There are very few Christmas memories not connected to music, and the return to Huntsville of tobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam Tour is just such a tradition.
Whether it's putting up the tree, shopping the malls, seeing Santa or traveling to see family, special music can propel all of us a quantum leap to a special memory.
I know for me personally, even though I'm still stuffed from Thanksgiving, I am looking forward to my wife, daughters and myself heading to Waffle House on Christmas morn - usually with Harry Connick Jr. playing in the car.
That's decidedly more sedate than a new Christmas tradition barreling toward North Alabama.
A Rocket City favorite, tobyMac is bringing Winter Wonder Slam this Christmas for the fifth time. If you have yet to experience it, you haven't seen Christmas at full throttle. The high energy of tobyMac's mix of hip-hop, rock and funk is worth sitting on Santa's knee, hoping you've been good enough to go.
No holiday feels right without the time spent with family and friends so Toby brings some of his to share. Relient K comes back showing that they never take themselves too seriously. Their brand of rock inspires the Guitar Hero in us all with their big hits, "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been" and "Getting into You." However, their live shows are legend for a breakout of covers you couldn't dare dream of. They've covered the gamut from the Backstreet Boys and Shania Twain to TV theme songs from "Full House" and movies like "That Thing You Do" and "Top Gun."
Family Force 5 is back, this time with new music. "Dance or Die" doesn't sound very festive for this time of the year, but their live show will blow the ornaments right off your tree.
tobyMac never comes to town without introducing us to someone new in his goatee family, and you'll get pumped about this year's selection. Newcomer B. Reith brings his shared passion with Toby for hip-hop and rap that will have you adding his debut CD to your stocking-stuffer list.
tobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam tour is happening Saturday, 7 p.m., at the Von Braun Center downtown. Tickets are $16-$35.
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Concert announcement: Winter Jam at Family Arena with tobyMac
Christian rock artist tobyMac headlines Winter Jam 2009, coming to Family Arena Jan. 25.
Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath, Francesca Battistelli, and Stephanie Smith are also on the bill.
The tour also features speaker Tony Nolan and pureNRG and the Precious Girls Club Pre-Jam Party. NewSong hosts.
The Afters, Family Force 5 and BarlowGirl are scheduled to play select dates.
The tour has a “no tickets policy.” Fans pay $10 at the door for admission.
Check www.jamtour.com or www.premierproductions.com for more information.
Christian Music News Source
Hawk Nelson, Brandon Heath, Francesca Battistelli, and Stephanie Smith are also on the bill.
The tour also features speaker Tony Nolan and pureNRG and the Precious Girls Club Pre-Jam Party. NewSong hosts.
The Afters, Family Force 5 and BarlowGirl are scheduled to play select dates.
The tour has a “no tickets policy.” Fans pay $10 at the door for admission.
Check www.jamtour.com or www.premierproductions.com for more information.
Christian Music News Source
TobyMac’s new rap
TobyMac has released three solo albums, all certified gold for sales of more than 500,000 copies. His mix of rap, rock and pop has made him a Christian-radio heavyweight, and 2007’s Made to Love was one of the year’s most played singles. He sold millions of records as part of Christian band dc talk and also has collaborated with genre giants Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman and Kirk Franklin.
But this early Tuesday morning in Franklin, a “small sort of town” just outside of Nashville, TobyMac is just dad.
“I had to drop the kids off at school this morning,” he says, referring to two of his five children. “I’m still on tour hours. I’m not used to popping up this early.”
TobyMac, whose real name is Kevin McKeehan, returns to Houston on Friday as part of his Winter Wonder-Slam. He recorded a live DVD in 2007 at the Berry Center.
After completing his dad-ly duties, he took time talk with the Chronicle’s Joey Guerra about new music, Christmas memories and Kanye West:
Q: How did Portable Sounds, your last studio disc, change your outlook on music?
A: I think Portable Sounds was definitely a labor of love. It took me a little over a year to make the record. In Jamaica they call it a one pot. Here they’d probably call it a big ol’ pot of gumbo. My music really derives from hip-hop meets guitars. I think I grew artistically. I sang more on this record than I did in the past. I definitely have spread my wings in that area. These songs come from life. They come from my experience, my failures, my struggles, my success stories. My resolve is in my faith in God.
Q: Was rapping always part of the musical picture?
A: That’s where I entered. I guess I sang in some choral groups in school. But I would take 12-inch vinyl, turn it over to the instrumental and rap to it. I would make tapes for my friends. I would rap about us, the boys in the D.C. area, rolling down to Georgetown and hanging out. I began to see it as an outlet and a way to express something I was more passionate about. It was always this sense of rhyming verses with a melodic hook in the chorus.
Q: Have you been thinking yet about a new record?
A: I’ve been hard at work the last couple months in the studio. I have about four or five tracks finished. I’ll probably put out a record late fall next year. I’m going to try to work in between shows. I’m definitely a writer that writes and just runs to the studio. I was going through something last night, where my wife and I were sitting up with a friend, trying to speak truth into their lives — even out of that, I would hope to get something. Just a morsel of truth I can share with people. Hopefully, they can glean from that.
Q: What’s the balance like of making quality music and family life?
A: I have the Rock of Gibraltar as a wife. My wife (Amanda) is an incredibly strong, loving woman. That’s the beginning of all the great people around me. It makes things a lot easier. I have amazingly talented people around me that make me better and bigger than who I am. Half of life is balancing our lives. Not indulging in one area. It’s putting little things in place. And it’s hard sometimes.
Q: Everyone is revving up their ‘best of ’08’ lists. What are some of your favorite musical moments of the past year?
A: I got to go a Coldplay show, which I thought was amazing and totally inspiring. There was a lot of production, and there were a lot of tricks, but they were used in a way that supported the song. It didn’t take away from the music. I’ve definitely been sniffing around what Kanye’s doing with (808s & Heartbreaks). I don’t always agree with his philosophies, but I’m interested in the kind of songs and the music he makes. He’s almost stepping a little bit away from beats and rhymes. I can appreciate somebody moving in a new direction. He could’ve rested on his laurels.
One song that just feels good to me, whenever I hear that Pocketful of Sunshine song, that ‘Take me away …,’ it just makes me feel good.
Q: What about movies?
A: I love film. I don’t get to go as much as I want, but we definitely catch up on the bus. I went out and saw The Duchess with my wife. I thought that was great, even though it’s not the most action, thrilling type movie. She loves those period pieces. My wife’s from Jamaica, so she’s got a lot of love for England. It was pretty intense drama.
I took my kids to see Bolt. It was great, man; I enjoyed it. If I didn’t look at my watch or my phone for two hours, then the film was good enough to take me on a trip.
Q: What are your memories of Houston?
A: We shot our live DVD (Alive & Transported) there. That, obviously, and the intensity of that and the vulnerability of that all comes to mind. Houston really embraced us early. It’s become my favorite touring city right now. It feels very welcoming to what I’m doing. Of course, I hit the Galleria and bought things for the DVD shoot. Houston’s gone from one of the toughest touring markets to one of the best, and KSBJ (89.3 FM) has a lot to do with that.
Q: Your songs have popped up in lots of commercials and films. Where’s the strangest place one has ended up?
A: Probably Transporter 2. I definitely didn’t expect that. I didn’t even know it was happening. I got crazy calls from my friends. I definitely was super-dad when it showed up in that film with the Rock, where he played football (The Game Plan). My kids were tripping on that. They were like, ‘Daaad!’
Q: What were the best and worst Christmas gifts you received as a kid?
A: The best gift was definitely when I was about 10. I got a Mono Shock bicycle, and it was canary yellow. My parents didn’t wrap stuff. They would put things under the tree, as if Santa had come during the night and left them there. I woke up, walked out, and there it was. It was, like, the greatest moment of my life.
I remember my neighbor’s father, who was also my little-league football coach, was always the prankster. I was so excited to open this gift he got me. It was in a tin, like a pie tin, this big brown thing. He was like, ‘It’s a cow pie.’ I didn’t know what it was. Cow dookie, man. I remember being utterly confused. I didn’t even understand it.
Christian Music News Source
But this early Tuesday morning in Franklin, a “small sort of town” just outside of Nashville, TobyMac is just dad.
“I had to drop the kids off at school this morning,” he says, referring to two of his five children. “I’m still on tour hours. I’m not used to popping up this early.”
TobyMac, whose real name is Kevin McKeehan, returns to Houston on Friday as part of his Winter Wonder-Slam. He recorded a live DVD in 2007 at the Berry Center.
After completing his dad-ly duties, he took time talk with the Chronicle’s Joey Guerra about new music, Christmas memories and Kanye West:
Q: How did Portable Sounds, your last studio disc, change your outlook on music?
A: I think Portable Sounds was definitely a labor of love. It took me a little over a year to make the record. In Jamaica they call it a one pot. Here they’d probably call it a big ol’ pot of gumbo. My music really derives from hip-hop meets guitars. I think I grew artistically. I sang more on this record than I did in the past. I definitely have spread my wings in that area. These songs come from life. They come from my experience, my failures, my struggles, my success stories. My resolve is in my faith in God.
Q: Was rapping always part of the musical picture?
A: That’s where I entered. I guess I sang in some choral groups in school. But I would take 12-inch vinyl, turn it over to the instrumental and rap to it. I would make tapes for my friends. I would rap about us, the boys in the D.C. area, rolling down to Georgetown and hanging out. I began to see it as an outlet and a way to express something I was more passionate about. It was always this sense of rhyming verses with a melodic hook in the chorus.
Q: Have you been thinking yet about a new record?
A: I’ve been hard at work the last couple months in the studio. I have about four or five tracks finished. I’ll probably put out a record late fall next year. I’m going to try to work in between shows. I’m definitely a writer that writes and just runs to the studio. I was going through something last night, where my wife and I were sitting up with a friend, trying to speak truth into their lives — even out of that, I would hope to get something. Just a morsel of truth I can share with people. Hopefully, they can glean from that.
Q: What’s the balance like of making quality music and family life?
A: I have the Rock of Gibraltar as a wife. My wife (Amanda) is an incredibly strong, loving woman. That’s the beginning of all the great people around me. It makes things a lot easier. I have amazingly talented people around me that make me better and bigger than who I am. Half of life is balancing our lives. Not indulging in one area. It’s putting little things in place. And it’s hard sometimes.
Q: Everyone is revving up their ‘best of ’08’ lists. What are some of your favorite musical moments of the past year?
A: I got to go a Coldplay show, which I thought was amazing and totally inspiring. There was a lot of production, and there were a lot of tricks, but they were used in a way that supported the song. It didn’t take away from the music. I’ve definitely been sniffing around what Kanye’s doing with (808s & Heartbreaks). I don’t always agree with his philosophies, but I’m interested in the kind of songs and the music he makes. He’s almost stepping a little bit away from beats and rhymes. I can appreciate somebody moving in a new direction. He could’ve rested on his laurels.
One song that just feels good to me, whenever I hear that Pocketful of Sunshine song, that ‘Take me away …,’ it just makes me feel good.
Q: What about movies?
A: I love film. I don’t get to go as much as I want, but we definitely catch up on the bus. I went out and saw The Duchess with my wife. I thought that was great, even though it’s not the most action, thrilling type movie. She loves those period pieces. My wife’s from Jamaica, so she’s got a lot of love for England. It was pretty intense drama.
