David Crowder*Band [Remedy Club Tour Edition] Posted October 07, 2008 By christianmusicreview,
[MAIN REVIEW]
When I was looking over the press-release for David Crowder*Band’s new release, Remedy Club Live, I came across the sentence that read, ‘First ever concert DVD’. I was surprised. I thought after all the success and as much as the name David Crowder has been synonymous with praise and worship music, that he had to have released a live concert DVD prior. Well, I guess I was wrong! J
Those who were able to attend a date of the Remedy Club Tour late last year and early this year appear to have enjoyed a good show if this release is any indication of a typical show. I have seen the David Crowder*Band a few times and have even gotten the opportunity to meet David both times and after doing so, I can tell you his demeanor and aura came across to me as humble. This guy’s sole motivation is celebrate what God has done in his life and how he returns the favor by putting his all in his music, which in my opinion is among the most God-honoring found out there.
Remedy Club Live might as well be a Greatest Hits album live in concert. It has all of Crowder’s hits along with cuts from his most recent release, Remedy, which hit stores last September. The only song that was missing that I absolutely love and is among my favorite Crowder hits was “Open Skies”. I was kind of surprised with this being his first concert DVD, that that song would have been a shoo-in for this release. But, I was impressed with the track listing nonetheless.
As the band careens through its energetic set, I noticed some parts between (and in the middle of) songs that took me back to my younger days. Not that twenty-seven years old is old, but when my back-in-the-day is the 80’s, then you’ll understand what I mean. Crowder brought back some memories during his little speech during the track, “Neverending”. The very mention of GI Joe, Rubics’ Cube and New Kids on the Block brought back memories of those days you could find me wearing the He-Man t-shirts with my over-sized colored tube socks. It was all good.
Oh and the sound effects are all here too. You know those little 8-bit Nintendo-like sounds found throughout Crowder’s releases. They’re here.
One of the show-stopping songs on the set in my opinion would have to be the band’s cover of the Hank Williams’ tune, “I Saw the Light”. Wow! David even goes as far as asking the crowd is they would like to join (where down home they call) a hoedown. I was dancing in my chair as I was listening. But, couldn’t find a banjo within reach to start picking at. “O Praise Him (All This for a King)” is probably the highlight of the CD in my opinion. I absolutely love this song and was glad to see that they included it on the live set list. The song is a constant reminder of God’s greatness and the praise and adoration that we owe Him for all He has done for us.
Remedy Club Live closes with the moving live version of “Surely We Can Change”.
Remedy Club Live also features a killer DVD to accompany the CD as well. Not only does it include the entire live concert, but there’s so much more. While most concert DVD’s have behind-the-scenes footage and stuff, which this one has as well, the Remedy Club Live DVD even has lyric and chord subtitles. One of the coolest features I noticed on the DVD is the demonstration of how to play the music, by the musicians themselves. This proved to be to me, one of the most beneficial extras on the DVD. If you wanted to learn how to play any of the songs on the record, it was shown to you, with even some close-ups of finger positions on the fret board.
I wish more artists would put out releases like this. A concert CD, a concert DVD, behind-the-scenes footage and even teaching materials for fans to learn the songs on the record. Simply amazing.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Although live concert CD/DVD’s are definitely cool, and fans often flock to buy the live offerings of their favorite artists, not all concert CD/DVD sets are worth going out and buying. In the case of David Crowder*Band’s Remedy Club Live, this is definitely not the case. Like I mentioned in my review, the CD is basically a greatest hits live, offering fans a glimpse into the musical world of David Crowder*Band, in this writers opinion, being one of the greatest praise & worship artists out there.
Sitting through and watching this concert was not only an entertaining experience, but also as if you are sitting in the pews during church service, lifting your voice to the Lord in worship. Remedy Club Live delivers on a level that not all live albums have achieved. Both entertaining and ministering, this album is sure to be among some of the best live albums ever released.
Rating: 9.3 out of 10 (93%, A-)
Review written by: Jay Heilman | Review can also be found here.
This review has been reprinted on NRT with permission from ChristianMusicReview.org. Click here to visit ChristianMusicReview.org today!
