From the very opening of his show, Shaun Groves let everyone know he was glad to be in Palm City, Florida, and that this night was going to be a rock-and-roll roller coaster.
Groves broke things wide-open with an aggressive, yet non-violent, version of "Should I Tell Them?", then, seamlessly, into a pensive, acoustic salute to the Scorpions: "Palm City, Palm City Nights" whipped the crowd into a frenzy of quiet reflection.
Groves' musical offerings, a unique blend of acoustic folk/pop, were in the service of poverty-relief group Compassion International. The concert was largely positive and encouraging, but punctuated by moments that will linger long for concert-goers. One disturbing turn: During Groves' tear-jerking hit, "Twilight", his road manager Brody Harper appeared onstage to offer his own interpretive, and, not insignificantly, shirtless, dance of praise.
The crowd allowed Groves to finish silently, while, memorably, the only sound that could be heard for the next 12 minutes was the continued patting of Harper's feet on the carpeted stage. The crowd remained silent for some time, some eventually breaking into small groups to "process" what had just happened.
Largely, Groves provided his own dance moves, some artistically impressive, some morally dubious, and still others prompting immediate, and scholarly, debate among leading theologians.
A perplexed crowd, eventually re-convening, roared back to life when Groves began an extended medley in open C-minor tuning. This medley consisted of all of his songs.
Longtime fans appreciated his turn at Calvary Chapel's grand piano, where Groves fought back tears in an airy, aching, "When We Love the Least/You're a Grand Old Flag" fusion. Groves followed up with new songs, including the ska-tinged, "Big, Big House (Not Sure Why We Bought It)", an anthemic tribute to Stanley Hauerwas, "Hook, Line, and Sinker", and then the thoughtful, reflective cri de coeur, "Taller Than You (Way Taller)".
The staging was perfect, with Groves' now-familiar giant Texas flag unfurling at just the right-time, during the final chorus of "Welcome Home."
True to his gifts, Groves finished with another medley, "I Can Only Imagine/76 Trombones/Walk This Way", which had the crowd marching to Compassion tables to sponsor children, before leaving quietly yet quickly. Harper, still shirtless, got lost on the way to the hotel.
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