The Un-Done Tour
Mercy Me
Jeremy Camp – The Afters – Monk & Neagel
Alliant Energy Center, Madison, WI
February 12th, 2005
by Ken Wiegman

(Concert Photos)

It’s been nearly a year since the Imagine Tour passed through Madison, WI, and this time around the weather was much more amicable. However the energy seemed to be missing from the Alliant Energy Center. A simple production marred by my high expectations from The Imagine Tour.

Monk & Neagel started the evening with a short set of acoustic songs from their self-titled debut album (Flicker Records). Though it was a short set, the guys did an amazing job of making it feel close and cozy in a good sized arena. Following up Monk & Neagle were The Afters, a fresh new band that has been signed to Bart Millard’s label Simple Records. The Afters played an average set of pop-rock tunes from their debut “I Wish We All Could Win.” Their stage presence was a bit shaky, possibly from a lack of experience, but they were a crowd pleaser none-the-less.

I figured on Jeremy Camp being a larger part of the show, but when he came out and played on the half-stage as the rest of the warm-up acts did I was a bit surprised. He seemed a bit restricted by the lack of space, and the stage production was nil. Despite the lack of a stage production, Jeremy sang and performed with his usual vigor and zeal, and he managed to pitch the crowd into a rock and roll frenzy.

The energy started to pick up as Mercy Me took the stage shielded behind the tall white curtain that had been the back drop for all of the previous groups, but when the curtain dropped all that was hidden behind it was what seemed to be a football field of black stage. There was a huge expanse of emptiness between the back of the stage and the front, and the keys, drums, and guitarist Barry Graul all seemed to be in the dark most of the time. My only guess is that the stage size was determined by the screen size behind them.

Aside from the low production, the band played well and the audience was given an introduction to a new side of Mercy Me. After explaining that the band started out as a rock band, and they wished to work their way back to that, they played an old tune called “Table For Two” from one of the bands independent releases. “Table For Two” had a cute little animation clip which was a segment into Bart’s explanation of a song that they had written for a cartoon called “10 Simple Rules”. The song is featured in a cartoon called “Hoop Dogs” and was their way of making the Ten Commandments easy for kids (and adults) easy to understand.

After the cartoon segment, the guys all gathered around the front of the stage for an unplugged session. It was during this time that singer Bart Millard shared some testimony of the trials of 2004; including the passing of his brother-in-law, and the illness of his child. Just as you were beginning to wonder how they trudge through it all he shared a song called “Keep Singing”, a beautiful ballad that serves as a reminder that God is always near.

In the end, I’m sure that I was in the minority when it came to being disappointed. I also have to say, my disappointment was mostly in the production, as I was extremely excited, thinking I was going to see a show similar to last years tour. I guess I’ll just have to watch the recently released DVD for that, and just be glad that I was again able to be blessed by the music of such an incredible group.