dc Talk Attends U2 Show With OneRepublic

TobyMac, Michael Tait and Kevin Max attend ed U2's Joshua Tree Tour in Tampa, FL and also spent part of the night hanging out with the members of OneRepublic.

The Joshua Tree Tour commemorates the 30 year anniversary of the release of U2's career-defining album The Joshua Tree, a project which deeply influenced countless contemporary musicians--including dc Talk.  OneRepublic's lead singer Ryan Tedder was influenced by the album, but his influences also included dc Talk. Ryan Tedder grew up on Christian music through the 90s.

All of the artists shared photos to Instagram throughout the night, including capturing Ryan Tedder's spot-on impression of Kevin Max singing "What If I Stumble."

A post shared by Kevin Max (@sirkevinmax) on Jun 14, 2017 at 7:58pm PDT

A post shared by Michael Tait (@michaeltait) on Jun 14, 2017 at 9:07pm PDT

A post shared by TobyMac (@officialtobymac) on Jun 14, 2017 at 5:33pm PDT

dcTalk Reunites for Surprise Performance

For the first time in more than a decade, TobyMac, Michael Tait (currently of Newsboys) and Kevin Max reunited as dcTalk, performing TobyMac's "Love Feels Like" live in front of the Dove Awards crowd.

TobyMac's set began with a shortened version of his current single "Til The Day I Die" before the lights went down. A video played, with Toby talking about dcTalk and his song "Love Feels Like,"  from his This Is Not A Test.

Toby began performing the song, and was gradually joined onstage by his dcTalk bandmates. The crowd at Lipscomb University's Allen Arena rose to their feet and responded loudly and enthusiastically.

"Did that just happen? Did we really just witness the dcTalk reunion at the Dove Awards?" asked the ecstatic presenter, Tye Tribbett, following the performance at the awards.

dc Talk Reunites... And the Announcement Sparks Controversy

To the excitement of fans, iconic band dc Talk announced a reunion and performance by group members TobyMac, Michael Tait and Kevin Max.   However, the announcement received backlash as it became clear that it may only be for a performance aboard the Jesus Freak Cruise, departing from Miami on July 11, 2017. Marking the first time in 16 years fans will be able to see the band perform, the cruise will travel to the ports of Nassau, Bahamas and Half Moon Cay (Private Island). TobyMac and the Diverse City Band, Newsboys, Kevin Max, Finding Favour, Capital Kings, Ryan Stevenson and Hollyn will perform alongside dc Talk on the Jesus Freak Cruise line-up. Tickets will be available for purchase on May 16, 2016 by visiting JesusFreakCruise.com.

The band demonstrated their sense of humor with the following tweet:

PR team's response after reading your tweets. #dctalk #jesusfreakcruise pic.twitter.com/RL6uspKY64

— dc Talk (@dctalkofficial) May 11, 2016

New Releases on Our Radar for the remainder of 2015

New music excites us!

October 9
MercyMe - MercyMe, It's Christmas!

October 16
Capital Kings - II
Danny Gokey - Christmas Is Here
Stryper - Fallen

November 13
Kutless - Surrender
Casting Crowns - A Live Worship Experience
Natalie Grant - Be One
Phillip LaRue - You


A few bonus ones:

November 2015
DC Talk - Jesus Freak Vinyl
DC Talk - Supernatural Vinyl

February 12, 2016
The Afters - untitled new album

Audio Adrenaline Says 'Adios' to Band Members

It looks as if two members of the newly reformed Audio Adrenaline are already saying “adios.” New Release Tuesday has learned that guitarist Dave Ghazarian and keyboardist/ secondary vocalist Jason Walker have quietly and by all reports amicably parted ways with the group to pursue other interests.

The details are slim, but according to band management (as well as singer Kevin Max), Walker is pursuing his solo career as a singer/songwriter, and Ghazarian also has other musical endeavors.

The announcement comes a year or so after the new incarnation of Audio Adrenaline appeared, boasting a who’s who from Christian bands, including representation from the original Audio A, dcTalk, Bleach, and Superchick.

The band moves forward with a new lineup, which includes guitarist Dwayne Larring, one of the producers on the Kings & Queens album who previously played in the Christian bands Seven Day Jesus and Sonicflood, as well as for Kelly Clarkson.

Meanwhile, the band's current single, "Believer" (which prominently features Walker's vocals), is impacting Christian radio.

