Newsboys
Houston We Are Go (Live)
Inpop
Grade – B-

Ok, I will admit it, I never tire of “Shine” and it makes a great concert opener. I could say that for much of the Newsboy’s repertoire. Their music is well suited for a live show and the Newsboys have been crafting their showmanship for a long time and it shows. However, the absence of several key members is also starting to show.

On this particular recording,I instantly felt the absence of Phil Joel. Not necessarily because of his bass playing, but more so because he is a part of the “look” and “feel” of the Newsboys. With his long locks of hair, bright smile, and timid vocals,Joel rounded out the band. On this particular recording his bass position was left unfilled or at least in part. Keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein is given credit for picking up the bass parts when he was not at the keys.

One of the most interesting parts of the recording is the “B Stage Medley,” as Peter goes through a historical montage of the Newsboys career. Of course the thing that nags at me about this montageis that when he says, “when we first started out,” I’m thinking about how much the band has changed since its start and how it is just not the same when Peter says “we.”

Truthfully, I think the CD/DVD is going to be for the adamant fans of which there are many, but overall it is not a ground breaking recording. Fortunately,the CD/DVD are packaged together, but I think the better of the two is the video. Without the video you miss the live interaction and the cool dueling drum solo, however, the lack of extras on the DVD is disappointing.

- Ken W.