Five 30-minute Sets
I knew Brian Free/Assurance and Mark Bishop were going to be performing in Lincolnton, NC last night, so I made the drive over there to check them out. Before I went in, I noticed several buses parked around the building, so I knew it was going to be more than just the two acts. Turns out, the Freemans, Whisnants, and Greenes were also on the bill...with a 7:00 PM start time.
So it was like a mini-NQC. Each act had about 30 minutes to do their thing and leave you wanting more.
Freemans - I've never been a huge fan of their vocal style, but I must say, this group took the stage and had the crowd eating out of their hand from the get go. I was wanting to hear more when their time was up and they left the stage.
Whisnants - This trio is local to the area. Jeff Whisnant's parents were sitting right behind me. They came out with a great set as well. They were just getting warmed up when their time was up and they left the stage.
Brian Free And Assurance - The quartet I drove over to Lincolnton to see. They did "If It Takes A Valley" and "Jesus Will Pick You Up" and "Under Cross Examination" off their new CD It's So God and of course, "Long As I Got King Jesus." They also did "For God So Loved" and a hymn medley a cappella. Needless to say, I was hoping to hear more like ten songs or so from their new CD rather than just three, but their time was up and they left the stage. Are you seeing a pattern here?
Mark Bishop - What a funny guy. Mark Bishop is one soloist who mixes enough humor and serious material together that it sustains your interest even though he's the only guy on the stage. They should have asked him to emcee the evening and do two or three of his own songs between each of the other acts.
Greenes - The Greenes have a good mix of humor and serious material as well. Like the other groups, they left you wanting more. Tony Greene had a great story to tell about an ugly couple getting married on New Year's Eve right before a concert. It was going on ten o'clock when I slipped out and they were singing "Hold On." I'm not sure if the groups did a second set or not.
Why do promoters do this to us? Three artists would have been plenty for an evening event. Four would have been pushing it. And if they are going to have five groups on a program, why don't they move the start time earlier so each act isn't rushed on and then rushed off the stage? Honestly, I think just as many people would have shown up with one or two less groups on the line-up.
I'm not going to complain too much, though. At least they had the foresight to schedule quality acts on the same program.
