Ragamuffins - New Years 1999

Review and Pictures by Suzy Dixon

Hi Danl,

I couldn't believe it when I heard that the Ragamuffins were scheduled to be here in the Washington DC area on New Years Eve. Cool Deal! My friends and I decided that if the world did indeed come to an end, or if Christ did return, or if some kind of disaster happened, who better to "go out with" than each other and the Rags!

The evening started with an array of songs from different eras of the 20th century. The Jammin' Java staff played some swing music and taught (or tried to teach) some swing dance steps. Then we had some hand jive from the 50s, disco from the 70s (ugh! Been there done that! PLEASE SEND HELP!). The even had a limbo contest. Yes, I said limbo. Yea. The concert portion of the opened at 10pm with a local group headed by Maria Dorman. At 11pm, Kelly Minter played. She is also a local artist. Mike, her percussionist was amazing! Not to mention, hilarious to watch! Actually, I believe Kelly just signed a recording contract with Word. Kelly played until 11:45. At this point all attention turned to the TV monitors that were tuned to a local station telecasting the giant party going on downtown. Time to get the non-alcoholic bubbly and the bubbles out!! The weather here was great for the people on the Mall. It was pretty warm and dry. I took my niece and nephew to the Mall a couple nights before to see the national Christmas tree and it was COLD! (DC at night is the BEST!) Anyway, mid-night came, the lights stayed on, we made a toast, said a prayer, blew bubbles (the only things that exploded BTW), and made a lot of noise! Now on to the main course, time for the Ragamuffins to play.

While they were tuning and getting set up, Mark explained that tonight was going to be very loose. Jimmy clarified by saying that they hadn't practiced for months. Well, you couldn't tell! For the next two hours (approximately) we were treated to lots of laughs, great music, wonderful lyrics and several stories that left the audience shouting "TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!" Rick apologized to someone in the audience because they were not going to do "Faith/Hope/Love" (from the new CD) like he had promised. Then he said, "Maybe we should just tell you what songs we're not going to do!" The only song they didn't do that I was looking forward to was "If I Stand". I love the way Aaron recites the passage from Ephesians before he sings it. I hesitate to use the word "cute" to describe Jimmy singing "Boy Like Me/Man Like You", but that is the only word that comes to mind. Picture this, Jimmy starts by telling a story about why he has such a hard time remembering words to songs, even the ones that he has written. He asked Mark if he is going to help him. Mark says Yes. The music starts with Jimmy singing from memory; he messed up, laughs and starts staring at Mark, who is trying to pantomime the words to the song. Too funny. At the line that says "Did You ever make angels in the winter snow?" both Jimmy and Mark were waving their arms in the air like they were making snow angels. It was CUTE! Rick sang "Man of no Reputation" the best I've heard. Even better than on the Jesus Record! Actually, they all sounded great, though Mark and Rick were both battling colds. Jimmy sounded great on "Brother Sun/Sister Moon" from the new CD. I love that song and the audience picked it up real fast (with some help from Mark and Rick).

Song list:
My Deliverer
Sing Your Praise to the Lord
Surely God is With Us
Boy Like Me/Man Like You
Man of No Reputation
That Where I Am...
Creed
Brother Sun/Sister Moon
Awesome God
Make Me an Instrument
Sometimes by Step
Doxology

I firmly believe that pictures speak louder than words, so check out the pictures! After taking Ben Pearson's workshop at last year's Legacy Arts and Music Festival, I was inspired to use only available light. I used flash on only a couple of these pictures. So there ya have it! Enjoy! Oh, yeah, Happy New Year!

