Greg & Heather's Southern Gospel Concert Blog, Comments from the Back Row

• The Lighthouse Girls led off as usual. There are a lot of new girls, so they’re still learning the songs, but they were inspirational as always!
• The McKameys were powerful as usual. Heather was happy to see Eli.
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The ‘house group’ started off sing a couple of songs. This church was definitely out in the country. The women of this small church are huggers. I think 50% of them came by and hugged me and Heather.

Freedom Hill started off with an a capella number that led the entire church to a standing ovation. This group does a great job of mixing fun and inspiration. They are absolutely on our ‘must see’ list.

We saw these guys back in January at Woodville UMC. They sang a combination of hymn standards and newer songs. They were very good, great harmony.

It was a small church several parents, well, not parents, just mothers, thought it was okay to let their small children play in the center isle 10 feet from the group, 5 kids 2-5 years old, for the entire concert. It was very distracting for the audience. It had to had been VERY distracting for the group, not to mention disrespectful!

Like we said before, we would certainly go see them again if they’re in the area, but not at this church.

The Dixie Echoes have had a lot of turnover the past few years. Ben Hart, the pianist since 2012 is gone and Randy Shelnut is now playing the piano and singing. Alex Utech, the bass singer is young, but has good sound even as his voice is maturing. They are still working on their on-stage group chemistry. It was well worth the 40 minute drive to see these guys.

• The Lighthouse Girls only sang one a cappella number and Taylor sang one alone because their sound track playback system and wasn’t working.
• The Inspirations were great as always. They have had a big turnover on all 4 singing parts recently, but you’d never know it by their sound. They have never sounded better. They didn’t have the steel guitar and were much better without it.

This was the longest we’ve ever traveled (330 miles round trip) to see a single group. It was worth it listening to and worshiping with the Allen Family.
Parents Todd and Michelle and their 7 children ages 8 to 20 live on their bus 365 days a year and present the message of Jesus Christ 275 times a year. The have a great sound and stage presence. You can watch them and know they live what they sing about.

Bonus: and Crestview had a Krystal!

Lighthouse Girls led off as usual. They are always inspirational.

The Mark Trammell Quartet was ‘on fire’. They are quickly becoming one of our favorite groups. As a matter of fact we are going to wherever Doerun, Georgia is to see them again on May 25th.

The Perrys were great too! Tracy was traveling with them and was carried up on the stage and sang a couple of numbers with them.

Brandon Hughes, a local young man, led off with several songs including an original.

Then Mason Fulton, a young girl, 9 or 10, did a fantastic job of Amazing Grace-unending Love.

Freedom Hill did a good job of mixing fun and inspiration. We will certainly go see them again, hopefully at a church where parents do a better job of controlling their young children. I just don’t understand today’s parents. Mine would never have been allowed to continually disrupt the service.

It was good to have a group like The Florida Boys at my home church of Bradfordville First Baptist Church.
This was the first time we saw the regenerated Florida Boys. I love the old time ‘bubble gum blue’ matching suits. They were more entertaining than inspirational. They sang all their Gospel standards, a couple of old Western theme songs, and one Platters song. We enjoyed them and would go see them again. Several of them, individually, after the concert, in the lobby, came over to Heather thanking her for her ‘enthusiastic’ enjoyment of their singing.