Reviewed by Paul Loader

With the ever growing popularity of worship based performance, along side Britain's Delirious! the Newsboys are a band that take the concept of praise and worship and with all good conscience create a polished performance that not only entertains but points the audience to Heaven with a sense of enthusiastic praise. This CD/DVD is taken from the band's live performance in Houston, Texas (where all good live Christian albums are recorded these days) and blends many of their well known hits, "Shine", "Wherever We Go" as well as tracks from their last album 'Go' including "The Mission" and "Something Beautiful", throwing in the kind of informal chat that you might expect at a church youth meeting and not a huge concert hall. The whole concert has warmth and sincerity that engages the viewer/listener and invites you in as front man Peter Furler reminisces about the band's early days in America whist the band informally play around with some of their earlier work on a synth. Peter gives his testimony at the end of the concert which I found particularly challenging as he talked in terms of being a "preachers kid", something I personally can identify with. If like me, you are relatively new to the Newsboys, this is a particularly good place to start as it gives a real feel as what they are all about. It certainly leaves you in no doubt as to where their loyalties lie and in whom their faith is placed.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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