Got Hope?

It's been a busy week in Count Me In Concerts world: the LOVE CAN Tour last Sunday, and the SONGS OF HOPE Tour this week. But it's been all good!

Songs of Hope featured the Robbie Seay Band, Bethany Dillon, and Caleb at The Underground at Alleluia! Lutheran Church in Naperville. Opening artist Caleb, featuring Caleb and Will Chapman (yes, that Chapman family, as in Steven Curtis), played three songs that showed the family talent. But this was not their daddy's music. Caleb features a fresh voice and perspective. Look for more to come from this yet-unsigned artist.

Bethany Dillon brought her guitar and beautiful voice, accompanied only by her drummer. She mentioned how some major life changes (marriage to Shane Barnard of Shane and Shane, and relocation from Ohio to Texas) inspired some of her newest writing. A mix of old and new songs followed. Her earlier songs "Beautiful" and "All I Need" are still among my favorite tunes of hers.

Robbie Seay had been fighting flu-like symtoms all day, but rest and good home cookin' seemed to energize him. He and his 3 bandmates opened their set with new tune "Love Invades," followed by one of my all-time favorite songs, "Song of Hope (Heaven Come Down)." I was not disappointed!

The band covered the Jon Foreman song "Your Love is Strong" which I enjoyed more than the original (perhaps because I am tired of Foreman's version). Current radio single "Miracle" was next, and this song is poised to be another RSB classic. Speaking of which... Seay introduced the next song, which wasn't on the original set list, saying, "We were told if we didn't play this we would not be welcome back here!" So came hope, coffee, melody in the form of hit song "New Day." (Why wouldn't they have played it, anyway?)

I was especially impressed with by the talented new guitar player, Matthew "Frodo" Kidd, who bears a striking resemblance to the Elijah Wood character for which he is nicknamed (penetrating blue eyes and all!) The entire band played a tight set and, in spite of being under the weather, Robbie Seay pressed on and even stuck around to meet fans, as he always enjoys doing.

Count Me In Concerts loves doing shows at The Underground; the atmosphere and the people are very inviting, and the artists agree. Who would you like to see there?