I must Tell The World, Tell The World Everywhere I Go!
Lecrae
I am unashamed to say that my wife and I attended a rap and hip-hop concert earlier this week at the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
The Fabulous Fox
Grammy award-winning rapper Lecrae brought his Anomaly Tour to the Gateway City on April 30, 2015. The three-hour concert, featuring Andy Mineo and DJ Promote, provided uplifting messages of hope and heavy doses of realness.
An anomaly is defined as something that deviates from what is standard, normal, or expected. Lecrae’s Anomaly 2.0 concert definitely had it’s share of anomalies. Let me see, where shall I begin.
Anomaly #1
I grew up listening to rock-n-roll, heavy metal and even a little country music. For me, rap was not on my playlist. I didn’t even like the music. The most rap that I listened was “Parents Just Don’t Understand!” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince (Did I just date myself?). But as I have matured, so have my music selections. While I still will listen to some of my favorites, I now also listen to music that has an uplifting message, no matter the genre. Lecrae is currently one of my favorite artists because he delivers a message of overcoming the obstacles that life throws at you.
Lecrae
Anomaly #2
This is the third time in just over a year that my wife and I have seen Lecrae in concert. Last year, we attended our first Winter Jam concert and the Summer Shed concert when they stopped here in Saint Louis; both of which featured Lecrae. Lecrae is now the artist that I have seen in concert the most, more than Def Leppard, Bon Jovi and REO Speedwagon – all of which were bands that I attended concerts while in high school and college.
Lecrae
Anomaly #3
Prior the concert, my wife and I eat dinner with our friends who are also big Lecrae and Andy Mineo fans. Eugene and Roxanne grew up in Los Angeles. Although the LA area is vastly different and much larger than Vienna, MO where I grew up (3.8 million people versus 603 people), we all came together and enjoyed the food, fellowship and then the concert. They were so sweet because they blessed us with dinner. We got to get a picture together next time, enjoying the fellowship. We didn’t get a chance to take a picture this time. They are also true-blue Laker fans (but I won’t hold that against them). We also were able to see our other friends Marc and Peggy and their family.
My wife and I eating dinner at the City Diner before the concert.
Anomaly #4
We purchased our tickets back in February and were able to get awesome seats in Row J — about ten rows from the stage. Considering how costly some concerts can be today, paying only $48 for these tickets was such a great deal. Plus, the fact that the show lasted three hours made it an even better value. Not long ago, when Mrs. Carter had her concert in Saint Louis, we paid almost three times as much, for seats much further from the stage and the show lasted only an hour and a half. Still shaking my head over that one! What was I thinking? (I don’t know!!) You learn.
Anomaly #5
We purchased these tickets as deluxe tickets, which meant we were able to arrive early for a ‘meet and greet’ with Andy Mineo. My prior experiences with VIP tickets that give you an opportunity to meet the band, you will be paying two, three or four hundred dollars a ticket, maybe even more. I never bought VIP tickets because I didn’t want to pay such a high price, but for only $48 – what a deal! People asked Andy questions and he answered them and shook people’s hands as well as ours.
Andy Mineo
After the meet and greet, we purchased a STL Lecrae tour T- shirt and I had to wear it to represent. Pretty nice don’t ya think.
The Anomaly STL T-Shirt in Cardinal Red
Anomaly #6 It was great to see many people attend this concert as a family unit. I saw many parents jamming with there teenaged-children, posing for selfies, taking pictures and having a great time. In my experiences with previous concerts, I usually would see adults, and teenagers, but they did not come together as a family. This concert was different, and it was good to see.
Anomaly #7
When I was growing up, rap and hip hop were considered alternative music and only a small group of people listened to the music. But today, more people accept these genres and the music has moved into the mainstream, so much so that the concert’s demographics surprised me. The audience was very diverse and I can I say, I was there. The concert included a guest appearance from Saint Louis’ own Thi’sl for duet on Lecrae’s hit song, Fakin’.
Lacrae and Thi’sl getting ready to perform Fakin’
Anomaly #8
In all that I have said about the concert, I have not mentioned that Lecrae, Andy Mineo and DJ Promote are Christians and their music promotes strong Christian values. Why? I didn’t want you to have a prejudiced view of Christian rap and hip hop before I talked about the concert. That being said, I believe it is an awesome gift these men bring to the stage. There are some people who would say that Christian rap and hip hop are not true Christian music, almost to the point of being considered ungodly. However, I would disagree. Any music, no matter the style or genre, that has an objective to reach an audience with uplifting words and inspirational messages, and that can tell the world about God and His Son, Jesus Christ, is worth having on your playlist. These three men succeed at making music that achieves this objective.
