Oklahoma City, OK September 24, 1995
by Pat Gilliland
The Daily Oklahoman October 7, 1995
Mullins Sings from the Heart
A couple of girls with guitars added a pleasing richness and variety to Christian songweaver Rich Mullins' Brother's Keeper tour date in Oklahoma City.
The plaintive folk sound of Carolyn Ar-ends and the gutsy blues of Ashley Cleveland primed the Civic Center Music Hall audience for Mullins' appearance with his six-piece Ragamuffin Band and a varying number of backup vocalists.
The three artists combined for 2V: hours of continuous entertainment, a testament to Mullins' respect for concertgoers who don't want to stare at an empty stage between acts.
Mullins, who moved to a Navajo reservation in New Mexico after earning a bachelor's degree in music education last spring, proved he is still at home on the stage as he sang and spoke from his heart
Songs ranged from the vintage "Awesome God" and "Boy Like Me" to "Let Mercy Lead" and "Brother's Keeper" from his latest album, as well as the ever-popular "Creed" and "Hold Me, Jesus." As a bonus for concertgoers, he performed a song that he said was accidentally omitted from the album. He also honored requests from the audience.
Mullins took the slightest break when he invited Arends back onstage to lead a sing-along of her "Power of Love." But on the next song, featuring Cleveland, Mullins joined Arends as a backup vocalist.
Arends four-song opener included her debut hit "Love is Always There," as well as "Seize the Day." The second number made this listener think of Grammy Award-winner Sheryl Crow's "All I Wanna Do is Have Some Fun," but with a more wholesome spin. Arends' singing is soft and pure, almost conversational.
Cleveland, meanwhile, mixes the best of female blues and country sounds, with the conviction and guitar-playing skill of Grammy rocker Bonnie Raitt.
Cleveland stunned the unsuspecting audience with the power and volume of her voice as she belted out "Revive Us Again," "Lesson of Love" and "Henry Doesn't Care," a song about her 3-year-old son.
