Though it was one of the most exciting nights of the Winter Olympics, contemporary Christian music performer Michael W. Smith managed to draw 2,400 people to Wheaton College’s Edman Chapel Friday.
A multiple Dove Award and Grammy winner, Smith usually performs in big arenas, but this time around is playing churches and colleges in what he calls “The Acoustic Tour.” (His publicist jokingly refers to it as Smith Semi-unplugged.) The tour is a celebration of his first decade as a singer/songwriter.
In the more than 20-song set, Smith sang many of his old songs, reaching back 10 years to sing classics such as “Friends” and “Great Is The Lord.” Smith, who was once Amy Grant’s keyboard player, is now as large a crossover artist as she is.
The highly-appreciative crowd bordered on obnoxious, screaming whenever Smith mentioned Jesus or the Bible, but also when he mentioned Nashville. After a group of teenage girls from the balcony yelled “We love you!” for what must have been the fifth or sixth time, Smith responded, “So does my wife.”
Smith wisely surrounded himself with a group of superb musicians: Chris Rodriguez and Chris Harris on acoustic guitars, Wayne Kirkpatrick on bass, Mark Heimermann on organ and Steve Brewster on drums.
Smith’s band was so good they threatened to outshine him. Brewster’s percussion was creative but never overwhelming. Rodriguez, who’s toured with Kenny Loggins, added much with his deft guitar playing and harmonizing. At one point, when allowed to sing two lines solo, he did so with such beauty and strength it left one wishing for more. The concert lagged when Smith played solo piano and sang by himself. Though a talented songwriter, he has a weak voice that strains at the high notes and at times sounds as quivery as Michael Jackson’s speaking voice.
Despite all their screaming, the audience seemed to be acting by rote during most of the evening: this is the song where we hold up lights; this is the song where we stand with our arm around our best friend; this is the song where we all wave our hands and sway. It wasn’t until late in the concert that things began to spark. A rocking version of the old hymn, “Nothing But the Blood of Jesus” seemed to rejuvenate both the musicians and the crowd.
Doing small, intimate, acoustic concerts probably seemed like a great idea, but it falls short in execution. Smith is a better performer when he’s plugged in and rocking. It would’ve been nice to hear more songs from The Big Picture era, which featured electronic keyboard, African rhythms, and extended jams.
The spotlight focused on Smith throughout the evening and went out after every song, leaving the other musicians in a muddy blue light or in the dark.
The opening act was Chip Arnold, who gave an abridged performance of his one-man show, “The Word Made Flesh.”
