Mercy’s Mark 2.0 (Scott Allen Joins Garry Jones & Co.)
Kyle Boering Boreing is reporting that Scott Allen has officially joined Mercy’s Mark…make that Mercy’s Mark 2.0, as every position other than the group owner has now seen one change since they began. This is great news.
If you were at NQC, you may have heard Allen. He has been filling in at lead with Mercy’s Mark for a few weeks now. Here’s what I wrote in my report from NQC after seeing their Tuesday set: “I don’t know if he wants the job or not, but it looked like it was his for the taking. He already knows how to work the stage and his soulful singing style fits the group to a tee.”
To say that Scott Allen has a commanding voice would be an understatement. He’s a genuine lead singer.
Seeing Allen perform for the first time reminded me a bit of an event I experienced at a 1994 choral music conference. A particularly tall man was introduced as someone “you’ll be hearing a lot from in the near future.” This man took the stage and when he was finished singing, the words of the hymn he had sung were inscribed on the back wall of the building. That’s how big his voice sounded. I believe it was “Blessed Assurance.” The place went nuts. A few months later, I’m at the store where I used to work and I’m previewing a new Gaither Homecoming video. There was the same man, now singing lead with the GVB. Yes, it was Guy Penrod. I’m not at all surprised to read Kyle Boering Boreing drawing a similar comparison between Penrod and Allen.
Needless to say, I expect to hear some great music out of Mercy’s Mark.
[...] noticed that my term “Mercy’s Mark 2.0″ has caught on; David Bruce Murray used it at Musicscribe to describe the new lineup. I used it here to express how impressed I was by the group with Shane [...]
[...] announcement of Scott Allen as the new lead singer for Mercy’s Mark. As David Bruce Murray pointed out, this makes one change at each vocal position except owner Garry Jones’ baritone spot. [...]
[...] on his blog that Scot Allen has been hired as the permanent lead singer for Mercy’s Mark. David Bruce Murray, Daniel Mount, and Brandon Coomer have all weighed in with their thoughts on this hire. I [...]
??? I don’t see(hear!) it. I’ve listened to the clip of the 2nd verse of “Til The Storm Passes By” from NQC, and personally thought the performance was very much average, having been oversung considerably and quite pitchy, particularly at the onset. Again, I haven’t had the pleasure of hearing him on a recording or seeing the group live with him, but based on that clip, a comparison of him to Guy Penrod is laughable. Anyone else feel the same way?
Definitely agree w/ Bob.
I was quite excited to hear this singer that drew a comparison to Guy Penrod but was left feeling quite unimpressed after hearing the clip.
The clip does not do him justice, you really should have heard him live at the showcase.