with the new addition. With this being their fourth album, including Merry Christmas To You (great stocking gift by the way), fans patiently waited for the album reveal.

Big Dan Taking Care Of Business in Hillsboro, Ohio

     By "new addition" I am also referring to "Big Dan" or so seems to be this young man's nickname given by the "band elders". I have to give a quick shout out to Daniel Macal, he had some big shoes to fill and this young man has went above and beyond. 

     He fits in perfectly with the rest of these talented guys and let me just say, since I have seen him live in action he can definitely carry his own weight!  Rock on Big Dan! 

     The first hit off the new album Prodigal, delivers an incredible testimony of the redemptive power we find in Christ in a celebratory melody.  No matter what we've done, or where we have been He's standing there with arms open wide to welcome us back into His loving arms. Registering in the top five of Christian music charts since it's release is no surprise!  

Official Prodigal Video

     One of the most creative songs for me personally is If You Only Knew.  It's written as a contemporary conversation ballad between a simple person as you or I with their Heavenly Father responding to some heartfelt questions and desires. It made me get choked up the first time I heard it, which seems to be a skill these guys have with lyrics. 

 "All you need's a little faith. What about what I deserve? Well that's the beauty of my grace. What about my debt. I've already paid the cost. What about my sin? You see I nailed to the cross. You were never meant to handle all this on your own Just give me everything you have inside And let it go."

Dave Has Such a Powerful Gift in His Voice

     The title track, Something Different actually surprised me. I thought to myself, "Wow they are rocking it out a bit here." The exceptional thing about this album is that they have maintained the powerful testimony of faith in lyrics and still provide something different (pun intended) in every song.  

     After jamming out to a message about how people are supposed to see something different in us, they come at you with power ballad Everything In Awe. I cannot begin to count how many times I have skipped to this song repeatedly. It has nothing to do with the fact that it's one of my favorite songs. Well, OK you got me it probably is for that very reason, but who can deny the majesty of our Almighty Father? Not to mention the fact that Dave kills the passionate power vocals at the end that they build up to.  

     To Live As Christ conveys a sentiment of great faith especially in the times we live in today. We are all called for such a time as this to pick up our cross and lead people to Christ. "For me to live is Christ to die is gain.  My great desire is to be with you, but this is the place you chose for me, this is the place you chose for me. To lift my cross and give everything.  This is the time you gave to me."

     One of the most important aspects of the body of Christ is that we become united together for purposes far greater than we can comprehend.  Sisters and Brothers shares this emotion with cheerful enthusiasm. 

     Ain't Nobody (Till You're Loved) is a jubilant tune that reminds Dave of his time living in Hawaii.  I must say I am a bit jealous he used to live there. My husband and I visited awhile back and my husband didn't want to come back home, so this is his favorite song on the album.  Mainly because Dave wore a leis around his neck when we seen them perform it at Rock The Smokies . 

      Sometimes we all face difficult situations and circumstances. However, with God His word says anything is possible. Impossible encourages those who may be struggling with staying hopeful or doubting His sufficiency. "Some would say it's foolish, stepping on the waves. Some would say it's over when you're buried in the grave. We're calling all the dreamers, with passion in their eyes. Calling all believers out into the light. Even when it's hopeless, out of our control just let go, watch our God do The impossible, the impossible. Everything is possible."

     I'd Rather Have You and Closer (featuring Tamela Mann) are certain to be favorites from those who purchase the album. These two songs really brought some new soulful sound that I really enjoyed myself. Lyrically they both emphasize how important it is to focus on growing closer to God regardless of what other people chase, we have to seek Him first and we will be blessed.  Don't miss these gems they are remarkable and Tamela and Dave bring down the house...or the car wherever you may be listening to Closer at.

     There are several messages on Something Different that can minister to people on so many different levels.  Go For It encourages you to step out in faith and lay everything you have out there for God to use.  Keeping your eye on the prize and holding steadfast in your faith.  

     Solider On is zealous battle cry to push on through trials and tribulations no matter what may come our way.  Rising in the name of the Lord, refusing to wave a flag of surrender.  "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.  We got to soldier on, we will soar on wings like eagles."

     The most poetic deeply searching number on this album is definitely won by Homeless Heart.  Anyone who can look back on their life and reflect these emotions expressed through every lyric in this song will be moved by this message.  I can see many people who have possibly lost their way with God connecting so deeply with this song that it reconnects them to Him knowing they are not the only one who has been where they are now.  For this cause I am going to post the lyric video below.  

