From:

Hi folks!

I was able to make it to last night's "Michael Card" concert. Apart from the blistering cold and blowing snow, it was an amazing night! The show was held at Valley Church in West Des Moines, IA. It has a beautiful auditorium that seated 1100. Considering the horrid weather and Micheal's inability to be there, the turnout was rather good, but there were still plenty of seats available.

The show started about 7:20. Phil came out and introduced himself as "not Michael Card". He said he was sorry and he didn't know any of Michael's songs. He used "Strong Tower" as a warm-up followed by "The Lord Will Never" by Ted Sandquist. One of the most amazing versions of "Shades of Green" I've ever seen came next. "You Have My Heart", a new song called "Dream Again" and "County Down" preceeded a dynomite version of "Salvation Army Band" and the first time I've ever heard Phil NOT use "True Believers" as part of the encore.

The 20 minute intermission ended when Phil came out and someone in the audience requested "Be Thou My Vision". Phil agreed to play it but said he couldn't remember how the words went and didn't want to get it backwards again. So he called for a volunteer from the audience to come up and sing. After some convincing, he finally got two, Amy and Karen. They both said they were scared and Phil conceeded he was scared every time he came on stage! But, after some commotion and deciding which verses went where, all three did a wonderful job and the audience was singing along! Next came one of my favorite of Phil's covers, "Here Comes the Sun" (though I missed John and Daniel doing bgv's!) followed by the Malcolm and Alvyn song, "Fool's Wisdom". He dedicated a song called "The Image" next, and for it's first public performance, it went over very well. I hope it becomes a standard tune! A pair from "the album that nobody likes" ;), "Chalice" and "From the Beginning" were both very well done as was "In The Light of Common Day". Phil spoke briefly about Keith Green, Randy Stonehill and Todd Fishkind and mentioned how he likes to remember Todd because he isn't well known, kinda like he and Randy! Of course, this led to "Love Broke Through" after which Phil spoke of Rich Mullins and did "Hold Me Jesus" which I love to hear him do live. Next came a medley of "I Feel The Winds of God Today", "Del's Bell's", "We Are Siamese" and (using that neat little plastic thingie "Prelude" from HYMNSONGS. A wonderful version of "Tender Love" flowed into an equally beautiful "Under the Grace".

The encore was a fantastic version of "John the Revelator" followed by "Let Everything Else Go" and BEYOND NATURE medley of tunes. The end came around 10pm, to everyone's dismay.

But it was a great night, indeed! Thanks go to Stybba for driving through the nasty weather to pick me up and Robin and Brian for the seats!!! The evening was most definitely worth the journey! I'm sorry Michael had to cancel but extremely pleased that Phil could "fill" in!!!

Page Last Updated: March 18, 2003