Normally, when I go to a rock concert, most of the people in the audience have their hands in the air, making the “sign of the devil” with their pinky and pointer fingers extended, rocking out to the music. They’re not holding their hands out in prayer. Usually when I see women in the audience reach toward the stage, she’s trying to grab the lead singer and rip his clothes off, not reaching toward heaven as a sign of worship. And, most times, when I see people embracing in the audience, it’s because they’re on drugs or leaning on someone because they’re drunk, not because they’re loving on their neighbor as Jesus would want it.
But last night I saw all that and more, as I had my first experience at a Christian rock concert–Third Day and the David Crowder Band live at the Nokia Theater in Times Square, New York. I knew it would be much different than any show I’d experienced before, but I don’t think I was prepared for exactly how different it would be.
Because New York isn’t exactly known for its Christian rock scene, I expected plenty of empty seats. I was wrong: The place was packed and, unlike the more mainstream shows I’ve been to, people weren’t pushing, shoving, and spilling beer all over the place. People were actually polite. I figured they must all be from rural parts of Jersey or something, and not real New Yorkers; they couldn’t be! (Later in the night, a show of hands proved me wrong—most people seemed to live in the New York City area).
The David Crowder band, who walked away earlier this month with three Doves at the Gospel Music Awards–including best Rock/Contemporary album for “Collision,” best Rock/ Contemporary Recorded Song for “Here is Our King,” and for their work on the best Special Event Album, “Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia”–opened the show. The wild-haired, Jesus-bearded Crowder had a wonderful rapport with the audience and put on a great performance. The crowd, especially the younger people, sang loudly and jumped around like it was a mosh pit at a House of Pain concert—except they all linked arms like old friends and no one seemed to get hurt or stepped on.
Before launching into his “rock opera,” “You Are My Joy,” Crowder said we were going to “have a little church here in the middle of the Nokia Theater.” Up until that point, the concert didn’t seem so religious–like in many concerts, much of the lyrics were drowned out by overpowering percussion and guitars–but now we were going full throttle into worship.
Right after Crowder’s set, Tai Anderson, bass player for Third Day, came on stage to talk to the crowd about the documentary, “Invisible Children,” which tells the story of children in Uganda who are kidnapped and forced to fight for rebel armies. “Standing up for justice is our role in the body of Christ,” he said, encouraging the audience to get involved with the cause.
A short while later, Third Day approached the stage to wild applause. Playing a variety of hits, such as “Cry Out to Jesus”–for which they won a Dove award for best Pop Contemporary Song of the Year–”Rock Star,” and oldies like “Consuming Fire,” the audience reveled in the mix of worship, rock, and country. One of the best moments of the night was when Third Day’s lead singer, Mac Powell, invited the David Crowder Band back on stage to sing a cover of Hank Williams Sr.’s, ” I Saw the Light.”
At the end of the night, right before he led the audience in a prayer, Mac Powell, lead singer of the group, made an interesting point when he said, “Down south, being a Christian is a cultural thing. But here in New York City, if you’re a Christian it’s for real; it’s not a cultural thing.” I wasn’t sure if he said that because of the idea that New York City is a cesspool of sin, or because it’s a place where people aren’t very open with their faith. Either way, it made me think.
Throughout the show, I felt more uplifted than I do that one time a year I go to church. There was a genuine goodness in the air, which showed itself to me in a way that my traditional Catholic church does not. Although I’ve always been a music person and a God and Jesus person, I’ve never been much of a church person. But if I could find a place where I could, as Third Day lead singer Mac Powell says, “live my faith through music,” I think I’d have a better shot of going to church more regularly.
But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop listening to Metallica.
posted April 11, 2006 at 3:34 pm
Go to a Newsboys Concert. They are an awesome Christian band. You will be blessed. Third Day is my personal favorite but there are lots of good ones. Go to a Christian Music store and check out the cd’s!! God bless you.>
posted April 11, 2006 at 5:27 pm
AS someone who’s lived all her life in NYC I am outraged that you have the nerve to sterotype New Yorkers in this piece as if we are all sinners or unappreciative of Chritian music. Shame on you! You don’t have to be from “rural New Jersey” to be a Christian — tthere are many fine worshiping people that live in my great city. In fact, Brooklyn a borough of NYC is known as the “borough of Churches”! I hope you learned a good lesson as to not prejudge any people,just as our Lord did not. Prejudice in any form is anti-Christian. “Love one another as I have loved you”>
posted April 11, 2006 at 6:18 pm
It’s easy to judge others but not easy to be judged by others. We all tend to judge others.We do it without realizing it. I am from the south–Mississippi. Christianity is not a cultural thing.South,North East West are equal.Different in many ways but we are equal–God’s children.We all live differently.>
posted April 11, 2006 at 6:43 pm
Writer response: I have lived in Brookyn my entire life. I love this city and I never implied that all New Yorkers were sinners and that there were no Christians here. I know that’s not the case. I said I was shocked by how nice everyone was at the concert and explained throughout the piece how my experience there differed from any other mainstream concert I had ever been to. As for NYC being unappreciative of Christian music–I never said New Yorkers weren’t appreciative–I said that New York isn’t known for its Christian music scene. When I think New York, I think of rock and hip-hop, rap, jazz, blues, and dance music. I don’t think Christian rock and I don’t think country. It’s not very often that big-name Christian artists decide to play here–just do a Ticketmaster search. Obviously some New Yorkers are appreciative of Christian music or else the concert I attended wouldn’t have been sold out. I also didn’t say you have to be from rural New Jersey to be a Christian–I said New Yorkers, as a collective, aren’t exactly known for being polite and that my guess was most of the really nice people were from outside of the city. If you still think I’m stereotyping, I invite you to take my train in the morning.>
posted April 11, 2006 at 7:09 pm
I don’t want to argue but this is a direct quote from your blog: “People were actually polite. I figured they must all be from rural parts of Jersey or something, and not real New Yorkers; they couldn’t be!” That sounds very prejudical to me and that is why I took offense. My experience is that if you treat people with kindness you will get the same in return. I have not had many experiences with rude or impolite people, to the contrary most New Yorkers are helpful and nice. Yes, I don’t attend hard rock concerts where you might encounter the people you write about –but I’m sure that happens EVERYWHERE not just in NYC. And, yes, I ride the train to Manhattan every day from Brooklyn, too, and I love the multicultural, multi lingual, and multi religious population that live and work and worship in New York. It gives me hope for the world that one day we can all live in peace and be respectful of each other and accepting that while we are all different, we are all the same, in the eyes of our Lord. Perhaps Christian rock acts do not come to NYC because, like you, they sterotype our city. Time for that to change don’t you think? Thanks!>
posted January 17, 2007 at 12:36 am
Brother, You’re going to have to give up metallica. you can’t have it both ways. Sometimes our catholic faith seems dead because we’re walking the fence. Dive into praise music, christian music, scripture, and the Church and you’re faith will come alive!>
posted February 22, 2007 at 6:47 pm
I disagree. I am a very active Catholic who loves both Third Day and Metallica. As long as you are aware of what messages you are taking to heart from the music, I think it is perfectly acceptable to enjoy some good old 80′s metal. To the writer… I’m disappointed for you that you haven’t found a Catholic community where you can live your faith and enjoy the music at the same time. One of my favorite things about the Catholic church is the diversity… keep seeking (hint: look for a LIFE TEEN parish). They ARE out there. I loved your article. I had a similar experience at the first Third Day show I attended. Prayers will be with you.>