I took my kids to see Bolt. It was great, man; I enjoyed it. If I didn’t look at my watch or my phone for two hours, then the film was good enough to take me on a trip.
Q: What are your memories of Houston?
A: We shot our live DVD (Alive & Transported) there. That, obviously, and the intensity of that and the vulnerability of that all comes to mind. Houston really embraced us early. It’s become my favorite touring city right now. It feels very welcoming to what I’m doing. Of course, I hit the Galleria and bought things for the DVD shoot. Houston’s gone from one of the toughest touring markets to one of the best, and KSBJ (89.3 FM) has a lot to do with that.
Q: Your songs have popped up in lots of commercials and films. Where’s the strangest place one has ended up?
A: Probably Transporter 2. I definitely didn’t expect that. I didn’t even know it was happening. I got crazy calls from my friends. I definitely was super-dad when it showed up in that film with the Rock, where he played football (The Game Plan). My kids were tripping on that. They were like, ‘Daaad!’
Q: What were the best and worst Christmas gifts you received as a kid?
A: The best gift was definitely when I was about 10. I got a Mono Shock bicycle, and it was canary yellow. My parents didn’t wrap stuff. They would put things under the tree, as if Santa had come during the night and left them there. I woke up, walked out, and there it was. It was, like, the greatest moment of my life.
I remember my neighbor’s father, who was also my little-league football coach, was always the prankster. I was so excited to open this gift he got me. It was in a tin, like a pie tin, this big brown thing. He was like, ‘It’s a cow pie.’ I didn’t know what it was. Cow dookie, man. I remember being utterly confused. I didn’t even understand it.
Christian Music News Source
tobyMac, Slam again a big hit
One thought keeps running through my head after returning from tobyMac's Winter Wonder Slam three-hour concert Saturday night at the Von Braun Center Arena: Why can't all concerts be this positive and fun?
That's not reality, right? But hey, at least it happens every now and then.
Mac brought his Diverse City band into the VBC along with newcomer B. Reith, Family Force 5 and Relient K for a wonderful evening of upbeat, fun, Christian contemporary music in front of 5,000 or so fans.
Reith played a short set and was okay, but then came the wild and crazy Family Force 5. "Listening to Family Force 5 is like lighting a cluster of firecrackers in your mouth," according to guitarist Derek Mount (known to fans as Chap Stique).
Yep, there's definitely fireworks of some sort going on. Family Force 5 was widen open and performing at 100 mph once it hit the stage. The group even brought its Family Force 5000, a massive drum machine they invented, on stage. As Family Force performed, one of the members kept pushing the buttons that looked like a giant phone keyboard. That itself was strange.
The group performed many songs, including "D-I-E 4 Y-O-U," "Radiator" and put an interesting twist on "Love Addict." During the second chorus, the band changed the words to
"Grandma, she got run over, she got run over by a reindeer, y'all," a Christmas single they put out a couple of years ago. It was a fun and energetic performance.
Relient K took the stage after Family Force 5 and also put on a good show, albeit very much toned down from what the Force brought. The group actually brought some Christmas spirit to the concert by placing some snowmen, Santa Claus and a blowup Christmas tree on stage. They played hits like "High of 75, " "Chapstick, Chapped Lips and Things Like Chemistry" and "Mood Rings."
Relient K didn't just bring out some Christmas props, they played "O Holy Night," followed by a Relient K original, "I Celebrate The Day." The group had been using an animation of a snow-covered field and log cabin in the background, but then used it to play a fun, humorous song about a group of bunnies that closely resembled Relient K called "Sleigh Ride."
Continuing in the humor vein, the group did a triubte to Family Force 5 by spoofing the Subway Commercial "5, $5 footlog" and replacing the words with "5, Family Force, Family Force 5's done."
Of course, the group couldn't end the show without its mega-hit that sounds a little like Good Charlotte, "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been."
Then came Mac, and as well as the other bands performed, Toby took it up another two notches.
His high-energy, hip hop/rap/R&B show opened with "Burn For You" and followed with "Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy)," "The Slam," "Gone" and "Boomin'". Not only is Mac's music hip, positive and catchy, but he and his dancers add a whole another element to the stage. They're dancing on the stage in well choreographed moves and act like they're having the times of their lives.
The show was fun, but there was also some inspirational moments, one when Mac shared a story about seeing a Bible verse on a Realtor's card a youngster. The verse was Mark 8:36 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" He said that verse inspired him two years ago to write "Lose My Soul," which also led into a short, moving rendition of "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him."
That was pretty much the last time Mac slowed things down. He and the band kicked into the rockin' "Diverse City" and followed with an old school medley that included "Rollercoaster (of Love)," "That's The Way I Like It" and "We Are Family."
The encore was also fun. He started with "Made To Love," and followed with the huge hit with dc Talk, "Jesus Freak." Relient K and Family Force 5 joined him onstage for the Christmas classic "Winter Wonderland," which also kick-started a giant confetti machine that blew snow all over the arena floor. The singers also doused the crowd with water from countless bottles of water and were acting like kids, sliding on the wet stage.
It looked like the show was over, but Mac tried to console disappointed Alabama football fans (after the 31-20 loss to Florida) by playing a few lyrics from "Sweet Home Alabama." He probably didn't have to, most fans were already feeling better after the fun show.
Christian Music News Source
That's not reality, right? But hey, at least it happens every now and then.
Mac brought his Diverse City band into the VBC along with newcomer B. Reith, Family Force 5 and Relient K for a wonderful evening of upbeat, fun, Christian contemporary music in front of 5,000 or so fans.
Reith played a short set and was okay, but then came the wild and crazy Family Force 5. "Listening to Family Force 5 is like lighting a cluster of firecrackers in your mouth," according to guitarist Derek Mount (known to fans as Chap Stique).
Yep, there's definitely fireworks of some sort going on. Family Force 5 was widen open and performing at 100 mph once it hit the stage. The group even brought its Family Force 5000, a massive drum machine they invented, on stage. As Family Force performed, one of the members kept pushing the buttons that looked like a giant phone keyboard. That itself was strange.
The group performed many songs, including "D-I-E 4 Y-O-U," "Radiator" and put an interesting twist on "Love Addict." During the second chorus, the band changed the words to
"Grandma, she got run over, she got run over by a reindeer, y'all," a Christmas single they put out a couple of years ago. It was a fun and energetic performance.
Relient K took the stage after Family Force 5 and also put on a good show, albeit very much toned down from what the Force brought. The group actually brought some Christmas spirit to the concert by placing some snowmen, Santa Claus and a blowup Christmas tree on stage. They played hits like "High of 75, " "Chapstick, Chapped Lips and Things Like Chemistry" and "Mood Rings."
Relient K didn't just bring out some Christmas props, they played "O Holy Night," followed by a Relient K original, "I Celebrate The Day." The group had been using an animation of a snow-covered field and log cabin in the background, but then used it to play a fun, humorous song about a group of bunnies that closely resembled Relient K called "Sleigh Ride."
Continuing in the humor vein, the group did a triubte to Family Force 5 by spoofing the Subway Commercial "5, $5 footlog" and replacing the words with "5, Family Force, Family Force 5's done."
Of course, the group couldn't end the show without its mega-hit that sounds a little like Good Charlotte, "Who I Am Hates Who I've Been."
Then came Mac, and as well as the other bands performed, Toby took it up another two notches.
His high-energy, hip hop/rap/R&B show opened with "Burn For You" and followed with "Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy)," "The Slam," "Gone" and "Boomin'". Not only is Mac's music hip, positive and catchy, but he and his dancers add a whole another element to the stage. They're dancing on the stage in well choreographed moves and act like they're having the times of their lives.
The show was fun, but there was also some inspirational moments, one when Mac shared a story about seeing a Bible verse on a Realtor's card a youngster. The verse was Mark 8:36 "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" He said that verse inspired him two years ago to write "Lose My Soul," which also led into a short, moving rendition of "Oh Come Let Us Adore Him."
That was pretty much the last time Mac slowed things down. He and the band kicked into the rockin' "Diverse City" and followed with an old school medley that included "Rollercoaster (of Love)," "That's The Way I Like It" and "We Are Family."
The encore was also fun. He started with "Made To Love," and followed with the huge hit with dc Talk, "Jesus Freak." Relient K and Family Force 5 joined him onstage for the Christmas classic "Winter Wonderland," which also kick-started a giant confetti machine that blew snow all over the arena floor. The singers also doused the crowd with water from countless bottles of water and were acting like kids, sliding on the wet stage.
It looked like the show was over, but Mac tried to console disappointed Alabama football fans (after the 31-20 loss to Florida) by playing a few lyrics from "Sweet Home Alabama." He probably didn't have to, most fans were already feeling better after the fun show.
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
TobyMac brings party atmosphere
TobyMac brings his Winter Wonderslam Tour to the Denver Coliseum tonight. Joining the hip-hop artist are Relient K, Family Force 5 and B.Reith.
Mac, 44, answered some questions about his performances and his music.
Q: You bring a lot of energy to a show. How do you keep it up?
A: The music we play is energetic, and we feed off of that. My concerts are a big-party atmosphere. I love an intense concert, and if I don't soak two T-shirts I don't feel like it was a good show.
Q: You were just in Denver this past spring. What are you bringing that's different for your fans?
A: We have different acts this time, and we will be a little more focused on the holidays. We'll play songs that we are known for and mix in some Christmas songs. Reliant K just put out a Christmas album, so they will be doing touches of that.
Q: Your music has been picked up by ESPN, the telecast for the 2006 Olympic Games, trailers for movies ("Underdog," "Hancock" to name a few). How does that make you feel?
A: It's different. Obviously, Hollywood is buying into it. The music is relevant. It's happening more and more. . . . I went to the (Tennessee) Titans' Monday-night football game. And I'm sitting way up in the cheap seats with 70,000 people and my song "Boomin' " comes on and the cheerleaders are dancing to it. They played a full chorus. I was like "This is crazy." My face was all red and no one knows.
Q: You co-founded the E.R.A.C.E. Foundation (Eliminating Racism and Creating Equality). How does that work?
A: Our goal is to get people to dialogue about race relations. To come together as one people even though we are all different. We do fundraising for organizations that help foster that ideal. We run into a lot of people who don't see it (discrimination) but if we can begin to communicate we can correct that . . . to come together.
Q: You're a father of five, a husband, own a recording studio. How do you find time to write music?
A: I go to bed early, wake up to take the little guy to school. It's well worth it to me being involved with my family. . . . I'll write some music when we're on tour. . . . I write about my relationships, and my struggles and success with those relationships. And people can relate to them.
Q: Some of your favorite songs?
A: "Made to Love." I'm completely passionate about it. It's really special to me. And "Lose My Soul" seems to resonate with a lot of people.
Q: What bands do you listen to and are influenced by?
A: I love so much music. The Police. Reggae. Bob Marley. I love hip-hop, Black Eyed Peas. I don't agree with some of their philosophies sometimes. I have to go to Wal-Mart and buy the family versions (chuckles). But I love that stuff.
Q: Is it frustrating to be classified as a "Christian" artist?