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TobyMac Appearing on 'The View' May 24

TobyMac will be performing on ABC's "The View" for the second time May 24 at 11 a.m. EST.

The six-time Grammy Award winner will be performing his Billboard Christian chart No. 1 single "Me Without You," off of his Billboard Christian No. 1 album, Eye On It, as well.

"It's been a seriously encouraging year already ... it's hard to believe Eye On It only came out eight months ago. It's my honor to write songs that turn people's eyes toward a God who loves them. 'Steal My Show' is not just a song I want to sing, it's how I want to live," the former DC Talk frontman said.

The 48-year-old has sold over 11 million records as a solo artist and around 20 million more with his group DC Talk in the '80s and '90s as well as countless Dove Awards and six Grammys.

TobyMac helped introduce hip-hop to Christian music in the late '80s and later with his group evolved into genres covering dance, pop, R&B, and rock before going solo in 2000.

Kevin Max of dc Talk and Dave Ghazarian of Superchick Join Audio Adrenaline

JFH is reporting that Audio Adrenaline which disbanded in 2007 has reformed. Original lead vocalist Mark Stuart has had vocal issues for years, which then played a part in the band's break-up.

Perhaps inspired by Newsboys' decision to recruit former dc Talk vocalist Michael Tait when Peter Furler stepped down, Audio Adrenaline has enlisted the aid of dc Talk vocal powerhouse Kevin Max to take the reins. As far as other Audio A members returning, the only original member to pick up his instrument once again is bass player Will McGinniss. Drummer Ben Cissell will not be returning, and neither will guitarist/vocalist Tyler Burkum who has been on the road with Mat Kearney (almost since Audio A disbanded in the spring of '07) and is also a member of the band Leagues.

Joining Max in the new Audio Adrenaline is former Superchick guitarist Dave Ghazarian on guitar (who also has been playing with Peter Furler's band this year) and Bleach drummer Jared Byers on drums. Byers actually filled in for Cissell on Audio A's final spring tour in 2007 when Cissell had already been committed to his first post-AA job as manager of Nashville youth club Rocketown. To make the band a quintet, solo artist Jason Walker will be providing keys and additional vocals (much like Burkum did, according to McGinniss), and recently worked with AA members Mark Stuart and McGinniss on the Know Hope Collective project.

The newly revitalized band is hoping to raise funds and awareness for the Haitian orphan ministry called The Hands and Feet Project through this new musical chapter in Audio A's history, and are hoping to hop on the festival circuit in the coming months. Audio Adrenaline is also planning a new studio album to be released in 2013!

More details about the new Audio Adrenaline will be announced soon.

DC Talk Members Join on Newsboys Upcoming CD

 Boldly redefined by the best-selling "Born Again" record, the Newsboys continue their powerful journey on November 15th with "God’s Not Dead." This rock-driven modern worship project was produced by "Born Again’s" co-producer Seth Mosley.

"God’s Not Dead" finds the band enlivening today’s most embraced modern worship anthems. Putting their signature touch on seven tunes that have recently topped the CCLI chart, including “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion)”, “Forever Reign” and “Revelation Song,” five originals round out the project such as “The King is Coming,” “Here We Stand,” and “All The Way.”

When Tait joined in 2009, the group wanted fans to know that their worship emphasis would never change. In fact, plans for "God’s Not Dead" began before "Born Again" was released. “There are so many things I love about being a Newsboy—we really are a band of brothers—but the biggest one is that our music always shares the gospel outright,” says Tait. “The message is unchanging whether you look at a song as rock or worship.”

Their mission is surely accomplished on “God’s Not Dead (Like A Lion),” which reunites Tait with Kevin Max, both formerly part of the multi-platinum trio dc Talk. Written by Daniel Bashta, the piece was inspired by the band’s tie to I Am Second, a ministry that reaches out to struggling people and encourages them to live first for God.

At the album’s core, "God’s Not Dead" sings of victory over a century’s worth of philosophers who thought otherwise. Friedrich Nietzsche once proclaimed, “God is dead.” But as Newsboys' friend and pastor Rice Broocks likes to say, “A funny thing happened on the way to the funeral.” The belief that God is indeed alive is the truth Newsboys are amplifying. “God’s not dead, let’s worship Him,” says Michael Tait. “We serve a living God!”

