Waves of Mercy concert brings students and faculty together to support charities and worship.
By Maya Minwary
Assistant A&E Editor
On a breezy Saturday afternoon, hundreds of people lined up to see Caedmon’s Call, Mark Schultz and Josh Kauffman.
For many students, the Waves of Mercy concert was a nice alternative to somber weekends at Pepperdine.
When the gate finally opened, a flood of families and students came with their blankets and lawn chairs to settle on Alumni Park’s ground, waiting for the concert to start.
It was two minutes until 5:30 when seniors Jason Palmer, president of Student Government Association, and Tara Lawrence, founder of the Hats Off For Cancer foundation, came up on stage and introduced the opening act, Josh Kauffman.
Kauffman, who leads worship at Malibu Presbyterian Church, also brought along his Kepano Green band member Paul Duncan.
The two opened the Waves of Mercy concert with a melodic acoustic song.
Strumming their guitars, Kauffman and Duncan demonstrated that an enjoyable musical performance doesn’t necessarily need the electric guitars, drums or bass. Kauffman’s powerful voice, along with Duncan’s harmonic background vocals, was enough to capture their audience’s attention.
Songs like “Dandelion Girl,” which was dedicated to Kauffman’s wife, Annie, and “Emmanuel” proved his ability to write simple, yet honest lyrics: “I have stumbled, I’m always falling, and I’m humbled by my sins/But the moment I confess them You forgive, You forgive.”
Kauffman and Duncan ended their performance with “Supernatural,” a more upbeat and whimsical song.
The duo’s head-bopping tune was a nice prelude to the evening’s two major acts, Schultz and Caedmon’s call.
Schultz came on stage and started singing his animated song “Let’s Go,” incorporating ragtime piano tunes and a mixture of jazz and pop.
The unique tune resounded in Schultz’s “I Am the Way” (a personal favorite of mine).
The concert’s agenda to help two charities was appropriately reflected in Schultz’s songs, “He’s My Son” and “When You Give.” Schultz asked the audience to participate in the latter song by echoing his voice in the chorus, “When you give/ When you love/ When you serve/ You do it unto me.” It made the music fun and interactive, but inspiring at the same time.
Audience participation was continued throughout the concert with Schultz’s melodious radio single “Back In His Arms Again.” Again the spectators sang part of the chorus, almost like a background choir vocal, which made the song rich and harmonious.
Schultz sang various modern worship songs that got the majority of the audience to sing along with him.
Perhaps what makes Schultz’s performances very entertaining are his honesty and ability to incorporate his wit even in the midst of a tear-jerking song like “When You Come Home.” It is a slow, touching song about a mother and her son. Schultz mentioned that his mother was all right and he said he wrote the song that way because he needed a strong third verse. He then introduced an “alternative,” more cheerful (not to mention clever) verse, which had his spectators laughing.
The audience got a sneak preview of a fairly novel song “Letters From War”, which Schultz hasn’t even finished writing yet. It’s another beautiful tear-jerker. Of course, Schultz lightened the mood by interjecting witty comments throughout the song.
“I don’t really know how to play the piano,” Schultz said. “I usually play on the black keys because there’s less of them and they stick out.”
But Schultz was serious as he spoke about his song, “He’s My Son.” In a deep moment, Schultz talked about why he wrote this song: one of the kids from the youth ministry group he was directing was diagnosed with leukemia.
“He’s My Son” displayed Schultz’s amazing vocal range and ability on the piano (despite his confession of a lack of knowledge on it).
After amusingly singing an oldie, “Shout,” from the top of a chair it was time for Schultz to wind down and end his show. He closed his performance with “Remember Me,” another slow, melodious song that usually Schultz sings with Christian artist Ginny Owen.
The evening, however, wasn’t over. Many people from the crowds got up and moved closer toward the stage as Caedmon’s Call prepared to play.
The folk Christian band started their show with its upbeat rendition of Rich Mullin’s song, “Hope to Carry On,” which has long been a favorite of contemporary Christian music fans.
Despite Danielle Young’s laryngitis, the band still displayed its remarkable ability to perform lyrically complex songs and blend folk, rock and pop tunes, making their music unique and engaging.
Caedmon’s Call also utilizes atypical musical instruments such as a crude tin drum and a wooden box to create their distinctive music, as in the song “My World.” While the folk genre might turn some people away, the band’s use of the ukulele, percussion, tin drum and wooden box made this song very catchy and fun.
Caedmon’s Call’s lead singer, Cliff Young, introduced newcomer Andy Osenga, who sang his amusing folk song, “High School Band.”
As Schultz received the most audience participation during worship, Caedmon’s Call also asked their spectators to sing along hymns and modern worship songs. The band slowly ceased their musical instruments and the crowds drew closer and lifted their hands as their voices resounded throughout Alumni Park.
With that,Young reminded the audience of the band’s message to help out others.
“Don’t think of this as just a spirit boost,” Young said. “We can make a difference here. It’s important as believers to help out.”
Caedmon’s Call ended with “Hands of The Potter,” another high-spirited song with several drum beats.
The crowd still wanted more and despite Malibu’s noise curfew regulations, Palmer was able to get Caedmon’s Call to return for an encore. The band’s encore was “Mystery of Mercies,” which, despite the lack of musical instruments, Cliff and Danielle Young still sang astoundingly.
As the Waves of Mercy Concert finally drew to a close, it seemed like the cold atmosphere combined with family-friendly songs brought students and family together.
Overall, while the benefit concert might not have made a profit, it was still a great way to get students and even faculty members together.
September 18, 2003
