Another week in the studio went by for the Annie Moses Band as we worked hard to complete our new Spring release, Make His Praise Glorious. In between recording sessions, we kept an eye on the news (we’re big time Fox News junkies). For this record, we’ve once again enlisted the help of veteran producer, Michael Omartian, on two very special numbers: our own reimagining of the classic song, Make His Praise Glorious, and a new number, Jesus Savior.  It’s a powerful ballad with hymn-style lyrics. “It’s one of the smoothest songs we’ve ever written,” said Dad, ever mindful of chord progressions and the like. For Jesus Savior, we knew we needed a new influence that would lend power and originality to the song. 

In an AMB first, we called on one of the best vocalists in town, a wonderful Christian artist by the name of Michael O’Brien, to sing a duet with Annie. Michael came in on Friday to “put down” (as we musicians say) his part for the album. We had a wonderful time together, and couldn’t be more happy with the end result. 

But all too soon, the weekend came around, and we were on the road once more, destined for Shelby, North Carolina, a town known for its textile and furniture industry. A warm welcome awaited us in the form of ready hands, eager to help, and a spread of Hawaiian chicken salad, fresh homemade sourdough bread, squash casserole, and delectable fruits. After a rigorous set up, the guys of the Annie Moses Band, tired and a tad disheveled (in a GQ sort of way), were given a rare opportunity: sit in on a Ladies Dinner with our own Robin Wolaver as the speaker. 

Entering the hall, we saw a wide room filled with women dressed to the hilt. Thankfully, our table was in an out of the way corner, hidden by a portable wall. The chef of the evening, Skip, informed us that there were some benefits to being the rejects of the female caste. Our food would come a little early and we would have as many seconds as we wished. The menu? Smoked baby back ribs, tender chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, cakes of every variety, and an unquenchable spring of Southern sweet tea. Mama gave a speech that we ranked as one of her best, and the evening ended as a rousing success.

Sunday dawned, and a great service of praise and teaching with it. Now in case you get the wrong idea, I would like to assure you that food is not the be all-end all of the AMB crew. But when you travel as often as we do, eating at restaurant after restaurant, you begin to appreciate fine home cooked food, which is why I now share with you the afternoon meal we delightfully devoured after the Sunday morning services: prime rib, sauteed spinach stuffed tomatoes, melon balls with bacon and onion, asian broccoli salad, creamy chicken curry casserole, wild rice, and a giant, ice cream topped slice of derby pie. Words fail me. Pounds do not.

In what was a fabulous ending to a great day, our performance went off splendidly (speaking for ourselves of course. We would not presume to assume as much on the part of our audience ). The theme of the weekend was one close to our hearts - “Soli Deo Gloria” - to God alone be glory. What a joy for us to partner with a church and a community who intent is to extol the name of Jesus.  All in all, we left Shelby, North Carolina with a greater appreciation for good fellowship, great concerts, and smoked baby back ribs. 

And that’s the Week in Review.