MARK LOWRY/ANTHONY BURGER CONCERT
AMERICAN MUSIC THEATER, LANCASTER PA
AUGUST 31, 2001
Wendy V and Anthony!
This was my first Mark/Anthony solo gig. Oh sure, I've seen a couple of Mark's videos with live footage but they were mixed in with concept pieces. And they were older. Some of the concert reviews I read never answered all of my questions. So to paraphrase Mark, I wanted to know some things.
- How does he work in the music with the comedy?
- How many songs does he do?
- How many tissues would I need when he sings "Mary Did You Know?"
As
with many music acts, you could say this was a “greatest hits” show for both
Mark and Anthony. The answer to the first question is, Mark ties the comedy and
music pretty seamlessly. Mark did many of the routines from the “On
Broadway” video and from some of his older albums. I’m sure a lot of people
had all the videos and CDs. Some could probably recite some of the routines as
Mark said them, just as you would sing along with a song you knew. Yet, the
stories retain their freshness even if you’ve heard them several times. We all
laughed as if we heard them for the first time. Remember, some of us were seeing
him do this on stage for the first time.
And
you know what I’m going to talk about next with Mark, don’t you? You guessed
it--that voice. The answer to the second question is he did enough songs to
satisfy me--some were old ones I was happy to hear, others I didn’t expect to
hear and one was new. Insert old stuck record here: Mark is the best male singer
around, to my ears. Live, his voice has strength, power and beauty, with great
technique and passion. He doesn’t have to tell you the words are important to
him--you can hear that for yourself. The answer to the third question: I was
probably too stunned to cry when Mark sang “Mary Did You Know?”. This was
what I had come 1000 miles to hear. I just sat there with my jaw dropped open.
If
you only heard Anthony Burger play piano in the videos, live you also get to
hear his story and a bit of his warm, gentle humor. Beginning with a short video
depicting his 1st recital in 1966, his testimony from being badly
burned as a child and facing never being able to use his hands to
becoming a piano prodigy is truly inspiring. His playing was spectacular and the
“smoking piano” was certainly an appropriate effect. (Only thing missing
was, Anthony, you didn’t sing!)
I
will do my best to give you at least partial set lists for Mark and Anthony.
It’s a little hard to take notes in the dark, after all. (My apologies if I
get the titles of some of Mark's stories wrong, or miss them. I can still use
the excuse that I am "new".)
Anthony:
Short
medley from “The Story”
Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Armed Forces Medley
Exodus
Meeting in the Air medley
Mark:
(songs in bold)
Opener:
If Your Heart Belongs To Jesus
Presbyterian Baptismal/Old Sanctuary
Don’t
Rain On My Parade
Age
Old Hair
Miss Barth
God
Doesn’t Know (this is a new song Mark wrote, never recorded. It is beautiful.
This one put the lump in my throat.)
Some Other Time Some Other Place (Mark donning blond wig for Sandi Patty part)
The
Accident/Pivot on Your Good Foot
This Too Shall Pass
Living For Deep Fried Okra (video)
House of Gold (this
one was in the “pleasant surprise” category --Mark was ably backed by
LordSong, a trio from Spartanburg, SC who did a short opening set)
Mary Raising Jesus (a
few different twists here and there)
Mary
Did You Know
Bein’ Happy (closer)
Anthony
and Mark also did the “piano duet” and the audience request medley (here it
was “Because”, “Unforgettable”,
“Can’t Help Falling In Love”, “Love Me Tender”--with a bit of
“Great Balls of Fire” thrown in).
I
must reluctantly mention that Mark did say one or two times that he was
“retiring” from performing after February “until the Lord gives me
something new to say.”
I can’t help it, I’m selfish enough to pray that the Lord does give
him the words and creative inspiration to come back after some time away. And I
don’t think I’d be the only one praying this selfish prayer.
Fan
Fare:
Anthony
spent a lot of time at his table, humbly greeting fans, selling his products. I
got a hug, a picture and congrats for being GaitherNet member of the week.
Mark
did an autograph signing after the show. I thought I’d get in line and say hi
while waiting for my friend to pick me up. When I got to him, he looked up at me
and said “Hi Wendy!” I came with no expectations that he’d remember my
name that went with the face after having only met me once in Des Moines. So
that was my early birthday present.
You
may think that's a small thing, but really it isn't. I've been blessed to have
built many kinds of special friendships and contacts over the past dozen years
with artists of different levels, from the musicians of "A Prairie
Home Companion" to the coffeehouse performers recording their first albums.
It hasn’t been that long that I’ve been a fan of these two guys. Now they
know me by name. I think I am in “pinch me” mode.
I
also met “MMMarie” and had a nice long chat with her before the show, and
Elisa who with her mom was a busy little bee helping at Mark’s table. Both
were sweet people and meeting them was definitely a highlight of the evening.
The Setting:
Lancaster
PA is an interesting study of contrasts. You’ll drive one mile and see strip
malls of the usual chain establishments and other businesses. Drive another mile
and you're in God's country. You’ll be struck by the beauty of the landscape
of the Amish farms and corn fields. Lancaster is a favorite tourist attraction
for those interested in the Amish people and their lifestyle, with many craft
and other shops centered around things Amish. No matter what road you’re
traveling, you’re bound to pass a horse and buggy at some point. It's also the
place for you if you're a nature lover. I fed geese and fish and watched duck
families.