If had a chance to catch the Anomaly Tour, leave a comment below and let me know what you thought about the show.
Jay and JT at Lacrae Concert
Jay
This post is dedicated to our concert rodees Roxanne and Eugene! Until the next concert.
I enjoy playing on my piano and listening to music. I have to put time on the calendar to practice. I grew up with my mother and father listening to all kinds of music. My mother use to sing jazz when she was in college, so it’s in my blood. I play intermediate piano and now taking a refresher piano-at-home course to sharpen my skills and learn more. I played piano in college and had to do recitals for my final grade. I was a late bloomer, so I had to really focus to learn to play piano and read music. You can learn to play a musical instrument no matter what age because you are never to old to do what you enjoy.
JT studying piano
Recently I’ve read about the many and remarkable benefits that you can get from learning to play a musical instrument. I know I enjoy it and keeps the mind smart and alert. This info has made me want to schedule in a lot more time for playing music! Here are some of the main advantages of learning a musical instrument. I hope you find them as motivating as I have!
It improves your memory
Our memory becomes less and less sharp as we get older. Apparently, because music requires the use of both sides of our brains, it can actually help to improve memory. Considering the amount of times I forget where I’ve left the house or car keys, this is a very appealing benefit for me!
It relieves stress
In modern life, stress gets to us all. But studies have shown that playing a musical instrument can help to reduce the physical and psychological impact of stress. By lowering the blood pressure, this in turn reduces the stress hormone cortisol in your body, leaving you feeling calmer and more peaceful. Bliss!
It is rewarding
And the rewards keep coming too, the more practice you put in and the better you get. Naturally, it’s very challenging as a beginner, but once you get the hang of it and start playing a tune without mistakes, it is so worth it! Playing music for your family and friends and making them smile is another aspect of this hobby that makes it so rewarding.
It is sociable
If you decide to take up guitar lessons, for example, not only might you become friends with your teacher, but also with many other people who play this instrument. This could be within your circle of friends, or through your wider community. You may love it so much that you have regular jamming sessions with friends or join a music group.
It boosts your confidence
All of us suffer moments of low self-esteem. This might be in our personal life, work life or both. But taking up a new hobby and realising that you can do well at it, could help to restore confidence in yourself and your abilities.
It’s great for your CV
Prospective employers will realise that you have many important and useful skills if you let them know that you play a musical instrument. For example discipline, organization, commitment and creativity. I first started playing piano and had never played before and would practice in the study rooms to fine tune my homework so if you really want to learn to play an instrument it can be done.
It helps you to be more patient
Because we can gain access to information so quickly and effortlessly these days, it’s made us all very impatient! When learning a musical instrument, there’s no way of speeding things up, you just have to go as fast as your body and mind will allow. Inevitably, you will make lots and lots of mistakes at the beginning, but the more you practice, the better you will get so it’s all about being patient! Practice, Practice, Practice and more Practice!
As well as these, I also think one of the biggest advantages of a musical hobby is that it’s fun! It gives you the chance to be even more involved in the music you love.
Hope you are having a wonderful weekend. In Missouri, the air is cool and crisp. I heart fall and winter, two of my favorite seasons.
Gotta give props to my brother in Christ, Lecrae, who is blowing up the charts.
I pre-ordered and downloaded Lacrae’s latest album, Anomaly via I-Tunes. It is has a refreshing sound and is deep with its messages. For the few who does not know, Lecrae is a Christian rap and hip-hop artist who is not ashamed of speaking about his faith in God. The Anomaly album recently debuted at Number One on the Billboard Charts and continues to be a huge seller. Even if you are not a lover of rap and hip-hop, I urge you to take a listen to this album.
the-anomaly-tour
A number of the songs were available to be downloaded from I-Tunes before the official release, so I was able to get a taste of its sound before the full album was released in September.
Song list
Outsiders
Welcome to America
Say I Won’t (feat. Andy Mineo)
Nuthin
Fear
Anomaly
Timepiece
Dirty Water
Wish
Runners
All I Need Is You
Give In (feat. Crystal Nicole)
Good, Bad, Ugly
Broken (feat. Kari Jobe)
Messengers (feat. KING & COUNTRY)
Sharing a Lecrae video below. This is the video from the song, “All I need Is You.” Got a keep it real, being married and putting God as center is cool.
The album has a true message that is more than the music. Throughout the entire album, Lecrae is open about his life and faith. His music, some would say, is Christian gone mainstream. However, I believe that his messages appeals to Christians and non-Christians. He does it without compromising his faith in God. I do not believe that Lecrae has gone mainstream. Instead, I believe that mainstream music has finally come to Lecrae. His music, through all of his albums that he has released so far, has consistently shared the same message about his strong faith in what God has done for him in his life.
