Australian Christian singer-songwriter Nathan Tasker served as his opening act.
Smith was backed by a five-piece band and was greeted with a standing ovation as he walked onto the NYCB Theatre at Westbury stage.
“Are you ready?” he asked the Long Island crowd, as he opened with the upbeat and drum-driven “Come to the Cross.”
He had the audience clapping along to “The River is Rising” and he interacted well with the fans. “We’re just getting started,” he exclaimed, and added that “we are here to celebrate the goodness of God.”
Smith delivered an empowering acoustic rendition of “You Are The Fire,” which showcased his ability to hit the high notes, as well as his wide range. “It is so fun to be back in New York,” he said. “I can always tell when it’s a New York crowd. Welcome to the ‘Sovereign’ world tour.”
It was followed by the classic hymn “How Great Thou Art,” where he accompanied himself on piano, and the audience and fellow band members served as his choir.
“You Won’t Let Go” was piano-driven and inspirational as blue lights graced on the stage. “You guys ready for this one?” he asked, prior to having his fans clap along to the upbeat “Emmanuel.”
“Sky Spills Over” was a tune from his brand new record, with a catchy and stomping beat. “Never Been Unloved” was an acoustic-driven ballad that was melodically stunning, as green lights dimmed on the stage. It had a warm, retro feel to it, featuring strong harmony vocals from his band.
He paid homage to the military with “Patriot” and he acknowledged all of the military members that were present at the venue by having them stand. “This Is Your Time” was melancholic, yet beautifully sung and by the time he was finished with it, there was not a dry eye in the venue. It had Celtic flairs to it and an instrumental version of “Amazing Grace” was a fitting ending for the tune.
It was followed by a neat medley that consisted of “Place in This World,” as well as “Thy Word,” which was sheer perfection and the quintessential sing-along tune.
The Verdict
Overall, Michael W. Smith was fabulous at the NYCB Theatre at Westbury, and proved that he is still at the top of his game musically, many decades into his career. He is worth seeing live whenever he is in the area. His show garners an A rating.
