There have been a few out there who have been kind enough to send their reviews of the Salt Box Tour. I've included their comments below.
* 04/01/96 Tulsa, OK concert
04/04/96 San Antonio, TX concert
* 04/05/96 Arlington, TX concert (cancelled ARGH!)
04/12/96 Seattle, WA concert
04/15/96 Boise, ID concert
04/26/96 Valencia, CA concert
04/28/96 Azusa, CA concert
05/04/96 Stillwater, OK concert
* 05/11/96 Kansas City, MO concert
Prayer Request
* These links are all part of my Salt Box Tour Review Page
Dr Scott Sitterle writes about the 04/04/96 San Antonio, TX concert:
Have you seen the Salt Box Tour yet? Here is the songs they played at the
concert here.
Not in order
From Dont Wait for the Movie-----How Many Times
Freedom---------------------Bye Bye Babylon(the opening song)
Sing Your Freedom(the last song)
Let the Kingdom Come
Over Me*
Powerhouse------------------Powerhouse
Desert Rose*
Tales of Wonder-------------His Heart Was Always in It
Unchain*
Highlands-------------------nothing!!
Inside----------------------Inside
You Cant Take What You Dont Have
Even the Hardest Heart*
The "*" songs were part of an acoustic set in the middle of the show where
all the band sat down on old couches and chairs made up to look like a living
room.They only played for approx 60 minutes plus an encore of Pride (In the
Name of Love) by U2. Ric sounded awesome!!!(Bono who?).
Overall I expected to hear more songs off Inside and was a little
disappointed, Highlands was forgotten. What can I expect when the band is
limited to an hour set. Freedom seemed to be an important album to draw cuts
from. I havent heard Let the Kingdom Come since Tommy Sims was a member.
Speaking of the bass player, the current one, John Thorn, has a great looking
bass guitar with lots of colorful painted drawings on it including a Miami
Dolphin. Look for it if you go to a show.
Petra followed Whiteheart with a 75 minute set that did not meet the energy
of the previous set (IMHO). Johnny Q. Public rocked the stage before
Whiteheart, they are a riot. The whole audience got really involved. The lead
singer was a NUT!
Grammatrain started the evening with a short set of 5 songs reminding me of
Nirvana and sometimes Soundgarden.
What a show, we got home at past 1 A.M.!
DONT MISS THE SALT BOX TOUR!!!
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Steve Tilson writes about the 04/12/96 Seattle, WA concert:
Hi Danl:
I just thought I'd let you know that I just saw Whiteheart here in Seattle
with Petra, and it was a great show! (I figure you must be a big Whiteheart
fan if you run the homepage). I can see why you like Whiteheart. It was
also my first Christian rock concert.
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Chris and Jeannie Johnston write about the 04/15/96 Boise, ID concert:
I can't tarry too long. But after seeing Whiteheart for the first time in my
life, I do have some comments about the concert.
When they opened up with Powerhouse, the crowd went nuts. Brian Wooten just
came out of the darkness and started jamming. He caught us by surprise,
literally. It was one the best openers I've seen in any concert. Whiteheart
played a lot of their older songs which was a blessing to hear. "Desert
Rose", "Kingdom Come" (Boy I like that one!!), "Sing Your Freedom", and "His
Heart Was Always in It" were just a few. I was extremely blessed at the
message given to us by Mark Gersmehl and Rick Florian. Rick had more energy
than a nuclear power plant. He even got into the audience and went jumping
from row to row as he was singing. Their stage set was very impressive
indeed, and Mark's handling of the keyboards was first class. Also first
class was Brian Wooten's mastery of the guitar. Besides Jimi Hendrix, he's
the only other guy I know of who can play the thing with his teeth. I was a
little disappointed that they didn't have any more time to perform than they
did. I was hoping they would do "The Flame Passes On" and "Light a Candle".
Those two songs minister to me in a way I can't describe. After the show, I
had a chance to meet the band and get their autographs. Rick Florian looked
like he was exhausted and ready to pass out. I asked him if he was okay, and
he only said that he was ready to go to bed, and had planned on taking an
early exit from the autograph-signing session. Poor guy. After meeting
Whiteheart, my wife and I have decided to send them a thank-you card with
some signatures on it to let them know how appreciated they are for their
commitment to their fans and ministry.
As for the whole concert, it was a smashing success. Petra was just as good,
and Johnny Q. Public and Grammatrain did well, too. The sound was a little
off, and the turnout for the concert, in my opinion, was pathetic. The
Pavilion didn't sponsor enough spots on radio to promote this tour. If they
would have, then there would have been a much larger turnout. May God richly
bless these bands as they tour the country. They certainly have been a
blessing to us.
If it's okay, my wife would like to add some comments about the tour, too.
I felt the presence of the Lord at this concert. There must have been a lot
of prayer involved before the show started, because I sensed a covering of
the Spirit. Even though the sound started out bad, it got better as the
concert moved on, and God really moved. It was an awsome show.
