In its two years, the Everett Events Center has played host to athletes and sports fans, hard rockers and rappers.
But Friday night, nearly 7,500 people gathered to watch more than a dozen musical acts. And they were all there in praise of one.
Gospel music legend Bill Gaither brought his Gaither Homecoming Tour, marking its 10th anniversary, and hosted a night packed with more than three hours of music and laughter.
Gaither kept the evening moving along, trolling out artist after artist for the first two and a half hours of the show before a short intermission that led into a “homecoming,” with all the artists crowding the stage to sing classic gospel tunes.
There was time for comic relief, though, with Gaither allowing his band to occasionally poke fun at his age and inability to remember the names of all the artists he was calling to the stage. Gaither even left a little room for a sex joke when congratulating Guy Penrod of his Gaither Vocal Band on the news that he’ll soon have his first daughter – after welcoming seven boys already.
“We travel a lot,” Gaither said. “But evidently he gets home every now and then.”
Gaither brought out legends and newcomers, alike, keeping the southern gospel classics alive while introducing the audience to a new generation of artists who are preparing to carry the torch.
“We’ve lost too many of our heroes,” Gaither said while introducing the venerable Ben Speer, who began performing with his family in 1950.
Speer delighted fans with a smooth rendition of “‘Til the Storm Passes By,” leading the crowd in a sing along on the final line, “Keep me safe ‘til the storm passes by.”
The Issacs, a family act from Lafollette, Tenn., kept the storm theme going.
Singer Sonya Issacs said, “Storms in this life are often unexpected. Of late, we’ve had more than our fair share.
“Some storms will destroy our land, steal our belongings and our property. But when our faith is anchored in Jesus Christ, there is something they can never take. That is our peace. That’s why I love this song so much.”
With that, she sang, “It Is Well With My Soul,” accompanied only by two soft violins.
The Issacs were one of the bands that whipped the crowd into a frenzy, with their down home sound on songs such as “Friend ‘Til the End.”
The Booth Brothers, a trio in which only two singers are actually brothers, got the crowd going with the up-tempo classic, “Feelin’ Mighty Fine” before introducing a new ballad, “He Saw it All.”
Gospel legend Jessy Dixon brought the large crowd to near silence with his heartfelt rendition of “Lord Prepare Me to be a Sanctuary” and “Come Out of the Wilderness.”
The Gaither Vocal Band finished the first part of the show with a half-dozen songs that drew big cheers, particularly for Penrod, whose long silver hair, salt and pepper goatee and soothing voice have made him a fan favorite.
Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
Michael V. Martina / The Herald
Jeff Easter, his daughter Morgan Easter, 12, and Charlotte Ritchie perform gospel music Friday night at the Everett Events Center during the Gaither Homecoming Tour.
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