People appreciate the music of Atlanta’s Casting Crowns for numerous reasons. Lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall is known for challenging the church, in love, to be the instrument of healing it was intended to be. To that end Casting Crowns has given us anthems like “If We Are the Body” and “Voice of Truth,” cloaked in a sincere compassion that made his message palatable. That’s the thing about Mark Hall, and his Casting Crowns crew (Melodee DeVevo: violin/vocals, Megan Garrett: keys/vox, Andy Williams: drums, Chris Huffman: bass, and guitarists Juan DeVeo and Hector Cervantes): they have a love for the church and its people that just won’t quit. It shows up all over the features of “Lifesong Live,” the most in-depth look at the band and its ministry yet.
The DVD/CD combo includes six songs from their highly acclaimed “Lifesong” album on DVD, and the CD offers seven of the same songs performed live from the “Lifesong Tour.” The set also features the new “Does Anybody Hear Her” music video along with a behind-the-scenes “making of the music video” segment. Plus, included are 12 bonus featurettes such as a typical day in the hectic life of lead singer/songwriter Mark Hall as he juggles fatherhood, ministry, and touring; a look at each of the members' lives in their home churches; the antics of the band’s most colorful character, Andy Williams; and the gospel message from tour pastor, Tony Nolan.
The songs are well chosen, representing the ministry heart of this unique Christian band. The rousing rendition of “Lifesong” opens the CD, its dramatic structure adding to the excitement of the project, as does the sparkling vocal interplay between Hall and Megan Garrett. Three reflective power ballads follow, both brimming with inspiration and vertical perspective, the moving “Praise You in the Storm,” written to honor the faith journey of a young cancer patient and her family, and the melodic “Love Them Like Jesus,” reminding us that we don’t need the answers nearly as much as we need to show the love. The dramatic “Does Anybody Hear Her” continues in the same poignant vein; this is what Casting Crowns does better than anyone, and the absence of any of these songs would have left a hole. “Stained Glass Masquerade” shines for both its dynamic vocals and again, its message of loving confrontation. The brightly energetic “Father, Spirit, Jesus” lifts the tone of the project just in time for the powerful closer, “Set Me Free,” its dark images and rock movements supplying the perfect intensity to close on. Casting Crowns, ministering to the last moment on “Lifesong Live.” Like I said, it’s what they do best. Pick up the richly abounding “Lifesong Live,” for its musical ministry punch and its numerous bonus features. And check back in a week or so for Suite’s review of Mark Hall’s “Lifestories,” part memoir, part devotional, yet another promising project.
