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JFH Concert Review


Leeland 2012

 

Leeland
3/17/12, at Calvary Church in Lancaster, PA

As part of a special youth conference weekend in Lancaster, PA, CMI Productions brought in modern worship act Leeland to lead the young audience in worship on a sunny March Saturday. The evening began with a set from local pop rock band Reilly and placed an emphasis on missions before giving the spotlight over to the night's main event.

It's been exciting to watch Leeland grow as a group and individuals over the years. We first were introduced to the guys after they'd signed with Provident Music Group and although the Texas-based fellas have seldom come to our neck of the woods, PA, we've still managed to catch their live show a time or two elsewhere (including once at Rock The Universe and another time at Night Of Joy, both in Orlando, FL). This, however, was our first time seeing them since Night of Joy in 2009, and they've since experienced another member change as original bass player Jake Holtz had stepped out, allowing Leeland and Jack Mooring's little sister Shelley to join the band. With a new album having released in the fall, titled The Great Awakening, the band has been spending much of 2012 touring one-off shows and leading worship across North America, playing new songs and planting seeds of revival along the way.

With a fifth, touring member, Casey Moore, on lead guitar, the quintet took the stage, opening with one of their most recognizable songs, "Reaching," from their debut album Sound of Melodies. Youth and those with hearts ready to worship gathered in front of the stage in the Calvary Church sanctuary, packing in close. After "Reaching," frontman Leeland Mooring took a moment to greet the Lancaster audience and practiced saying the city's name correctly (something the locals are very passionate about), before training the crowd to sing along to the next song, "Not Afraid Anymore," a new one from their latest record, The Great Awakening. They followed it with the familiar worship anthem "You Are Good," and then moved into "Yes You Have" from Sound of Melodies. Leeland then paused between songs to talk on Jesus' love and how love is not a feeling or an action but a person and how His presence was among us. His passion and enthusiasm for Jesus was infectious and it was difficult for our attention not to be arrested by his words. This all lead into their performance of "I Can See Your Love" (another new song) which featured a video on display behind them with clips from the band's recent visit to Peru. "Follow You," from Love Is On The Move, appropriately followed, and Leeland shared from his heart again encouraging the Lancaster audience to follow Him. He also reflected on Christ's cross, which made a nice lead-in to "I Wonder," an acoustic-based ballad with beautiful lyrics about being in awe of Jesus' love and sacrifice. A few choruses of "He's calling your name" were sung as the song wrapped up, and an even more fired-up Leeland began sharing about revival and how a two-hundred-year-old, once forgotten poem had inspired the title and title track of their latest record, "The Great Awakening," which was an encouraging story of just a few passionate believers being able to make a difference in their community. "While We Sing" was a nice set addition, which followed, before bringing out "Sound Of Melodies" stirred up the audience with their familiarity of it. Leeland then introduced the band members and shared a story of how his, Jack's and Shelley's mother had come to know the Lord. It was an impactful story, too, as his mother had come from a home where her parents were alcoholics to the point of neglecting their children. The then-five-year-old little girl had been taken under the wing of her parents' landlord who took her to church and witnessed to her. And it was that compassion and personal ministry that has affected the Mooring family on down to the great ministry of this very band. It's an encouragement to see the faithfulness of God working through believers who heed His calling. With that, the band closed with the rousing anthem, "Count Me In," which served as an appropriate send-off for the Lancaster audience. After the show, the guys (and gal) stuck around to sign and meet and greet, which was a nice gesture given that the night had already grown rather late.

I've only ever seen Leeland perform at festivals, showcases or as part of a tour and it was refreshing to see a full set from the Texas foursome. They've got an infectious passion for Jesus and a worship style that breaks out of the box just enough to appeal to worship music diehards and those looking for something that stretches the self-made boundaries of the genre. If you have a chance to see them--alone or as part of a tour--definitely catch them live. And if you're looking for an artist to lead worship for an event, there are few better to choose than Leeland.

-- John DiBiase, 3/20/12

 

Leeland Photo Gallery
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**vertical images cropped for thumbnails**

Leeland

*all photos by John DiBiase and are the property of Jesusfreakhideout.com

 

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This Friday, June 27, 2025
ALBUMS
7eventh Time Down We Praise You [BEC]
The Browns 25th Anniversary: Better Days Ahead [StowTown]
Franni Cash Wild Child - EP [Capitol CMG]
Matt Crocker interlude [Anotherland]
Jimmy Fortune Songs of an American Dreamer [Gaither]
Roxanne Grace Road Trip - EP [DREAM]
JJ Hairston & Youthful Praise The Live Reunion: Washington, DC [James Town]
Kutless The Seventh Seal - EP [BEC]
Evvie McKinney It Ain't Over - EP (independent)
Rusty Shipp Capsized Empire (independent)
SEU Worship A Forgiving God [Provident]
The Shimmering Carnelians The Doorway (Version 2.0) (independent)
We Are Messengers A Thousand Times - EP [Curb]

SINGLES
Anchor & Braille Rattlesnake - Single [Equal Vision]
ANTHNY imposter syndrome - Single [Provident]
Blanca Right On Time - Single [Curb]
Landry Cantrell & Elenee sunshine & rainbows - Single [DREAM]
Eddie Clark Never Content - Single [Syntax]
Colony House Atomic - Single [Roon]
Megan Danielle Preachin' To The Choir - Single [Provident]
Drea LP & OnBeatMusic Don't Try Me (DTM) - Single [Syntax]
Joseph Habedank Running to Me - Single [Daywind]
Lonnie Hunter Flow (Like A River) - Single [Uncle G]
Kashh Kade HELP - Single [Syntax]
KB x KEANU Keanu's Song - Single [Provident]
Tasha Layton Singing In the Dark - Single [BEC]
Tasha Cobbs Leonard The Hand That Keeps Holding - Single [Motown Gospel]
Tim Lovelace Celebration of America Medley (feat. Charlie McCoy) - Single [StowTown]
Lecrae Tell No Lie (feat. Jackie Hill Perry) - Single [Reach]
LO Worship The Perfect Love of Jesus - Single [Integrity]
Patrick Mayberry Thank The Lord - Single [Provident]
Michael Monroe John The Baptist (feat. Chris Renzema) - Single [Provident]
Alexander Pappas A Great Awakening / Un Nuevo Despertar - Single [Integrity]
PEABOD Summer in Seattle - Single [RMG Amplify]
Rave Jesus Walk On The Water Remix (From The Chosen) - Single [Provident]
The Rocky Valentines Nat Song - Single [Velvet Blue]
Saints In Exile & Cutright My Dead End (ft. Jeannie Ortega, Luc DiMarzio, Jericko) - Single [Syntax]
Emilie Weiss Take Care (Studio Sessions) - Single [BEC]

DVD
Jimmy Fortune Songs Of An American Dreamer DVD [Gaither]

Next Friday, July 4, 2025
ALBUMS
Chad Cory America [DREAM]
Tenielle Neda The Way Of Love [Wings]

SINGLES
Christian Back Now - Single [DREAM]



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