When you know of a great place to go hear Southern Gospel Music, you go back again and again.  Well, the evening I’m about to tell you of was our third time (this year) to be at the Meramec Theater in Steeleville, Missouri.  And we had a good reason to be there! – Triumphant Quartet!!!  That’s right, as autumn rolled around and October set in, we made the trek up to the theater once again to see our friends, hear some good music, and…buy some of the best fudge you have ever tasted!  Better yet, I found myself sitting in the same row I was in last time!  Now that’s pretty cool if you ask me!

“Would everybody who’s here hold up their hand?” asked Mike, Triumphant’s sound tech from on stage, “Well, some of you aren’t here yet.  I’m gonna’ pray, and then tell you about these folks.”  Mike prayed then told the audience a little about Triumphant Quartet.  Many of their achievements were included as Mike told about Jeff Stice – the Singing News Fan Award winner of “Favorite Musician” and Eric Bennett, three time winner of the “Favorite Bass Singer” award in the same series.  Before we knew it, concert time had arrived and introductions were made…

Dressed in accordance to the season with their red and orange ties, Triumphant Quartet strolled on stage and began the night with Amazed At The Change and Saved By Grace.  “Anybody in the house been saved by grace?” Eric asked as Jeff used a gliss to signal an encore.  David Sutton was featured on the next song, Streets Of Gold.  I really enjoyed how each singer was featured on a song within the first few tunes!  After David’s solo, Eric whispered into Jeff’s ear and they began the song that put Scotty in the spotlight on the first line or two, Love Came Calling.  As he sang the last few words, “He came calling to me,” Scotty patted his chest, showing that the lyrics weren’t just a song, but a real life testimony.  Another ballad, He Loves Me, was sung by Eric – and he also, with hand motions and sincerity, stressed the lyrics with those expressions.  Behind me, a lady agreed with a shout of, “Amen!”  Then all the guys clapped on the off-beat as example to us for their song Everyday.  When they encored it, Jeff jumped up from the piano and let the guys finish the song acapella – which they did with enthusiasm.  “I can already tell you are gonna sing us to death tonight!” Eric teased the crowd.  He introduced the group, including their sound tech and bus driver, Mike Gardner, and told of their beginnings.  With David standing next to Eric, waiting to be introduced to the audience, Eric paused and said, “Cute little thing, ain’t he?”  The crowd giggled and David frowned  “Makes you want to pet him,” teased Eric again.  Scotty and Clayton stepped up and petted his back in sync.  LOL  Next, they fulfilled a request – The Longer I Serve Him.  This one featured David, and when it ended, he asked, “Let me ask you tonight, how many can relate to that song?”  He told of how he heard that song in church when he was 13, and that he came to know the Lord at that time and thought it was a beautiful song – but from then until now, he’s lived that song out.  He went on to say that there have been things in his life that he’s had to work through and if it weren’t for Christ in his life, he wouldn’t have made it.  So now, that song means so much more to him compared to the first day he heard it!  He sang the second verse and chorus again.  Don’t Let The Sandals Fool You followed.  When Eric hit a low note on the chorus, Jeff and Scotty were acting funny and gave Eric a look as if to say, “What did you do that for?”  LOL  Reluctantly, Eric stepped forward to “explain” their next song, “We really didn’t like it,” speaking of the time when Clayton brought the song to the group.  Sighing, Jeff added, “I still don’t.”  Well, you probably know now that it’s The Old White Flag!  So as Clayton danced to the music a chorus of “whoops” from the audience and little white flags came from all around.  On one of the chorus’s, Clayton pointed to all those sitting on the front row and ended the song with “Yeah!”  The rest of Triumphant, took Clayton by the arms and gently but firmly dragged him off stage after the song.  “Don’t worry, he’ll be back,” said Jeff, consoling the crowd, “Every now and then he does something and he has to take his little pill.”  LOL  Then, Jeff asked if he could play us a few songs.  The crowd “said yes” in the way that audiences do and Jeff sat down to play a piano solo, Theme Of Exodus.  I’m a big fan of songs that are in a minor key, especially piano solos!  When you see Jeff play this one though, it just does something to your soul!  Very stirring melody!  Picking his mic up from off the floor, he took a moment and told a story about his mom before his next song.  In her honor, he played for us the very first hymn he learned on the piano – Mansion Over The Hilltop.  Not long after, soft voices could be heard singing along.  Soon, Eric walked back on stage and asked us to applaud Jeff again.  Solemnly, the quartet lined up and began their patriotic ballad, Let’s All Stand For America – and stand we did!  When the climax was reached and the notes began to fade, the guys bowed and walked off stage.

