The First Freakshow
February 22, 1996
1996 © Jessica Folkins

      I was fortunate enough to attend the opening concert of the Jesus Freak tour on February 22, 1996 at the Bren Events Center on the UC Irvine campus. I got an up-close view of almost everything since my seats were on the front row of the first section to the right of the stage. Having been a DC Talk fan from the very beginning, I was surprised, pleasantly though, to see a mosh pit set up. It was heavily guarded by three security people, and blocked off by these huge metal supports. We were wondering how to gain entranceto it when they announced that ticketholders of floor seats who were 18 years or older could sign a waiver and get a wristband to 'mosh' the night away. The participants did not go crazy or anything, but they did provide a great cushion for Toby and Kevin to jump onto. The stage and the lighting were both very impressive. The set was a simple yet elegant, long, white material draped down for the backdrop. The musicians were up on risers which were covered in a rich red velvet material. The white backdrop was perfect for displaying the video images being flashed throughout the whole show. It was just the right amount of decoration, without taking away from the music.

      The band opened by humbly walking on stage in the dim light and harmonizing an exciting rendition of 'Help,' originally recorded by the Beatles. They went from that straight into 'So Help Me God.' Toby, Mike, and Kevin, of course, all sounded spectacular-their new style translated just as well onstage as it did in the studio. Even the older songs which came next, 'Luv is a Verb' and 'Jesus is Still Alright,' had improved since the last tour (and I didn't think that was possible). They took a short break as Mike talked to the audience and then moved right into 'Colored People' and 'Just Between You and Me.' Next, they got the beat moving again with 'Like It, Love It, Need It.' I think they are still using the same musicians from the last tour, I recognized the bass player, but I have to say that they are awesome. The drummer and the guitarist especially got a chance to really rock out. Next, some stagehands brought out a couple of nightstands, lamps, and big cushy chairs for the acoustic set. Here the guys talked and joked around with the audience. First they sang 'What If I Stumble' (which was very heart-wrenching live) and then 'I Wish We'd All Been Ready' (which was definitely not getting old). Then, Toby brought out the Bible and read I John 1:5-7. He had to ask a couple of girls to stop screaming, he said, 'Hey, even if you're not going to respect us, you have to respect this [Bible].' They were quiet. They ended the acoustic set with 'In the Light,' which was even better live than on the album. Back to the full stage, they used a medium song 'What Have We Become' to get back into the upbeat stuff. From this, they drifted into 'This is the End of the World' (R.E.M.) which highlighted the meaning behind 'What Have We Become.' 'Day by Day' came next, the most kicking gospel song you'll ever hear. Then they left the stage.

      The encore consisted of 'In My Mind's Eye,' 'The Hard Way' (revamped version), and, last and best, 'Jesus Freak.' They go completely crazy for this song. At the Irvine concert, Kevin fell off the stage (but he turned it into a jump) and Toby climbed as high as he could on the speakers and jumped into the mosh pit. They round out the song with their own version of Nirvana's 'All Apologies,' which sounds better by people who can actually sing. The band left the stage but Toby stayed in order to talk about the real reason they sing, for Christ.

      Dc Talk has come a long way, and this concert really illustrates their improvement as artists, performers, vocalists, and their successful crossover into mainstream music. The concert was more than worth my thirty bucks. If you like DC Talk's new album at all, you should see them in concert. Only live can they be fully appreciated.