Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!
Jesusfreakhideout.com celebrates 30 Years online in 2026... Get Your Music - and everything else - on Amazon! All purchases made on Amazon through this link earn a commission for Jesusfreakhideout.com!

JFH Concert Review


K-LOVE Christmas Tour 2016

 

K-LOVE Christmas Tour 2016
12/1/16, at Victory Family Church in Pittsburgh, PA

We all know those people that start with the Christmas music the moment Halloween ends. I feel as though there's an unwritten rule that suggests that one wait until at least Thanksgiving before singing about the "holly jolly's." K-Love seems to agree, as their annual Christmas tour has officially kicked off and not a moment too late. The tour, which begins in late November and runs all the way until a few days before Christmas features Unspoken, Mac Powell (of Third Day), and Crowder this year.

The night kicked off with Unspoken taking the Christmas tree and lights-adorned stage. They played through a selection of songs in support of their recently released sophomore album, Follow Through, with a few Christmas tunes sprinkled throughout. They also included their recently released laid back jam, "Christmas Everyday." The highlight of their set, however, would be a medley of more secular based Christmas favorites because "as you can see, we're out here first. So Mac and Crowder have dibs on all of the 'holy' Christmas songs," lead singer Chad Matson explained. The medley included such favorites as "All I Want For Christmas," "Run Run Rudolph" and a wonderfully deep version of "You're A Mean One Mr. Grinch." Mac Powell then took the stage and got the crowd on their feet with the traditional favorite, "Joy To The World." Before going into the Third Day Christmas original "Born In Bethlehem," Powell explained to the audience that it was one of his favorite songs that he has written over the band's long, storied career. Also featured were the Third Day classic "I've Always Loved You," an Alabama cover "Christmas In Dixie" and a track off of Mac's recent solo country effort, "Run Outta Love."

Kenny Rodgers the Artic Fox (wearing a Santa hat) signaled time for the night's headliner, Crowder. Much to my surprise (perhaps naively, considering it's a Christmas concert), Crowder's set featured almost no original tunes. Save for "How He Loves" and "Come As You Are," the set featured exclusively Christmas tunes and absolutely nothing from the recently released American Prodigal. It's understandable considering the theme of the show, albeit a tad surprising. In 2011, the dearly departed David Crowder*Band released a brilliant holiday EP, titled Oh For Joy. This is where the bulk of Crowder's set would lie. The band kicked off with the wonderfully twangy versions of "Go Tell It On The Mountain" and "Angels We Have Heard On High." After a conversation about the appropriateness of "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer," and the creepiness of line "...he sees you when you're sleeping" in the classic "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town," Crowder welcomed Mac Powell back out to the stage for a gift exchange. Accompanied by the hilariously sad-looking Santa Claus, Crowder gave his present to Mac - a bottle of Muscle Milk (which may or may not have been taken from catering - it was still cold). Mac showed appreciation and chugged the drink before offering his persent to Crowder - cat socks. Then they launched into the Elvis Presley classic, "Blue Christmas," featuring Mac Powell's wonderfully deep voice. The night took a more spiritual, reflective tone with "How He Loves" and "Come As You Are," bridged beautifully with a few lines of the Leonard Cohen classic, "Hallelujah." Crowder was then joined on stage again by Mac Powell, his band, and Unspoken for one last sing-a-long, "Feliz Navidad" -- complete with snow!

The K-Love Christmas show is running through this month, and is well worth going and checking out if they are near. If feels more laid back than a typical concert - akin to gathering and watching a classic Christmas special with family on the holidays. And that's exactly the purpose.

-- B.J. Smith, 12/7/16

K-LOVE Christmas Tour 2016 Photo Gallery
click on an image for a bigger size
**vertical images cropped for thumbnails**

Unspoken

Mac Powell

Crowder

*all photos by BJ Smith and are the property of the photographer and Jesusfreakhideout.com

&crowdersp;

 



 

go to main Album review page

 

                 
Get a FREE month of VidAngel on us when you sign up!