Around 8:30 PM the second half began, “Is everybody here now?” the emcee asked and then picked on a poor lady named Dawn on the front row.  After a few announcements, Triumphant came back on and said, “Here’s a song from way back in the 80’s.”  The song was Jesus Is Your Ticket To Heaven and featured Clayton.  At the end, Clayton exclaimed, “Tickets please!” – and jumped over to Jeff, grabbed him by the shoulder and asked, “You got your ticket?”  Jeff smiled, “Yeah, man!”  Then Clayton went on to ask every guy if they had theirs.  Jeff and David’s instrumental duet of Goodbye World, Goodbye followed.  In the background, Scotty pretended to play guitar.  LOL  “Jeff Stice and David Sutton,” Eric proudly announced.  They continued by explaining that they had many requests, and the next one was from Rosella (the sweet lady who brings SGM in the theater!),  but they had a problem which was they hadn’t done it in years!  “So it’s probably gonna sound like we haven’t done it in years!” said Eric.  Scotty broke in and said that if we didn’t like the way they sang it, we could buy the CD when it was recorded right!  LOL  Jeff held his palms up and said, “But you never know…it could be great!”  Clayton interjected, “I’m with Scotty.”  So Jeff started it off and they sang That’s Why I Love To Call His Name.  Well, the crowd loved it!  (They should let Rosella pick the songs more often!  LOL)  “Back then,” Eric said, explaining another old song they were going to sing, “they only sung around two mics.”  Everyone giggled at the pairing of David and Clayton.  (I think I heard someone say, “That’s mean!”)  LOL  First Day In Heaven was that oldie.  When it came time for David to sing his part, Clayton adjusted the mic down for his height.  Without missing a beat they went right into I’m Gonna Open All The Doors Of My Heart.  Poor David, this time, instead of lowering the mic for him, Scotty and Clayton picked him up!  A couple gasps, a faint cry from David and giggles accompanied the little joke.  Eric pointed out the two big flags on the walls at the back of the building and spoke a little about our nation, and the men and women who have given their lives for our nation, for our rights.  Dedicating their next song to the Vet’s, he asked them to stand so they could sing Somebody Died For Me, in their honor.  “Ladies and gentlemen – our heroes,” Eric announced as they stood.  After they sang the song, Eric explained, “It says that because He died for us, we can’t live the way we use to.  Don’t tell me you can meet Him and not be different.”  After a few more thoughts, he added, “I know this is a concert, but I’d just like to have a word of prayer.”  So he asked us to bow our heads while he prayed for those present to leave more vibrant and zealous for Christ.  After that, Jeff set up their next song, sharing with us a little about the quartets who pioneered the way for their heroes.  “Clayton went out and got his hip replaced for this one right here,” Jeff joked.  Then they sang I Wish It Would Rain – a song they do a little choreography with!  Half way through, Jeff pulled out a pair of black sun glasses and began acting like Ray Charles!  It was priceless!  Finally, they closed the night off with Moving Up To Gloryland and the crowd stood in ovation for the evening that they just enjoyed.

 Conclusion:  The title of this post was inspired by Mike, the man who drives Triumphant’s bus and the first person who took the stage to tell us about TQ’s music that night.  When he tried to talk to the crowd, or ask a question, the response was pitiful…but when he exited the stage, everyone clapped.  He teased, “It’s gonna be a tough crowd tonight!”  Now you have to know the crowd at Meramec Theater, they’re quiet.  They really enjoy and appreciate the artists, but sometimes, they don’t always respond how the singers expect – and sometimes, it trips the groups up now and then!  LOL  So it really wasn’t a tough crowd, it was just one they weren’t used too!  But the concert was wonderful!  Clayton and Scotty picking David up…Jeff pulling out those glasses like Ray Charles and hearing all those great songs, and the highlight being feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit heavy in the room as Eric prayed for all those in attendance.