All Things New

It's hard to explain what seeing Josh Garrels live in concert means to me. How do I capture for someone else how significant his cd, "Jacaranda," was to my summer of 2010? The best I can do is to call it my summer soundtrack for that year, but then all you know is that I listened to it a lot and its sounds colored the texture of the night air, and even then, it doesn't quite get it.

I never thought I would have this opportunity (let's start there). I first heard his music through my friend Debbie, who put one of his songs, "Sweet River Roll," on a mix she made for me before I left for IMPACT. I listened to and liked it quite a bit, but had never heard of him before nor heard any of his music (not necessarily a redundancy, for anyone who cares). As it so happens, he rarely does shows on the East Coast, despite being a Carolina native, but several years ago, he played at Senorita Burrita, a little burrito joint on Prince Street. I missed that show by a year or two in terms of knowing who he was, but by the time I did, I sorely regretted my ignorance. The likelihood that he would ever be in my neck of the woods was slim, and I knew it.

Re-enter Debbie, a week ago. She tells me that he's going to be in town again. Understandably, I am over the moon in joy. Finally and surprisingly, I would get to see him in concert! But when I looked up the details, it appeared that he would be playing late on Saturday evening, when I was already scheduled to work. Disappointed, I let her know that I wouldn't be able to go, and that seemed like the end of it. But, surprise again, he was actually playing TWO shows this weekend, one with the P.A.P.A. Festival (partners with Shane Claiborne), the other with a Lancaster organization called The Rowhouse. The second show would be taking place on Sunday at 7PM. And most conveniently, I could go.

What do I love about his music? He is undeniably good. His music is like rich, thick, sweet molasses, something that has a bite to it, that wakes up something inside of you and you know life shouldn't be the same. There's a lot of rawness, genuine fervor, connection, and a Christian mystic's understanding and words for who God is. He has his pulse on the threads of the world and of culture, but I think he doesn't realize his prophecy for what it is. Bringer of hope, speaker of truth, singer of songs that will never grow old and only grow sweeter.

I feel like this whole evening was a present from my Father. Even the song list... He played Don't Wait for Me, Break Bread, Train Song, Zion & Babylon, The Resistance, Further Along, and even (though he said he rarely plays it live) Little Blue. The others, Ulysses, Flood Waters, Freedom (a new favorite), Slip Away, and the live-only song Joyful Boy, were all stunningly awesome. I don't think I have ever smiled out of simple bliss for so long in my entire life. It was perfect. Thank you, Abba, for giving me a sort of reverse Father's Day gift. It was everything I could have wished for, but never would have dreamed of having.