Ben jamming in Hillsboro, Ohio

     It's very difficult for me to pinpoint what my absolute favorite song is off this album simply because there are so many different styles and messages.  
     The only way I can decide is by returning to the night a few months back when I seen them live in Hillsboro, Ohio and they performed Come To The Table. My heart is grieved for those who don't know our Lord and Savior. I could not help but weep when in that public festival they blasted these vocals. I thought of the all-inclusive invitation that Christ offers and my heart spilled out in tears. I began to think of everyone walking around and standing there unaware of how much God has already given to them if they would just open their hearts and receive Him and come to the table.  Hands down most powerful song on this album and probably one of the best songs they have ever created. 

"To the thief and to the doubter. To the hero and the coward. To the prisoner and the soldier. To the young and to the older. All who hunger, all who thirst. All the last and all the first. All the poppers and the princess. All who fail you've been forgiven. All who dream and all who suffer. All who loved and lost another. All the chained and all the free. All who follow, all who lead. Anyone who's been let down. All the lost you have been found. All who have been labeled right or wrong. To everyone who hears this song, Ooh Come to the table. Come join the sinners you have been redeemed. Take your place beside the Savior. Sit down and be set free"

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                                         DAN                       BEN                              DAVE                       JUSTIN                           CAL

     I remember hearing Ben say at a concert recently that this is the type of album he's been hoping they would make for a really long time. Considering they have a blast on stage when they are performing is a good sign that he is completely satisfied with what they have created!  For those who have yet to buy the album if you can't tell by now I highly recommend it and make sure to Catch Them Live Near You!

     If you have a testimony about how Sidewalk Prophets has ministered to you please message me on our Glorified Pitstop Facebook Page. I would love to share it with others who read this.

Rock The Smokies First Year

Dollywood's 2015 Music Festival Introduction

     I have been to a lot of music festivals in my life including other adventure parks like  Night Of Joy at Walt Disneyworld, and Spirit Song  at Kings Island. 

      One thing I have noticed about all of these set-ups is that each band does not get recognized on the same level nor do the fans get to experience all the talent that is distributed across the parks at different times throughout the day making it almost impossible to take part in each concert. 

     As a music lover I am always enlightened at concerts in general being introduced to less known artists besides the headliner who later become massively popular.  For instance two years ago at a Casting Crowns concert the opening band was For King&Country.  The following year (2015) they swooped into the Klove Fan Awards and cleaned house.

     My point in mentioning this is that when fans of well-known bands are eager to listen to the artists whose songs they know by heart are not given the opportunity to experience newer talent, that window of exposure to the other bands is stolen both from the fans and the artists.

     I do not know if all of these festival planners are aware the difficulty that can arise for a visitor trying to determine who they want to miss and who they want to see perform.  The most organized of the three I mentioned above is Spirit Fest because it's a three day event that gives you the opportunity to enjoy all the shows and the park. 

     The Night Of Joy is set up a little better than Rock The Smokies, because it is at least broken up into two nights giving guests two full days to enjoy the park, at least that's how it was when I experienced it.  

     In 2014 when I attended the Night of Joy I wanted to see Chris Tomlin perform because I have always been a fan of his music.  I had also recently written a review of The Neverclaim's new album and had become a quick fan of them as well.   Unfortunately they were both playing at the same time on different sides of the park.  I decided to go see Chris Tomlin who was playing in front of the castle.  The downside to that decision was everyone else that was there decided to do the same thing and not only could we not see him, but we couldn't hear him either.  So we decided to head back to the small stage where Matt Maher and The Neverclaim were performing.  We stood right in the front and it was honestly one of the the best concerts I've been to. 

     The most disheartening thing of that is that everyone out by the castle trying their hardest to see or hear the amazing Chris Tomlin missed two other great performances because of the timing and set up. 

    

     One of the things I will give Rock The Smokies credit for was that at least they had different time slots throughout the day where each band played at different times to give people a slight chance to catch at least three out of the five bands performing as long as you didn't want to ride any of the rides or eat any food. 



    

     I apologize if that came off sounding sarcastic but it is the truth of the matter.  The two headlining bands Third Day and For King & Country was the only show the tickets guaranteed you a seat for, and it was first come first serve at all three show times (above) so if you wanted to be close at all you had to get in a long line waiting for the doors to open each time.

      However, if you wanted to see the other non-headlining concerts including Love and the Outcome , Sidewalk Prophets or About A Mile you had to cross your fingers, jump through hoops and stand in line for about an hour just to get a seat.  Of course if you waited in line the whole time (not eating or riding rides) and you still couldn't get in you always have another chance to come back to one of the other time slots to try to make the cut. 

