The Churchmen, On the Journey Home

One day a friend of mine caught me listening to Doc Watson’s On Praying Ground and asked me why, if I didn’t believe in God, I was listening to Christian music. Personally, I didn’t see any contradiction and the only answer I could give was “because it’s great music!”

The Churchmen also make great music. Formed in Collinsville, VA in 1989, they immediately set out making gospel into bluegrass. (Or was it bluegrass into gospel?) The band is comprised of guitarist Steve Martin, Gerald Harbour on mandolin, fiddle player Shannon Wheeler, Keith Clark on bass, and vocalist Freddy Rakes. All but Wheeler contribute vocals. On the Journey Home is the groups fifth album and on it they blend renditions of songs by bluegrass legends such as Don Reno and Lester Flatt with a smattering of originals mostly penned by Martin.

The invitation “Get Onboard” begins the sermon and shows off the bands’ four part harmony to great effect. In addition, Dale Perry adds an all-too short banjo break. “Keep Me Free From Every Sin,” a Martin original, picks up the pace. Some fiery mandolin leads the charge as Clark pleads for help to keep on the straight and narrow. Don Reno’s “Springtime in Heaven” follows. While it doesn’t stray far from the original, the band does put its mark on it with their fantastic harmony singing.

That is one thing that really sets The Churchmen apart from many of their bluegrass contemporaries. The band got its start by singing in local churches and, listening to the album, this is hardly surprising. Individually, each has a good voice but together they are a heavenly gestalt - truly astounding. The brief a cappella singing of “I’m not afraid” near the end of “In His Arms (I’m Not Afraid)” is absolutely gorgeous.

And these guys are no slouches as musicians either. The lively “Going Up” has Wheeler’s fiddle accenting Clark’s proclamation of “I’m going up!” through most of the song but he lets loose with a short but exuberant solo towards the end. The solemn “He Paid It All” features plaintive guitar and mandolin but they work perfectly as it’s the aching fiddle that really paints the picture of Christ hanging on a cross.

Perry’s banjo returns to the fore in “By the Spirit I’m Lifted” and he trades solos with Harbour’s mandolin in a joyous dance of song. This mood continues with the next song, “Place Prepared For Me.” More great harmony with Clark’s baritone being prominent. There’s a mandolin break here that is perfect. It’s short but it relays a sense of happiness and contentment that fits the song so well. The album ends with a piece called “We’ll Still Sing On” done a cappella. It is three and a half minutes of pure bliss.

On the Journey Home is equal parts faith, solid musicianship, and heavenly singing. These things create a potent and joyous mix to be savored by everyone regardless of personal beliefs or their absence. Every song here is played and sung with great conviction and that is the mark of great music.

(This was originally published at The Green Man Review back in 2003-08.)