Peace,

Suzy Dixon

Review and Pictures by Suzy Dixon Hi Danl, I couldn't believe it when I heard that the Ragamuffins were scheduled to be here in the Washington DC area on New Years Eve. Cool Deal! My friends and I decided that if the world did indeed come to an end, or if Christ did return, or if some kind of disaster happened, who better to "go out with" than each other and the Rags! The evening started with an array of songs from different eras of the 20th century. The Jammin' Java staff played some swing music and taught (or tried to teach) some swing dance steps. Then we had some hand jive from the 50s, disco from the 70s (ugh! Been there done that! PLEASE SEND HELP!). The even had a limbo contest. Yes, I said limbo. Yea. The concert portion of the opened at 10pm with a local group headed by Maria Dorman. At 11pm, Kelly Minter played. She is also a local artist. Mike, her percussionist was amazing! Not to mention, hilarious to watch! Actually, I believe Kelly just signed a recording contract with Word. Kelly played until 11:45. At this point all attention turned to the TV monitors that were tuned to a local station telecasting the giant party going on downtown. Time to get the non-alcoholic bubbly and the bubbles out!! The weather here was great for the people on the Mall. It was pretty warm and dry. I took my niece and nephew to the Mall a couple nights before to see the national Christmas tree and it was COLD! (DC at night is the BEST!) Anyway, mid-night came, the lights stayed on, we made a toast, said a prayer, blew bubbles (the only things that exploded BTW), and made a lot of noise! Now on to the main course, time for the Ragamuffins to play. While they were tuning and getting set up, Mark explained that tonight was going to be very loose. Jimmy clarified by saying that they hadn't practiced for months. Well, you couldn't tell! For the next two hours (approximately) we were treated to lots of laughs, great music, wonderful lyrics and several stories that left the audience shouting "TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!" Rick apologized to someone in the audience because they were not going to do "Faith/Hope/Love" (from the new CD) like he had promised. Then he said, "Maybe we should just tell you what songs we're not going to do!" The only song they didn't do that I was looking forward to was "If I Stand". I love the way Aaron recites the passage from Ephesians before he sings it. I hesitate to use the word "cute" to describe Jimmy singing "Boy Like Me/Man Like You", but that is the only word that comes to mind. Picture this, Jimmy starts by telling a story about why he has such a hard time remembering words to songs, even the ones that he has written. He asked Mark if he is going to help him. Mark says Yes. The music starts with Jimmy singing from memory; he messed up, laughs and starts staring at Mark, who is trying to pantomime the words to the song. Too funny. At the line that says "Did You ever make angels in the winter snow?" both Jimmy and Mark were waving their arms in the air like they were making snow angels. It was CUTE! Rick sang "Man of no Reputation" the best I've heard. Even better than on the Jesus Record! Actually, they all sounded great, though Mark and Rick were both battling colds. Jimmy sounded great on "Brother Sun/Sister Moon" from the new CD. I love that song and the audience picked it up real fast (with some help from Mark and Rick). Song list: My Deliverer Sing Your Praise to the Lord Surely God is With Us Boy Like Me/Man Like You Man of No Reputation That Where I Am... Creed Brother Sun/Sister Moon Awesome God Make Me an Instrument Sometimes by Step Doxology I firmly believe that pictures speak louder than words, so check out the pictures! After taking Ben Pearson's workshop at last year's Legacy Arts and Music Festival, I was inspired to use only available light. I used flash on only a couple of these pictures. So there ya have it! Enjoy! Oh, yeah, Happy New Year! Peace, Suzy Dixon (Click on images below to view a larger picture)

First Opening Act - a local group, Maria Dorman	Second Opening Act: Kelly Minter is also a local artist. She's from Reston, Virginia, (about 20 minutes from here). Kelly recently signed a recording contract with Word.	Mike, percussionist, was a blast to watch. Kelly said that when she looks out into the audience, everyone is watching Mike and that it's good thing she's never had a problem with jealousy.


Got a picture of Aaron roaming around in the pre-millennium crush. He was video taping. BTW, Aaron and Jimmy brought their families.	Mark making a disclaimer about the set being loose tonight. Jimmy said they hadn't practiced in months. Couldn't tell.	Aaron and Jimmy getting set up.


Taken during "My Deliverer". The audience was encouraged to sing along. Which they did. I'm sure we would have with or with out the encouragement!	One corner of the stage had lit candles. They added a nice touch.	Ever since seeing This Train in Wichita a couple years ago, my niece and nephew always ask me about Marks shoes whenever I've been to a Rags or TT concert. So, this picture is for Catie and Will. These are Marks shoes, red plaid in case you can't see the pattern.


Rick and Jimmy	The reason I like concerts at Jammin' Java! Up close and personal!	I took this while Jimmy was explaining why he had such a hard time remembering words to songs. I snapped the pictures just as he said something about wetting his pants in front of Sister "so and so's" class. Ever since then he can't remember words to songs or poems.


Rick said that they will be touring again and they're trying to be more ecumenical. Trying to get the Catholic church and Protestant churches to communicate better. Focusing on the simularities and less on the differences.	So, they will be scheduling some concerts at Catholic churches. And if you see them scheduled to play at a Catholic Church to come out to see them.	He also talked about the rumors and rumors of rumors about Rich converting to Catholicism. He said basically that Rich had checked it out a long time ago but that was as far as it went.


After the concert was over, everyone got a chance to meet the different bands and buy whatever CD's or t-shirts they wanted. I heard a woman ask Jimmy who Rich Mullins was and where they got the name "Ragamuffins". Rich left a great legacy. I've heard it said that sometimes our lives are the only Bible some people read. Well, if that is the case, then this woman, who just heard about Rich Mullins and the book Ragamuffin Gospel, is in for a wonderful ride. Reading about Rich's life causes you to run headlong into the Giver of Life and His Word, and the book Ragamuffin Gospel, shows us that God wants us whether or not we know it. Which, when applied to how we live the life God gave us, invites us to have a wonderful, child-like, trusting relationship with the Creator of everything. You can't loose.

a ragamuffin band