The happiest, saddest day

Today is the happiest, saddest day. Happy, because it is the release day of The David Crowder Band's last ever album (or at least last for now...) Give Us Rest or (A Requiem Mass in the key of C [The happiest of all keys]). Sad, for the same reason. Over the summer, the DCB decided that this will be their last album. It's my hope, my fantasy, my dream, that they decide in a few years, that they'll continue to make music, but I don't know if that will happen.

My connection with this band happened almost 10 years ago. I was living in the Portland, Oregon area, and they were on tour with this speaker guy Louie Giglio, and this other guy, Chris Tomlin. I had heard the Tomlin guy, and was really more intrigued by this other band, because I had heard their song "Our Love is Loud" quite regularly on Air1 and wanted to go. So I did. When the band came out, I loved the fact they had a DJ....oh wait. Was he a DJ? He played the violin, too. And then this leader singer guy (and the namesake of the band) came out. This hair that stood up, the beard....I was enthralled. Then they made music. I was hooked. After the concert, both Tomlin and Crowder were hanging out in back. I said hi. Yes, I did. Little did I know, 10 years later, the impact that concert would have on my life. Not only the fact that was the moment when David Crowder and Chris Tomlin were imprinted on my heart and mind, but the music connected with me in a way words cannot describe.

Over the past almost 10 years, I've lost track of the Crowder concerts I've been to. Lifest in Wisconsin, The National Youth Workers Convention in Austin, even this summer, I drove to Odessa, Texas, to see them at Rock the Desert. I smile every time I think about a keytar, or the phrase "Behold....the keytar." My heart leaps when I remember the Lite Brite video for SMS (Shine), seeing the video for the first time at Crowder's Fantastical Church Music Conference. The Welcome Wagon, Bifrost Arts, Gungor, John Mark McMillan and The Civil Wars are on my radar screen, and music I love, thanks to David Crowder and the Fantastical Church Music Conference. I have sang "I Saw The Light" countless times in my car at the top of my lungs on repeat. As you may have noticed, this band has made an impact on me and my life.

So, back to the happiest, saddest day. It is a happy day, because I can listen to new Crowder music. It is a happy day, because whenever I listen to Crowder songs, one of the things I remember is, as a Christian, I have hope. It is a sad day, because I may never hear these songs live again. However, Crowder lives in Waco, as do my parents.....

Thank you, David Crowder, Jack Parker, B-Wack, Mike Dodson, Mike Hogan, and Mark Waldrop for the joy that you have given me and countless others with songs like, O Praise Him, Our Love is Loud, My Hope, O Happiness, SMS (Shine), Here is Our King, Foreverandever, etc., You are My Joy, Glorious Day, and so many more. Thank you for the hope, the happiness, the music, the fun, and most of all, thank you for sharing God with me and so many others in a creative, amazing way. I do pray that you consider reuniting in the future, but even if you don't, we'll still be praising God FOREVER......AND EVER.......AND EVER......AND EVER!!! Along with that, we'll be singing, dancing and making joy-filled noises like the saved!!!