     Despite the fact I was unable to catch Love & The Outcome I heard from a friend that they put on a great concert.  Captured below by Dave Lobbestael Photography.

Photo By Dave Lobbestael Photography

     During one of the times we decided to try and catch the new roller coaster and grab a bite to eat we walked passed About A Mile post show signing autographs.  A little further we saw about two hundred people standing in line an hour early for one of the Sidewalk Prophets concerts hoping to get in.  I have no idea what About A Mile (below) was like in concert but I'm sure others would have liked to have seen them too that missed the opportunity due to time constraints.  

Photo By Dave Lobbestael Photography

      We arrived an hour early for the Sidewalk Prophets concert we had planned to attend. Right when we got to the entrance, (literally next in line) the lady holds her hand out at me and my crew and says, "One second we have to see if we have any more room."  I looked at my husband like "Really?  Seriously?" I knew we would not be able to make it to the other later show because we had to get in line for the 7 pm finale of the headliners. Thankfully, they let about fifteen more people in and Sidewalk Prophets delivered as always. 

Photo By Dave Lobbestael Photography 

     I do want to say that Dollywood is a lovely park and there are several different rides and places to eat if you get a chance to visit.  One of the things I would highly recommend to the promotions department to do differently next year would be entirely based on organization.  

     The line up they had of bands was fantastic and I would have loved to have been able to see all of them.  Along with many others I would have also liked to enjoy the park more.  I think it would have worked out a lot better if they had split the festival up into two days similar to the way Night Of Joy does. The first day have two separate shows one in the morning and one in the evening.  Have every band at both shows, that way the fans and the artists don't miss any opportunity to experience or share music.  

     The second day have one final show that evening with all the bands performing as well.  Sell the tickets as a two day package with entry to 1 of the 3 shows that way for those who want to enjoy the park they can, it would also give the bands some time to rest and enjoy the park.  Some promoters may be surprised that one of the most important things to some of the Christian artists is to be able to spend quality time meeting their fans, this set up didn't really allow for that. My two cents on that note.

     Despite being extremely tired from performing 3 shows throughout the day pretty much back to back, For King & Country didn't win best live performance at the K-love fan awards for no reason.  They entered that main stage at 7 PM and literally "Rocked The Smokies".  

     I have no idea how these guys have so much energy but they are just a treat to watch perform.  Not to mention the fact that they are some of the most passionate in the industry.  Joel was speaking about how they have a bracelet to remind girls how beautiful they are and never to forget how much they are worth to God.  He so happened to jump off stage and give a bracelet to my friend Pam's daughter, Reenie. He couldn't have picked a more deserving recipient! 

     To close the last and final show of the evening Third Day entered stage and performed to a very tired crowd. Everyone seemed to be pretty wiped out by that point walking around in the heat and rain all day trying to make it to all the shows.  However, bottom line they encouraged everyone and got everyone back up on their feet for one last celebration.  

     Being the first year of this festival things went fairly smooth. I'm sure the planners and promoters ran into many different aspects that they themselves seen areas for improvement on.  I would imagine they are already tweaking it for next year trying to figure out a better way to plan everything out.  

     After all was said and done, the bands probably all slept like little babies that night and all those who attended left filled up with all the love and joy that overflows from all of the artists that shared their gifts and talents musically with everyone who attended the festival.  

      I am personally looking forward to seeing what they plan out for next year and I hope to get to return.  Until then, check out the park, a lot is there for all to enjoy!

Get Tickets to Dollywood Here

 Rock The Smokies

I Am They Album Review

Self Titled Debut Album Wins Them a Dove Award Nomination For New Artist of The Year

          I Am They have entered the Christian music realm with hearts wide open and a pathway that shines bright upon them from above. Their first single From The Day, off their Self-Titled Debut Album has been streaming quite frequently on Christian radio. 
 
     I was first introduced to this band at the 2015 K-Love Fan Awards. 

On the Red Carpet at the K-love Fan Awards

 They were performing in the fan zone and I was instantly intrigued. The chemistry they shared with one another reminded me a lot of Sidewalk Prophets (who I love).  The difference is that I Am They have two very talented and beautiful women on their team and carry a hint of folk sound similar to Rend Collective.