A: Absolutely, it's frustrating. Sometimes the Christian audience questions your faith when you branch out. But that is so far from the truth. My faith means so much to me. And then some people are turned off by the label. I want my music to fall on open ears. Like U2. U2 just can't be classified because Bono has universal appeal. He is such a great lyricist. I love lyrics.
Christian Music News Source
Mac, 44, answered some questions about his performances and his music.
Q: You bring a lot of energy to a show. How do you keep it up?
A: The music we play is energetic, and we feed off of that. My concerts are a big-party atmosphere. I love an intense concert, and if I don't soak two T-shirts I don't feel like it was a good show.
Q: You were just in Denver this past spring. What are you bringing that's different for your fans?
A: We have different acts this time, and we will be a little more focused on the holidays. We'll play songs that we are known for and mix in some Christmas songs. Reliant K just put out a Christmas album, so they will be doing touches of that.
Q: Your music has been picked up by ESPN, the telecast for the 2006 Olympic Games, trailers for movies ("Underdog," "Hancock" to name a few). How does that make you feel?
A: It's different. Obviously, Hollywood is buying into it. The music is relevant. It's happening more and more. . . . I went to the (Tennessee) Titans' Monday-night football game. And I'm sitting way up in the cheap seats with 70,000 people and my song "Boomin' " comes on and the cheerleaders are dancing to it. They played a full chorus. I was like "This is crazy." My face was all red and no one knows.
Q: You co-founded the E.R.A.C.E. Foundation (Eliminating Racism and Creating Equality). How does that work?
A: Our goal is to get people to dialogue about race relations. To come together as one people even though we are all different. We do fundraising for organizations that help foster that ideal. We run into a lot of people who don't see it (discrimination) but if we can begin to communicate we can correct that . . . to come together.
Q: You're a father of five, a husband, own a recording studio. How do you find time to write music?
A: I go to bed early, wake up to take the little guy to school. It's well worth it to me being involved with my family. . . . I'll write some music when we're on tour. . . . I write about my relationships, and my struggles and success with those relationships. And people can relate to them.
Q: Some of your favorite songs?
A: "Made to Love." I'm completely passionate about it. It's really special to me. And "Lose My Soul" seems to resonate with a lot of people.
Q: What bands do you listen to and are influenced by?
A: I love so much music. The Police. Reggae. Bob Marley. I love hip-hop, Black Eyed Peas. I don't agree with some of their philosophies sometimes. I have to go to Wal-Mart and buy the family versions (chuckles). But I love that stuff.
Q: Is it frustrating to be classified as a "Christian" artist?
A: Absolutely, it's frustrating. Sometimes the Christian audience questions your faith when you branch out. But that is so far from the truth. My faith means so much to me. And then some people are turned off by the label. I want my music to fall on open ears. Like U2. U2 just can't be classified because Bono has universal appeal. He is such a great lyricist. I love lyrics.
Christian Music News Source
Concert Review: tobyMac’s Winter Wonder Slam at Cox Convention Center
Crowd: Estimated 6,000
Top highlight: After tobyMac’s Diverse City band played, "I’m for You,” their last song of the night, the energized audience was surprised to witness the show’s other two bands, Relient K and Family Force 5, join the DiverseCity band to perform "Winter Wonderland” to end the evening. The three bands joined forces as the singers, and even drummers, shared the stage. To top this off, fake snow drifted down on the Winter Wonder Slam crowd.
Reviewer’s take: tobyMac and the DiverseCity band emphasized the importance of unity in the body of Christ through the songs they played, pleasing their audience of all ages. tobyMac gave his personal testimony before the song, "Lose My Soul," which helped the audience relate to his lyrics.
Your take: Submit your review — NewsOK.com/music
Jordan Bracht, special correspondent
Christian Music News Source
Top highlight: After tobyMac’s Diverse City band played, "I’m for You,” their last song of the night, the energized audience was surprised to witness the show’s other two bands, Relient K and Family Force 5, join the DiverseCity band to perform "Winter Wonderland” to end the evening. The three bands joined forces as the singers, and even drummers, shared the stage. To top this off, fake snow drifted down on the Winter Wonder Slam crowd.
Reviewer’s take: tobyMac and the DiverseCity band emphasized the importance of unity in the body of Christ through the songs they played, pleasing their audience of all ages. tobyMac gave his personal testimony before the song, "Lose My Soul," which helped the audience relate to his lyrics.
Your take: Submit your review — NewsOK.com/music
Jordan Bracht, special correspondent
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday night TobyMac show moved to T-U Center
TobyMac’s Winter Jam, a Christian concert scheduled for Friday evening at Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, has been relocated to the
Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.
The show, which features tobyMac, Family Force 5, Relient K and B. Reith, will still be at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $26.
Tickets for the arena show must be exchanged for tickets to the T-U Center show. Tickets can be exchanged at the arena box office until 2 p.m.
Friday. After that, they must be exchanged at the Times-Union Center. The arena box office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. Friday.
Refunds are also available at the point of purchase. Tickets purchased at the arena or T-U Center box office can be refunded at the arena with
the original credit card and photo ID. For information on refunds on tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, call (904) 353-3309.
Chrisian Music News Source
Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.
The show, which features tobyMac, Family Force 5, Relient K and B. Reith, will still be at 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $26.
Tickets for the arena show must be exchanged for tickets to the T-U Center show. Tickets can be exchanged at the arena box office until 2 p.m.
Friday. After that, they must be exchanged at the Times-Union Center. The arena box office is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. Friday.
Refunds are also available at the point of purchase. Tickets purchased at the arena or T-U Center box office can be refunded at the arena with
the original credit card and photo ID. For information on refunds on tickets purchased through Ticketmaster, call (904) 353-3309.
Chrisian Music News Source
TobyMac Kicks Off Monthlong 'Winter Wonder-Slam'
Christian hip hop artist tobyMac kicked off his annual “Winter Wonder-Slam” tour with rock band Relient K this week, hitting the first of 17 cities
throughout the Bible belt with “not your typical concert.”
“This is the fourth year we have done this tour and it continues to get bigger and bigger,” stated Philip Peters of True Artist Management, which
manages for Christian artists including tobyMac, Mandisa, and Matthew West.
“This year the lineup is going to be a party from start to finish—with Relient K, Family Force 5 and new Gotee artist B. Reith,” he added.
For many, Winter Wonder-Slam has become a traditional holiday family reunion. And this year’s reunion is anticipated to again bring the real
meaning of Christmas to concert-goers and needy children alike.
As in past years, Winter Wonder-Slam will benefit the U.S. Marine Corps' annual Toys For Tots campaign, which provides a tangible sign of hope
to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas.
Concert-goers will again this year be encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift to the event.
“I’m a big activist. I love it when people do things for others,” commented Peters.
“This year it’s my personal mission to make it huge! So start thinking of ideas for toys to donate,” he encouraged.
Each year, Winter Slam sets records for the amount of gifts collected for Toys For Tots and produces multiple sell-outs. More than a week before
the first Winter Slam stop, the tour had already pre-sold 5,200 tickets in one day for the Houston show, which won’t be until Dec. 12.
"During the holidays, everyone needs a break from studying for exams and Christmas shopping,” explained tobyMac, whose real name is Kevin
Michael Mckeehan. “I wanted to put together a diverse tour that rocks in many musical directions but always points to Christ.”
While Winter Wonder-Slam does have a Christmas theme, each band that performs will play their own hits and whatever they are inspired to dish
out.
Relient K, for example, will play several Christmas songs as well as a variety of hits and fan favorites from its 10-year history. The band recently
celebrated its 10th anniversary with the release of The Bird and the Bee Sides. It also re-issued its 2007 Christmas collection, Let It Snow
Baby...Let It Reindeer.
“[E]very band will be playing their hits and doing it the way they do," exclaimed tobyMac.
This year’s Winter Slam comes as tobyMac’s latest album, Portable Sounds, has come to be his best-selling solo project to-date.
With over 8 million career scans and sold out tours, Portable Sounds is quickly approaching RIAA GOLD certification. The critically acclaimed album
debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at No. 10 and hit No. 1 on SoundScan's Contemporary Christian Overall chart in its first week.
All three of tobyMac's solo projects have received numerous GMA Dove Award nominations as well as GRAMMY nominations.
Dates for the "Winter Wonder-Slam" tour :
11/13 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center
11/14 Jacksonville, FL Veterans Memorial Arena
11/15 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
11/16 Ft. Meyers, FL Germain Arena
11/20 Lincoln, NE Pershing Auditorium
11/21 Denver, CO Denver Coliseum
11/22 Kansas City, MO Municipal Auditorium
11/23 Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
11/29 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
11/30 Knoxville, TN Knoxville Coliseum
12/5 Nashville, TN Sommet Center
12/6 Huntsville, AL VBC
12/7 Mobile, AL Mobile Civic Center
12/11 Bosier City, LA Century Tel
12/12 Houston, TX Toyota Center
12/13 Tulsa, OK Mabee Center
12/14 Dallas, TX Nokia Theater
Chrisian Music News Source
throughout the Bible belt with “not your typical concert.”
“This is the fourth year we have done this tour and it continues to get bigger and bigger,” stated Philip Peters of True Artist Management, which
manages for Christian artists including tobyMac, Mandisa, and Matthew West.
“This year the lineup is going to be a party from start to finish—with Relient K, Family Force 5 and new Gotee artist B. Reith,” he added.
For many, Winter Wonder-Slam has become a traditional holiday family reunion. And this year’s reunion is anticipated to again bring the real
meaning of Christmas to concert-goers and needy children alike.
As in past years, Winter Wonder-Slam will benefit the U.S. Marine Corps' annual Toys For Tots campaign, which provides a tangible sign of hope
to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas.
Concert-goers will again this year be encouraged to bring a new, unwrapped gift to the event.
“I’m a big activist. I love it when people do things for others,” commented Peters.
“This year it’s my personal mission to make it huge! So start thinking of ideas for toys to donate,” he encouraged.
Each year, Winter Slam sets records for the amount of gifts collected for Toys For Tots and produces multiple sell-outs. More than a week before
the first Winter Slam stop, the tour had already pre-sold 5,200 tickets in one day for the Houston show, which won’t be until Dec. 12.
"During the holidays, everyone needs a break from studying for exams and Christmas shopping,” explained tobyMac, whose real name is Kevin
Michael Mckeehan. “I wanted to put together a diverse tour that rocks in many musical directions but always points to Christ.”
While Winter Wonder-Slam does have a Christmas theme, each band that performs will play their own hits and whatever they are inspired to dish
out.
Relient K, for example, will play several Christmas songs as well as a variety of hits and fan favorites from its 10-year history. The band recently
celebrated its 10th anniversary with the release of The Bird and the Bee Sides. It also re-issued its 2007 Christmas collection, Let It Snow
Baby...Let It Reindeer.
“[E]very band will be playing their hits and doing it the way they do," exclaimed tobyMac.
This year’s Winter Slam comes as tobyMac’s latest album, Portable Sounds, has come to be his best-selling solo project to-date.
With over 8 million career scans and sold out tours, Portable Sounds is quickly approaching RIAA GOLD certification. The critically acclaimed album
debuted on the Billboard Top 200 chart at No. 10 and hit No. 1 on SoundScan's Contemporary Christian Overall chart in its first week.