Lacrae is currently out on the road in support of the Anomaly album. The dates and location are listed below:
October 9 Paramount Theatre | Denver, CO
October 10 Abravanel Hall | Salt Lake City, UT
October 12 Hollywood Palladium | Los Angeles, CA
October 15 The Warfield | San Francisco, CA
October 17 Crystal Ballroom | Portland, OR
October 18 Revolution Concert House & Event Center | Boise, ID
October 19 ShoWare Center | Seattle, WA
October 23 The Riverside | Milwaukee, WI
October 24 Skyway Theatre | Minneapolis, WI
October 25 Independence Events Center | Independence, MO
October 26 Aragon Entertainment Center | Chicago, IL
October 30 The DeltaPlex | Grand Rapids, MI
October 31 Murat Theatre at Old National Centre | Indianapolis, IN
November 1 The Louisville Palace | Louisville, KY
November 2 The Fillmore Silver Spring | Washington, D.C.
November 6 The Fillmore Detroit | Detroit, MI
November 8 Wellmont Theater | Montclair, NJ
November 9 Tower Theater | Philadelphia, PA
November 13 Times-Union Center Moran Theater | Jacksonville, FL
November 14 The Fillmore Miami Beach | Miami, FL
November 19 Mobile Civic Center Theater | Mobile, AL
November 20 Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center | Greensboro, NC
November 21 The Tabernacle | Atlanta, GA
Show Me State peeps, Lacrae is coming to the Independence Events Center in Independence, MO on October 25th. Get your tickets because I know it will be an awesome show.
I first saw Lecrae at WinterJam in January 2014. My husband wrote a post about that concert here. The Summer Shed Tour happened in May and my post about that concert is here. Both concerts were awesome and fun.
Lecrae performing at The Summer Shed Tour photos by JTwisdom
Do you have the Anomaly album? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about it?
Did you seen Lecrae at WinterJam, or at the Summer Shed Tour, or have you witnessed his show during this current Anomaly tour? Leave a comment and let me know what you think about the message he gives to the concert-goers.
My Birthday weekend and birthday month of May is in full effect.
I have been to many big name concerts in my life, but nothing compared to the Summer Shed Tour that I experienced over the weekend.
The brief tour consisted of only seven venues in ten days and featured four and a half hours of music from six diverse musical acts. It was by far the loudest, most explosive, and most uplifting concert that I have attended.
Summer Shed Tour – May 2014; via tobymac.com
So far in 2014, I have attended two concerts with my hubby and our new concert cronies, Eugene and Roxanne, who invited us to the Winter Jam concert back in January. These two concerts have literally opened my eyes up to a new concert-going experience. For more on the Winter Jam concert, click HERE!
Toby Mac, of the famed trio DC Talk, organized and headlined the Summer Shed Tour, bringing together an eclectic group of rap, hip-hop, pop and heavy metal. Typically if you mix together heavy metal and hip-hop into one concert, it is a disaster waiting to happen. The styles of music, not to mention the audiences, would clash. But what makes this concert works is the fact that each of the acts are focused one mission, to spread the good news of Jesus Christ and His redemptive power. No matter the type of music, the message was the same.
The four and a half hour show included newcomers WE AS HUMAN, CAPITAL KINGS and TEDASHII; with veterans LACRAE, SKILLET and TOBY MAC. When Eugene and Roxanne invited us to this concert, my hubby was not sure if he wanted to go to a concert and we did not know four of the six acts. We had seen Lacrae at Winter Jam and we had listened Toby Mac for a while now. But looking at the ticket prices, my hubby thought, sixty dollars for a ticket was not a bad price for six musical acts. Ten dollars per act was a pretty good price. And I am glad that he made the decision to get the tickets. By getting a pre-sale password from Toby Mac’s newsletter, we were able to get tickets in the fifth row. We had never been able to sit so close to the stage. The seats were awesome!
We waited in line maybe twenty minutes and that was not bad because it was not hot and we like to people watch and get a since of what the crowd is like, Eugene and Roxanne bought the front of the line passes so they walked up to the gate and when the doors opened at a quarter to six they got right in.
The Crowd by JTWISDOM
The concert started with MC / Pastor Sammy at 6:10 p.m. introducing WE AS HUMAN and we were so close that the bass was thumping. This band is heavy metal and got the crowd pumped. We were really close so the energy was all around.
WE AS HUMAN photo by JTWISDOM
Capital Kings came to the stage after WE AS HUMAN. The music was high energy and reminded me of being on the beach with the ball floating through the crowd.