     Released on January 27, 2015 I Am They through Provident Label Group has received mixed reviews throughout a broad spectrum of music websites.   I am inclined to say that though they are all based on a specific writers taste, obviously fans who have given them five stars and gotten them nominated for a Dove award outweigh anything less than commendable.

     I've never been much of a fan of folk music, at least not that I was aware of. However, the infusion of folk along with pop/rock and acoustic sound with fantastic lyrics and vocals places I Am They at the top of my list of favorite albums to listen to lately.  I would not generalize this as a worship album but as far as contemporary Christian music is concerned they have created a winner.  


     We Are Yours starts off this ten track musical celebration by getting your toes tapping along with beautiful harmonies. Demonstrating the most important thing we have to remember, is that no matter what happens in the world we must stay focused on one thing.  "You can't take away what the world didn't give, we were made for more.  At the end of the day this will remain, forever we are yours.  Forever we are yours."

     As we go through our daily walk sometimes we hit difficult strides.  Calling upon the one who restores our strength, You Awake My Love carries an addictive melody that you will become hooked on.  It's actually one of my personal favorites on the album.  It's fun and leaves you feeling refreshed knowing that He renews our strength."Every burden lifted- every sorrow you washed away.  You're turning ashes to glory and fill my heart with singing."

     Catchy melodies and intertwined wonderful harmonies are what I Am They specialize in. Your Love Is Mine is another example of this as they share in the celebration of being pulled from the miry clay.  The joy that we feel as salvation pours out upon on us when He finds us lost.  "I once was lost and burdened in my shame, but You took the cross and suffered in my place.  You rescued me, I belong to You."

     I have mentioned before that when I first listen to a CD I have a tendency to grasp onto the lyrics and style of one certain song that I often select as my favorite. Over and Over Again is a fitting name, because that's how I listen to it. I am a big fan of Sidewalk Prophets and if someone told me this was them singing I would believe them. I love powerful ballads that build to explosive vocal lyrics toward the end of the song and that is exactly how this unfolds. "In my suffering and in my weakness and When from you I ran; You find me. In the dark of sin, when I'm there again; You find me over and over again."

     King of Love is another example of why this is a great road trip album. "In death's dark veil I will fear no ill.  With thee, dear Lord beside me. Thy rod and staff my comfort still.  Thy cross before to guide me." The harmonies are spot on and the message speaks of the great love that our shepherd carries for us.  

     I don't pick up a lot of folk sound on this album but Even Me definitely sounds more contemporary than most tracks. I would not be surprised if this is the next radio release.  It's very easy to relate to.  All who have been forgiven through the blood of Christ understand how special God considers each one of us. 

     If you have not heard their current radio hit, you can watch the video for From The Day below.  I enjoy every song on the album, but strangely enough I would not have picked this as the first release, personally I would rate this number six in my order of favorites.  Honestly, all the songs are great so that's not a bad thing. 

      One of my favorite songs recently to sing a long to, which I find I have stuck in my head quite often is Make A Way. There is something about knowing and trusting in the promises of God that comforts us no matter what we might be facing.  This is such a pleasant reminder that He will make a way whether we are on the mountain or in the valley.  This song will encourage you and comfort you lifting your spirits as you confess your victories in song. 

     Here's My Heart is melodically and lyrically outstanding. This song is pretty close to beating out Over and Over Again for me.  This is the one song on the album that I would categorize as pure worship.  It's a surrender of our hearts over to the Father for His purpose and plan for our lives.  I cannot express how beautiful this song is you will just have to hear it for yourself.  My opinion to the person who handles releases, get this one on the radio next!!!  The body of Christ hungers for songs like this.  

     All ten tracks on this album are fantastic and any review that states anything shy of that needs to get a tune up done on their ears.  Anyone who loves messages of strength and hope along with catchy melodies and brilliantly orchestrated choruses needs to have this album, yesterday.  

     Closing out the list is the heartfelt adoration in an offering over the messages birthed from tracks one through nine.  Amen portrays the prayers that they sing about through the whole album.  Learning to trust God whatever comes our way.  "You have taught me to say Amen, let Your kingdom come.  Amen, let Your will be done, and through the rise and fall, You're God above it all, Amen we're singing Amen."

     I Am They have a long future ahead in the land of Christian music.  Though that field is getting larger and larger, praise be to our Father in Heaven for giving us a taste of the array of worship that we will be surrounded with and by forever and ever. I would highly recommend you check out this talented group of individuals and if you get a chance you can catch them on tour this year with other amazing artists like Matt Maher, Casting Crowns and many more!

See Full Tour Schedule Here!

Purchase I Am They