All three of tobyMac's solo projects have received numerous GMA Dove Award nominations as well as GRAMMY nominations.
Dates for the "Winter Wonder-Slam" tour :
11/13 Greenville, SC Bi-Lo Center
11/14 Jacksonville, FL Veterans Memorial Arena
11/15 West Palm Beach, FL Cruzan Amphitheatre
11/16 Ft. Meyers, FL Germain Arena
11/20 Lincoln, NE Pershing Auditorium
11/21 Denver, CO Denver Coliseum
11/22 Kansas City, MO Municipal Auditorium
11/23 Oklahoma City, OK Ford Center
11/29 Atlanta, GA Fox Theatre
11/30 Knoxville, TN Knoxville Coliseum
12/5 Nashville, TN Sommet Center
12/6 Huntsville, AL VBC
12/7 Mobile, AL Mobile Civic Center
12/11 Bosier City, LA Century Tel
12/12 Houston, TX Toyota Center
12/13 Tulsa, OK Mabee Center
12/14 Dallas, TX Nokia Theater
Chrisian Music News Source
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Toby Mac: The Bible is the Center of My Life
Toby Mac shares backstage at the 2008 Dove Awards how he learns more and more from the Bible from learning how to be a dad to a better friend.
Christian Music News Source
Thursday, October 30, 2008
TobyMac Talks To The Class of 2008
Learn more at grad2008.com TobyMac shares wisdom and advice with the graduating class of '08 through ConGRADulations! The Music CD, The Media DVD, and The Gift Devotional Book- with over 1 million given to graduates, it is the #1 Grad gift of this decade!
Christian Music News Source
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
TobyMac’s Christian hip-hop hits on life’s real issues
A musician’s life on the road isn’t always about booze, drugs and groupies. Sometimes life is simply about finding some privacy — especially if there are 13 people on a 12-bunk bus.
That’s how tobyMac rolls with his backing band, The Diverse City Band.
“We’re like a family, man,” said tobyMac, who performs Friday at the State Fair. “Even if it’s offered up to take a second bus, it’s like, ‘naw.’”
tobyMac, once a member of pioneering Christian hip-hop group dcTalk, is now a (somewhat) solo performer who still rips shows with his descriptive flow.
He might even borrow a few lyrical and musical tricks from mainstream rappers.
“Of course I do,” he said, when asked if he listened to radio hip-hop. “There are some good things being said. There are some thought-provoking things.
“You can’t help but recognize Kanye West’s talent. I do think that creatively the guy is way up there in the genius realm.”
West, though, writes about Louis Vuitton, gold diggers, 808s and heartbreak. tobyMac writes about less expensive things, at least in face value.
“Typically, I write about things I’m going through in my life,” he said. “That tends to speak to people’s lives. We’re all not that different.
“We’re all going through the same thing.”
That’s why tobyMac sees himself as a role model. He thinks all entertainers — even flamboyant ones like West — should see themselves that way, too.
“I don’t think you can separate the two things,” he said. “If you’re in the limelight and on a stage, you are influencing people.
“God’s given you this talent. Why wouldn’t you want to influence people for the good?”
Reach Taylor at (803) 771-8362.
Christian Music News Source
That’s how tobyMac rolls with his backing band, The Diverse City Band.
“We’re like a family, man,” said tobyMac, who performs Friday at the State Fair. “Even if it’s offered up to take a second bus, it’s like, ‘naw.’”
tobyMac, once a member of pioneering Christian hip-hop group dcTalk, is now a (somewhat) solo performer who still rips shows with his descriptive flow.
He might even borrow a few lyrical and musical tricks from mainstream rappers.
“Of course I do,” he said, when asked if he listened to radio hip-hop. “There are some good things being said. There are some thought-provoking things.
“You can’t help but recognize Kanye West’s talent. I do think that creatively the guy is way up there in the genius realm.”
West, though, writes about Louis Vuitton, gold diggers, 808s and heartbreak. tobyMac writes about less expensive things, at least in face value.
“Typically, I write about things I’m going through in my life,” he said. “That tends to speak to people’s lives. We’re all not that different.
“We’re all going through the same thing.”
That’s why tobyMac sees himself as a role model. He thinks all entertainers — even flamboyant ones like West — should see themselves that way, too.
“I don’t think you can separate the two things,” he said. “If you’re in the limelight and on a stage, you are influencing people.
“God’s given you this talent. Why wouldn’t you want to influence people for the good?”
Reach Taylor at (803) 771-8362.
Christian Music News Source
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Janet Jackson, LL Cool J And TobyMac In Philadelphia This Week
Jan Westmark - Celebrity News Service
Philadelphia, PA (CNS) - Janet Jackson and LL Cool J will bring their music to Philadelphia this week when they perform at the Wachovia Center on October 2.
TobyMac will also perform at the Wachovia Center on October 4 while Graham Parker performs at Tin Angel that same night and Pete and J perform at the Electric Factory.
A list of concerts and events in the Philadelphia area this week, according to Celebrity News Service, is as follows:
The Juan Maclean at Johnny Brenda's on 9/30
Glasvegas at North Star on 9/30
Ratatat at Starlight Ballroom on 10/1
The Bird and the Bee at World Cafe Live on 10/1
Stereolab at The Trocadero on 10/1
Janet Jackson and LL Cool J at the Wachovia Center on 10/2
AA Bondy at First Unitarian Church on 10/2
Unearth at the Theatre of Living Arts on 10/2
Everlast at The Trocadero on 10/2
Fleet Foxes at Starlight Ballroom on 10/2
The Lordz at The Trocadero on 10/2
N.E.R.D. at the Electric Factory on 10/2
Sonya Kitchell at World Cafe Live on 10/3
Chromeo at The Trocadero on 10/3
TobyMac at the Wachovia Center on 10/4
Graham Parker at Tin Angel on 10/4
Pete and J at the Electric Factory on 10/4
King Wilkie at Tin Angel on 10/5
Mason Jennings at Theatre of Living Arts on 10/5
Christian Music News Source
Philadelphia, PA (CNS) - Janet Jackson and LL Cool J will bring their music to Philadelphia this week when they perform at the Wachovia Center on October 2.
TobyMac will also perform at the Wachovia Center on October 4 while Graham Parker performs at Tin Angel that same night and Pete and J perform at the Electric Factory.
A list of concerts and events in the Philadelphia area this week, according to Celebrity News Service, is as follows:
The Juan Maclean at Johnny Brenda's on 9/30
Glasvegas at North Star on 9/30
Ratatat at Starlight Ballroom on 10/1
The Bird and the Bee at World Cafe Live on 10/1
Stereolab at The Trocadero on 10/1
Janet Jackson and LL Cool J at the Wachovia Center on 10/2
AA Bondy at First Unitarian Church on 10/2
Unearth at the Theatre of Living Arts on 10/2
Everlast at The Trocadero on 10/2
Fleet Foxes at Starlight Ballroom on 10/2
The Lordz at The Trocadero on 10/2
N.E.R.D. at the Electric Factory on 10/2
Sonya Kitchell at World Cafe Live on 10/3
Chromeo at The Trocadero on 10/3
TobyMac at the Wachovia Center on 10/4
Graham Parker at Tin Angel on 10/4
Pete and J at the Electric Factory on 10/4
King Wilkie at Tin Angel on 10/5
Mason Jennings at Theatre of Living Arts on 10/5
Christian Music News Source
Friday, September 19, 2008
tobyMac - Alive and Transported (Forefront/EMI)
The Good: Backed by the eclectic explosiveness of his Diverse City Band, tobyMac has proven himself one of Christian music's most exciting and charismatic entertainers in recent years. Those qualities are at last captured through top-notch video production, with exceptional camera angles and framework. The set list is chock full of tobyMac's entire solo career, not to mention a few shout-outs to his dc Talk days. Highlights include the roaring "Ignition," the hip-hop drenched funk of "Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy), and the sax-smacked neo-soul of "No Ordinary Love," plus Mandisa makes a special appearance for "Lose My Soul." All the while, the stage is adorned with images from Mac's recent Portable Sounds project, plus an ambitious light show that rivals dc Talk's concert experience. In addition to the concurrent CD soundtrack, there's a behind-the-scenes feature offering an hour's worth of insightful interviews that flesh out the tour further.
The Bad: The only tiny complaint—nice as it is to hear songs from the dc Talk catalog (from "Jesus Freak" to the recent reunion song "Atmosphere"), they fuel nostalgia and longing for a reunion with Kevin Max and Michael Tait.
The Bottom Line: In keeping with the excellence of his solo career, tobyMac goes all out with Alive and Transported and gets everything right, making this highly anticipated concert project well worth the wait.
—Argyrakis
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
The Bad: The only tiny complaint—nice as it is to hear songs from the dc Talk catalog (from "Jesus Freak" to the recent reunion song "Atmosphere"), they fuel nostalgia and longing for a reunion with Kevin Max and Michael Tait.
The Bottom Line: In keeping with the excellence of his solo career, tobyMac goes all out with Alive and Transported and gets everything right, making this highly anticipated concert project well worth the wait.
—Argyrakis
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
tobyMac - Portable Sounds (Forefront/EMI)
Sounds like … what tobyMac does best—that is, an assortment of influences ranging from dc Talk and KJ-52 to The Black Eyed Peas, Linkin Park, and everything in between.
At a glance … not a lot of surprises here, just an artist who likes to party hard, yet knows exactly who he is and what he wants to communicate.
I bet tobyMac is the one dc Talk member who wants to get the group back together the least. We can't blame him: While Kevin Max continues to get in touch with his inner indie self and Michael Tait remains on his quest to be the next Lenny Kravitz, tobyMac has wasted no time. He's made good of his time as a solo artist by releasing two gold-selling albums, amassing six No. 1 singles, garnering two Grammy nominations, and spearheading several top-notch concert tours.
But the success was no fluke. While both Momentum (2001) and Welcome to Diverse City (2004) were critically applauded, the public embraced them harder than anyone else. The singer-cum-rapper knew what he was doing: By making music that catered to a wide spectrum of audiences—rock enthusiasts, pop listeners, hip-hop fans, the youth-group crowd, their parents—he was maximizing the reach of his artistry. He was all things to all people, a universal approach that so far has helped him sell over one million albums.
Aside from the sales figures and the accolades, though, tobyMac has been having a great time as a solo artist. As one-third of dc Talk, he only had so much autonomy, but as chief of the Diverse City entourage—with its live band, deejay, hype men, soulful divas, b-boys, crew, et al—he has been calling all the shots and loving every minute of it. Such is the touring act's synergy that it's become one of the best live shows in Christian music, outperforming even tobyMac's own in-studio output.
With this in mind, it's interesting to listen to the long-awaited Portable Sounds, an album that, in many ways, feels like a continuation of what's worked before. This in itself is another savvy move from The Mac: He knows it would be disingenuous to mess with a foolproof formula, so he tweaks it slightly and adds a few new elements to keep things fresh. But those with discerning ears will notice that, on the whole, Portable Sounds treads familiar ground.
