2nd Annual Live For Heaven Concert - Feb 8th, 2004
Andrew Peterson, Fernando Ortega, Danny Oertli and Dave Beegle
Crossroads Church, Wheat Ridge (Denver), CO

I discovered this show the day before I left Iowa for Colorado to see Phil Keaggy. It was supposed to be a free concert but each artist's website had differing information. Undaunted, I confirmed with Dave Beegle before the Phil concert that it really was happening, and set about making plans to attend such a great lineup of artists. You may not be familiar with Danny (www.DannyOertli.com) or Dave (www.DaveBeegle.com), but I assure you, both are worthy of your attention! I was introduced to Danny's music by a relative in late 2002 and had known of Dave since I first saw him perform with Phil in 1999. I met them both briefly in March 2003 while seeing Phil again. Danny's music has a very Mullins-ish style to it and he is a worship leader with Dare2Share ministries. Dave is a guitar virtuoso almost on par with Phil Keaggy. Dave rarely sings but his instrumental skills have made him something of a local legend on electric, acoustic and classical guitar. I've been enjoying AP since early 1998 and Fernando was the only artist I wasn't
familiar with.

This was a free concert and I was expecting it to be overflowing. We got there around 6:15 and, to my surprise, there was not a line but the place was about 3/4 full. Since I don't see well, my cousin helped me find a place down near the front, but with 8 others in our group, I had to sit alone. A few minutes after the show started at 7, there was still one seat open in the front row and my cousin tried very hard to find out if the person was going to show up so I could sit even closer. The woman in the seat next to it assured her it's occupant definitely would be showing up, and my cousin, flustered, asked why. Because, the woman told her, it belonged to the guitar player! After the show, we found out she was talking with Dave Beegle's wife! And, had the connection been made, Dave would've gladly relinquished his seat for me.

But no matter, I was still closer than I had been with the group and was already starting to enjoy the praise and worship that began the concert. Danny Oertli and Dave Beegle, along with the "house band" (I assume) led us in several praise songs, including "Better Is One Day" and others from Danny's new CD, Live For Heaven. I had never seen Dave play more of a "supplimental" role such as this and it was great to see that such a talented guitarist was humble enough to relinquish the "limelight". You don't see electric lead guitarists do that very often! The band was tight and it was a pleasure (I love to watch people worship!).

Andrew hobbled out next, and, having forgotten a stool, told of his knee surgury. To keep with the flow of worship, he started his set with "Nothing To Say" with some audience participation. Now, he said, he could "ruin the mood with a song about how big of a jerk I can be" with his inteded starter, "The Chasing Song". He then realized he'd forgotten his capo. Seeing one on one of the "rock guys" guitars, he recalled how he started playing piano, but soon realized how difficult it was to pick up chicks that way so he started playing the guitar. His insecurities inspired "Loose Change" (probably one of my favorite AP songs!) and "Family Man" was written after his family stopped touring with him. Two more of my favorites from Love And Thunder closed his solo set and both were beathtaking. "Silence Of God" and, in keeping with the Live For Heaven theme of the concert and conference, "After the Last Tear Falls". Absolutely beautiful!

Danny Oertli was up next with Dave Beegle on the 2nd acoustic guitar. Danny has done several praise and worship CDs but he is also a very capable songwriter. Like Rich Mullins and Andrew Peterson, his songs are very personal and poignient. His set was short and included "God Wrote A Song" and "Mommy Paint The Sky", written after his wife passed away and inspired by something his daughter had said. He mentioned how he'd met and become friends with Andrew Peterson on a Compassion trip and then closed his first set with "Dancing With Orphans", a song dedicated to Compassion nternational and with a video playing in the background.

An intermission was given and I stretched and said a brief hello to Dave Beegle before we were told to take our seats for Fernando Ortega. I'd never seen Fernando perform and had only heard one song, so I really wasn't sure what to expect. I was surprised to see him play a keyboard instead of a guitar like Danny, Dave and Andrew, but it was a nice change and he did it very well. He is very fun to watch and is almost as funny as Andrew. He began with "I Will Praise Him Still" and continued with the only song of his I knew, "This Good Day". It was very different on the keyboard than the acoustic guitar version I'm used to, but well done nonetheless. Next up was "We Will Ride Through The Breaking Of The Dawn". We were then treated to a new song, "Mildred Madeline Johnson" about a strong older woman Fernando once rented a room from. "In The Morning When I Rise" and "Give Me Jesus" paved the way for a wonderful "Amazing Grace" with more audience participation (this was a wonderful audience!). Two new songs "Sleepless Nights", performed for the first time, and "Take Heart My Friend" closed out a wonderful performance. I will definitely be checking out more of Fernando's music when I get a chance!

Fernando reliquished the stage to Danny and Dave once again for an amazing performance of Dave's acoustic version of Bach's "Joy". This was the only song of Dave's to be performed during the show, which was understandable, but a bit disappointing. Dave is such an incredible guitarist that I would've loved to see him get more of the spotlight. I've seen Dave play this live several times and he has recorded both an acoustic version and an electric progressive rock version with his trio, Fourth Estate. In fact, the latter is usually what I use as an alarm clock! Dave and Danny nailed this version and even showed off a bit when, at the end of the song, they tossed their picks to each other and continued with the song, without missing a beat! Andrew and Fernando joined Dave and Danny for an encore performance of "Soon and Very Soon", a very appropriate way to end the evening, living for heaven.

I caught up with Dave and his wife Sandy after the show and we chatted for nearly an hour between autographs and fan photo-ops. It was a pleasure to get to know them a bit better!

What an incredible evening!!! I am so very pleased I found out about this in time. What a blessing! The only thing missing was Phil Keaggy, who was *supposed* to be there if not for a booking mixup. Oh well, I saw him at the start of the weekend.

Pictures: http://www.playthrume.com/photos/index-6.html

-- by Stephanie Bargenquast