Show Review: Sanctus Real, Addison Road, Jason Gray

Friday night I headed down to my friends' alma mater for a Sanctus Real show with my sister. Apparently Red Lion Evangelical Free Church (the parent organization of my friends' school) hosts the occasional concert, sponsored by Reach FM, the local Christian radio station.

I honestly haven't listened to Sanctus Real in quite some time and wasn't entirely sure what to expect from a show in a church/school gym. Singer/songwriter Jason Gray took the stage, armed with an acoustic guitar and intelligently spiritual lyrics set to catchy tunes. Overcoming a significant stutter, his between-song banter was alternatingly funny and profound. Despite some issues with forgetting lyrics, I was impressed by his ability as he used pedals to loop a beat played on his guitar body and a basic riff before adding lead guitar and vocals.




















Next up was female-fronted worship act Addison Road, whose "rockier" numbers failed to get the crowd moving. Their more recognizable worship tunes elicited a much more enthusiastic reaction from the audience, creating a more explicitly spiritual atmosphere. My favorite portion of the performance was a ballad featuring the bass player on a neon green harmonica.

After a short break that served as a promotion for World Vision child sponsorship, reminding me of what makes Christian concerts so positive, the headliners arrived. Sanctus Real has been playing shows since 1996, and that 13 years of experience is obvious. Their evident professionalism was consistent throughout a lengthy set of material new and old, with a little worship tag blended on to the ends of one or two songs. Impressive improvisational solos from each instrumentalist brought musicianship to the forefront, eclipsing fan interaction that bordered on a gimmick. Pulling a fan onstage to introduce the frontman, using an audience member's camera to take a video during the performance, asking a kid who was getting cell phone updates how the Phillies' game was going, and even beginning the encore by walking through the crowd from the rear, frontman Matt Hammitt made sure their fans felt loved. From acoustic numbers, banjos and orchestra bells to singalongs and a pulsating light show, Sanctus Real had it all. Far exceeding my expectations, they put on one of the better rock shows I've seen in a long time while simultaneously communicating their message and avoiding offending an audience primarily composed of parents with young children. As far as explicitly Christian rock goes, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better live act.