Capital Kings
Up next Tedashii, he keeps the crowd pumping with his love for Jesus.
Tedashii shared his testimony about how he lost his one year old son. This really touched me and his performance was heart-wrenching but powerful.
Tedashii
The music keep coming and it’s all good. Lacrae officially had the crowd hip hopping. He included his testimony from “I AM SECOND,” which is awesome. Christians can have fun, yes Christians can have fun. He sang some of my favorites, I can Play the Background and Faking it.
Lacrae photo by JTwisdom
The first photo below is a clip that was shown of Lacrae’s testimony from I An Second. Lacrae, Tedashi had fans come on stage for the one of the songs. Really cool!
Lacrae with Tedashii and fans
The artist just keep coming. Skillet was next and Pastor Sammy said that this group will make you melt, so get ready. He was right. He said as soon as the video comes and the music starts to get up out of your seats.
Skillet
This band is literally on fire for the Lord. I really like their sound. We could feel the heat from the flames and every beat of the drums, the bass and guitar riffs.
Skillet
Next is the one and only TobyMac. I have been listening to this dude since DC TALK so I know quite a few songs. Lets say I can sing along to practically every song.
TobyMac
This was a fun set and the main focus was Jesus. Priceless!
TobyMac
After TobyMac’s set, the crowd gained more momentum for an encore and raised their phones to beam bright lights and here comes the artist.
Summer Shed Tour Finale – “Jesus Freak”
This was four and a half hours of awesome music.
A few words from my hubby about the concert:
“I have attended some major concerts in my life: Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, REO Speedwagon, Sade, Duran Duran, Paula Abdul, to name a few. But his concert is by far the best concert that I have ever been to in my life. The sound, the message and the atmosphere left me wanting more. I will be searching out these acts to find all of their songs and albums.”
Music education is near and dear to my heart. Playing an instrument can be enjoyable and relaxing.
Patience is a virtue and it is sorely lacking in the world today. Commercial media says you need this or that now, why wait later. This microwave madness has to stop. This is especially true among children because many are impatient and undisciplined due to circumstances in their lives that are far beyond their control; like school, grades, and parental issues can play fact a factor in behavior. However, music soothe the soul and can spark many positive emotions. Learning to play a musical instrument, for example an acoustic guitar, can instill patience and has great benefits for children and adults of all ages. Discipline and patience make a great team of values for a child and are seen as character traits to be admired.
Physical Fitness People at any age are always looking for the next big fad in physical fitness training. We go from yoga to jogging and various other trendy programs that help us stay slim and trim. Most people do not realize that learning to play the acoustic guitar is a workout in and of itself. Playing a complete session once you have learned to play is actually a very good workout and is a ton of fun in the process.
Being Part of Something Special Have you ever envied the brotherhood and camaraderie of a sports team? The bond that players build and share is a very special one that lasts a lifetime. The same can be said of many bands that get together and play either in public performances or just for their own enjoyment. Music has often been at the root of some fine collaboration between musicians and that chemistry can be historic (think Lennon and McCartney). Learning to play the acoustic guitar and becoming part of a band can lead to many special relationships between you and other musicians, lyricists, (Elton John and Bernie Taupin) and even fans.
Finding Yourself They say that some people go through life and never find who they truly are. Others find themselves but never get the chance to show that beautiful side of themselves to others. Learning to play a Gibson Acoustic Guitar can help you to not only reach your full potential, it can help you get in touch with who you really are and show that person to others. Once you have mastered an acoustic guitar… you are never quite as content as when you are playing for someone.
Achievements and Recognition Learning to play the acoustic guitar fills people with a sense of achievement that is very fulfilling. While this is true of children, the beautiful part of it is that this feeling is also felt by adults who learn to play. In fact, the older you are, the better the feeling. It is like finally fulfilling a childhood dream that never came true. Recognition of your talent is not quite as good a feeling… but it does not hurt, that is for sure.
Communication If you are one of those people who never really learned the art of self expression… guess what? That is correct; learning to play the acoustic guitar is a fantastic form of self expression unlike any other. Along with something like a FocusriteSaffire, you can learn to express yourself with a Gibson acoustic guitar.
What Have You Got to Lose? This list encompasses but a few of the wonderful benefits that you can reap from learning to play the guitar or other instrument. There are many other wonderful things that can come about as well. If you have always wanted to learn to play, it is never too late. While we suggest the Gibson acoustic guitar, you can find less expensive guitars at flea markets, car boot sales, music stores, and your local pawn shop. Don’t waste another moment. Grab yourself a guitar and begin learning to express yourself in a wonderful way. What have you got to lose?
