WHITECROSS: Concert Review
WHITECROSS- Oct. 11, 2024
The Junction Center, Mannheim, PA
by Chris Gatto
It’s hard to believe now, but Lancaster, PA used to be a real hotbed for christian metal shows. I remember seeing bands like Shout, Barren Cross, Holy Soldier, and Haven in the Lancaster area. Some of the local bands like Messiah Prophet, Sardonyx, Sacrament, and Triune would gig almost every weekend in area coffeehouses. Youth For Christ (not sure if that’s even around anymore) was one local venue, and the Lancaster Mennonite High School would host shows, including a Rez and Whitecross show in 1995. The local christian radio station WJTL would play mellower fare during the week and then cater to the headbangers for 3 hours on a Friday night with Exit 90, later Thunder Zone, and now Some Kind of a Rock Show radio shows. With that kind of pedigree, this area was due for a return to hard and heavy concerts. With a hot new album under the belts, Darth Plumber Artist Management booked Whitecross for a 3 day run across PA, hitting the Philadelphia, Lancaster and Indiana, PA areas. The Junction Center is a more recent venue built at WJTL headquarters in Mannheim and has been used regularly to host CCM and rock greats like Phil Keaggy, Russ Taff, Randy Stonehill, Steve Taylor, Petra, and frequently Disciple. They booked Whitecross for the middle Lancaster date, bringing the band back to town after an almost 30 year absence.
Surprisingly there were no opening bands. A good crowd showed up for Whitecross, with multiple generations in attendance- many bringing their kids to see one of their favorites play for the first time. Fans were treated with a trip all the way back to the 1987 debut with “Who Will You Follow” and “Enough is Enough,” and then the Van Halen flavored “Good Enough” from In the Kingdom. The band introduced new material with “Man in the Mirror” and the worshipful “Lion of Judah,” before allowing drummer Michael Feighan to run rough shod all over the skins in a lengthy drum solo. At one point, Mike ditched the sticks and started playing drums with his hands to the delight of the audience. It’s always a pleasure to watch this master in his element. Back to new material with the title track “Fear No Evil,” banger “The Way We Rock,” and “29,000,” before allowing guitarist Rex Carroll his turn to showcase his formidable skills on the axe in a shred fest. Whitecross fans know that every Rex Carroll-era WC album had a guitar solo as one of the tracks, in addition to some serious guitar fire scattered throughout the rest of the songs- check out the soloing on the title track “Fear No Evil.” What may not be as immediately apparent is just how much melody Rex brings to the table. Listen to the intros to any given song before the vocals kick in, and you’ll see just how memorable the guitar riffs are. And speaking of guitar, next the band pulled out a bluesy number called “You Will Find It There” from In the Kingdom, that shows yet another facet of Rex’s handiwork. Singer David relayed that the reason the band is here is “Because of Jesus,” a lone cut played from Hammer & Nail, before returning to In the Kingdom for “No Second Chances.” Rex stepped up to the mic and gave a little message about the band still touring this country in hopes to see people come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and then prayed over the audience. Rex revealed that he has a conflicted history with the next song and didn’t like it when producer Dez Dickerson pretty much forced it on the band, but grew to appreciate it and it became a Whitecross signature song. Then the band closed with that song- the title track from In the Kingdom, Mike and David trading vocals, the audience singing along, before taking a selfie with the audience.
You can pick up the excellent new Whitecross album Fear No Evil or band merch at WhitecrossBand.com. Catch WC live if you can, and see this band reborn.