Hits Deep Tour!

Toby Mac Hits Deep Tour

I can't even begin to explain how amazing this concert was.  I haven't been to a concert since Boyz2Men and MC Hammer's 2Legit Tour!  (Wow, that really ages me doesn't it?)  So I was listening to KLOVE one day and they announced the Hits Deep Tour starring Toby Mac and Mandisa and I almost had to pull the car over because I was hyperventilating!  I promised myself I would get there.  Then they started listing all the other Christian superstars and I thought it was too good to be true!  Unfortunately, when I was freaking out trying to ask Joe to go with me he was like Toby who?  Mandy-what?  Seriously?  Does he not know me at all?  I got the same reactions from many of my friends who have missed out on the Christian music movement...so this post is for you!  However, I knew there was one person in my life that would totally get excited with me and I was right.  My sister in law Erica got to share this experience with me!  What a night!  We danced, we laughed, we cried!  Am I what you call a Jesus Freak now?  Haha!

As we looked around at everyone who had ventured out on a rainy Tuesday night to be part of the fun, I commented on how surprised I was to see old people, young people (we were surrounded by teenagers), all ethnic backgrounds, people with spiky hair, minivan soccer moms, etc.  Erica just smiled and said, "Allie, this is what the Kingdom of God looks like!"  Amen!

 

Many of you will recall that I found Christian radio while living in St. Anthony.  The lyrics of the songs sung at this concert helped me through a very dark, snowy winter while recovering from a smashed tailbone.  To hear these artists singing the songs that impacted my life so personally and profoundly was a surreal experience!  I could hardly contain my joy and enthusiasm as evidenced from this photo at the Adams Center in Missoula, MT.

  

So let me introduce you to my musical life!  I have listed the artists in pretty much the order they performed.  I was worried I may be disappointed by the quality of their live voices but I am pleased to say that they all were as good if not better than the radio recordings!  Seriously...I was freaking out the whole night!  Did I mention the dancing?  So here was the lineup and I have included links so you can experience vicariously through this post what that night was like.  When I got home, I created a playlist on my iPhone of all my favorite songs performed.  I feel blessed to have been part of the worship and praise that occurred that night with about 20, 000 other people wishing to express to love and thankfulness to their Lord and Redeemer!  So one night if you are looking for something to do, click on the links below and hear the music of the Hits Deep Tour!  I ended up buying a Toby Mac t-shirt that says "Speak Life"!  That pretty much sums it up....Enjoy!

 

Capital Kings:  

This young duo just got signed by Toby Mac.  They are up and coming artists featuring a young, dance, music style.  They got the crowd so pumped!

http://youtu.be/LGzfjg5VRSw I Feel So Alive

http://youtu.be/klf_k_pxWoE You’ll Never Be Alone

Matt Maher:  I was very impressed with this artist.  I didn't think I knew who he was but as soon as he started singing, I was singing along with every word of every song!  The opening guitar line is so recognizable and I was rocking out!  Indeed, your grace is enough!

http://youtu.be/8wN-fspKg1Q  Your Grace Is Enough

http://youtu.be/LuvfMDhTyMA  Lord I Need You

Ryan Stevenson:

Toby Mac just signed this guy so I didn't know any of his set.  However, he broke down his songs acoustically on the guitar and I did run home and buy one of his songs:

 http://youtu.be/7vzMyIzkyD4 Holding Nothing Back

 Brandon Heath:  My favorite Pandora Radio Station is the Brandon Heath station so I knew I would freak when he took the stage...and I did!  Wow!  What a performer!  Here is one of my favorites!  I love the message in Give Me Your Eyes.

http://youtu.be/P5AkNqLuVgY  Give Me Your Eyes

As we sang along with I’m Not Who I Was, I was struck at how God has cradled me in His arms through all the trials in my life.  After every obstacle I emerge better and stronger and more refined.  Wow!  He also sang Your Love and I cried.  I found new respect for the song Jesus in Disguise as I sang along to the words posted on the jumbo screen with 20, 000 other people!

Mandisa:    Then Mandisa hit the stage!  WOW! Mandisa has continued to inspire me through the years.  Her song Stronger became my anthem while recovering from my tailbone injury and then she was there again at the height of my anxiety and depression with her new song, Overcomer.  Her songs have been literal answers to my prayers throughout the years!  She was a power house!

http://youtu.be/b8VoUYtx0kw Overcomer 

I cried my eyes out singing along with her to Stronger and it was all I could do to not do the Zumba choreography to her song Good Morning, also featured in my novel Dancing Out Loud!

Matthew West:  For me, Matthew West stole the show!  I was impressed with him as a musician but he also took the time to talk about how he gets the ideas to write his songs for this last album.  He asked his fans to write to him and was blown away by the thousands of letters he received.  He told the story of Jordan which began in a letter, Hello my name is...  By the end of the letter he states, "Hello my name is child of the one true king!"  I have chills just thinking about the lyrics to this song.

http://youtu.be/ZuJWQzjfU3o  Hello My Name Is

I am always moved by the lyrics in Matthew West songs.  Erica was especially moved by the performance of Forgiveness.  As we listened to him sing, we were both struck with the fact that when you forgive someone the person you really free is yourself!  I also loved Strong Enough, Do Something, and The Motions.  You will have to google those on your own someday...I promise you will not be disappointed by Matthew West!

I would have been happy if we had gone home right then...it was that awesome!  But after a short intermission...it was t-Mac himself with the Diverse City Band.  To say they ROCKED would be an understatement.  Again, through the entire set, positive, motivating, encouraging, and uplifting words were shared.  It was like nothing I have ever experienced at a concert!

 

Toby Mac:  Toby decided to call up a few of his close friends and put a tour together.  Imagine how happy he was when they all said yes, thus giving us The Hits Deep Tour!  One of the songs he started with was Steal My Show talking about how we need to move out of our own selves way and let God have the true spotlight.  Toby Mac was another powerhouse performer and everytime the crowd would start getting a little raucous, he would pull us back to the reason we were there...to bring praise to God!  Wow! There are so many songs I could have chosen to play for you here such as Boomin, City on Our Knees, Hold On, Get Back Up Again, and my personal favorite Me Without You....but to end where I started, I thought I would share the sentiment I proudly wear on my concert shirt souvenir...Speak Life!

http://youtu.be/ZeBv9r92VQ0#aid=P-YcR7ApZ1I Speak Life

This man can sing, dance, and has the gift to inspire!  He ended the show with Me Without You reminding us to always put God first and bring praise to him!  I am pretty sure this will be the highlight of my 2014!  Thank you Erica for being a Jesus Freak with me.  We enjoyed three non-stop hours of ear blasting, soul soothing, body moving, uplifting music of praise and worship! 

And thank you for letting me introduce you to the music that moves me closer to my Savior!  I wish everyone could feel the Spirit in that concert venue as we all did that night.  Music is so powerful so be careful what music you choose.  "As for me and my house...", well you know the rest!