But They Might Dance…
There has traditionally been a strong relationship between faith and the arts. That relationship has often found its way to not only the soul, but also to the feet. This is traditionally much more evident in so-called “Full Gospel” and Pentecostal churches, but worship music has often moved the heart as much as the head. Yet we often lose much of the joy that ought to characterize worship. Is worship not a celebration of God’s worth? A remembrance of who He is and what He has done?
This is the same God whom the Psalmist admonished Israel to praise with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp (Psalm 149:3). Worship is supposed to fill us with joy. The Campbell Brothers understand this.
Their new album Can You Feel It?, produced by John Medeski of Medeski Martin and Wood captures their soulful brand of worship. Squarely rooted in the style known as “Sacred Steel,” coming from the African-American Holiness Pentecostal Churches commonly known as House of God. This music incorporates lap pedal steel guitar as the primary instrument and is not your typical Baptist dirge.
The Sacred Steel style has been popularized by Robert Randolph, and the Word, (also featuring Medeski) but the Campbell Brothers have been a driving force of the genre for years, helping to shape its distinctive style. Joy in God and His salvation is at the core of what they do and it shines through everywhere.
It is not necessary that every church have people dancing in the aisles. However, the music of the Campbell Brothers and other Sacred Steel artists serves as an indictment to us all. We have come to practice worship as a duty rather than as a celebration. Yes, we must always strive to represent God as He truly is (doctrine cannot be sacrificed for emotion), but we also must never forget who God is and what He has done. If that makes your feet move, praise God. But if that doesn’t make your heart move, it’s time to check your spiritual pulse.
Buy the album.
Download Good All the Time from the Campbell Brothers’ new CD. (Sorry, no longer available).
Download (most of) a Campbell Brothers live show from their website.
Stream Can You Feel It? in its entirety.
Read John Medeski’s account of how the project came to be.
Watch a Quicktime slideshow of the recording sessions.
Learn to play lap steel guitar from Chuck Campbell or from Darick Campbell.
