Went to the Newsboys concert tonight (last night? argh, whatever), and boy, do I have some stories for you... but right now I need to catch some sleep make it to work on time, so this is a work in progress until I'm coherent enough I get a chance to really tell it well.

I had to wait for Mom to get back from laundry so I could take the car to the concert (Shannon and Lauren had the other car and were on their way back from spending the weekend to Sacramento), so I was already running a little late. I was driving down the road, and was a block away from the church when I ran out of gas. So I grabbed the spare gas can (we always have one on hand in the Lumina because the fuel gauge is on crack so it never really tells you how much gas you have), and walked to the gas station two blocks away (and I passed the church on the way there), filled the gas can, and walked back to the car. On the way back it finally dawns on me that I had put the hazards on, but I'd left the lights on as well. I get to the car and see the little Canadian flag keychain - I'd locked the keys in the ignition. Luckily for me, Shannon and Lauren had just gotten home, so Dad could finally come and help me out... I had to wait on the street for 10 minutes while Dad drove to where I was. In the wind and spitting rain. (It had rained harder on the way to the church, but it had just stopped.

All of this, plus the fact that all the good parking spots were taken led to me being late for the concert. I missed all of the first act plus part of the second just trying to find a seat, but ended up being right behind the gold circle seats (actually, I think I was in the gold circle section, but the usher said I could sit there, so I wasn't about to complain).

Anyway, I missed the first act (Bread of Stone?) and part of the second act (VOTA), but VOTA was really good. They used to be called Casting Pearls, but everybody got them confused with Casting Crowns, so they changed their name. They gave everyone a free digital album download, so I plan on d/ling it and finding out more of their stuff.

After the third opening act (Decemberadio), which opened up with about a minute of "Carry On My Wayward Son," which more than likely proves that they play lots of Rock Band 2, and an intermission, the Newsboys came onstage. A few weeks ago, it was announced that Peter Furler, founder of Newsboys and lead singer since the late 90s, had decided it was time to spend more time with his family and focus more on producing records and writing songs, so he left the band. He got replaced by Michael Tait, Liberty University grad and formerly 1/3 of DC Talk, and though I had heard that Peter was still touring this time around, Tait was singing that night. I was kind of bummed, because after missing out on meeting Peter back last February at LU, I was all, "I will meet Peter this time," but Tait is just as cool. I've seen him perform with his band before, and so I knew that he's a good showman, and let me tell you, he fits in with the band perfectly, and now they also play classic DC Talk songs. They sang "In the Light" and about a minute of "Colored People" and "It's My Will." (Yeah, he'll still always be Tait to me, just like Duncan will always be Dunny because of watching "Down Under the Big Top" an insane number of times as a kid. Yes, I know "Dunny" is Aussie/Brit slang for the toilet. Apparently the Newsboys did not care.) This mixing of two bands that were huge parts of my growing up was beyond weird... I will learn to adapt, but I think I really miss the old school Newsboys even more now.

I got a bunch of pictures, but an usher came over and got after me for using a flash - even though people all over were taking flash photos - even though my flash was off. The light show was so bright, nobody needed a flash anyway. Overzealous Usher actually got after the girl in front of me, too, and I could see she didn't have a flash either. Eh, whatever.

It is at this point that perhaps my budgetary judgment left me, but I signed up to join the Global Tribe, the missions organization founded by the Newsboys to "fight physical and spiritual poverty all over the world." I pledged $30 a month, and for my donation, got a free tour T-shirt and a chance to go backstage and meet the Newsboys. I have no idea where the $30 is going to come from, especially once the tutoring job goes bye-bye, but I stepped out in faith, and I know I can cancel anytime. (I also signed up to be clued in on future mission trips, which the Newsboys usually go on. Who wouldn't want to build houses in Mexico with the Newsboys?) Anyway, I was one of the last people in line, and I got a picture with the band, and got them to sign my copy of the Newsboys greatest hits album - even Tait, even though I know he's not on the album at all...

I managed to be more steady than I was when I met the cast of Cinematic Titanic, but I noticed my fingers were shaking when I was turning my camera off... I still managed to not be a complete dork, and said "welcome back" to guitarist Jody Davis, who had left the band a while ago to care for his sick daughter, but came back earlier this year, and "hi" to Tait, and mentioned that his old dorm was my brother dorm last year, which made him smile.

Now, for some pictures:


Tait as the new lead singer of the Newsboys.


Welcome back Jody! He was shredding all over the place - it's like he never left!


The 'Boys take it down a bit with the "B Stage," a medley of classic Newsboys and DC Talk hits.


The 'Boys constantly come out with amazing songs, but no NB concert is complete without the über-classic "Breakfast."


The payoff picture! (From left: Tait; drummer Duncan Phillips; keyboardist/bassist/don't ask me how he does it Jeff Frankenstein, who is hiding behind me; guitarist Jody Davis)

Location daybed Mood exhausted Music Boycott Hell - Newsboys Tags: adventures, argh, seriously?!?, squee!!!