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
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
