Now Playing: ETOWAH
I led worship last night for Vineyard Gadsden's GRACE recovery meeting. My old friend Richard Moon asks me to head down there about once a month. Last night, Thursday, Richard put on a CD after I plugged in and tuned. What I heard over the P.A., Crazy To Believe, caught my full attention. I asked Richard who what CD he was playing. ETOWAH by Duquette Johnston. Richard said that he was one of the Rapha guys (drug rehab place that Vineyard Gadsden loves on) that had graduated and moved on a changed man (ain't God good). Though I've been in a bunch of Vineyard meetings, GRACE and HOUSE OF BLUE, I had never met Duquette. Richard kept the CD playing while folks walked in and I was simply blown away by each song that followed.
I asked Richard if that was the only copy of the CD on the premises, if the church bookstore had any in stock. That night, I packed my guitar in the car and couldn't wait to unwrap and stick Duquette's audio-masterpiece in my player. I listened to it several times through and only took it out this afternoon to give it to my brother Brook as a birthday present. Brook was going on a trip and I was itching to share the find with someone. Have you ever discovered an artist or album that just blew you away and you just had to share it with someone? I gave ETOWAH to Brook so he could take it on his trip this weekend. I called him a few hours later and said, "WELL?" He too thought it was the best thing he'd heard in a very long time.
Yeah, you could compare the guy to Neil Young but I happen to think he'd make a better Neil Young than Neil Young. But it's not fair to compare him to anyone. This is a unique talent. These are great and powerful songs. ETOWAH has been haunting my mind all day long and I can't wait to get back down to the bookstoare and shell out another $12.00 for another copy. I think I'll duct tape it inside my van's CD player and never take it out again.
There is nothing slick about this production but it's the kind of sound and album that I would love to make. Duquette's songs and presentation reminds me of what Jesus music used to be, and what I feel should be. I loath slick over-produced muzac music of today. ETOWAH is such a powerful work.
Duquette, I hope you come back to Etowah and play sometime. If you do, I hope you won't mind hearing blues harp blarring from the audience.
