Brandon Lake’s first live album feels like a “greatest hits” package. Considering the five-time GRAMMY® winner is still relatively new to the Christian music scene, this is an audacious statement, but then again, so is “Tear Off The Roof (Live From The Holy City).”
The freshly minted project brings Lake’s most recent electrifying arena show straight to fans, serving up 18 tracks and more than 90 minutes of music live from his hometown of Charleston, S.C. Punctuated by massive singalongs, plenty of special guests and even some of Lake’s dialogue in between selections, “Tear Off The Roof” proves the revered singer/songwriter is worthy of the large stages he’s playing.
A worship leader at heart, Lake has evolved into an entertainer. His showmanship is most obvious at the top of the night, as he opens with the 2024 K-LOVE Fan Award-winning Worship Song of the Year, “Praise You Anywhere,” immediately pressing the gas on the palpable energy filling the room. Without stopping, Lake hurtles straight into “Graves Into Gardens,” his colossal collaboration with Elevation Worship, before launching into “Honey in the Rock,” where he transforms his original duet with Brooke Ligertwood into an upbeat rock offering, complete with an edgy electric guitar solo.
While the setlist highlights numerous selections from Lake’s third studio effort, “Coat of Many Colors” — including fan favorite “Adoption Song” and rock/hip-hop scorcher “Count ‘Em” — the vast majority of “Tear Off The Roof” is comprised of singles Lake has co-written and/or been featured on. In addition to showcasing past collaborations with Elevation Worship and Ligertwood, Lake also treats fans to “Rest On Us,” “Fear Is Not My Future” and “Talking to Jesus” — all songs he’s recorded with Maverick City Music.
Other notable cuts feature the album’s surprise guests: Tasha Cobbs Leonard on “This Is A Move” — Lake’s first commercial hit as a songwriter — recorded in Greensboro, N.C.; Cody Carnes on “Too Good To Not Believe,” captured on a tour stop in Pittsburgh; and his tourmate and musical hero Jon Foreman on “Your Love Is Strong,” a favorite from Foreman’s solo catalog.
Mid-set, Lake strips it down for an acoustic portion that finds him hearkening back to his worship leading roots with some spontaneous moments of praise. After leading the chorus of “Agnus Dei,” he extends a straightforward invitation, leading attendees in a prayer of surrender and sharing that he’s seen countless people accept Jesus through this simple invitation at his shows night after night. Obviously emotional, he confesses he could have walked a much different path had he not found his own relationship with Jesus.
Lake concludes the satisfying evening with the penultimate moment the audience has been eagerly anticipating — “Gratitude.” The soaring anthem reverberates to the rafters underscoring the fact that Lake’s first No. 1 as a solo artist is still hard to beat. Unwilling to let the night end just yet, he caps the concert with “Praise” — his vibrant collaboration with Elevation Worship and the group’s biggest radio hit to date.
A live setting leaves Lake room for a few more vocal twists and turns, disclosing the raw grit and soul that hallmark his voice. Yet, the real revelation of “Tear Off The Roof” is what a unique path Lake has taken to get where he is today. He’s currently one of the genre’s most celebrated names, yet his star has risen on the strength of his pen.
“Tear Off The Roof” reiterates just how many massive hits Lake has contributed to in a relatively short period of time. It also affirms how diverse his collaborative portfolio stretches. No sonic direction is off limits. No artist is too big or too small for a feature. No genre reigns supreme.
Lake is a master at pushing boundaries, yet above all, “Tear Off The Roof” paints him as one of the most prolific lyricists of our day. And if this live collection whets your appetite for a show, his headlining “Tear Off The Roof Tour” resumes this fall, visiting a dozen additional markets throughout the month of October.