Tait’s outspoken message is carried by Newsboys' signature sound that Frankenstein, Phillips, and Davis have shaped together for nearly two decades now. The band will hit the stage this fall headlining the west coast leg of the Winter Jam tour, as well as joining The Story tour, which runs through December 18th. At the start of 2012, Newsboys will embark on their “God’s Not Dead Tour.”

Broadway Performer Tony Vincent Collaborating with Kevin Max

In the mid-90s, Tony Vincent released two Christian CDs before going to Broadway, where most recently he was part of the cast of American Idiot.

Tony recently sent out this note in his email newsletter:

Long-time friend of mine and killer singer Kevin Max (of the band dcTalk), phoned me up out of the blue several weeks ago. He and a mate of his have been working on a project that has changed directions several times since its original inception almost a year ago. Knowing I’ve been greatly influenced by bands from the “New Romantic” music era (such as Roxy Music, David Bowie and Duran Duran), Kevin extended an invitation for me to join his work-in-progress band, currently working under the name Bad Omens.

Although my music career has always been as a solo artist, I have lately been toying with the idea of changing direction and cloaking my music in a band format, which would lend itself perfectly to the style of music that I want to produce. Kevin and I spoke on and off for about a week, and after thinking about it for a few days, I phoned him up and told him I was in.

Even though we are still in the early stages of fleshing out exactly what the sound of Bad Omens will be–we’re heading to Los Angeles this week to start the writing process–we’re both incredibly excited about the potential of a vocally driven, Brit-pop/synth-rock focused band.

Kevin Max Trying to Reunite DC Talk?

As buzz continues to build for the first release of the new Michael Tait-fronted Newsboys on July 13th, and TobyMac continues to celebrate his recent fourth solo project, the third member of DC Talk has begun rallying fans in support of petitioning a reunion of the band for 2011. As JesusFreakHideout reports, last night, Kevin Max posted on his Twitter feed/Facebook page, "Trying to get a dct tour happening, perhaps next year, any of you down? ;)"

The response to Max's teaser post was overwhelming, and he soon responded "Oh and to answer all of your lovely enquiries, yes I am serious- I don't want to see the bands legacy go down like a Lost Titanic." Again Max posted again on his Facebook page, "Who wants to start a petition with me right here to bring dctalk back after the Intermission? - sign your name and I will forward to the appropriate people."

We have to wonder how likely it would be for Toby and Michael to pull away from their full-time duties with their respective ventures for a reunion. Would Toby be willing to put his thriving solo career with the Diverse City Band on hold? Would Michael be able or interested in leaving the Newsboys for such a reunion? Or, more realistically, would it have to be a tour that would include all the bands (and wouldn't it be rather exhausting to perform two major shows in one night for a tour?)?

It's probably much too early to tell whether anything will come of this, but the mere fact Max is being so adamant about the idea of a DC Talk reunion and their "Intermission" ending really has us curious. What DC Talk fan hasn't dreamed of a reunion tour or new music since they disbanded after their "DC Talk Solo Tour" in 2001? And after all, a tour next year would be the 10 year anniversary since their last one.

Max shared with GMC:

I am happy for both of the guys and their own careers, but I do believe that the dcTalk legacy and the band that we created and worked together for years in building has suffered from disregard. I am probably equally to blame for this, as the initial push for my own solo project started at the Intermission period. But I thought we all held in the back of our minds the chance and inspiration to create music together again at some other juncture. I guess we will have to wait and see how the others members feel about that now.

Coincidentally, JesusFreakHideout announced the results of their 7th Annual Reader's Choice Awards earlier this week and DC Talk won the category of "Artist You Would Like To See Return" by a landslide.

TobyMac's Tonight Shines Bright at #6

TobyMac nets his second top 10 album in a row with "Tonight" entering at a career-high No. 6 on Billboard, with a personal-best sales week of 79,000. This is his second top 10 album on the Billboard 200 following "Portable Sounds" in 2007. That set entered and peaked at No. 10 with 51,000 in its first week. McKeehan was also a member of DC talk, which notched five hit albums on the Billboard 200, including the No. 4-peaking "Supernatural" in 1998.

Michael Tait is the New Lead Singer for the Newsboys on the Road

After 22 years and more than 2,000 shows, Peter Furler will no longer front the newsboys in concert. Michael Tait will tour with the band as lead singer with Peter making special appearances throughout the year according to a press release by the band.

Peter will continue with the band and his trademark songwriting and production will remain as he focuses his professional career toward future newsboys recordings.