Ten musical acts, one pastor.
Five hours of ministry, one mission.
The Winter Jam 2014 tour stormed into the Gateway City last night and left the 18,000 concert-goers with a message of hope for the future and God’s enduring love.
Billed as one of the largest concert tours of the year, now in it’s 19th year, Winter Jam features many of today’s biggest and newest acts in the Christian music scene. I had not been to many Christian concerts. However, when our friends Eugene and Roxanne invited us, we immediately jumped at the opportunity when we saw that the performer list included Newsboys, Lecrae, Plumb and Newsong. By going to the concert, we were introduced to Derek Minor, Everfound, Love & the Outcome, Colton Dixon, Thousand Foot Krutch, and Tenth Avenue North. It was mixture of hip-hop, rap, pop, rock and heavy metal. Not your typical mixture of musical acts, but than again, this not your typical concert.
It was awesome to see, in total, ten musical acts take to the stage during the five-hour event. Each act took to the stage and performed between fifteen and thirty minutes. Keep in mind that this was much more than a concert with chart-topping singles and Grammy-winning performers. The artists and their music will pull you in. However, when the artists share with you their message about how important God is in their lives and how He has changed their life, you know that this is much more than a concert. It is an opportunity for you to see and to experience that same joy and peace of knowing God and His Son Jesus Christ. The performers offered their testimonies on what brought them to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Pastor Nick Hill also gave a brief lesson on The Prodigal Son, coming to Christ and ministered salvation. People stood up all over the hall, accepting Christ in their lives.
What an awesome and beautiful sight to see!
Lecrae
Another blessing, concert goers had an opportunity to learn more about Holt International, an organization that helps families adopt needy in foreign countries for over 60 years. They also provide sponsorship a child in a bridge program that prepares the child for adoption. The bridge program allows you to sponsor a child for $30 a month, which will help if the child with necessary surgeries or shots before the adoption is finalized. Holt’s motto is, “every child deserves a home”. It was special to see a local family who was brought on stage to share about how they adopted six children. Holt International had volunteers at the Winter Jam concert. If you would like be a Holt International volunteer please check out its site. To learn more about adopting a child or helping a child by sponsoring a child through the bridge program please click on HoltInternational.
Plumb takes to the stage.
Concert organizers want to make the event available to as many people as possible. So, instead of charging a high price tag, tickets were only ten dollars, payable at the door and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. VIP tickets can also be purchased prior to the show. There are two levels of VIP tickets, one for the individual rate ($50) and one for the group rate ($40). With a VIP ticket, you get a concert ticket, a T-shirt, access to the hall an hour before it is open to the genera public with first-choice of seating, and a question-and-answer session with some of the performers. A third option is available for ($30), if you do not want a T-shirt.
I would recommend that you consider the VIP (Jam Nation) ticket if you are planning to attend a future Winter Jam concert, for a couple of reasons. 1) You have your own red-carpet entrance into the hall and you can avoid standing in the general admission lines. We arrived an hour and a half before the start time and there were already at least a thousand or more people waiting. 2) You can get into the hall early and not have to wait outside, especially now if you are in a winter weather climate. 3) If you are planning to purchase a T-shirt at the show, the price already includes one for you. 4) You get early access to the merchandise tables if you would like to purchase additional T-shirts and CDs.
One insider tip if you have a VIP ticket for a future show: you will want to find out where the VIP entrance is. When we arrived at the concert and parked in the garage and walked towards the hall, lines were forming all around the building. However, we saw no signs that indicated where we needed to go. We stood in a line thinking it was for all of the VIP ticket-holders. However, as the line started to move and as we got closer towards the entrance, some people were being moved into another line and the VIP entrance came into view; and we got in with no problem. As we entered in and were checked in, security checked our bags to made sure that we did not bring any food or cameras into the building. We picked up our T-shirts and lanyards because we purchase a last minute pass online. We found a great seat and settled in. It was only a little after four o’clock. And the general admission ticket people would be coming in for another 45 minutes.
Paying a little extra was well worth it.
JT enjoying the concert!
Jay helping with the offering near the end of the concert.
The Winter Jam 2014 is just getting underway and will be on the road until at least the end of March. Check here for tour dates and time of the shows in your area. If the tour is coming to a city near you, you don’t want to miss it.
Learn More About JT
Bubbling with Elegance and Grace started out as an outlet for my passion for fashion but has evolved into a place for me to teach, collaborate, and inspire. My hubby has since joined the team and we have been digital creators for 13 years. We are thankful for those who believed in us from the beginning and those who have just started riding with us on this lovely journey.
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