Date: 21 January 1999
To: MitchMailList
From: Danl Blackwood
Subject: [MitchMailList 019]: Malvern, PA 01/15 review

Kim's Malvern review
as posted to the Ragamuffin Mailing List

From: kim
Date: Sat, 16 Jan 1999 11:44:48
Subject: [ragamuffin] Malvern Review, last night's concert

fellow rags,

it was a   night!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

first, i want to thank anyone who prayed us through the journey to
malvern...there were many icy spots but on the whole the roads seemed
clear for us.

after setting up in this tiny coffee shop, and watching the humor and
hardships of fitting into the small space available, we felt we knew
these guys a little bit more than when we arrived.

the first song was Here and Now, followed by One of These Days and
then into a wonderful intro (harmonica - Mitch) with a new song "yet
unrecorded" that has the words.....I guess that's why He's called 
Emmanuel....can't wait to hear it recorded!   Mitch introduced 
the next song as a lullaby with a 90's style and proceeded to
do New Mexico with a different beat....very funky, but i enjoyed it.
Three from Canticles - Heaven is Waiting with Michael hammering
his heart out on the HD and a medley of Fairest Lord Jesus and
There You Are with Shelli as lead in the start and BGV later.
(Beautiful!)  The last one from Canticles was In His Hands sung
by Shelli and that was very good as well.  (It felt like Rich was
somewhere in the room smiling)
 Next one was new and as "yet 
unrecorded" but i will give it my best shot.  Michael and Mitch wrote 
a song about faith, hope and love and it was maybe the best song i 
heard last night. my heart was blessed and i scrawled on the envelope 
(which was where i kept these notes) GREAT SONG.!!!!!!!
Hope and Only Love Will finished the first set.

Second set started with Gospel Rain, then a song Mitch said was
based on a poem by Emily Dickinson who he thinks is "crazy" and
the song - Freedom.  Michael played a tamborine with his feet and
the HD and it was all too much.  When You Love (unrecorded) and
a song by Ben Harper titled(?) Ready to put on my Long White Robe
followed. 
Mitch started to introduce the next hymn It Is Well but then decided 
to turn the mike over to Michael and he explained the setting of the
writing of this song - very humbly.  Finishing up the last set were
My Deliverer and The Lemonade Song.  

Of course with a long round of applause, they returned to their 
positions and Eric and Mitch 'invented' a song called Jojo's.  What
can i say but it was more than hysterical, very improvised and they
were having a blast, the whole cafe' was clapping and laughing!
Eric really enjoyed his instruments and playing...he bears the spirit
of Rich.
They closed the night with Lord I Lift Your Name on High...the 40
were singing loud and strong.
We visited a bit afterwards....Michael is busy with his schedule with
Mitch and the future dates with the Ragammuffin Band and producing
an album soon.  Mitch signed our CD and talked for a while and Eric
was into exclaiming that the rustic Italian Ring Bread i baked them
looked like a gigantic donut!!! 
 
 One girl came up while we were there
and said that she knew he (Eric) was asked this way too often but if
it was possible to share a Rich story...just one..... with her 
and he proceeded to tell of a time they (Eric and Rich) were at a 
Burger King (i think that is what he said) and Rich got to talking 
to some people there and asked them if they wanted to go to a concert 
and they ended up going and he was really happy that they came even 
through they left half way....it seemed like Rich's focus was on 
how happy he was to have them there.  It also appeared that memories
were flooding Eric's mind when he had finished and he quietly bowed 
his head slightly and turned to pack up.  We quietly put on our coats
and through tear-filled eyes walked out into the street.

If this review seems too good to be true, it was.  Everyone did a 
great job in each important part they played and my life is
richer as a result..don't miss them!

Peace of Christ,
kim

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