What tobyMac does, he does very well, so this is not a bad thing. For example, "Ignition" or "Boomin'" are two by-the-book rap/rock anthems in the vein of Linkin Park—loud, rambunctious, exceptionally performed, with nary a fault. But are they relevant? The style sounded at home on Momentum, it fit the all-over-the-placeness of Diverse City, but it's too anachronistic for 2007. And that's OK—tobyMac likes it, enough that it's already a part of his identity. Will he still use it 20 years down the line? Probably.
Other patterns become easy to pinpoint. "One World" sounds like the sonic cousin of Diverse City's "Hey Now," so much that the hooks of each song are almost interchangeable. The fiesta of "Feelin' So Fly" resembles the rhythmic celebration of "Welcome to Diverse City," all the way down to the slap-bass and the over-the-top singers. And already a regular on tobyMac albums, his son Truett reprises his role as TruDog to step in the booth alongside his father in "Hype Man."....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
At a glance … not a lot of surprises here, just an artist who likes to party hard, yet knows exactly who he is and what he wants to communicate.
I bet tobyMac is the one dc Talk member who wants to get the group back together the least. We can't blame him: While Kevin Max continues to get in touch with his inner indie self and Michael Tait remains on his quest to be the next Lenny Kravitz, tobyMac has wasted no time. He's made good of his time as a solo artist by releasing two gold-selling albums, amassing six No. 1 singles, garnering two Grammy nominations, and spearheading several top-notch concert tours.
But the success was no fluke. While both Momentum (2001) and Welcome to Diverse City (2004) were critically applauded, the public embraced them harder than anyone else. The singer-cum-rapper knew what he was doing: By making music that catered to a wide spectrum of audiences—rock enthusiasts, pop listeners, hip-hop fans, the youth-group crowd, their parents—he was maximizing the reach of his artistry. He was all things to all people, a universal approach that so far has helped him sell over one million albums.
Aside from the sales figures and the accolades, though, tobyMac has been having a great time as a solo artist. As one-third of dc Talk, he only had so much autonomy, but as chief of the Diverse City entourage—with its live band, deejay, hype men, soulful divas, b-boys, crew, et al—he has been calling all the shots and loving every minute of it. Such is the touring act's synergy that it's become one of the best live shows in Christian music, outperforming even tobyMac's own in-studio output.
With this in mind, it's interesting to listen to the long-awaited Portable Sounds, an album that, in many ways, feels like a continuation of what's worked before. This in itself is another savvy move from The Mac: He knows it would be disingenuous to mess with a foolproof formula, so he tweaks it slightly and adds a few new elements to keep things fresh. But those with discerning ears will notice that, on the whole, Portable Sounds treads familiar ground.
What tobyMac does, he does very well, so this is not a bad thing. For example, "Ignition" or "Boomin'" are two by-the-book rap/rock anthems in the vein of Linkin Park—loud, rambunctious, exceptionally performed, with nary a fault. But are they relevant? The style sounded at home on Momentum, it fit the all-over-the-placeness of Diverse City, but it's too anachronistic for 2007. And that's OK—tobyMac likes it, enough that it's already a part of his identity. Will he still use it 20 years down the line? Probably.
Other patterns become easy to pinpoint. "One World" sounds like the sonic cousin of Diverse City's "Hey Now," so much that the hooks of each song are almost interchangeable. The fiesta of "Feelin' So Fly" resembles the rhythmic celebration of "Welcome to Diverse City," all the way down to the slap-bass and the over-the-top singers. And already a regular on tobyMac albums, his son Truett reprises his role as TruDog to step in the booth alongside his father in "Hype Man."....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
tobyMac - Renovating Diverse City (ForeFront/EMI)
Sounds like … tobyMac's Welcome to Diverse City, except in a fashion that fluctuates from token hip-hop and rapcore sounds into electronica, funk, and even a bit o' soul.
At a glance … since the songs were fine in their original form, this revamping of sorts is more an exclusive, "fans-only" treat than a truly essential listen.
As if the world-at-large needed yet another remix project, former dc Talk member tobyMac offers his second round of retooled tracks in Renovating Diverse City. As the title suggests, the obvious premise of the record is to reinvent the tracks found on the entertainer's wildly popular Welcome to Diverse City project, and, for the most part, the results are inventive.
In line with the high-end production of the master recordings, the remix surgeons who were hired for this set are of a higher profile, but their results are only mixed. Producer Matt Bronleewe gives "Catchafire" a sinister 007 feel, but it doesn't necessarily improve on the original. Though creative, Superchic[k]'s Max Hsu and Brian Gocher do not succeed at making "Phenomenon" more tolerable. The d Dubb version of "The Slam" is more progressive, but at its core it's still a routine rapcore joint. The same is true with the Shortwave Radio mix of "Burn for You," which maintains the basic structure and spirit of the original, thus failing to distinguish itself....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
At a glance … since the songs were fine in their original form, this revamping of sorts is more an exclusive, "fans-only" treat than a truly essential listen.
As if the world-at-large needed yet another remix project, former dc Talk member tobyMac offers his second round of retooled tracks in Renovating Diverse City. As the title suggests, the obvious premise of the record is to reinvent the tracks found on the entertainer's wildly popular Welcome to Diverse City project, and, for the most part, the results are inventive.
In line with the high-end production of the master recordings, the remix surgeons who were hired for this set are of a higher profile, but their results are only mixed. Producer Matt Bronleewe gives "Catchafire" a sinister 007 feel, but it doesn't necessarily improve on the original. Though creative, Superchic[k]'s Max Hsu and Brian Gocher do not succeed at making "Phenomenon" more tolerable. The d Dubb version of "The Slam" is more progressive, but at its core it's still a routine rapcore joint. The same is true with the Shortwave Radio mix of "Burn for You," which maintains the basic structure and spirit of the original, thus failing to distinguish itself....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
tobyMac - Welcome to Diverse City (Forefront/EMI)
Sounds like … an eclectic mix of hip-hop, rock, reggae, pop, and dance that at different times brings to mind dc Talk, Parliament, Superchic[k], Soul Junk, and Outkast.
At a glance … while Diverse City isn't dramatically different from tobyMac's solo debut, it's still a fun and hook-filled journey.
Hard to believe that tobyMac has been in Christian music for 15 years, many of those with dc Talk. That's about as long as Steven Curtis Chapman, and like the celebrated pop/rock contemporary, tobyMac shows little sign of slowing down. In 2001, he revealed himself to be the primary creative force behind dc Talk through his solo debut Momentum, which ended up selling more than 450,000 copies (approaching Gold certification).Those who have come to love tobyMac's high-octane sound and concert performances will also surely enjoy his sophomore effort Welcome to Diverse City, which attempts to further drive home a lifelong mission close to his heart: tearing down the cultural walls of division in America. One of the ways he's striving for this is through his eclectic style, which he likens to "musical gumbo." tobyMac's solo work is generally more hip-hop intensive than the dc Talk albums, though some hip-hop purists take issue with the music because it does incorporate rock, dance, pop, and reggae elements. Which is precisely the point, since tobyMac's trying to create music that appeals to people across boundaries of race and color.
He may not be the first or only hip-hop act to do this, but few do it better. The key is being able to believably pull off the eclecticism without sounding like a poseur or an amateur, and tobyMac plays between the genres effortlessly. The title track is one of the most fun, a rowdy disco-funk throwback to the classic sound of the Gap Band, Parliament, Bootsy Collins, and Sly & The Family Stone—it's a blast only five seconds in. A similar retro funk hip-hop blend is heard in "Getaway Car," about fleeing temptation and doubt to pursue God's ways. "Catchafire (Whoopsi Daisy)" is probably the most eclectic track on the album, offering an aggressive combination of hip-hop, rock, reggae, and world music for spiritual inspiration.
Also lending to the album's diversity is a slew of guest appearances. In addition to T-Bone, MOC, and dancehall reggae sensation Papa San, Superchic[k] contributes to "Stories (Down to the Bottom)." The bouncy mix of pop and hip-hop is exactly what you'd expect from a collaboration of these two artists, sharing a mix of testimonials about how we all face pain and have tales to tell. And longtime fans will want to take special note of "Atmosphere," a pop-laced love letter from God to the crestfallen and downhearted. A remix at the album's end reunites tobyMac with his dc Talk buddies, making the song resemble past hits like "Consume Me" and "Godsend."...
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
At a glance … while Diverse City isn't dramatically different from tobyMac's solo debut, it's still a fun and hook-filled journey.
Hard to believe that tobyMac has been in Christian music for 15 years, many of those with dc Talk. That's about as long as Steven Curtis Chapman, and like the celebrated pop/rock contemporary, tobyMac shows little sign of slowing down. In 2001, he revealed himself to be the primary creative force behind dc Talk through his solo debut Momentum, which ended up selling more than 450,000 copies (approaching Gold certification).Those who have come to love tobyMac's high-octane sound and concert performances will also surely enjoy his sophomore effort Welcome to Diverse City, which attempts to further drive home a lifelong mission close to his heart: tearing down the cultural walls of division in America. One of the ways he's striving for this is through his eclectic style, which he likens to "musical gumbo." tobyMac's solo work is generally more hip-hop intensive than the dc Talk albums, though some hip-hop purists take issue with the music because it does incorporate rock, dance, pop, and reggae elements. Which is precisely the point, since tobyMac's trying to create music that appeals to people across boundaries of race and color.
He may not be the first or only hip-hop act to do this, but few do it better. The key is being able to believably pull off the eclecticism without sounding like a poseur or an amateur, and tobyMac plays between the genres effortlessly. The title track is one of the most fun, a rowdy disco-funk throwback to the classic sound of the Gap Band, Parliament, Bootsy Collins, and Sly & The Family Stone—it's a blast only five seconds in. A similar retro funk hip-hop blend is heard in "Getaway Car," about fleeing temptation and doubt to pursue God's ways. "Catchafire (Whoopsi Daisy)" is probably the most eclectic track on the album, offering an aggressive combination of hip-hop, rock, reggae, and world music for spiritual inspiration.
Also lending to the album's diversity is a slew of guest appearances. In addition to T-Bone, MOC, and dancehall reggae sensation Papa San, Superchic[k] contributes to "Stories (Down to the Bottom)." The bouncy mix of pop and hip-hop is exactly what you'd expect from a collaboration of these two artists, sharing a mix of testimonials about how we all face pain and have tales to tell. And longtime fans will want to take special note of "Atmosphere," a pop-laced love letter from God to the crestfallen and downhearted. A remix at the album's end reunites tobyMac with his dc Talk buddies, making the song resemble past hits like "Consume Me" and "Godsend."...
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tobyMac - Re:mix Momentum (Forefront)
Sounds like … the bulk of toby Mac's Momentum album, remixed by various producers and generally favoring hip-hop eclecticism over hardcore rock.
At a Glance … many of the songs have been reinterpreted in creative new ways, but only serious fans craving new toby Mac material will truly appreciate it.
Some remix albums are designed to reinvent artists for the next phase of their career in an attempt to reach an all new audience and brace the fan base for a dramatic shift in style. Most, however, use the artist's back catalog as a sonic playground for the delight of serious fans (and artists as well). Toby Mac's Re:mix Momentum falls in the latter category, revisiting most all of the songs from his popular and acclaimed 2001 release, Momentum. That album was a satisfying enough experience for Toby to keep him focused on his solo career, much to the chagrin of dc Talk fans hoping for a follow-up to 1998's Supernatural anytime soon.
