The concert was very poorly publicized. The Cincinnati Christian stations just began mentioning it on Tuesday of this week. We decided to go since hearing Rich's music performed live is such a treat!

At 7:30pm, the church had maybe 200 people. Within the last few months, Third Day had performed there for 2,000. So the crowd size was a huge disappointment to the performers.

Ashley Cleveland opened up solo. She was great. Her ability to play the guitar is so amazing. All by herself, there is such a full sound. She played for about 45 minutes. She was so relaxed, and laid back, like as if she were playing to family. The crowd of 200 was so quiet, they barely stirred or clapped. But she did great!

She shared that she got to know Rich Mullins on the Brothers Keeper tour (1995 I think). She said that Rich always loved to play with an instrument out of tune, or off key. He never wanted to be polished. She said he also liked to plan the most inconvenient and uncomfortable touring schedule just to be unconventional. But she said that it all would come together in this incredible mix of sharing, and music, and the Brothers Keeper tour experience was one that she loved and cherishes the memories of.

She said that her husband was really moved and drawn closer to the Lord by that tour. Her hubby would sit in the audience and watch Rich perform, and be moved to tears at each concert as Rich shared from his heart. So Ashley's husband was really encouraged and strengthened in his faith because of that experience.

She shared that she figures good songs don't just lay around. And Rich Mullins wrote a song in college that was incredible, but he never recorded it. Rich told a friend that he didn't write it for himself to perform, and he thought a black female gospel singer would probably be the one to record it. She laughed! Then she sang a really heartfelt beautiful version of "Jesus" (from The Jesus Record). It was spine-tingling!

She also said that it really takes a lot for her to write a song. But she figures third children always get get the short end of the stick. Kid #1 gets the baby book, and all the attention. Kid #2 gets some. But by Kid #3, parents just don't have much time left. Anyway, she wrote a song for her 5 year old. It was a nice song about how you must have faith like a child.

The Ragamuffins then came out. Rick Elias, Jimmy Abegg, and Mark Robertson, and a new drummer. They mentioned that Aaron Smith has gone into semi-retirement. Apparently this was a 2-concert tour that they are doing with Ashley Cleveland. They talked about Midwest, and Friday night's... I guess everybody loves high school football around here?? (In other words, Where is everyone?). Someone mentioned that apparently Myrrh Records is doing everything possible to see that their new album "Prayers of a Ragamuffin" fails.

They opened with an excellent rendition of "Everywhere I go I see you", with a fantastic percussion opening. The crowd of 200 was firmly stuck to their seats, except for me, and my 2 kids, who were dancing in the aisle. It really rocked, and was worshipful at the same time.

Rick Elias said that the past 3 years have really gone by fast. It seems to him that he didn't have time to mourn fully until now, so he was in a kind of somber, mourning mood. He mentioned the concert was kind of cathartic, with the small crowd giving him a chance to mourn.

He recalled that Rich Mullins always wanted Rick Elias to perform "Man of no reputation" at all of Rich's concerts. Rich would sit to the side, and watch, and there were always tears streaming down his face. But Rich didn't want to record the song, as it was being saved for a special album (which became "The Jesus Record"). He then sang a moving version of "Man of no reputation"

Additionally, they performed the following:
>From The Jesus Record:
"You did not have a home"
"Surely God is with us"
"That Where I am, There you..." (which they called the square dance song)
"My Deliverer"

>From "Prayers of a Ragamuffin":
"Faith, Hope, Love"
"God Grant me tears"
"Bouncing off the ceiling"
"Make me an instrument" Regarding this song, they said that they were invited to perform it in Rome for a World Youth gathering. Apparently there were 2,000,000 people, and they were on a stage "the size of an aircraft carrier". Sounded very cool!

>From the Rich Mullins & a Ragamuffin Band albums:
"Calling Out your Name" (with Jimmy A playing a guitar version of the hammered dulcimer opening)
"Hold Me Jesus" Rick Elias mentioned that when he was in Amsterdam recently, he found himself singing this song to himself. Seemed to be no wonder that Rich Mullins would write that song in a city like Amsterdam.

They joked around about dispensing with the old "encore" routine. They said were just going to go right into the encore songs, so the audience needing to get up. This is it.

They closed with the:
"Awesome God"
"Creed"
"Sometimes by Step"
Then they began the Doxology, and they walked off stage as the stage as the audience sang it.

Kathy Sprinkle was there, and she mentioned that it was the tightest she had seen them play. Musically they really sounded great! And it was really good to hear some of the great songs of Rich Mullins live once again. Rich's music is so good, and so important. I hope the Ragamuffins can stick together and continue to bring out new music, as well as carry on the legacy of the late Ragamuffin.

All told, the concert lasted from 7:30pm to 10pm. The small crowd of 200 people was treated to a wonderful concert, despite the crowds unresponsiveness.

There were people who had heard about the concert via the Internet, and had come from as far away as Detroit, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. But someone apparently forgot to tell Dayton... or they were all at High School football games. The promoter really blew this one! What a great quality concert with a Grammy winner in Ashley Cleveland, and Dove award winning Ragamuffins.

If either of these artists come near your town, go see them! Just my humble opinion.

Thanks,

Tom