Under the blue lighting at Living Hope Community Church in Brea, Calif. on Sept. 17, fans shouted the lyrics to songs both new and old. The crowd not only joined together in the fun atmosphere created by Kings Kaleidoscope, but acted as the body of Christ, praising God through the band’s combination of both original songs and reworked hymns.

Surprise opener

This stop of the Live Loved Tour began as Ghost Ship, a roots rock band originating from Seattle, played four songs. Living Hope Community church, which organized the event, did not announce this band’s participation until a message was sent the day before to ticket holders, but the crowd seemed to warm up to them, nonetheless.

Citizens & Saints took the stage and began with a hymn through the filter of unique vocoder manipulations. The leader singer Zach Bolen then explained they were going to play their newest album, “A Mirror Dimly,” in its entirety. Though released a day prior, those unfamiliar with the new songs moved to the music while committed fans sang the lyrics. The band ended with their unique rendition of “Nothing but the Blood,” which the audience clearly enjoyed.

As Kings Kaleidoscope took the stage, fans showed their anticipation by inching toward the stage now graced by seven geniuses. They began with “Enchanted,” the second song of their newest album “Beyond Control.” They played the majority of the new album while including hymns and favorites from “Becoming Who We Are” like “Seek Your Kingdom,” “139” and “Felix Culpa.”

Kings Kaleidoscope’s performance increased the energy of the recordings and emphasized the band’s vocal and instrumental strengths as trombone and violin came to prominent life on stage. Though a large group, the members clearly had strong chemistry as they worked together towards unique textures in each song.

Euphoric atmosphere

Garner brought a euphoric atmosphere by prompting crowd participation. This first happened as they played a rendition of “Friendship (Interlude).” Trombonist Blake Strickland played tunes and Garner lead the crowd in an echo, essentially playing musical Simon Says. Moving on to “Most of It,” the band brought out four corrugaphones, also known as whirly tubes, used at the beginning of the song. They threw two out to the audience members, but not without a light-hearted warning first, since four of the tubes were not returned at previous shows.

“A Prayer” stood out during their set. Though controversial due to an explicit version on the vinyl LP and online, the audience sang along to the clean version. As they questioned “Jesus, where are you?” and “Am I still beside you?” the stillness between the lines was more deafening that the following eruption of music.

The band played through their encore, “Defender,” one of the two original songs they played at Biola’s Missions Conference. Garner afterward called up one of the band’s fans, who proposed to his girlfriend of over three years. She said yes as the crowd cheered, band members spun whirly tubes and Garner excitedly jumped up and down.

After the newly-engaged couple happily took their leave, Kings played “All Glory Be to Christ.” The crowd lifted their hands high, harkening back to the worshipful foundation of all three bands that played that night.