Take Me To Your Leader, which released in February.

But allow me to digress...the day started innocently enough. The alternative stage was set up on a grassy knoll just east of the main stage at Desert Sky Pavilion. Local band Michelangelo & The Difference plowed an energetic mainstream set, Black eyed Sceva and Poor Ol' Lu followed with some 90's grunge, and thrashers MxPx orchestrated some frenzied youth through an efficiently-run mosh pit at the base of the stage. The gathering crowd watched in amusement, gathered for fellowship in the shade nearby or, better yet, quickly drove to Taco Bell for a bargain-priced lunch (obscene price-gouging is the rule in such venues. We were hungry...we briefly escaped).

My friend, Doug, and I, returned and, like true concert-goers, waited for the main stage seating to open instead of going back to the alternative stage (we wanted decent seats, you know). The powers that be let us in about ten minutes before Bryan Duncan and his band began. The loony Duncan was actually a perfect opener for the main stage with his witty quips ("I'd like to dedicate this next song to someone very special - me!") and catchy pop that was familiar to most. Never one to maintain the status quo, Duncan also performed two songs "written by heathens, and sung by heathens. But I like them, so I'm going to sing them anyway." The zippy "I'm On The Heels Of A Good Thing," and James Brown's "I Feel Good" had the joint jumping. As Duncan pointed out, "I was reading my Bible one day and I discovered God will take anybody and that's why I'm here." Duncan left to a standing ovation (per his request).

The seemingly disturbed (see: wacky) Randy Stonehill was next, with songs like "Great Big Stupid World" and "Shut De Do" highlighting his punctuated set. Rising stars Jars Of Clay, emerged, without warning, a few minutes later and launched into "Liquid," "Faith Like A Child," and "Love Song For A Saviour" from their debut project. This is third time I've seen Jars and SpiritFest seemed to bring them out of their shell a bit, as even they got a bit strange with one band member performing an impression of a cappucino machine, while they sang a little ditty about coffee(?). Things got serious again soon when they recounted the parable of a sculptor and how it inspired the popular ballad "Worlds Apart," which, of course, they sang next. To no one's surprise they closed with "Flood," as the enthusiastic crowd came back to their feet for the song that has catapulted Jars into fame.

Most fans (including yours truly) left to grab some dinner, while the speaker, Tom Eggum, came out. We returned just in time for Third Day, another rising band, that performed several songs off their self-titled debut, including "Someday" and "Forever." The band's charismatic lead singer was able to draw in the crowd, as this meaty-sounding rock band proved better than expected.

But it was the band that Third Day has been opening up for, Newsboys, that stole the show. Newsboys, who have been notorious for short sets and tired stage antics the last few times I've seen them, seem to have discovered they can be for real. The band, who admitted to using tracks to enhance their concerts and sequencers and loops to enhance their recordings, have abandoned both practices. As a result, they - and pleasantly enough, we - have found out just how good they really are. The band seems to have broken the annoying habit of repeating songs live and milking several songs into a full-length show. Instead, they played 15 songs in their 85 minute set and still had time for wandering, yet attention-grabbing, instrumental solos. At one point, part-time lead singer/full-time drummer Peter Furler joined percussionist/"emergency" drummer Duncan Phillips as they ripped through a stroke-for-stroke drum duet. And the end of the piece, Phillips, mockingly and spurred on by lead singer John James, yelled for the crowd to leave - he was tired, you see. The now frenzied crowd ate it up.

But those short bits of levity were few, as lead guitarist Jody Davis musically lead the way by giving Newsboys live sound a thick, beefy vibe throughout the set. Bassist Phillip Urry has given the band a new vocal presence (he shared lead vocals with Furler on "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"), not to mention the fact that he has great hair. Besides "Turn Your Eyes," "Let It Go" from Take Me To Your Leader was the only other ballad. Rock ruled the evening with many highlights off the new album, including "Breakfast," "Reality," "Breathe On Me" and "Cup O' Tea." Just to prove the emphasis on rock was for real they closed with "Lights Out," a buried, yet scorching album track from Going Public. Wrapped amidst the inspired playing, even "I'm Not Ashamed" didn't sound tired anymore. Just to be sure proper emphasis was never lost in the mix, James constantly reminded the crowd what all this was for: to glorify the Lord with a loud voice, and it is the 20th-century, so amplifiers helped, too.

The Newsboys are set to return to Tucson in the fall. When the date goes public make your plans. You won't regret it.

Dan Forsyth

From Goodnews Magazine, '96