In fact, Momentum was such a pleasure for Toby that he couldn't help getting involved with this remix project. The original plan was for various producers and mix-masters to toy with Toby's music while he finished up his sophomore effort (which has indeed been pushed back to spring of 2004). Instead, like some sort of mad scientist, Toby was so intrigued by the sonic inventiveness that he found himself splitting studio time between his next studio effort and Re:mix Momentum, adding his own personal touch to many of the tinkered tracks.
When a remix album draws from a single disc's worth of source material, one can get a strong feeling of déjà vu reviewing it again. So, to be clear, this review is not about the songs themselves (you can read the previous review for that), but rather how the songs have been transformed, and, more importantly, whether or not they're worth your time and money compared to the original Momentum. At just over fifty minutes in length, Re:mix Momentum is not a terribly long recording, which is a good thing. It was originally planned to be a seven-track release, and ended up at fourteen—ten different songs, four of them remixed twice. None of them run longer than five minutes, so you know these are not your typical overblown club mix, but rather meaningful attempts to reinterpret the originals.
The result is a hodgepodge. The hip-hop funk of "J Train" (featuring Kirk Franklin) is one of the tracks visited twice. The "MATH Remix" (by members of Earthsuit) sounds tame and sparse compared to the original, revolving the song around a spacey electronic squiggle. It's outdone by the rowdier "Linney Borthers + DJ Remix," which adds a Rez synth bass riff and calls more attention to the female backing vocalists—the lead vocals sound grittier too. "Yours" was a heavy-hitting hardcore rocker on the Momentum album, but this disc's "[Jeff] Savage Remix" is a little less intense, ditching the crunchy guitars in favor of record scratches and R&B/hip-hop production effects. Even more intriguing is the "Mike Linney Remix, which is also less heavy, blending stripped down rock with reggae and leading into an interesting Celtic dance-styled riff by the track's end.
The popular single, "Irene," gets a face-lift in the "['Aurel M.']Marvin Remix," which drops the West Coast hip-hop sound (i.e., the reggae elements) for R&B ambience. That version is far better than "The Binary Twin Remix," which is more distorted and less structured, ditching the song structure in favor of turntable alterations of snippets from the chorus (although the sample of the woman humming a lullaby is a really nice touch). The delightfully tripping California rock of "Love Is in the House" is probably the only track that truly benefits from two remixes. First there's the "NW Remix" by Christopher Stevens and new Gotee artist Paul Wright, which warms up the backing vocals and creates an even more funky and laid-back vibe similar to Lenny Kravitz or Sugar Ray. The "[Dan] Muckala Remix," however, is much more stripped down, built on a killer drum loop and a familiar electric piano riff, later evolving into simple reggae. In some ways, it's the most fun track on the album....
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At a Glance … many of the songs have been reinterpreted in creative new ways, but only serious fans craving new toby Mac material will truly appreciate it.
Some remix albums are designed to reinvent artists for the next phase of their career in an attempt to reach an all new audience and brace the fan base for a dramatic shift in style. Most, however, use the artist's back catalog as a sonic playground for the delight of serious fans (and artists as well). Toby Mac's Re:mix Momentum falls in the latter category, revisiting most all of the songs from his popular and acclaimed 2001 release, Momentum. That album was a satisfying enough experience for Toby to keep him focused on his solo career, much to the chagrin of dc Talk fans hoping for a follow-up to 1998's Supernatural anytime soon.
In fact, Momentum was such a pleasure for Toby that he couldn't help getting involved with this remix project. The original plan was for various producers and mix-masters to toy with Toby's music while he finished up his sophomore effort (which has indeed been pushed back to spring of 2004). Instead, like some sort of mad scientist, Toby was so intrigued by the sonic inventiveness that he found himself splitting studio time between his next studio effort and Re:mix Momentum, adding his own personal touch to many of the tinkered tracks.
When a remix album draws from a single disc's worth of source material, one can get a strong feeling of déjà vu reviewing it again. So, to be clear, this review is not about the songs themselves (you can read the previous review for that), but rather how the songs have been transformed, and, more importantly, whether or not they're worth your time and money compared to the original Momentum. At just over fifty minutes in length, Re:mix Momentum is not a terribly long recording, which is a good thing. It was originally planned to be a seven-track release, and ended up at fourteen—ten different songs, four of them remixed twice. None of them run longer than five minutes, so you know these are not your typical overblown club mix, but rather meaningful attempts to reinterpret the originals.
The result is a hodgepodge. The hip-hop funk of "J Train" (featuring Kirk Franklin) is one of the tracks visited twice. The "MATH Remix" (by members of Earthsuit) sounds tame and sparse compared to the original, revolving the song around a spacey electronic squiggle. It's outdone by the rowdier "Linney Borthers + DJ Remix," which adds a Rez synth bass riff and calls more attention to the female backing vocalists—the lead vocals sound grittier too. "Yours" was a heavy-hitting hardcore rocker on the Momentum album, but this disc's "[Jeff] Savage Remix" is a little less intense, ditching the crunchy guitars in favor of record scratches and R&B/hip-hop production effects. Even more intriguing is the "Mike Linney Remix, which is also less heavy, blending stripped down rock with reggae and leading into an interesting Celtic dance-styled riff by the track's end.
The popular single, "Irene," gets a face-lift in the "['Aurel M.']Marvin Remix," which drops the West Coast hip-hop sound (i.e., the reggae elements) for R&B ambience. That version is far better than "The Binary Twin Remix," which is more distorted and less structured, ditching the song structure in favor of turntable alterations of snippets from the chorus (although the sample of the woman humming a lullaby is a really nice touch). The delightfully tripping California rock of "Love Is in the House" is probably the only track that truly benefits from two remixes. First there's the "NW Remix" by Christopher Stevens and new Gotee artist Paul Wright, which warms up the backing vocals and creates an even more funky and laid-back vibe similar to Lenny Kravitz or Sugar Ray. The "[Dan] Muckala Remix," however, is much more stripped down, built on a killer drum loop and a familiar electric piano riff, later evolving into simple reggae. In some ways, it's the most fun track on the album....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
Momentum - tobyMac (Forefront)
Sounds like … self-described as "fusion hip-hop," this album has elements of rap, rhythm and blues, pop, and hardcore rock to its sound. A little bit of dc Talk, some Lauryn Hill, and a heaping helping of P.O.D.
At a Glance … an exciting production and an eclectic blend of sounds combine to make a fun and thought-provoking solo debut from tobyMac.
We finally come to chapter three of dc Talk's solo trilogy, featuring the group's mastermind, Toby "Mac" McKeehan. Like his bandmates, Michael Tait and Kevin Max, Toby is taking some time to explore who he is as a solo artist. Earlier this year, he indicated that these three solo projects would reveal the ingredients that make up dc Talk's sound. Michael demonstrated a love for melodic alternative rock and Kevin shared his affinity for progressive pop/rock, both showing glimpses of dc Talk's eclectic sound in their music. But it's clear from his solo album that tobyMac is the unifying core of dc Talk's music, blending together a wide palette of musical styles here as he's done when recording with Michael and Kevin. The irony of it all is that Toby rocks harder than Michael and is more sonically creative than Kevin; he succeeds on Momentum where the other two fall a little short.
My dictionary defines momentum as "an impelling force or strength." No doubt Toby is using this word in reference to God as the force that sets us in motion, but it's also an apt title for the aggressive whirlwind of sound that spans his album. The faint of heart should be warned that Toby rocks hard on Momentum, in a similar way to P.O.D. and Limp Bizkit — heavy distortion guitars, pounding drums, and the occasional screaming. If you're familiar with Toby's hit single "Extreme Days," which spent ten weeks at the top of the CCM Rock charts, you basically know what to expect (though I liked the other rock songs on this album even better!). "Get This Party Started" is a strong opener that almost works like an Introit, a call to worship. The sonic blast of the title track sounds like dc Talk at its rowdiest, and "Yours" is a declaration of faith extremely reminiscent of P.O.D.'s music. Rock fans will also dig "J Train," a funk-infused hip-hop duet with Kirk Franklin that serves as a rousing invitation to get on board the means to salvation. It's interesting that the rock tracks were co-produced by tobyMac and Pete Stewart, who played guitars and co-produced Michael Tait's solo album. But this is a different style of rock from Michael's project — the guitars on Toby's album are much edgier and exciting.
Of course, Toby wouldn't be himself if he didn't add rap, R&B, and hip-hop to the mix. As is the norm for hip-hop, Toby borrows well-known musical hooks from popular songs to create something altogether new, yet familiar. On Momentum, you'll hear snippets of Rockwell's '80s hit "Somebody's Watching Me," Buffalo Springfield's classic "For What It's Worth," and the Diana Ross favorite "Theme from Mahogany." That last one in particular is very effective in the touching "Do You Know," a smooth R&B rap written for Toby's son as a prayer that our loved ones will come to know Christ. Similarly, the reggae-influenced hip-hop song "Irene" is a message of encouragement from Christ to the downtrodden of our world. I also enjoyed the punchy hip-hop sound of "In the Air," and its straightforward conversational approach to evangelizing our friends. The hip-hop tracks feature notable producers such as "Mooki" Taylor, Todd Collins, Jeff Savage, and Randy Crawford, all of whom are known for outstanding work with hip-hop and dance-pop artists....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
At a Glance … an exciting production and an eclectic blend of sounds combine to make a fun and thought-provoking solo debut from tobyMac.
We finally come to chapter three of dc Talk's solo trilogy, featuring the group's mastermind, Toby "Mac" McKeehan. Like his bandmates, Michael Tait and Kevin Max, Toby is taking some time to explore who he is as a solo artist. Earlier this year, he indicated that these three solo projects would reveal the ingredients that make up dc Talk's sound. Michael demonstrated a love for melodic alternative rock and Kevin shared his affinity for progressive pop/rock, both showing glimpses of dc Talk's eclectic sound in their music. But it's clear from his solo album that tobyMac is the unifying core of dc Talk's music, blending together a wide palette of musical styles here as he's done when recording with Michael and Kevin. The irony of it all is that Toby rocks harder than Michael and is more sonically creative than Kevin; he succeeds on Momentum where the other two fall a little short.
My dictionary defines momentum as "an impelling force or strength." No doubt Toby is using this word in reference to God as the force that sets us in motion, but it's also an apt title for the aggressive whirlwind of sound that spans his album. The faint of heart should be warned that Toby rocks hard on Momentum, in a similar way to P.O.D. and Limp Bizkit — heavy distortion guitars, pounding drums, and the occasional screaming. If you're familiar with Toby's hit single "Extreme Days," which spent ten weeks at the top of the CCM Rock charts, you basically know what to expect (though I liked the other rock songs on this album even better!). "Get This Party Started" is a strong opener that almost works like an Introit, a call to worship. The sonic blast of the title track sounds like dc Talk at its rowdiest, and "Yours" is a declaration of faith extremely reminiscent of P.O.D.'s music. Rock fans will also dig "J Train," a funk-infused hip-hop duet with Kirk Franklin that serves as a rousing invitation to get on board the means to salvation. It's interesting that the rock tracks were co-produced by tobyMac and Pete Stewart, who played guitars and co-produced Michael Tait's solo album. But this is a different style of rock from Michael's project — the guitars on Toby's album are much edgier and exciting.
