When David and I made a decision to travel by car to City Temple, Holborn Viaduct, London, where the Ernie Haase & Signature Sound concert was going to be performed, we felt 3 hours would be ample time to get there, because it had taken 3 hours to get to The Royal Festival Hall in October 2009 to see the Gaither Homecoming Singers, and this venue was only about a mile away!!
Well, London traffic had other ideas and we swanned up in one hour and five minutes - a bit of a shock to say the least! But as a result we found ourselves going into the concert hall a couple of hours early, and watching all the rigging for the concert.
Tony the band's soundman, was the first person we met, who made us feel very welcome and at home. He's done the sound for the Gaither concerts for 8 years but now works for Ernie Haase & Signature sound. He gave us a run down on what was happening with the sound and lighting, and the fact that the stage had to be specially built around the pulpit!
Trying to get the lights in the right place and the lighting gantry at the right height took quite a bit of effort, with people standing on chairs armed with long poles to move the lights into the right position. It was fascintating to see just how much goes into to making everything perfect for the audience's concert experience.
Whilst killing time until 6.15pm when I would be doing an interview with Ernie Haase, we saw the band doing a sound rehearsal with new member Devin McGlamer. He's a bit of a cheeky chappy, but his singing and how he fitted into the band was a joy to see.
Well 6.15pm came and we were led to a little green room by the side of the stage to do the interview with Ernie - who was a joy. He knew that a small digital recording machine, needed to be hunkered over to get a good quality sound. He was more than happy to answer all the questions I had for him in our alloted time and then he had to go and get ready fot the concert.
The show was to say the least was brilliant, with everyone getting up and dancing at the faster songs and joining in, and being moved by the slower songs. During the interval the band were up by the merchandise signing cds and dvds - even Devin who although hadn't recorded the songs was signing them. Afterwards the band were there again signing merchandise for all who wanted them, and posing for pictures. They definitely worked their socks off and I for one am looking forward to the band's return in September/October time.
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