After a successful tour as a three piece with David Crowder*Band last fall, Gungor is building on the momentum and taking to the road again this Spring, this time headlining and performing with a full ensemble. I caught them at one of the best venues for up-and-coming Christian acts, The Door club in the heart of downtown Dallas.

 

After a brief casual question and answer session with Michael Gungor for VIP ticket holders, opening act The Brilliance took the stage. The Brilliance is similar in style to Gungor, in part because the project is led by Michael Gungor’s brother David. They borrowed in part from the Gungor ensemble to create a lineup of two violinists, two cellists, a pianist, and a drummer, with David Gungor filling in alternately on guitar and bass as well as vocals. The result was a a beautifully contemplative set built on swelling waves of strings and gentle piano fills. From the opening strains of “Breathe Now” their set fell to the quiet, stripped down, vulnerable “Does Your Heart Break” before climbing back up towards the triumphant “May You Find a Light.” 

 

The intermission was quick and efficient due to the simple stage setup. There was a theme of transience evident as the stage featured suitcases and umbrellas around the band members. An easel stood at the back of the stage holding a sign that would be changed throughout Gungor’s set to reflect different moments in the story of the Kingdom of God, beginning with Creation. The evening was designed to echo the theme of their latest album Ghosts Upon the Earth, forming an over-arching narrative by pulling primarily from their most recent effort but also in places from 2010’s Beautiful Things.

 

Last time Gungor hit Dallas, it was just Michael and Lisa Gungor accompanied by Kevin Olusola (the beatboxing cellist). This time they had a full ensemble, complete with a solid string section, piano, keyboards, drums, guitar, banjo, bass, xylophone, melodica, organ, and even spoken word poetry backing the interplay of Michael and Lisa’s vocals.

 

The group began with the haunting “Let There Be,” setting the stage both thematically and sonically for the rest of the evening before bringing in the more energetic “Brother Moon.” The creation theme continued with a corporate rendition of the hymn “My Father’s World,” which was beautifully placed and executed. 

 

Eventually the sign on the easel was changed to indicate a shift of focus to the fall (naturally heralded by the song “The Fall”). This darker segment of the set held some breathtaking moments with minimal lighting outlining the artists as they played songs like “Death Dies” and “Call Me Out.”

 

They moved into the section focusing on the role of the church, the bride, with “Ezekiel” and the beautiful duet between Michael and Lisa Gungor, “Vous Et Mon Coeur.” The final section of the evening was celebratory, focusing on the coming recreation. Some beautiful instrumental breaks and breathtaking spoken word rounded out the story. Gungor finished the narrative with their best-known song, “Beautiful Things.” It was the perfect way to end on a hopeful note, with every person in the room singing along until the walls shook.

 

Of course the crowd called them back out for an encore, and Gungor drew from their older album again to play “Dry Bones.” Much of the crowd had been calling for it, and it was well received, ending the evening with the simple words “Jesus, surely you will find us, surely our Messiah will make all things new.”

Overall, it was an evening that reminded me again so vividly that worship is not constrained to a certain set of musical instruments or conventions. The atmosphere was thick with a longing to respond to God and to tell His story. The overall musicianship displayed by both bands was incredible, but perhaps more incredible was its ability to unite a few hundred strangers in singing together for the one purpose of glorifying our Redeemer.