Search JFH



This Tuesday, March 24, 2026
ALBUMS
Philip Anthony Rare Form (independent)

This Friday, March 27, 2026
ALBUMS
Romy Fay The Chosen Adventures (Vol. 1) [feat. Romy Fay] [Capitol CMG]
Gaither I Go To The Rock [Gaither]
Kelo & DreBeeze Da Godson TRAP WORSHIP 2 - Single [Syntax]
Limoblaze Solid Ground - EP [Reach]
Jason McGee & The Choir Another Tomorrow [CDAC]
NEEDTOBREATHE The Long Surrender [UMG]
Point of Grace Lady Wisdom [Curb]
Tommee Profitt The Resurrection of the King [Capitol CMG]
Tommy Royale ChurchBoy [Capitol CMG]
Various Artists We Shall Behold Him Tribute to Dottie Rambo [Daywind]

SINGLES
29:11 Worship The King and The Lamb - Single [Dream Worship]
B. Cooper Driver's Seat - Single [RMG Amplify]
Bethel Music Cathedral (Live at Church) (feat. Jonathan David & Melissa Helser) - Single [Bethel]
Chris Caro Noah's Song - Single [Syntax]
Franni Cash Raised by Wolves - Single [Capitol CMG]
Steven Curtis Chapman & Miel San Marcos Cinderella (Espaņol) - Single [The Fuel]
ChristianXXII Glory - Single [Wick Media]
Cutright Nasty - Single [Syntax]
Evelyn Cormier Leaning on Jesus - Single [BEC]
ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band The First Time I Heard About Heaven - Single [Daywind]
FORREST FRANK x DAWN PATROL SOS - Single [Riverhouse]
Freedom Church Is He Not Worthy - Single [Dream Worship]
Justin Gambino Let Me Not Forget - Single [Residence]
Abbie Gamboa The Wonderful Blood (Amazon Music Original) - Single [Anotherland]
Amy Grant How Do We Get There From Here (feat. Ruby Amanfu) - Single [AG]
Philippa Hanna Citizen (feat. Israel Houghton & Moses Bliss) - Single [Integrity]
Benjamin William Hastings x Aodhán King Hollow Grave - Single [Capitol CMG]
J. Suthern Hicks You Are Loved - Single (independent)
Tasha Layton x Claire Leslie Whispers - Single [BEC]
Patrick Mayberry Three Days Later - Single [Provident/Sony]
Matthew Plante Love You Have - Single [Dream]
Q-Flo Midnight Matcha - Single [Syntax]
River Valley AGES Anxious for Nothing - Single [BEC]
Angelina Saathoff Butterflies & Goodbyes (Feat. PAIGE) - Single (independent)
The Sagehens Dumb & Drummer - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints in Exile My Mind is a Prison (Orchestral Remix) - Single [Syntax]
SEU Worship A Forgiving God (Moment) - Single [Provident/Sony]
Signum Regis Throne Of Gold - Single [Fireflash]
Switchfoot Wake Up, Mr. Crow - Single [By Design/BMG]
Lauren Talley Walls - Single [Horizon]
tonyxtrotter UNTIL THE GOSPEL ft. KJ-52 - Single [Syntax]
Vertical Kings 20-Something - Single [Covenant Music]
Wilson Fairchild Lean On Me - Single [Gaither]

Next Friday, April 3, 2026
ALBUMS
Meredith Andrews Live From Liberty University (with Liberty Worship Collective) [Curb]
Peech. Small Town America (Vol. 2) - EP [Capitol CMG]
Michael Sweet The Master Plan [Frontiers]

SINGLES
ANTHNY x Kierra Sheard show up - Single [Provident/Sony]
FORREST FRANK x DAWN PATROL Waste Some Time - Single [Riverhouse]
Omega Levine All Things New - Single (independent)
Oyinbrakemi Goosebumps - Single (independent)
To Fight Fo Alive - Single (independent)
Bay Turner Redeemer - Single [Centricity]


For all release dates, click here!
 

Purchase Original Art Prints, Drawings, Stickers, Bookmarks and more from JFH's own John DiBiase!
Need proofreading and editing help? We've got you covered! Click here to learn more
Check out depositphotos for royalty free images