Of course, Toby wouldn't be himself if he didn't add rap, R&B, and hip-hop to the mix. As is the norm for hip-hop, Toby borrows well-known musical hooks from popular songs to create something altogether new, yet familiar. On Momentum, you'll hear snippets of Rockwell's '80s hit "Somebody's Watching Me," Buffalo Springfield's classic "For What It's Worth," and the Diana Ross favorite "Theme from Mahogany." That last one in particular is very effective in the touching "Do You Know," a smooth R&B rap written for Toby's son as a prayer that our loved ones will come to know Christ. Similarly, the reggae-influenced hip-hop song "Irene" is a message of encouragement from Christ to the downtrodden of our world. I also enjoyed the punchy hip-hop sound of "In the Air," and its straightforward conversational approach to evangelizing our friends. The hip-hop tracks feature notable producers such as "Mooki" Taylor, Todd Collins, Jeff Savage, and Randy Crawford, all of whom are known for outstanding work with hip-hop and dance-pop artists....
Continue Reading at this Christian Music Review
Concerts May Pave Way For Amphitheater
The News & Advance
Published: September 8, 2008
For a Moneta couple with Nashville connections, the idea was to provide a music scene that would bloom for tourists and residents at Smith Mountain Lake. At the same time,
the venue would give local musicians an opportunity for a start in the entertainment business.
Country star Sara Evans kicked off the concert series under the stars in Bedford County in early August and crowds in the thousands kept coming.
Darren Snyder and Holly Sweet are pushing for that scene to become a common occurrence throughout the summer at their proposed amphitheater on Hendricks Store Road
near Virginia 122 at the lake.
Both are natives of the lake area who became involved as musicians in Nashville. They are still planning the Sweetwater Amphitheater, a 7,000-seat outdoor venue. They
organized the concert series that wrapped up recently as a tune-up for what the amphitheater could feature.
The concerts they brought in were heavyweights in the country music industry, including in addition to Evans, Blake Shelton, Lonestar and Diamond Rio. Other performers
included Styx, Grand Funk Railroad and Christian performer tobyMac.
In the process, they showed that the region not only would support the concerts, but also that they could do it in an orderly manner without problems resulting from crowds or
the traffic associated with them.
And the hayfield setting for the concerts was spectacular. Most of the main events unfolded as the sun was setting. A starry sky covered them as they wrapped up the last
numbers. And while the concerts raised the decibel level somewhat above normal for the Bedford countryside, no complaints were heard from those who were entertained.
Shelton took note of the surroundings and told his audience there is something right about playing “in a pasture down by a lake.” He also said his advisers in Nashville said they
didn’t think he should do the show because the rural setting wasn’t “country enough. What are they talking about?” he asked.
Sweet was happy with the results of the series. “It was definitely a great trial run into the market and whether people would support the outdoor shows,” she said.
“Everything ran smoothly. For six of the (seven) shows, the weather was great.”
When Sweet and Snyder went through a rezoning process for 40 acres of their planned site about a year ago, Bedford County officials passed it without any significant
opposition. One supervisor called it a “jewel” of what the county could offer in terms of entertainment.
Sweet hasn’t given an opening date for the amphitheater, but said the month-long concert series was a good indication of the caliber of performances it plans to attract.
The performances were first-class and the folks in Bedford — indeed the entire region — are in for a treat when the venue is constructed and open. It will surely be a musical
blossom worth waiting for.
Christian Music News Source
Published: September 8, 2008
For a Moneta couple with Nashville connections, the idea was to provide a music scene that would bloom for tourists and residents at Smith Mountain Lake. At the same time,
the venue would give local musicians an opportunity for a start in the entertainment business.
Country star Sara Evans kicked off the concert series under the stars in Bedford County in early August and crowds in the thousands kept coming.
Darren Snyder and Holly Sweet are pushing for that scene to become a common occurrence throughout the summer at their proposed amphitheater on Hendricks Store Road
near Virginia 122 at the lake.
Both are natives of the lake area who became involved as musicians in Nashville. They are still planning the Sweetwater Amphitheater, a 7,000-seat outdoor venue. They
organized the concert series that wrapped up recently as a tune-up for what the amphitheater could feature.
The concerts they brought in were heavyweights in the country music industry, including in addition to Evans, Blake Shelton, Lonestar and Diamond Rio. Other performers
included Styx, Grand Funk Railroad and Christian performer tobyMac.
In the process, they showed that the region not only would support the concerts, but also that they could do it in an orderly manner without problems resulting from crowds or
the traffic associated with them.
And the hayfield setting for the concerts was spectacular. Most of the main events unfolded as the sun was setting. A starry sky covered them as they wrapped up the last
numbers. And while the concerts raised the decibel level somewhat above normal for the Bedford countryside, no complaints were heard from those who were entertained.
Shelton took note of the surroundings and told his audience there is something right about playing “in a pasture down by a lake.” He also said his advisers in Nashville said they
didn’t think he should do the show because the rural setting wasn’t “country enough. What are they talking about?” he asked.
Sweet was happy with the results of the series. “It was definitely a great trial run into the market and whether people would support the outdoor shows,” she said.
“Everything ran smoothly. For six of the (seven) shows, the weather was great.”
When Sweet and Snyder went through a rezoning process for 40 acres of their planned site about a year ago, Bedford County officials passed it without any significant
opposition. One supervisor called it a “jewel” of what the county could offer in terms of entertainment.
Sweet hasn’t given an opening date for the amphitheater, but said the month-long concert series was a good indication of the caliber of performances it plans to attract.
The performances were first-class and the folks in Bedford — indeed the entire region — are in for a treat when the venue is constructed and open. It will surely be a musical
blossom worth waiting for.
Christian Music News Source
Awards
GMA Dove Awards
* 2008 "Artist of the Year"
* 2008 "Short Form Music Video of the Year" for "Boomin"
* 2008 "Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year" for Portable Sounds
* 2006 "Rock Recorded Song of the Year" for "The Slam"
* 2005 "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" for Welcome to Diverse City
* 2003 "Short Form Music Video of the Year" for "Irene"
* 2002 "Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year" for "Somebody's Watching"
* 2002 "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" for Momentum
Grammy nominations
* 2008 "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for Portable Sounds
* 2008 "Best Gospel Song" for "Made to Love"
* 2005 "Best Rock Gospel Album" for Welcome to Diverse City
* 2003 "Best Rock Gospel Album" for Momentum
Christian Music Links!
* 2008 "Artist of the Year"
* 2008 "Short Form Music Video of the Year" for "Boomin"
* 2008 "Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year" for Portable Sounds
* 2006 "Rock Recorded Song of the Year" for "The Slam"
* 2005 "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" for Welcome to Diverse City
* 2003 "Short Form Music Video of the Year" for "Irene"
* 2002 "Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year" for "Somebody's Watching"
* 2002 "Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year" for Momentum
Grammy nominations
* 2008 "Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album" for Portable Sounds
* 2008 "Best Gospel Song" for "Made to Love"
* 2005 "Best Rock Gospel Album" for Welcome to Diverse City
* 2003 "Best Rock Gospel Album" for Momentum
Christian Music Links!
Videography
| Year | Title | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Momentum | ForeFront Records |
| 2007 | Portable Sights | ForeFront Records |
| 2008 | Alive and Transported | ForeFront Records |
Christian Music Links!
Discography
Studio albums
Remix albums
Live albums
Christian Music Links!
| Year | Title | Label(s) | Status | Peak Position (Billboard 200) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | Momentum | ForeFront Records | Gold [11] | #110 |
| 2004 | Welcome to Diverse City | ForeFront Records | Gold [11] | #54 |
| 2007 | Portable Sounds | ForeFront Records | #10 | |
| 2009 | TBA | ForeFront Records |
Remix albums
| Year | Title | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Re:Mix Momentum | ForeFront Records |
| 2005 | Renovating Diverse City | ForeFront Records |
Live albums
| Year | Title | Label(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Alive and Transported | ForeFront Records |
Christian Music Links!
Personal life
Toby and his wife Amanda (Mandy) McKeehan live in Franklin, TN. They have five children: Truett ("TruDog") born September 4, 1998, Moses, Marlee, Leo born November 2, 2004[1], and Judah born March 24, 2006.[1] Moses and Marlee were adopted in 2002.[1] Truett appears on the albums Momentum, Re:Mix Momentum, Welcome to Diverse City, Renovating Diverse City, and Portable Sounds as emerging rap artist TruDog.
Toby attended Liberty University, the same university as Christian voice actor and singer Vic Mignogna, who also helped dc Talk with their first album.
Christian Music Links!
Toby attended Liberty University, the same university as Christian voice actor and singer Vic Mignogna, who also helped dc Talk with their first album.
Christian Music Links!
The Diverse City Band
Toby's band on his albums and his live shows has become known as "The Diverse City Band". In 2007 they recorded their first single as a band; "Party (Citizens Come Out)". The song is featured on the Hip Hop compilation album, "Hip Hope 2008".
* "tobyMac" - lead vocals
* Gabe "GabeReal" Patillo - vocals
* Deshon "Shonlock" Bullock - vocals
* Nirva "Nirvessence" Dorsaint-Ready - vocals
* Dave "D-Dub" Wyatt - keyboard, backing vocals
* Brian "Da Bomb" Haley - drums
* Todd "Toddiefunk" Lawton - bass
* Tim "T-Rose" Rosenau - guitar, trumpet, backing vocals
* DJ Maj - turntables
Christian Music Links!
* "tobyMac" - lead vocals
* Gabe "GabeReal" Patillo - vocals
* Deshon "Shonlock" Bullock - vocals
* Nirva "Nirvessence" Dorsaint-Ready - vocals
* Dave "D-Dub" Wyatt - keyboard, backing vocals
* Brian "Da Bomb" Haley - drums
* Todd "Toddiefunk" Lawton - bass
* Tim "T-Rose" Rosenau - guitar, trumpet, backing vocals
* DJ Maj - turntables
Christian Music Links!
Life and career
Early life
Toby was born on October 22, 1964, in Fairfax, Virginia.[1] He was nicknamed Toby since he was born in October, but his older brother had called him Toby before he was born.[2]
In his childhood, Toby grew up in Annandale, Virginia. He attended Pine Ridge Elementary, a school with fewer than 300 students during the years that Toby attended (1970-1977) .He later attended Luther Jackson Intermediate during the first few months of his 7th grade school year.[citation needed] Both schools were mentioned in his song "Extreme Days".
