First off, let me say that these guys are starting to get quite a following for their Christmas concerts. Last year, I literally arrived one minute before the concert started and easily got a front row pew (approx.30-40 in attendance). Monday night we arrived at the Pleasant Valley United Methodist Church in Wichita 15 minutes before the scheduled time and we had to sit at a back table (coffee house type setting) in the fellowship hall, and they had to add many more chairs after we got there.

(My notes of the concert weren't as complete as I thought they were, so at times I'm giving my best guess what David & Brad played.)

Without introduction, Michael, Brad & David walked onstage at 7:40, and Michael began ...

1) "What Child Is This"/"O Come O Come Emmanuel" - Michael Aukofer (accordion, marimba), David Dibbern (bass/the upright kind), Brad Layher (guitar)

After the first medley, Michael informed us that they were recording that evening hoping to get one song that they could use as a live version for their CD. Up to this point, none of the songs from the concerts have panned out. Michael also apologized (tongue-in-cheek) about the delay saying that 200 people showed up more than what they expected. I was real happy for the guys. They seemed more serious than usual; they didn't have their normal banter. I also felt that we, the audience, held back during the concert because of the recording, we didn't want to mess it up for the guys.

2) "Good King Wenceslaus" - Michael, Brad & David (guitar trio)

3) "Be Thou My Vision" - M.A.(accordion), D.D.(hammer dulcimer), B.L.(guitar), a friend from Friends University played the bohdran, the guys (vocals, Irish accents and all!)

4) "We Three Kings"/"Angels We Have Heard On High" - B.L.(guitar), D.D.(bass), M.A.(Michael's unique grouping of assorted percussion instruments) ... This was a snazzy, jazzy tune!

5) "Holy Holy Holy" - M.A.(hammer dulcimer), B.L.(hammer dulcimer), D.D.(guitar) ... Uh, or maybe switch Brad & David's instruments, I can't remember. :o)

6) "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" - D.D.(bass), B.L.(guitar), M.A.(percussion set), and Jeanne Anne Schroeder, another friend from Friends sang.

7) Song from Michael's "Stations of the Cross" project - Jeanne Ann (vocal), M.A.(marimba), D.D.(bass), B.L.(guitar)

8) "Carol of the Bells" w/Christmas medley intro - M.A.(marimba), D.D.(mountain dulcimer, hammer dulcimer), B.L.(mandolin, marimba)

(I'm sure that marimba is a pain to move from church to church, but the music that those guys make with it is absolutely wonderful.)

9) "Joy to the World" w/"Amazing Grace" bridge - B.L.(mountain dulcimer), D.D.(washboard, soup cans duct taped to stool), M.A.(harmonica, popcorn can, hand claps, legs slaps, etc.) ... Yee-Haw, good ol' Appalachian musik!

10) "Angels We Have Heard on High"- Michael invited up the church's pastor, and she played a short ditty on accordion with the guys. M.A.(percussion), D.D.(bass), B.L.(guitar)

11) "When Peace Like a River (It Is Well)" - M.A.(hammer dulcimer), B.L. & D.D.(hammer dulcimer & guitar)

12) Selections from Handel's Messiah incl. Hallelujah Chorus - B.L.(mandolin), D.D.(mandola), M.A.(mandocello)

13) "Jolly Old Saint Nicholas" - The "Boom Whacker Trio" complete with a "Boom Whacker Amen"

14) "The Little Drummer Boy"/"I Saw Three Ships" - M.A.(at least one conga, cymbals, popcorn can for right foot, tambourine for left foot, hammer dulcimer, and nearly all of it was being done simutaneously!), B.L. & D.D.(hammer dulcimer, guitar, and other percussion, sorry, I was too busy watching Michael to notice what they were playing! :o)

Michael had announced before "Drummer Boy" that it was their last song. As the guys got off the stage to a very loud standing ovation, the pastor caught the guys and I assume was asking for one more song. I was glad she did, because they played my favorite from last year...

15) "Of the Father's Love Begotten" - Instrumental intro, Michael & Brad on marimba, David on bass... then they moved into a percussion backbeat with Michael on bohdran, David drumming his bass, and Brad drumming on his guitar as they sang the old early century tune. Very cool! I hope it's included on the CD!

Well, I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas. Later...