Most of the night is devoted to Woven Hand songs, but a couple of 16 Horsepower tunes make the cut, too. An older song like "Black Soul Choir" slips in with the newer "Tin Finger" seamlessly, creating one perfect sermon where Edwards shows us the world from his own point of view.

The best moment of the night comes during an extended version of "Down in Yon Forest" where Edwards became a frighteningly animated figure on the stage, attacking the song and his acoustic guitar with a furious power. I've been to the loudest, fastest, hardest heavy metal concerts, but I don't know that I've ever seen a more intense and passionate performance (or an audience quite so transfixed). His sleight body flailed, his voice was a whisper and then a howling terror. And this audience, this strange mix of people, went absolutely crazy as the final, quiet of the song descended and he sang, "I love my lord Jesus above everything."

And his voice is a surprising thing. On recordings, he sounds good, but live he sounds amazing. His range, his control, his charisma are all seemingly increased ten fold. He also has a slightly shy manner, a goofy smile, and a genuine appreciation for the support from the crowd.

The funniest moment of the night came when the band came back out for the encore. A few people started shouting out requests for their favorite songs. One voice rang out asking for "Holy Diver"--the entire place laughed along with Edwards.

Happy little songs with easy faith and bland music are what rules popular Christian music. Edwards' music is anything but bland, the songs may have elements of happiness but aren't ruled by sappy sentiment, and the faith is nothing like easy. His is a faith of hard choices, temptation, and submission--and his delivery is more the wild-eyed passion of our popular view of John the Baptist instead of the tepid packaging of, say, Amy Grant.

Woven Hand is all passion and strength combined to a unique musical vision. It cuts across bounds not because Edwards is compromising in his message, but because he is uncompromising in the musical expression of that message. Christian music could use more messengers like this.

Not only do I suggest buying the CDs (especially Blush Music, Consider the Birds, Folklore, Secret South, and Sackcloth 'n' Ashes) but I can't overstate the value of seeing this band in concert. For the $10 ticket cost, I was lucky enough to see one of the best shows of my life. What the band lacked in social skills (there wasn't much in the way of banter or conversation with the crowd) was made up in exquisite music and a brilliant performance. I honestly regret all of the 16 Horsepower concerts I've missed along the way--and I won't be missing any more Denver shows.

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