No Louie

[Shell]

Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different. This was one person's opinion about one show, and it appears that they didn't know beforehand that Louie wouldn't be able to make it that night.

[fcollazo]

I would always give the band the benefit of the doubt.

[executioner]

I would be cautious at best always giving anyone(including band) the benefit of doubt. The fan was disappointed that Louie wasn't there and too be honest because of the past history with Louie and the band can you actually blame him for jumping to conclusions? I think it was a far reach for him to assume Louie was no longer with the band, but any fan that was expecting Louie to be there that knows the history of the band the first thing that would have come to all of our minds would be that situation. All of us would have thought the same thing but I would've started asking questions before bringing it on here.
Since this was a festival(which bands hate playing) I would probably lay most of the blame on it being a festival type setting; these things are always very uneven and truly difficult to play especially for a band that is doing alot of one off shows(not involved in a full length tour) and also for a band that actually has never played together aka the drummer. All these circumstances above could mean that CP had an off night which in reality isn't that big of a deal unless your a fan and was there expecting something different or better.

[fcollazo]

I think you are right Exe. Thinking about it, I dont know if it did not happen, but at least I would have expected Greg or Bob to introduce Christian from the stage and explain the situation. There is nothing wrong with doing that, and many other people would not have any misunderstandings.

[djregehr]

Sorry about not knowing all the facts. I wasn't intentionally busting Petra's chops. It was just a personal observation. When the stage hands are tearing down your stuff before the gig is done, it does give the appearance that the gig is done, but it also gave the impression that it was premature since John Lawry's keyboard MIDIed "encore" enhancement was just cut short and their was a looong pause.

I have supported Petra and their ministry by purchasing every album they have ever produced and I have attended every concert tour that went through my area since This Means War! and some more than once. My first Petra album was Come and Join Us. I have seen Greg X Volz solo and through the CITAS video. I've definitely seen worse concerts by indie bands. Petra was very professional because they are all seasoned players and very good at what they do. Chemistry was a good word that was used in this thread. It lacked with each other and with the crowd. I would always and have congratulated the members of Petra after a gig given the opportunity as I would expect others in the industry to do. They deserve it! That does not say that the concert was a knock out show. That means that they have earned respect whether or not it was a good gig or not. It was also encouragement from those that built their ministry and careers upon the back of what Petra pioneered.

I do stand by my criticism of the actual performance of the concert itself. Greg hit the high notes and did a good job singing, but his filler comments were lacking and actual self deprecating as a band. Bob was Bob! John did an outstanding job on keyboard, but I missed the Jesus Loves You that started during the Beat the System tour. Mark was a good bassist, but could have interacted with the drummer better. The drummer was good. Each individual member of the band was good, but as a whole lacked the chemistry to make it special and not mechanical. It felt like they were all on clickers in their in ear monitors instead of playing with emotion and feeling with each other and that didn't connect with the audience. Just my 2 cents worth, but I still love and respect Petra and will continue to see them and purchase their music.

[Preacherman777]

Personally, I would not be quick to assume there was a problem if someone wasn't there. We already know that the band has had to change up some things sometimes because of outside obligations. Also, Louie's issues with the band were not with this incarnation of the band. I doubt there is anyone in this line up that he would be likely to clash with. Jumping to conclusions and assuming things is always a bad idea. It's much better to be slow to criticize and quick to give the benefit of the doubt.

[knotodiswrld]

They were great when I saw them in Kingsport, TN. But I can imagine being disappointed has Louie not been there. No reflection on Cristan; I've just been a Louie fan since 1985. I have to think if Louie hadn't been there, it would have kind of put me in a bad mood.

Also, it seems to me that these "festival" performances are always challenging for a band. There are many bands, and so I would think that none of them get the exact stage set-up the would like. Its got to be tougher at a festival than it is when you're the only band anyone has to worry about.

[brent]

Paul would have been a good and logical replacement.

[Mountain Man]

Wondered if tension had surfaced between Louie and the rest again. It has happened before, but ever since the dismissal emotions run higher.

As I understand it, the "tension", if you could call it that, was primarily between Louie and John Schlitt who was band leader in 90s when Louie was fired. And it wasn't so much tension as it was a difference of opinion about which direction Petra should go as a band.

This is also ancient history as far as any of us should be concerned as I'm under the impression that John and Louie reconciled some time ago.