Explosive pyrotechnics. That’s all that comes to mind as I try to think of something that could have made Third Day’s Saturday night show at Nokia Theater in Grand Prairie any better.
From the first amplifier buzz to the distorted echoes of the last note, the southern rockers kept the crowd on their feet and singing at the top of their lungs in an amazing spectacle of rock ‘n’ roll adrenaline and worship. Is it any wonder that for over a decade now, Third Day has dominated the Christian music world with its driving, southern-tinged rock and roll? With shows like this weekend’s, it looks like its shooting for decade number two.
Grand Prairie fans found the band right in the thick of its 36-city “Wherever You Are” Tour, still early enough for the band to be excited about every venue but late enough for it to have all the early-tour kinks worked out.
Opening act The David Crowder* Band brought the evening to a lively start with youth group favorite “Undignified,” gaining maturity with each song right up to its dramatic performance of “You Are My Joy,” a song the band has jokingly dubbed a “rock opera.”
With his Texas blood and rampant gotee working to his advantage, Crowder aptly and energetically led both the band and the crowd through flawless renditions of rock/worship hits like “Here Is Our King” and “Oh Praise Him.”
After a brief intermission, it was time for the main event. The house lights dimmed as crew workers cleared the now-glowing stage. The amps swelled to life as fans quickly recognized the single distorted guitar intro to “Tunnel,” the opening track of the album “Wherever You Are.”
The giant sheet covering the stage dropped just as the rest of the band came crashing into the song, revealing all five members rocking out amidst a large, elaborate LED light show that would cause Bono to raise an eyebrow. Lead singer Mac Powell danced his way down to the front of the stage, greeting the crowd with a big “How ya doing, Texas!” The crowd sang along from the opening line, while guitarists Mark Lee and Brad Avery freely roamed the stage, playing harmonies and trading solos throughout the night.
Powell offered a brief prayer as Tai Anderson’s bass and David Carr’s drums boomed into the aggressive “I Can Feel It,” an awe-inspiring mix of heavy guitars and prayerful lyrics. From there, the band went straight into “Consuming Fire,” another passionate rock song known to fans as the quintessential Third Day song.
Touring musician Scotty Wilbanks led the band into “Thief,” a dramatic recounting of Jesus’ crucifixion, with a classical piano piece that, combined with Powell’s soulful vocals, brought chills to the skin.
Mid-way through the two-hour set, Third Day took center-stage with wooden stools and acoustic instruments, singing subdued versions of hits like “I’ve Always Loved You” and “Your Love, Oh Lord,” as well as a joint effort with Crowder on the old hymn “I Saw The Light.”
The rest of the show focused heavily on Third Day’s trademark worship ballads, particularly “Cry Out To Jesus,” the lead anthem from Wherever You Are that encourages those in times of struggle. Throughout the entire show, Third Day maintained infectious enthusiasm and passion, yet it never once crossed the line into sappiness, unlike many other Christian acts.
The band delivered an energetic and polished live show for its fans and its God, an increasingly uncommon accomplishment in today’s music industry.