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This Past Weekend in Michigan
Tue., Apr. 4. 2006 1:09am EDT
We played three concerts in Michigan this past weekend -- Ypsilanti, Schoolcraft, and Trenton -- that's one more than we played there all last year! In fact, we've now played five concerts in The Great Lakes State already in 2006 -- and we still have five more yet to play on the schedule.
And why not? Michigan is the eighth most-populous state, and the eleventh largest area-wise, so there are lots of people to play for and lots of places to play. Judging from the number of people who asked us after the show about booking future concerts at their churches, we'll probably be back in Michigan many more times, Lord willing.
Although it was one of those rare times when we didn't have Bill Hubauer along on keyboards (he'll be back this weekend), we took the opportunity to add some old favorites to the set and to debut three new songs from our upcoming CD -- including one on Saturday night that we'd never even rehearsed together before, let alone recorded or played in concert.
We've noticed an unusual thing about our fans in Michigan. Fans in other states will cheer when our lead singer, J. Jackson, comes out wearing clothes representing their local sports teams, but when he has tried wearing Detroit Lions and Tigers apparel in Michigan, he's practically been booed off the stage. He might as well have been been wearing an Ohio State jersey. Lions and Tigers and Buckeyes, oh my! They seem to enjoy the Pistons and Red Wings outfits, however.
Something even more unusual occurred at the Ypsilanti show: A transplanted Pittsburgher named Kim was in attendance who not only had seen us in concert back in 1992 at the Paradise Club, she'd seen J. and Karl play before that at the old Bible study where they'd first met! She even brought a copy of our first homemade studio cassette as proof. That's ironic, seeing as our first concert as ApologetiX was the last Friday in March 1992, and the Ypsilanti concert was the last Friday in March 2006.
We also received this note from John, Carolyn, and Tina Long after the Ypsilanti concert:
You guys were a real blessing to our family tonight -- thank you for your dedication to the ministry (Philippians 1:3).
Here's some more encouragement from a youth pastor in who attended his first ApologetiX concert Saturday in Schoolcraft:
I attended my first show this last Saturday in Schoolcraft and thoroughly enjoyed myself! I have most of your CDs and the concert DVD, but it doesn't do justice to the experience of seeing your show in person. All of the spontaneity and humor understandably couldn't be included on the DVD. I brought along a few adults and students, some of whom were a bit skeptical, but they all had a great time and, I believe, became fans.
Jeff Palmberg
Kalamazoo MI
Thanks for the encouragement, Jeff, John, Carolyn, and Tina!
Thanks also to:
our concert coordinators: Richard Estermyer (Ypsilanti), Eric Sarkkinen (Schoolcraft), and John Mark Woelfel (Trenton).
our merchandise-table workers: Amanda and Michelle (Ypsilanti); Anita, Beth, and Jack (Schoolcraft); and Rosa, Linda, and Polly (Trenton).
and our soundman: Lloyd (Trenton).
As mentioned above, we already have five more Michigan shows on the books: Taylor (April 28), Midland (April 29), Northville (June 23), Kentwood (June 30), and Tecumseh (September 3).
If you'd like to book a concert, tell us all about your church or event on our contact page:
http://www.apologetix.com/contact/contact.php
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