Spirit Song Day 2

[KI Kevin]

Now I do understand that a lot of people do not agree with Christian beliefs, but man, this concert was great. I also got some good rides in today.I had gone the past 2 years just for the Newsboys, but this year, after getting into more bands, I got a 3 day ticket. It was two friends (Evan, Tommy) and I. Us, all being 13, didn't listen to all of the bands, cause some of the bands were older style music that we weren't used to listening to.

So, we got there around 4. My friend (Evan, mentioned in my Cedar Point TR) had seen a band called Remedy Drive at Ichthus, a Christian music festival in Kentucky, and loved them. I had listened to their songs and really liked them. Sure enough, they were on the roster for this year's annual Spirit Song. We were delighted to hear this. When we got into the concert area, we got Remedy Drive shirts. I was feeling iffy about this, considering I had only heard their studio songs and concert shirts are always expensive. If anyone reading this is really into Christian music (or any rock), then they should listen to this band. They were incredible. We got the shirts autographed by all 4 brothers (which was the band). With a good feeling, we walked over to Flight Deck.

The line was about 5 minutes, so we sat in the second row. You know, it was a normal Flight Deck ride. Really fun while it lasted. I just think it's a bit too short though.

Next, we headed towards one we knew would have a short line despite the crowds: The Racer. We had ridden the red side yesterday, so Evan and I rode blue while Tommy rode red. Making an effective system for swapping out single riders in a 3 person group can sometimes be complicated. Anyway, we made sure that we would both get on at the same time. Well, we did. But our blue train didn't even take off until the red train after Tommy's took off. I think that they need to go at the same time every single circuit. We just wanted a good race and they can't even dispatch the trains at the same time...

It was around 6, and we were pretty hungry by now, so we made our usual trip to the Festhaus for Larosa's. We bought a full pizza for the 3 of us. Suggestion: they should divide the pizzas into 12 pieces instead of 8. This would make the pizza divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 12, instead of just 1, 2, and 4.

By this time, a band that we had all heard was good, but had never listened to, Kutless, was on the stage back at the Timberwolf. We went over there and stayed for about 15 minutes. From what we heard, they were pretty good. We had to go to the bathroom, and when we got out it had just started to sprinkle. We walked around it the concert merch area for a while til it REALLY started coming down. We found shelter under the Festhaus tent area behind the Action Splash (I think that's what it's called) game.

When it started to die down, much of the crowd had left. We went to go look at the Diamondback line, and it had extended to behind the Rivertown Junction Dining Hall, so we passed. Stunt Coaster didn't have a line, so we rode it. Luckily, we got front seat. At this time we really need to get over to the Timberwolf for the Newsboys concert.

They were originally all Austrailian, and after recently getting a new lead singer, the only original member was the drummer (he was fantastic, me being a drummer). The new guy was much younger (and American), so I didn't have to high of hopes. After a shaky intro on their opener, "Something Beautiful", I didn't think he would be good. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of the rest of the song. I have to say, even though he brings a different, younger style to the older (kind-of) style band I had come to like, I will say that I like it equally or even more. Good stuff.

The last band, Third Day, was an older style band that we hadn't heard, so we skipped, and headed for Rivertown. I had been wanting to ride Beast at night, but the other two wanted to ride Diamondback at night (for reasons I didn't understand). Diamondback's line was about 40 minutes, so we headed towards The Beast. The line was at where the photo booth is, so I convinced them to ride. All of us got in line for the front seat, intending for Tommy to ride before Evan and I, when that magical time, 9:45 came. We were 3 trains away from getting on. I was not in any way disappointed though, because I wanted my front seat ride on The Beast to be as dark as possible. The ride op made a firework party inside the station. Pretty awesome. She kept trying to persude the crowd that Beast was better than Diamondback. I thought that Diamondback was better during the day, but Beast took the cake at night. It started back up at 10:15, and asked Tommy if I could ride alone, adding to the excitement. So, I got into the front row at 10:25, by myself. The ride did NOT disappoint. This was by far the most epic ride experience that I had ever had, and The Beast, a ride which I had ridden so many times, but had never considered the full potential of, was skyrocketed past Maverick, Top Thrill, Diamondback, and Raptor, and has now been placed as #1.

This was the best park experience I've had in a while and probably will be for a long time to come.

[Colonel_SoB_fan]

I was at Spirit Song the whole time tonight and all the bands did an excellent job. I agree the new Newsboys are better than the older. Michael Tait is no young gun tho like you talk. He has been around the block a few times with DC Talk, a band that had him and Toby Mac, then after DC he did a solo album, then joined the Newsboys this year.

My order of the shows tonight in quality

1. Newsboys

2. Kutless

3. Third Day

4. Bluetree

5. Remedy Drive, they were good but somebody had to be last.

I recommend you stay for everyone tomorrow, Fireflight and Family Force 5 will rock the place, then Jeremy Camp and Mercy Me will surely finish the night off right with a big party.

[KI Kevin]

I didn't know Tait had a solo album. I did know that he was in DC Talk with Tobymac though. Hence Jesus Freak as the last song. And as for Remedy Drive, I don't think their sound system was doing them much good. For example, all that you could hear of the drums were the cymbals and bass drum. You couldn't even hear the snare or toms.

For tomorrow, I plan to see Fireflight and Family Force 5. I've seen MercyMe before and they're not really my type. I haven't heard much FF5, but from what I have, all of their songs seem to sound the same. But I have also heard that they were great live, so I'll just have to see.

[Oldiesmann]

Michael Tait put out a couple of albums with a group he formed called Tait. Check out Wikipedia for more details.

I was also there yesterday, but only saw Newsboys and Third Day (awesome band - I highly recommend checking them out). While I liked the Newsboys, it just isn't the same without Peter Furler. Third Day, as usual, was awesome.

I spent the time during the storm hiding out on the patio behind the funnel cake stand in Rivertown. My sister and I had just gotten back from the water park when it hit.

I will be there again tonight and am looking forward to Fireflight and Family Force 5, assuming we make it up there in time (my sister and I are going to a friend's wedding downtown at 3, but are hoping to be at KI by 5 or so.). I'm also looking forward to hearing MercyMe.