Michael has been on the road with the band over the past weeks working alongside Peter in what has been a positive and enjoyable experience for both parties. It has been a graceful process that both Peter and Michael have worked through as they prepare to make the change in the coming weeks.

Peter states,

“newsboys to me has always been a mission, and I entrust Mike, Jeff, Jody and Duncan to continue all that is in store for us as a band. I’m looking forward to focusing on the band’s studio career and spending time in my own bed after many years in a tour bus and hundreds of thousands of miles on the road.”

Wes Campbell, newsboys manager, explains,

“Whilst the decision to replace Peter on the road was a painstaking one, when the idea of dc Talk vocalist Michael Tait was presented, it was a no-brainer to all of us. No one can replace Peter, but we know Michael will bring a new attitude, energy and vocal style that will thrill our audience. To be able to continue a world class show and still have Peter behind the scenes guiding the career and making of newsboys music is a huge opportunity for all of us. It’s amazing that after many years of touring with dc Talk in the 1990’s, that in 2009 our paths would cross once again. It’s an exciting time for all of us.”

Michael Tait shares:

“When I received the initial call from newsboys to consider joining the band as lead singer, I was speechless! I immediately sought wise counsel and flooded the heavens with endless prayers for insight and vision, and I soon received a clear and definite peace. Last weekend, I had the opportunity to perform my first show as newsboys’ frontman to an audience of 12,000 people. I was completely wrapped in love and support by newsboys’ fans, who are clearly the best fans on the planet. Now I know this is exactly where I belong in this new and wonderful moment in my life’s history. This is a definite highlight of my career and for my 20+ years of walking with Jesus, and I am humbled, proud and privileged to call myself a newsboy.”

In the coming days, Peter will be releasing a personal statement on the band’s website in more detail.

The band has recently finished recording its new studio album, In The Hands of God, which features Peter as lead vocalist on the entire album. Street date for this record is May 5th.

With five gold albums, sales exceeding six million units, more than 20 No.1 radio hits, and a mantle of Dove Awards as well as Grammy nominations, newsboys has achieved phenomenal success in its two decades together.

Crossovers

Amy Grant - e.g., "Find a Way"(#7AC), "The Next Time I Fall" (#1), "Saved by Love" (#96), "Baby Baby" (#1), "That's What Love Is For" (#1), "Every Heartbeat" (#2), "Good For Me" (#8), and "I Will Remember You" (#20) "Lucky One" (#2 AC), "House of Love" (#37), "Takes A Little Time"
The Afters - "Beautiful Love" (#23 HotDigital, #43 Pop100, #55 Hot100)
Andy Hunter - DJ
BeBe & CeCe Winans - e.g., "Addictive Love" (#1R&B), "I'll Take You There" (#1 R&B) "It's O.K."
Bob Carlisle - "Butterfly Kisses"
Chevelle - e.g., "The Clincher"
dc Talk - e.g., "Just Between You And Me" (#11 Top 40)
Delirious? - charted in the UK and Germany, e.g., "Inside Outside" and "Deeper"
Fleming and John
Flyleaf
Grits - "Ooh Ahh" "Tennessee Boys"
Jars of Clay - "Flood" (#12 Rock)", "Crazy Times" (#38 Rock), "Five Candles (You Were There)" "Show You Love" & "Unforgetful You"
Jon McLaughlin - "Beautiful Disaster" (28 AC)
Jump5 - they owned Radio Disney
Kirk Franklin - "Lean on Me" (#26 R&B), "Revolution"(#26 R&B), "Looking for You" (#5 R&B), "Imagine Me" (#52 R&B)
Julie Miller
Mary Mary - "Shackles" (#22 R&B)
Mat Kearney - "Nothing Left to Lose" (#7 Top 40) "Undeniable" (#20 Top 40) & "All I Need" (#94 Hot 100)
MercyMe - "I Can Only Imagine" (#5 AC), "Here with Me" (#12 AC), "Homesick (#9 AC) & "So Long Self" (#16 AC)
Michael W. Smith - e.g., "I Will Be Here For You" (#1 AC), "Place In This World"(#5 AC), "Somebody Love Me" (#10 AC), "For You"(#20 AC), "This is Your Time" (#25 AC)
MxPx
Natalie Grant - "Held" (#11 AC), "No Sign of It" (#25 AC), "The Real Me" (#30 AC)