Since ‘Twas the Season (December 1) and all that, the most colorfully appropriate way to open a review of for KING + COUNTRY’s A Drummer Boy Christmas show at the Peacock Theater – and my blissful initial live immersion into the decade-plus phenomenon of the four time Grammy winning Christian rock duo – is to quote my gushing initial Facebook post, which accompanied a raw live video: “Nothing like singing Silent Night with 6000 people to ring in the Christmas season.” The clip shows thousands of cell phone lights twinkling and swaying, as multi-talented singer/songwriter brothers Luke and Joel Smallbone led the congregation – er, audience – by singing their soulful, atmospheric arrangement from two separate platforms set up mid-theatre.
While everyone seemed likewise mesmerized by the moment – which followed an equally resounding rendition of “O Come All Ye Faithful” – it struck a personal chord for me, reminding me of years in my early churchgoing days when the Christmas Eve faithful held candles (lit one by one, row by row) and sang “Silent Night” a capella. Whatever shape the world was in then, and is now, nothing battles the darkness and anxiety – and quickens the heart and elevates the soul - quite like the multitudes (Christian or otherwise) stopping everything the sing a timeless hymn about the Christ Child in the Manger, bringing (literally) hope and “Joy to the World.”
Upon my posting, several friends who know I’m a longtime fan of CCM music wondered how I had never heard for King + Country’s music before, though I had certainly heard of them. My response was, this show, which combined a healthy bunch of their harmonically soaring, anthemic, lyrically impactful #1 hits (“Shoulders,” “God Only Knows,” “Burn the Ships,” “Amen,” “Together,” “For God Is With Us”) with their sweeping, wildly percussive, deeply tribal arrangements of cherished Christmas classics, was the ultimate way to experience the duo’s power in all its glory - again, literal, considering the songs are all God/Christ centered. Perhaps a single transcendent, shimmeringly lit and wildly energetic performance (with 20something songs spread over two “acts,” punctuated by an intermission) isn’t enough to make up for 13 years, five studio albums, three live albums Lord knows how many singles and, all those Grammys, but it feels like a great start.
Testament to the Smallbones’ ongoing success story, this concert – one of a mini-residency tour with December stops in New York, London and their adopted hometown of Nashville – was presented in conjunction with A Drummer Boy Christmas Live: The Cinematic Concert Experience, which ran in theatres nationwide for a week in December, in addition to screenings in Canada, the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and the duo’s homeland of Australia.
Naturally, there’s also a magnificent souvenir to stream as well: the just released A Drummer Boy Christmas (Live): The Cinematic Concert album, which features all the grand, explosive material they played at the Peacock, including the infectious and empowering Christmas themed originals “Baby Boy” and “Glorious,” a rousing “Go Tell It On the Mountain” (with verses sung beautifully by Gabby Barnett on the album and Joel’s wife Moriah Peters at the show), a festive “Joy to the World” and lyrical stroll through “O Come O Come Emmanuel,” featuring a gorgeous, uplifting violin solo by Hannah Sorrells Tyler, who brought her elevating magic to many songs throughout the night.
For those (including me, initially) wondering why for King + Country name their holiday concert experience “A Drummer Boy Christmas (Live)” after the famed 1941 composition by Katherine Davis that began life as a hymn called “Carol of the Drum.” It’s not simply because they close the show with one of the most rousing renditions you’re ever bound to hear (for my money, only Bob Seger’s 80s version comes close), but because the Smallbone brothers and their amazing ensemble make almost every song to some degree about the booming and bustling of the percussive instrument – underscoring, driving and seriously matching the tireless mobile energy of them and their ensemble. The stage was flanked by two full drum kits. Luke often plays a portable drum that has a strap around his neck (and stopped to bang an acoustic drum nearby when he chose. At times, some of the ensemble gathered around to bang an electronic drum machine center stage. And for good measure, there was a booming parade style drum in the back at other times!
For all that percussive intensity and lively Christmas spirit, the emotional core of the show was the brothers’ tender acoustic rendition of “Unsung Hero” where they sat at the foot of the stage and sang the heartfelt poetic lyrics dedicated to their mother and her devotion to them and their dreams. It’s the theme from their popular 2024 autobiographical film of the same name, which they co-wrote, produced and directed and tells the story of how two young immigrants from Australia conquered the Christian music world and became global ambassadors for Christ.
