Date: 08 February 1999
To: MitchMailList
From: Danl Blackwood
Subject: [MitchMailList 022]: Winona Lake, IN 01/21 review

Tim Francis' Winona Lake review
as posted to the Ragamuffin Mailing List

Subject: Winona Lake Concert
From: Tim Francis
Date: Tue, 26 Jan 1999 06:07:50 EST

Mitch McVicker and the Kid Brothers of St. Frank played at the Winona
Lake Free Methodist Church Thursday night January 21, 1999.  The concert
was filled with songs played straight from their hearts to the Lord they
love and serve.  

The concert opened with 2 songs from Mitch's self-titled CD.  Here and
Now and One of These Days.  Next was a song that has not been recorded
yet called He's Right Here With Us.  This song had a beautiful harmonica
intro and blended vocals which spoke of the God who never leaves us
alone.

Next Mitch played a couple songs he wrote with Rich Mullins.  The first
was New Mexico.  Mitch said on his CD this song is like a lullaby, but
they have done the 90's thing and made it funky.  The new version sounded
great in concert.  Next was Heaven is Waiting.  This began with a
mournful, lament type of intro.  Eric on his cello and Michael on his
dulcimer played an intro that gave me the impression that they truly
longed for heaven.  Shelli's vocal added depth and beauty to this great
song.

Mitch then introduced everyone and said they had been calling themselves
the Kid Brothers of St Frank but ran into a little snag when Shelli started 
singing with them.  Apparently, however, St. Francis had a supporter and 
follower who was a woman whom he called a brother.  Shelli sang lead on 
the next song from the Canticle called In Your Hands.

Next was a song Mitch wrote with Michael called Where Did It Go.  For
this song Mitch switched to what he called his baby guitar.  He said it
made him feel like he could play another instrument.  Michael and Eric
are always running around playing different things and Mitch just plays
guitar.  So they start the song and something sounds very wrong.  Michael
announces through laughter that Mitch has the capo on the wrong fret. 
Everyone is laughing.  Mitch fixes the capo and says, "But listen to this
now."  Then Michael says, "Now it's just out of tune!"  After they got
going though the song was a really good one.  I hope they record it
sometime.  

The next song they played was from Mitch's CD a song called Hope.  Then
back to The Canticle for There You Are.  Mitch said There You Are spoke
of God being evident in creation so they intertwined it with an old hymn
which also spoke of God being evident in creation Fairest Lord Jesus. 
They began by playing the hymn which turned into There You Are which
turned back into the hymn at the end.  Nice work!  They closed the first
set with a song that never fails to move me Only Love Will.

After a short break they were back on stage.  The second set opened with
Gospel Rain followed by Freedom.  Next was another unrecorded song called
When You Love.  I predict this song will someday be played on radio
stations across the country. It really rocks.  Next was a song by Ben
Harper about being ready to put on my long white robe.  Then with Michael
on the hammered dulcimer they performed a beautiful instrumental version
of It Is Well.  

Next Mitch gave a very moving talk about personal frustrations and the
healing process and waiting on the Lord.  Then he said he'd like to play
a song he wrote with Rich Mullins.  He said they wrote it for Rich to
record but he never got around to doing that, but after Rich died some of
his friends recorded it.  Then when he said he was going to play My
Deliverer there was a collective quiet gasp from the crowd.  Everyone
knew we were in for a special treat.  Shelli's vocal really brought a lot
to this powerful version.  I felt privileged to be in the crowd.  

Next Mitch played a song that he said was kind of his prayer.  Take Hold
of Me.  Mitch then gave another talk straight from his heart.  He said
Jesus loves the hell out of us. Quiet literally.  He said it's weird to
think we've got little pieces of hell inside us, but it's even more weird
to think we've got little pieces of heaven inside of us.  During the talk
Michael had taken Mitch's stool and turned it upside down to use for
another  percussion instrument.  Michael was also set up with his
washboard and popcorn can.  Mitch looked over and said we've got quite a
contraption here!  They finished the set with that stupid little profound
favorite The Lemonade Song.  

After a standing ovation they returned to the stage with Mitch saying
they didn't know anymore songs.  After some laughter they played a couple
praise songs.  Lord I Lift Your Name On High and I Love You Lord.  It was
a great night.  It was a great concert. My prayers go with Mitch and his
band as they continue to spread the Good News.

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