Sadly, and I am very sad to say this, my heart felt broken when I heard Mr John Lawry’s un-excellent contribution to this live project. I was disgusted and could hardly get over the despicably poor quality that was permitted by a band that has given, over their 33 years of public ministry, quality of the best standard that could easily, I believe, be compared to the best secular bands of similar genres. I really felt, that given the 1985 keyboard solo sheet-music and about 2 months of solid practice that I could have done a much better job! Surely he was given a good deal of notice by Petra that he would perform on the night and yet I have never heard such a poor rendition allowed onto a CD. It should not have been allowed to remain on the CD. If any more CDs are being manufactured, perhaps the producers should consider removing the keyboard solo or get Lawry to do a studio rendition of the solo, but this time about 10 times better and more professional than the slop that was delivered on the night. What happened to the John Lawry who took the signature keyboard sound with him when he left the band?? I was absolutely appalled, and no doubt I’m not the only fan who’s so disappointed. John, just so you know (if you ever read this) I do forgive you for this, but please don’t ever put anybody through that again. Whew, I’m glad I got that off my chest.

Also, but, unlike with Mr Lawry, understandably, I noticed too that John’s voice was not at it’s best and sounded tired and hurt. I say understandably because you can understand that a singer who’s given what’s John’s given vocally over the past 20 years in Petra will get a tired or damaged voice and, as such, the time for the farewell to take place was in a sense probably necessary. As a singer (but who would not dare put myself in the same league as John Schlitt), I often found myself wincing, as if feeling John’s pain, at times when hearing the renditions of the songs on the album. The notes sung for the most part were un-usually cut-short and the soaring ranges that we’ve become accustomed to from the studio albums weren’t being reached in the concert. But you can hear that he made the effort and gave the best that his voice would allow, very unlike his namesake. Now I’ll accept that as excellence. And no different for ol’ Greg X Volz. You can hear the difference that 21 years makes - the voice is tired. Of course, I stand to be corrected - maybe we just got the guys on a night when their vocal instruments weren’t at their best. It happens even for the pro’s. But John Schlitt, you’re still my favourite singer.

Bob Hartman was, as usual, absolutely fantastic and you can just hear that the man put the hours of practice to give the excellence that he’s come to be renowned for. I don’t for one minute believe that we’ve heard the last of Bob - the sky’s the limit for a believer like that who’ll commit to give such excellence for the sake of the Kingdom.
I must say, Paul Simmons did a fantastic job of accurately playing the songs ‘as written’ and as were performed by Louis Weaver in years past. Great musician.
Greg Bailey also did a fine job.

Well I certainly hope to hear from Bob Hartman and John Schlitt in the future - like how about another solo album John? How ’bout you both work together on a ’solo’ project? It’s just an idea. Just because it’s supposedly the end of Petra doesn’t mean it’s the end of the impact that two amazing individuals have made in the lives of men and woman for sake of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Kingdom.

May God bless every member of Petra (past and present) by allowing them to continue to make an impact for Christ in the lives of millions around the world through their talents.