(Michael W. Smith is back in the area this weekend, performing Saturday night at Reading’s Sovereign Center. Here’s a retrospective on two earlier shows I was blessed to be able to cover for the newspaper, in October 1998 and December 2000, both in Hershey.
I remember the first one especially well, particularly for the great version of “Missing Person” that opened the show … imagine that effects-laden guitar coming out of the darkness while the power slowly built and the lights came on. Chris Rice, then known mostly for his song about “what if cartoons got saved?” also was quite the show, I remember. dave o’c)

1 ) October 1998

Michael W. Smith demonstrates his diverse appeal for near-sellout crowd
CONCERT REVIEW

HERSHEY - The man in the stylishly baggy jeans stood in the spotlight, quietly remembering how his goal when he entered the music business had been to simply make a record - ONE record.
Twelve records - five of them gold, one platinum - a slew of oft-played radio hits, two Grammy awards and lots of other accolades later, Michael W. Smith said he still feels like “a weak man He (God) decided to use” to reach people through his songs.
A Christian contemporary artist, Smith’s appealing voice and knack for crafting catchy pop-rock songs like “Place in this World” and “Friends” (no relation to the TV show) have brought him a massive audience.
But he still wants everyone to know where he gets his strength, Smith said during a diverse, entertaining and uplifting show at Hersheypark Arena Thursday evening.
That strength was evident all through Smith’s 90-minute show, which gave the near-sellout crowd of 4,700 everything - Elton John-ish piano, full rock ’n’ roll sounds and theatrics, love ballads, and a quiet time of praise and worship.
After softer songs with just “Smitty” on piano, you got thunderously catchy ones like “Secret Ambition.”
But moments later he switched gears with tender ballads like “Never Been Unloved” and “In My Arms Again,’’ which he wrote for “Titanic” - it didn’t make the movie’s soundtrack.
He often kidded with the diverse audience during his 90-minute show - he looked out at the many moms and dads and quipped, “It looks like my demographics have changed!” - told a few jokes on himself and good-naturedly played Christmas music two months early.
Smith then led worship for a spell, and when at the end most of the audience was standing, he himself stopped and led a period of quiet, respectful applause - for God.
Backed by a thumping six-member band that included the two members of opening act Wilshire, Smith started with a bang with the guitar-driven “Missing Person” from his newest record, “Live the Life.”
The title is a reference to Smith and other Christians, living the life and walking the walk instead of delivering sermons.
The likeable 40-year-old Smith, whose boyish good looks got him named one of People magazine’s 50 most beautiful people a few years ago, looked like a natural on stage.
And few people are able to appeal to his mix of Boomers and Xers, children and parents, people who like ballads and would-be grungers.
At home, he told the Hershey crowd, he’s just a dad to his five children, someone who tries to imitate Michael Jackson - his kids tell him he can’t do it.
After the show, a dad on his way out asked his grunge-looking teen-age son how he had liked it. “Awesome,” the son said.
Opening were up-and-coming acts on Smith’s Rocketown label. The first was Wilshire, a husband-and-wife duo who ended with their rousing, up tempo “Closer Still,” the “ah-AH-ah-AH-ah” refrain filling the old arena.
Opening the evening was folk singer/guitarist Chris Rice, who sounded like James Taylor and mesmerized the crowd all by himself.

2 ) December 2000

’Smitty’ concert is a sweet holiday treat

CONCERT REVIEW

HERSHEY — The sharp-dressed man at stage center looked like he was conducting a symphony, smiling and emoting and waving his arms like a Leonard Bernstein wannabe.
Then, a moment later, he was over at the piano a la Elton John, feet stamping and mouth singing “An-gels we have heard on high… Gloria, Glor-Gloria,” with his trademark gusto.
It’s Christmastime in Chocolatetown, U.S.A., and you didn’t need a trip through the nearby brightly-lit Christmas Candylane here Monday night to realize that.
Instead, you just had to take a gander and give a listen to singer Michael W. Smith — the Christian music superstar who has crossed over to broad popular success — performing a concert of nearly all Christmas music.
And he brought a new joy of the holidays home for several thousand people in the old HersheyPark arena Monday.
Joined by Christian music acts the Katinas and Anointed, Smith — known for mass-appeal catchy songs like “Friends,” “Place in this World” and “Cry for Love” — left most of the hits behind as he sang a variety of carols and holiday classics during his two-hour-plus show.
Backed by a six-man band, Smith led the audience in singing the timeless carols like, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “Silent Night” and (Smith’s personal favorite) “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
Helped by the several thousand voices in the audience, Smith didn’t have to sing much. “Y’all sound real good out there,” the Kenova, W.Va. native, who has relocated to Nashville, told the crowd.
The idea of a Christmas-music-only concert by a singer with mostly rock and pop-ballad hits might be surprising to some.
But “Smitty” has two full albums — he has made 14 overall — of Christmas music, and has been known to sprinkle concerts at all times of the year with a Christmas song or two.
Lit by seemingly a million flashbulbs from the crowd, Smith ended Monday night’s show with “The Happiest Christmas,” as done by Petula Clark — yes, the very one who sang the British Invasion-era smash hit, “Downtown.”
Smith delivered her song with a poignancy for anyone, whether far from home or close to the homestead this holiday season: “Oh, the happiest Christmas/is a homecoming Christmas, the happiest wishes/are old-fashioned wishes.”
Throughout the show, the likable 42-year-old Smith, whose boyish good looks got him named one of People magazine’s 50 most beautiful people several years ago, brought home the Christmas message with a mix of solemnity and fun.
All the performers teamed up at one point to deliver “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” with a disco-ish, Sister-Sledge-Meets-the-Supertones (the Supertones are a popular Christian ska-rock act) beat that thumped through the arena.
Also particularly good Monday was the three-member group Anointed, who delivered their soulful hit ballad “Adore You” with a special feeling.