I hope they can come back soon.
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Ed Michel writes about both the 04/26/96 Valencia, CA concert
and the 04/28/96 Azusa, CA concert:
Whiteheart, as usual, was in good form. I went to both the Friday April
26th concert at Six Flags Magic Mountain and also to the more intimate
concert at Azusa Pacific University. On Friday, the concert was much like
the ones described in the other reviews here except for the lack of
furniture in the middle of the stage. Perhaps the stage was smaller here
than at the other venues. Happily though I caught a good glimpse of the
furniture on Sunday Night as they did roughly the same set (at roughly the
same volume) in what appeared to be cafeteria sized room at APU (Sorry, I
don't attend the university, so I don't know what that room is normally used
for).
A couple of notable additions to the other reviews here.
For anyone planning on attending upcoming concerts, check out the words to
EVEN THE HARDEST HEART and meditate on them before the concert. Mark
introduces the song and what it is all about and asks the audience to join
him in a very unique way.
Also, if you get a chance to go to one of the more intimate concerts not
on the Salt-Box tour, go for it. For any of you who have never seen a
Whiteheart concert, these guys are really down to earth and usually come out
to talk after the concert is over.
Finally, please pray for the band and their ministry, especially Rick. He
looked a bit worn when I saw him. These guys have a wonderful ministry and
it deserves all of our prayer.
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Ken Shropshire writes about the 05/04/96 Stillwater, OK concert:
Well, I made the White Heart show in Stillwater on Saturday night. I drove up
by myself and found the Sunnybrook Christian Show with no problem. What follows
is a review of the show....hope this does not spoil anything for you...just
thought you might enjoy knowing...
Tickets were $5 before, $6 day of...I arrived around 6:05..showtime was 7. Jon
Knox, John Thorn, Billy Smiley and Rick Florian were all out in the
lobby...doing one thing or another. Rick Florian was working on a laptop
computer. They had a wide selection of souvenir items. T-shirts, CD's, tapes
and a really cool key chain...for $5...which I bought. Since the crowd outside
was only 5 people large, I had a feeling this was going to be a really small
show. From 7:18 to 7:21...they showed a film about "adopting" a needy child,
with Mark Germehl talking. The stage was very low key, there was a couch and
chair and lite candles...really had a homey feel to it. Crowd size was less
than 125 people.
At 7:21the show started.
Rick Florian, Billy Smiley and Mark Gersmehl entered and played
(I may have some of the names wrong..)
1 The Love He Gave or Molten Sky-acoustic
Brian Wooten, John Thorn and Jon Knox came out..
2 His Heart Was Always In It Into
3 Nothing But The Best
4 You Can't Take What You Never Had (You Don't Have Me) with a
Synth/Bass/Drum end
5 Rise Up To Show Us The Way w/Long Electric Lead section
6 Let The Kingdom Come
(Mark Gersmehl talking about forgiveness)
7 How Many Times or 70 Times Seven into
8 Could Have Been You
Band Introductions-- 8:08
At this point, they put a mic in the front of the audience and opened the floor
to questions. This was a very different thing for me. It ended up being very,
very interesting and the band members acted like they really enjoyed it. I was
the third person to ask a question, mine being..."I wanted to know each members
musical infuences?" All gave open and honest answers. About the 5th person
asked about the old singer and the arrest. Mark and Billy both responded. I
was very surpised that they really responded! It was very open!
This question session lasted until...8:58
The band then played more:
9 Desert Rose
10 Over Me
11 Sing Your Freedom 9:11
Rick Florian spoke about the needy children...end: 9:14
I met all members in the lobby and all were very, very friendly. Got my copy of
Inside signed...looks very cool!
It was a very enjoyable show and very different.
Hope you were interested in knowing.....anyway!
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Dear Fellow Whiteheart Fans,
I am writing to you to say hello, and also to Challenge each one of
you to pray for WHITEHEART, not because there is anything wrong,but simply
because they are an incredible ministry, as you all know. Last Week I had
the pleasure of using my Fan Club Card and I was able to meet WHITEHEART,
all except Billy. He was sick. He still performed, but he went to the bus
after the concert. My wife and I were able to talk with Mark Gersmehl for a
While. Through our talk we were able to share with him, and he with us. We
learned of some things that we were able to pray for him about. For the
very first time God put it really strong in my heart to see that these guys
are real people like us, and to see all the things that these guys do so
that WE (The Fans) can enjoy their awesome music. I am sure that they Love
every minute of it. We sure do, Right?
Well I just felt that God was putting it on my heart to reach out to as many
WHITEHEART Fans as I could to challenge each of you to look at them
differently from now on, like Christian Brothers serving the Lord. Just like
us. Pray for them and their families, that God would continue to give them
strength to "Keep fighting the Fight." Pass the word on to others, so that
can also Pray.
Thank You.
27 Years Old, WHITEHEART FAN for 11 years,
-Rich Smith-
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