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MercyMe draws crowd, praise
By Kalea Hall
CANFIELD
Those attending the MercyMe concert Sunday at the Canfield Fair were not only imagining the concert, they were there singing along to the band’s hit “I Can Only Imagine.”
Fans of the contemporary Christian band all say it’s the message behind the lyrics that draws them to listen to MercyMe.
Thousands attended the show, including several church groups.
“I have all of their CDs,” said Doug Hillier of Cortland, who attended with his wife, Stacey. “I’ve been waiting for them to come here.”
The Hilliers hadn’t been to the Canfield Fair in 10 years, but when they heard MercyMe was coming, they knew they had to be there. They were glad to hear a Christian music group was coming.
The band’s overall message “is to get to know the Lord,” Doug said.
MercyMe was formed in 1994 in Greenville, Texas. The band, led by singer Bart Millard, has several songs on the Christian charts, according to Billboard Magazine. “I Can Only Imagine,” which first came out in 1999, was re-recorded in 2001 for the “Almost There” album, which went platinum.
“The Generous Mr. Lovewell,” the band’s sixth album, was released in 2010 and made No. 3 on the overall album charts with its three No. 1 singles: “All of Creation,” Beautiful” and “Move.”
The band’s eighth album, “Welcome to the New,” was released in 2014 and includes more dance-evoking songs such as “Shake.”
Steven McCoy, 23, of New Galilee, Pa., was the most excited to hear MercyMe sing “Shake.”
“I just can’t wait to actually hear them in person,” he said after grabbing his tickets at the Grandstand.
Carol and David Creps of Kent also were in attendance at the concert. Beforehand, they enjoyed the fair — an event the Canfield natives said they never miss.
“There’s nothing like it,” David said.
Both agreed it’s the message behind the lyrics from MercyMe that makes them fans.
“I just like the message being told in a way that hopefully everyone gets,” Carol said.