Wanna review Casting Crowns?

Casting Crowns are Andy Williams, Melodee Devevo, Juan Devevo, Mark Hall, Hector Cervantes, Megan Garrett and Glasgow's-own Chris Huffman. Copyrighted photo courtesy of Beach Street Records.

To a lot of people, this culture writer thing seems like a pretty cool job. I get to go to a lot of shows, and Uncle Herald pays the bills. Then I get to write about them, talk to the people involved, and even go behind the scenes.

You could say I am in job Nirvana.

Or close.

There are imperfections and frustrations, same as any other job. This week, one of them is I cannot be two people, or three or five. That's OK, neither can some of my  favorite critics, like Alex Ross or Stephen Hunter.

But it stinks this week because there are so many things to see, like Casting Crowns is playing Rupp Arena for one night only, the same night Alexander Platt is conducting the Lexington Philharmonic for one night only.

This is where you, Christian music fan, come in.

See, the major league, big Kahuna story on my beat now is the Lexington Philharmonic's search for a new music director. Platt is a candidate. So I know where I am going to be Friday night. It wasn't even something I discussed with my editor. He knew. I knew.

But, we'd still like to have some sort of recounting, some sort of record of the Casting Crowns show here at Copious Notes. So, I am hoping some of you who like to write and are going to see Casting Crowns will shoot me a little write up. Here's the deal: If you send me an e-mail or a comment to this post with a capsule review of the Rupp show -- a couple hundred words at the most -- I'll look at it and pick some of the best ones to post here at Copious Notes.

Now a few things to remember: "CASTING CROWNS ROCKED!" will not cut it. Let's be a little more thoughtful. Here are some things I consider when writing a review:

~ How did I feel about the show, and why?

~ What made this concert special, and unlike any other night? What compels me to sit down and write about it?

~ What did it look like and sound like? Remember, I'm not going, so take me there.

~ Do give me your name. No anonymous reviewing here.

So that's the deal. I hope a few of you take me up on it.

And don't weep for me. I would love to be at Casting Crowns, but I am also going to love going to the Phil. They're playing Jean Sibelius's Symphony No. 3, and I am mad about Sibelius. I think he appeals to my  Finnish roots. So, I will be a very happy clam with my assignment, save for my semi-lousy seats -- see, not everything's perfect.

Whatever you do, go see something live this weekend. There is way too much going on to sit at home.

~ By the way, if you go to the Crowns show and want to look like you know something, opening act Leeland just announced the title of its new CD Wednesday. It's Opposite Way, and it drops Feb. 26.