He then attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where he met Kevin Max and Michael Tait.
dc Talk
The trio formed the band dc Talk in 1987.[2] DC Talk's original sound was hip-hop, but in 1995 they reinvented themselves with the release of the guitar-heavy Jesus Freak. Although they'd already won a Grammy for their earlier work, this album was a significant milestone, selling over two million copies, making it a double platinum record.
dc Talk's latest album was released in 2001. The album Intermission: the Greatest Hits was a dc Talk compilation put together when the group members started their "intermission." The members were pursuing individual careers then, and at the time assured fans that dc Talk had not split up, but rather they were simply taking "an intermission." More recently though, comments from the band members, most notably from Kevin Max, have implied that dc Talk will not regroup. Kevin Max writes on his official website's message board, "dc Talk is something of the past. In order for dc Talk to be anything of the future, it will be up to each individual member to come together to create something that is lasting and substantial. There is an audience out there interested in seeing dc Talk back together as a group and as an entertaining and creative force, but I feel that the spirit of the thing is dead. I appreciated the time that we had together those many years, and I thank God many times over for allowing me to be a part of something that was so far reaching and helped so many people, but to be honest, just doing a show to do a show is not interesting to me. It must be thought out, creative and passionate."
dc Talk reunited to perform a song on the album Let's Roll about the events on September 11, 2001, on Toby's second album Welcome to Diverse City (They appeared on the song "Atmosphere (Remix)"), and also on Kevin Max's album The Blood in the song "The Cross".
Solo career
Toby McKeehan's solo music differs from dc Talk's rock-based musical style, leaning toward a more urban, hip hop sound. His sound is much more reminiscent of what was heard when dc Talk originally started out, on the albums dc Talk, Nu Thang, and Free At Last.
McKeehan composed and recorded the song "Extreme Days" for the 2001 Truth Builder Productions film Extreme Days. The song was subsequently featured on the 2001 debut tobyMac album Momentum and was used in the movie, Hangman's Curse, based on the popular book by Frank Peretti. McKeehan also composed and performed the song "New World" for the album Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. His song "The Slam" was featured in the film Never Back Down, advertisements for the films Transporter 2 and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, as well as advertisements for the television show Prison Break. The song was also featured in car commercials, men's NCAA clips, NBA Finals (Miami Heat, 2006), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) programming, NFL Football commercials, and "The Ultimate Highlight" on Sportscenter. The song "Burn for You" was used on a Dr. Phil advertisement. "Diverse City" was featured in the Veronica Mars episode, The Wrath of Con. Ohio Valley Wrestling performer Matt Cappotelli (who currently is unable to perform due to a brain tumor) uses "The Slam" as his entrance theme. Many more of Toby's songs have also been used in commercials. "Atmosphere" was used in a Volvo car commercial, "Burn For You" was used for cinnamon gum commercials, "Ignition" is being used by ABC/ESPN to promote its coverage of NASCAR, and "Boomin'" has also been used to promote a new crime-drama, The Women's Murder Club, on ABC, as well as others. His song "Get This Party Started" was featured on an episode of the TV show Roswell. His songs "Yours", "Extreme Days", "Get This Party Started", and "Momentum" were all recently featured in the Xbox 360 video game Crackdown. In September 2007, his song "Feelin' So Fly" appeared in the film The Game Plan starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Portable Sounds sold 50,645 copies in its first week, debuting at #10 on the Billboard 200, and at #1 on the SoundScan Contemporary Christian Overall chart.[4] The album also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.[5] The songs "Made to Love" and "I'm For You" both hit #1 and were the second and third most played songs on Christian Hit Radio stations in 2007.[6]
Toby is also the President of record label Gotee Records. Gotee features artists such as DJ Maj, Relient K, and John Reuben. However, as a recording artist, he is under contract with ForeFront Records.
Career Outside Music
Toby has written two books with Michael Tait and Kevin Max called Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs - Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks[7] and Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World: Fearing God, Not Man (Jesus Freaks)[8]. These books are mainly focused on Christian martyrs. He has also written two more books with Michael Tait titled "Under God"[9] containing stories of America's spiritual battles, and another called "Living Under God."
Christian Music Links!
Toby was born on October 22, 1964, in Fairfax, Virginia.[1] He was nicknamed Toby since he was born in October, but his older brother had called him Toby before he was born.[2]
In his childhood, Toby grew up in Annandale, Virginia. He attended Pine Ridge Elementary, a school with fewer than 300 students during the years that Toby attended (1970-1977) .He later attended Luther Jackson Intermediate during the first few months of his 7th grade school year.[citation needed] Both schools were mentioned in his song "Extreme Days".
He then attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia where he met Kevin Max and Michael Tait.
dc Talk
The trio formed the band dc Talk in 1987.[2] DC Talk's original sound was hip-hop, but in 1995 they reinvented themselves with the release of the guitar-heavy Jesus Freak. Although they'd already won a Grammy for their earlier work, this album was a significant milestone, selling over two million copies, making it a double platinum record.
dc Talk's latest album was released in 2001. The album Intermission: the Greatest Hits was a dc Talk compilation put together when the group members started their "intermission." The members were pursuing individual careers then, and at the time assured fans that dc Talk had not split up, but rather they were simply taking "an intermission." More recently though, comments from the band members, most notably from Kevin Max, have implied that dc Talk will not regroup. Kevin Max writes on his official website's message board, "dc Talk is something of the past. In order for dc Talk to be anything of the future, it will be up to each individual member to come together to create something that is lasting and substantial. There is an audience out there interested in seeing dc Talk back together as a group and as an entertaining and creative force, but I feel that the spirit of the thing is dead. I appreciated the time that we had together those many years, and I thank God many times over for allowing me to be a part of something that was so far reaching and helped so many people, but to be honest, just doing a show to do a show is not interesting to me. It must be thought out, creative and passionate."
dc Talk reunited to perform a song on the album Let's Roll about the events on September 11, 2001, on Toby's second album Welcome to Diverse City (They appeared on the song "Atmosphere (Remix)"), and also on Kevin Max's album The Blood in the song "The Cross".
Solo career
Toby McKeehan's solo music differs from dc Talk's rock-based musical style, leaning toward a more urban, hip hop sound. His sound is much more reminiscent of what was heard when dc Talk originally started out, on the albums dc Talk, Nu Thang, and Free At Last.
McKeehan composed and recorded the song "Extreme Days" for the 2001 Truth Builder Productions film Extreme Days. The song was subsequently featured on the 2001 debut tobyMac album Momentum and was used in the movie, Hangman's Curse, based on the popular book by Frank Peretti. McKeehan also composed and performed the song "New World" for the album Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. His song "The Slam" was featured in the film Never Back Down, advertisements for the films Transporter 2 and The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, as well as advertisements for the television show Prison Break. The song was also featured in car commercials, men's NCAA clips, NBA Finals (Miami Heat, 2006), World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) programming, NFL Football commercials, and "The Ultimate Highlight" on Sportscenter. The song "Burn for You" was used on a Dr. Phil advertisement. "Diverse City" was featured in the Veronica Mars episode, The Wrath of Con. Ohio Valley Wrestling performer Matt Cappotelli (who currently is unable to perform due to a brain tumor) uses "The Slam" as his entrance theme. Many more of Toby's songs have also been used in commercials. "Atmosphere" was used in a Volvo car commercial, "Burn For You" was used for cinnamon gum commercials, "Ignition" is being used by ABC/ESPN to promote its coverage of NASCAR, and "Boomin'" has also been used to promote a new crime-drama, The Women's Murder Club, on ABC, as well as others. His song "Get This Party Started" was featured on an episode of the TV show Roswell. His songs "Yours", "Extreme Days", "Get This Party Started", and "Momentum" were all recently featured in the Xbox 360 video game Crackdown. In September 2007, his song "Feelin' So Fly" appeared in the film The Game Plan starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.
Portable Sounds sold 50,645 copies in its first week, debuting at #10 on the Billboard 200, and at #1 on the SoundScan Contemporary Christian Overall chart.[4] The album also received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album.[5] The songs "Made to Love" and "I'm For You" both hit #1 and were the second and third most played songs on Christian Hit Radio stations in 2007.[6]
Toby is also the President of record label Gotee Records. Gotee features artists such as DJ Maj, Relient K, and John Reuben. However, as a recording artist, he is under contract with ForeFront Records.
Career Outside Music
Toby has written two books with Michael Tait and Kevin Max called Jesus Freaks: DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs - Stories of Those Who Stood for Jesus, the Ultimate Jesus Freaks[7] and Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries: Stories of Revolutionaries Who Changed Their World: Fearing God, Not Man (Jesus Freaks)[8]. These books are mainly focused on Christian martyrs. He has also written two more books with Michael Tait titled "Under God"[9] containing stories of America's spiritual battles, and another called "Living Under God."
Christian Music Links!
tobyMac
Kevin Michael "Toby" McKeehan (legally changed name to Toby in 90's) (born October 22, 1964 in Fairfax, Virginia), professionally known as tobyMac, is a professional musician, producer, and songwriter. He was first known for being one third of the Christian music group dc Talk staying with them from 1989 until their announced hiatus in 2000. He has since continued a successful solo career with the release of three studio albums; Momentum (2001), Welcome to Diverse City (2004), and Portable Sounds (2007), as well as two remixed versions of his first two albums, titled Re:Mix Momentum, and Renovating Diverse City.
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Relient K tour cruises through 43 North American shows
After spending the summer co-headlining the Warped Tour, alternative punk rockers Relient K will launch a headlining tour of their own this fall before stepping back into a co-headlining role for a third tour.
The Uncle Fest Tour kicks off October 2 at Barrymore Theatre in Madison, WI, and continues through November 2 at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL. Notable stops along the way include an October 15 gig at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA, and an October 21 performance at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
After a brief break from the road, Relient K will join Christian hip-hop rocker tobyMac on his Winter Wonder Slam Tour. Relient K's 18-date stint on the holiday trek begins November 13 in Greenville, SC, and continues through December 14 at the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie, TX.
The Canton, OH-based rockers will receive support on the Uncle Fest Tour from Ludo, This Providence and House of Heroes. Joining tobyMac and Relient K on Winter Wonder Slam 2008 are Family Force 5 and B. Reith.
Relient K is touring in support of its fifth studio album, "Five Score and Seven Years Ago," which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 when it was released in 2007. The album was a follow-up to 2004's "Mmhmm," which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and was later RIAA-certified Gold.
When Relient K debuted in 2000 with their eponymous record, they became known for their novelty songwriting style, often mixing pop culture laced lyrics with more traditional Christian messages. However, the group has matured in recent years and become more of a "serious" rock band, both in lyrical and musical approach, often experimenting with different musical genres.
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The Uncle Fest Tour kicks off October 2 at Barrymore Theatre in Madison, WI, and continues through November 2 at the House of Blues in Chicago, IL. Notable stops along the way include an October 15 gig at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, PA, and an October 21 performance at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC.
After a brief break from the road, Relient K will join Christian hip-hop rocker tobyMac on his Winter Wonder Slam Tour. Relient K's 18-date stint on the holiday trek begins November 13 in Greenville, SC, and continues through December 14 at the Nokia Theatre in Grand Prairie, TX.
The Canton, OH-based rockers will receive support on the Uncle Fest Tour from Ludo, This Providence and House of Heroes. Joining tobyMac and Relient K on Winter Wonder Slam 2008 are Family Force 5 and B. Reith.
Relient K is touring in support of its fifth studio album, "Five Score and Seven Years Ago," which debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 when it was released in 2007. The album was a follow-up to 2004's "Mmhmm," which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200 and was later RIAA-certified Gold.
When Relient K debuted in 2000 with their eponymous record, they became known for their novelty songwriting style, often mixing pop culture laced lyrics with more traditional Christian messages. However, the group has matured in recent years and become more of a "serious" rock band, both in lyrical and musical approach, often experimenting with different musical genres.
Christian Music News Source
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