Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!
Check out the new concept album from Rusty Shipp!

JFH Music Review


Neon Porch Extravaganza EP, Neon Porch Extravaganza EP
CLICK COVER TO ENLARGE

Crowder
Neon Porch Extravaganza EP



Artist Info: Discography
Genre(s): Live / Worship
Album length: 6 tracks: 25 minutes, 50 seconds
Street Date: October 30, 2015


READER RATING:   


You'd be forgiven if you saw this review and had no idea that Crowder had a new album. Crowder's Neon Porch Extravaganza, a 6-song live EP, dropped as a complete surprise on Friday, October 30th. It captures an evening at Passion City Church in Atlanta which included, according to Crowder, a mechanical bull, a petting zoo, inflatable jousting, and a dance floor. It might be harder to forgive you if you don't love the album cover, whether it's in your hands or lighting up your iTunes player in neon yellow, complete with Kenny Rodgers the Arctic Fox. And I'll just have to draw the line and not forgive you at all if this music doesn't get your pulse to quicken and your muscles to twitch.

The first words heard on Neon Porch Extravaganza are not those of any of the songs on the source material, Neon Steeple. Instead, with typical Crowder whimsy, you'll hear, "If it hadn't been for Cotton-Eyed Joe, I'da been married a long time ago." Live banjo sweeps in, the sample feeds seamlessly into "My Beloved," and the rollicking extravaganza is underway.

Radio hit "I Am" follows, sticking fairly close to the original. The song works well as a live singalong, and shows what modern worship music can be: honest and meaningful, aware of our brokenness and the one remedy. "Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains)" is a smoldering foot-stomper, given new life (as if it needed any) by a Tedashii cameo.

Listeners who haven't seen Crowder live recently might be thrown by the next track, a brief cover of Drake's "Hold On, We're Going Home." It's a brave choice, and the crowd's reaction (and singing) display the effectiveness of Crowder's willingness to borrow songs from all sorts of genres, past and present, to craft a landscape for his own songs to play in. The song feeds into the plaintive wail of "Come As You Are," and the somber moment after the playful pop casts a brighter light on the hope of the chorus: "All who are broken, lift up your face." The EP closes with "Hands of Love," wisely picking up the tempo and surely catalyzing some jubilant dancing with its bright loop.

Neon Porch doesn't really stray too far from Neon Steeple, but the song selections are excellent. It's interesting that the sequencing is so similar to the source, as (apart from an intro and "Come Alive" in the middle) the songs on Porch are pulled in order from the first songs on Steeple. Nonetheless, there's enough novelty to make the EP worthwhile, and the EP gives a good taste of just how much fun a Crowder show is.

- Review date: 11/5/15, written by Mark D. Geil of Jesusfreakhideout.com



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

 

. Record Label: Sixstepsrecords
. Album length: 6 tracks: 25 minutes, 50 seconds
. Street Date: October 30, 2015
. Buy It: iTunes

  1. My Beloved (5:54)
  2. I Am (4:06)
  3. Lift Your Head Weary Sinner (Chains) (4:12)
  4. Hold On We're Going Home (1:43)
  5. Come As You Are (4:41)
  6. Hands Of Love (5:18)

 

 

 

 



Leave a Comment

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 

 

                 
Check out JFH's Lloyd in his first-ever childrens book!

Search JFH



This Wednesday, July 16, 2025
SINGLES
1K Phew Yet - Single [Reach]

This Friday, July 18, 2025
ALBUMS
Justin Gambino Just Like Jesus - EP [Residence Music]
The Inspirations Up Above The World So High [Horizon]
Mary-Clair Enough [Vere]
MotionPlus Improper Decorum [SoulFeeder, Polished Arrow Music]
Planetshakers Weight of Heaven [Venture3Media]
The Rocky Valentines Music On The Shelf [Velvet Blue]
Emilie Weiss Come Through (Studio Session) - EP [BEC]

SINGLES
Chris Caro OTW - Single [Syntax]
Aaron Cole Mercy - Single [RCAI]
Melvin Crispell III Reason To Dance - Single [RCAI]
Crowder STILL (feat. Zach Williams) - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ellie Holcomb Hope's Gonna Find You - Single [Capitol CMG]
Influence Music How You Do It - Single (independent)
Vic Lucas Holy Ghost (ft. Lady Audri) - Single [Syntax]
Paul and Hannah McClure Holy Hands (Live) - Single [Bethel]
Lizzie Morgan Can't Help But Praise - Single [Provident]
Kevi Morse Honest Cvlture ft. STIXX aka Conejo) - Single [Syntax]
Shekts Nelson Your Love - Single [Churchboy]
Blessing Offor Crying Out Loud - Single [Capitol CMG]
Remedy Drive Brighter Than Apathy (Reimagined) - Single (independent)
Rhymes in Harmony Lift Your Name - Single [Syntax]
Speedy the Artist Reach For Elohim - Single [Syntax]
Thrive Worship The One Who Saves - Single [Integrity]
Zane Walls Think About Me - Single [DREAM]

This Sunday, July 20, 2025
VINYL
King's X Manic Moonlight Vinyl [Girder]

Next Wednesday, July 23, 2025
ALBUMS
Eric Roberson Beautifully All Over The Place (independent)

Next Friday, July 25, 2025
ALBUMS
Anchor & Braille New Mexico [Equal Vision]
Bride Scarecrow Messiah CD Re-Release [Girder]
Olivia Lane Songs About Jesus (Deluxe Edition) [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard TASHA [Motown Gospel]
Josh Wright LEAD (independent)

SINGLES
Gracie Binion Easy To Please - Single [BEC]
Andrew Gonoude Closer To You - Single (independent)
Kings Kaleidoscope + Kings Kaleidoscope Hymns Amazing Grace - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Life In Me - Single [BEC]
Hunter Plake Down to Earth - Single [BEC]
Xander Sallows infinite - Single [DREAM]
Joel Vaughn Feel It - Single [DREAM]
Zauntee Jesus Down In Florida - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Bride Scarecrow Messiah Vinyl [Girder]

DVD
Jordan Smith The People's Hymnal DVD [Gaither]



For all release dates, click here!
 

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images