- Bryon Harris
Bible Belt Blues - 'My God, My God'
Review by Sylvie Marie & Staff
2019 was an amazing year for Bible Belt Blues, the husband and wife Gospel Blues duo who have been making waves in the inspirational music arena. Harold Vondenstein and Paula Vega Vondenstein have released two Gospel Blues albums, “I’m Not Ashamed to Be a Christian” and “My God, My God.” They are winners of the coveted Josie Music Award for Gospel/ Christian Duo. Seventeen of their songs have already received radio airplay thanks to Bill and Kat Radio’s Cross 104 Gospel Blues Hour Syndicated Program, Country Blast’s Multi-Genre Hour, WQFX Power Gospel Radio, and BWH Music Group’s WNIR Radio. Bible Belt Blues is actively seeking bookings for Revival Concerts at churches, colleges, and theatres. Their song "My God, My God" is a great way to dive into this duo's musical offering.
'My God, My God' opens with a bright and swampy-tinged blues acoustic guitar that will have your head nodding and your foot tapping. With a mixture of Mississippi blues, Gospel, and bluegrass riffs - this is a new sound in Christian music that will turn your head and perk up your ears. Using muting guitar techniques and reverb effects, Harold Vondenstein's full-sound guitar playing sets the stage for what's to come.
Over the mesmerizing bluesy landscape, Harold enters singing, "My God, My God. He's rescued me from the fiery pit. My God, My God He puts my feet on solid ground My God, My God." Harold's voice is guts and grit. He sings like he means it, and listeners will be glued to every word.
Speaking of words, the heart of "My God, My God" comes from the profound lyrics. Written by Paula Vega Vondenstein, there's a story in "My God, My God" that progresses from being rescued to being redeemed. Kudos to this masterful songwriter for allowing her lyrics to stew and bake before they rise. Paula takes her time in setting the stage. The beginning is a fiery pit. There is a rescue by God. Then, your feet are put on solid ground. Notice how she doesn't say my feet are on solid ground, she says God put my feet on solid ground. After you are on placed on solid ground, you are clothed in His righteousness and doors once closed are opened for you. And by His mighty strength, you are protected from evil and your battles are fought. As the story closes, God prepares a table for you and your head is anointed with oil. One of the best lines in the song is "He makes my crooked places straight." This particular line is very visual and arresting. It is clear that Paula is diligent in her lyric writing making sure each and every word is a representation of her faith.
After listening to these lyrics, all this reviewer can say is "My God, My God" and you will too. Paula has left no stone uncovered in her description of redemption from a life of fire to a life of blessings. "My God, My God" ends with Harold singing, "My God, My God, my cup overflows." He delicately repeats the phrase "My God, My God" in a soothing voice that sounds as if he has let go, then the song fades out. Harold's stellar musicianship and earthy vocals set to Paula's life-changing lyrics, mixed with a complete reverence for God and a strong desire to communicate their faith makes Bible Belt Blues a Gospel act that is true to their mission of repentance and redemption.
For more information about Bible Belt Blues, please visit their website.
More information about the Bible Belt Blues
Everything about Bible Belt Blues is counter-culture: from the crafting of their bold, biblically sound lyrics that address sin, repentance, and salvation, to the recapturing of a musical genre that many say is a dying art- early Mississippi blues.
After studying the history of Mississippi’s blues, Harold and Paula Vega Vondenstein discovered the hauntingly beautiful D & E minor chords of Bentonia blues that lend themselves so perfectly to full-fledged repentance songs that are so lacking in churches these days. It was a match made in heaven and Bible Belt Blues was officially launched in September of 2018.