Gaither Homecoming 2009 Christmas Tour

...was presented in northwest suburban Chicago Saturday evening. As usual, it was more a poignant worship experience than mere concert -- uplifting as it entertained, its message strong and clear and vibrant -- and a wonderful prep for the Christmas season. Photos were tough to take in the huge, dark Sears Centre, but here are a few that sort of turned out.

Below is Kevin Williams, the fantastic guitar player for the Gaither Band, who also provides regular comic relief as he banters with the endearing, laid-back, and supremely talented Bill Gaither, mastermind of these musical extravaganzas. The first photo was the concert intro, before the house lights went out.

Though most seats are far from the stage, the three huge screens give close-ups of the performers and the sound system is fantastic. And we were actually much closer than we had been at the larger Orlando, Florida, "Lovin' Life" Homecoming concert back in February which I reported on here.


The audience was given blue LED lights upon entrance to the arena, and they received a lot of use as seen below (click to enlarge)...

One of my favorite groups, The Isaacs, are talented singers as well as instrumentalists, and they are acapella singers extraordinaire. Yes, they are a family -- mom, brother, and sisters. Here they are joined by the versatile Buddy Greene who excels with guitar, harmonica, and voice.


A highlight was the two stirring performances by tenor David Phelps, the magnificent Nessun Dorma, and the finale, O Holy Night...



I recommend you attend a performance, or if merely curious, check your TV listings, for many of the previous concerts are shown regularly on PBS and religious channels. Tickets are reasonably priced at only $30 and $40. DVDs and CDs are available at gaither.com.