The last time I heard Randy Stonehill play live was 25 to 30 years ago! This was back in the day, when Randy, Larry Norman, Tom Howard et al, were on Solid Rock Records. Randy also co-wrote songs with and was a good friend to Keith Green, whose concerts and newsletters I fondly recall (I was even involved in helping with the San Jose memorial concert). Randy is one of the major contributors to the Keith Green documentary "Your Love Broke Through" (see excerpt).

So it was a real treat to see Randy at the Koinonia Koffeehouse in Campbell on Friday night. He opened with "Your Love Broke Through", for which he wrote the lyrics. Then it was all new stuff, ending with the Jesus Movement song, "I love you" (which was also recorded by Larry Norman). I would have liked to hear another of the older tunes such as "King of Hearts", but I have to say, that the new stuff is very good, and hearing Randy solo with a guitar makes me think that he is in better form than ever.

The songs were touching and personal, melodic, and backed by incredible solo guitar work. Those were interspersed with funny antics and impressions that one might have expected from a pop group in the '60s or from Robin Williams, but also by sober, serious, and moving moments of personal sharing and edifying words. Randy also encouraged listeners to consider sponsoring a child via Compassion International.

I ended up winning a raffled (compilation of other Koinonia Koffeehouse artists) CD, and picked up a new compilation by Randy, which he autographed, while we had a nice chat.

I am looking forward to the new album as just the list of artists who perform on it, is enough to cause major Jesus Movement Flashbacks (tm).