Date: 30 Nov 1995
To: RichMailList
Subject: [RichMailList 48]: Rich and the 4th of July

John Santosh writes:
>Danl, man, I wish I could be there for that final Wichita RM jam 
>on the 9th.  I agree with you..Rich is at his best when he's by 
>himself.  I wonder if this could be our last chance to get those 
>lyrics...well, I can hope, can't I?

[ed. note: Josh and I are trying to get the lyrics to "We're Not As Strong" Rich calls it a Christian 'break-up' song. Kathy told me he also wrote "The River" and "What Susan Said" about this particular breakup. Hopefully I'll be able to get the lyrics tomorrow night.]

>So, as I've been reading the different "rich" experiences - I'm 
>drawn to share one of my own.  I think I briefly alluded to it 
>once when I wrote to you.
>This past 4th of July, I went to Massachussetts (can't remember 
>the name of the school)to catch Rich in concert, and to hear 
>Brennan Manning speak.  Apparently, they were touring together for 
>a bit.  Massachussetts is a good ol' drive, but I went anyway 
>because I was still upset that Creation 95 was cancelled (which is 
>another long story).  Man, the concert was just great.  It was 
>Rich and Beaker playing on a wooden platform outdoors, and about 
>300 people in the audience.  Here's the "rich" experience:
>Third song into the set, Rich is banging away at the keyboard.  
>Wouldn't you know the song he's singing is "Let the Nations Rage"?
>Even now it's tough to keep from laughing.  So, as he's playing 
>the keyboard was shaking awfully hard.  And I'm thinking to 
>myself, "Wow...Rich is really passionate about this."  And then 
>around the middle of the song, it happened....
>*BANG*
>The keyboard slammed to the floor.
>Man, you could hear the crickets, it was so quiet.
>Rich sort of froze for a second with his mouth wide open...his 
>arms were held in midair waiting to hit piano keys that were no 
>longer there.  And the audience...it sounded like a mass case of 
>hypothermia.  Okay, okay...I admit I was in shock, too.  All of a 
>sudden, Rich clapses his hands together and says with a nervous 
>laugh, "OH...I guess I'll just stick with the guitar!"
>The crowd joined him in laughing...nervously.
>BUt the story doesn't end there.  A technician ran to the 
>platform, surveyed the area, and after a few moments, he took the 
>keyboard stand and turned it RIGHT SIDE UP!  Man, we all laughed 
>so much we were crying.  Rich finished the song, made some more 
>funny comments, and took requests the rest of the way.  Someone 
>asked for "Hold Me Jesus"  So Rich begins, "Sometimes my life just 
>don't make sense at all..."  He paused, giggled, and continued, 
>"Like right now..."
>When I saw him last month, he recognized my friend Abey and I, and 
>I reminded him about 'the concert on the 4th of July where (his) 
>keyboard dropped.'  Rich was like, "oh yeah...thanks for reminding 
>me."  

Great story, Josh. Thanks.

Tulsa bound in 24 hours.


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