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.

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