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Jody, Duncan, Peter, Jeff & Phil of Newsboys |
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Albums: Read All About It (1988), hell is for wimps (1990), Boyz Will Be Boyz (1991), Not Ashamed (1992), going public (1994), Take Me to Your Leader (1996), Step up to the Microphone (1998), Love Liberty Disco (1999), Shine: The Hits (2000) Other Projects: Newsboys Live: One Night in Pennsylvania--Video (1998), Shine: The Hits Live--DVD (2000), The Best of the Newsboys Folio
CCM MAGAZINE: What were the biggest challenges on the tour? Peter Furler: The structure needed constant repairs, and we didn’t sound check once on the tour because the set-up came right down to the wire… We had to deal with fire codes in some cities, which didn’t allow us to use the dome… Chicago was the only complete venue change after tickets went on sale. CCM MAGAZINE: Did
playing in a neutral venue site, like a mall parking lot, open up the
chance to introduce more non-Christians to your
music? Furler: It
was almost like Christians didn’t know and didn’t bring enough
unsaved people. When I gave a message at the end of the night and asked
who knew the Lord, every hand would go up, and they’d cheer. We made
the most difference during the day when we would walk through the mall
and give out tickets to those who may not have heard of us and maybe
didn’t even know the Lord. CCM MAGAZINE: Would you do this again? Furler: When we first got off the tour, I don’t think any of us ever wanted to step in the dome again. Now that we have had time away, we agree that we would never do things the same way again. We would plan even further ahead and not have the same type of building. It would be a bigger structure. CCM MAGAZINE: What did you take away from the experience? Furler: We learned how to work together and to build up one another when the days were tough. We learned that our fans wanted us to succeed with the tour and were there to support us. We made it happen for them and did something for the first time in music industry history.
‘Festival con Dios’ ALLTEL Pavilion Raleigh, North Carolina Just when you think you’ve encountered every kind of concert, along comes a production that shatters the paradigm. That’s certainly the case with the first-ever traveling Christian music extravaganza "Festival con Dios," a tour continuing this fall. Those who turned out for the show’s Raleigh stop experienced an impressive, carnival-style venue surrounding a self-contained amphitheater. The daylong event showcased three big-name acts—Newsboys (masterminds of the event), Audio Adrenaline and The Supertones—plus numerous up-and-coming performers. While the headliners are considered tours de force in their own right, the newer bands played more than a supporting role. Despite limited 20-minute performance slots, several of these red-hot groups broke though relative obscurity and into the limelight. The festival’s newcomer bands seemed to have one mission in mind: Get the crowd stoked. No problem for effervescent redhead Adrienne Liesching, who confidently led South African quintet The Benjamin Gate. Belting out vocals like a hyper-speed Cyndi Lauper, she got virtually everyone jumping, especially on "Lay It Down" and "Rush." Another female-fronted outfit, Superchick, kept things moving with its infectious pop-punk, hip-hop tunes. With unique, lively cuts "Barlow Girls" and "Big Star Machine," Superchick registered positively with teens in the crowd. Dove Award-winning ensemble Pillar wasted no time hooking the crowd, churning out thumping bass lines amidst ambitious rock/rap/funk melodies. Heads bobbed steadily while these guys forged through their powerful set, including "Original Superman" and "Open Your Eyes." Eclectic band Earthsuit arrived with its hybrid fusion of funk, jazz, reggae, rock, rap and hip-hop. (Beware of sensory overload!) During "One Time," The Benjamin Gate’s Liesching appeared onstage, contorting and twisting like she was being attacked by a swarm of killer bees. Some suggested she was dancing, but whatever the case, make no mistake: Earthsuit was all the buzz. Eliciting more energy than the nearby utility company, industrial pop outfit Skillet sizzled. Standout tracks "Invincible" and "Best Kept Secret" were well received, but most compelling was the band’s beautiful rendition of "Shout to the Lord." In one of the day’s most moving moments, a sea of outstretched arms swayed in unison as vocalist John Cooper led a peaceful interval of praise & worship music. Surprisingly, the crowd seemed disinterested in power-pop trio Cadet and Beatlesque foursome The Elms. Cadet did manage to score smiles with its T-shirts, emblazoned "Guitar," "Bass" and "Drums." But not even members of Superchick zigzagging on scooters across the stage or Cadet’s playing of catchy number "God-Man" elicited a pulse from the audience. The Elms also struggled to connect with the crowd, although some fans sang along faintly on upbeat tunes "Rosa" and "Hey, Hey."
As anticipated, Audio Adrenaline delivered a rock-solid set, and, yes, crowd-pleaser "Big House" wafted from the loudspeakers for the billionth time. Unexpected were the eye-popping cryogenics spewing liquid carbon dioxide like smokestacks at a paper mill. Also a pleasant surprise was rapper T-Bone joining AA onstage, rattling off his machine-gun-fast track, "Ride Wit Me." Arguably the best live show in Christian music, Newsboys played an unforgettable hour-long set. Bread-and-butter tunes "Shine" and "Entertaining Angels" pierced the night in high-decibel fashion, blowing away all within earshot. Featuring a plethora of high-octane extreme sports and over the top theatrics, "Festival con Dios" was far more than a concert. Fittingly, the grounds were festooned with an inflatable archway entrance and dozens of open-air tents. In addition to providing temporary refuge from the heat, tents accommodated food vendors, merchandisers and various ministry-oriented sponsors. Moreover, a mechanical bull and climbing wall delighted enthusiasts willing to spend extra dinero. Even danger lurked as a motorcycle ramp, located far stage right, offered a fascinating diversion as daredevil Kyle Dangler executed jaw-dropping stunts throughout the day—even during the music. While the supporting band lineup will change slightly for the event’s fall leg, one thing is sure to remain constant: "Festival con Dios" is definitely like nothing you’ve ever seen.
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Type:
Rock
Becoming the first band in rock
’n’ roll history to take its venue on the road may have sounded
glamorous when Newsboys unveiled its spring 2000 "Circus Con Dios"
tour. But what was it really like? CCM MAGAZINE recently caught up with
frontman Peter Furler to get his take on the tour’s highs and lows.
The
Supertones [reviewed June 2001], Audio Adrenaline and Newsboys offered a
stellar blend of music, treating fans to old and new favorites alike.