Common Market

I had arrived shortly before a supporting act that seemed to consist of kids finished; following them was an average rock band with a vocalist whose words I couldn't hear and had the range of a water pistol. The inter-band act was fun, though: two-piece (banjo & bass) country strummin' and yarnin'. Finally, the lights dimmed, the crowd cheered, two shadowy forms strode on stage and took their places. In a well-timed sequence the music, vocals and lights began. Big bass notes made the tip of my nose vibrate and the simple beats had a good groove. That lasted for a couple of songs, but somewhere along the way the big bass was dispensed with and the beats lost their groove. I was standing right near the back, which wasn't all that far, so I could see everyone else, and certainly everyone close to the front and a few around me were patting and chopping the air with their hands enthusiastically. The MC was a great performer, but due to my untrained ear and the average quality of the sound system, I could barely understand a word! I later found out that apparently love was the main theme of his work. The platonic kind, as you will see. After a few songs, this guy in a black suit, black shirt, black tie jumps on stage, grabs a mic and calls attention to himself. He takes command and he's got god on his mind and on his lips, evangelising about doing god's work, and that it's not easy work, etc. And the crowd are into it, whooping and yelling. The preacher finishes his tirade as a twelve-strong choir, also dressed in black, assembles at the rear of the stage. The concert continues with the backing vocals of the choir chiming in sonorously. All round very weird; I stared around at the crowd, suddenly feeling very alone. I still couldn't understand what they were singing about, but I had a clearer idea as to their sentiments. After a few songs the choir departed and a familiar riff appeared... something tense, something that even I knew the lyrics to... oh my god, they had remixed War Pigs by Black Sabbath! I felt suddenly like their Christian stage performance had turned into a musical altar of apocrypha. I still couldn't hear what they were singing, but I don't think it was the original lyrics as I think I would have recognised them. After a couple more songs I'd had enough and hit the exit.