Rockers
come across loud, clear
Big-sounding dc Talk cranks it out with fervor and finesse at
Reunion
02/07/99
By Matt Weitz / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News
dc Talk is, in the minds of many, the band that finally proved to
a doubting world that Christian music was more than just a bland
derivation, more than just nasty ol' rock 'n' roll with the
naughty bits cut out. Saturday night at Reunion Arena, the group
proved that it was more than capable of living up to its
reputation.
Built around the vocal threesome of Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max and
Michael Tait, the band has changed from a percussive,
rap-inflected rock group to a big-throated arena monster. All the
crowd-pleasers were there: the big light rig, smoke machines, the
constantly changing background and the long runway out into the
audience.
Likewise the music: Although all three men can croon sweetly,
they also all share the knowledge that nothing gets 'em on their
feet quite as quickly as a soaring, back-arching vocal essay a la
Robert Plant or Freddie Mercury, which is the common coin of
their new album, the recently released Supernatural.
Supernatural received quite a bit of coverage: the lost-in-you
anthem and first single, "Consume Me," which was
followed by the much-discussed "My Friend (So Long)."
"This is a song about nobody," Mr. McKeehan said,
addressing the speculation that's been raging around who the tune
- which is a kiss-off to an old friend tthat has lost his way and
sold out to fame - might have been written about. "It's
about Mike Tyson," Mr. Max added. So much for consensus.
"Since I Met You" was a fast-rock rave-up in a new-wave
mold that showed Mr. Max's voice off to good effect.
Mr. Tait got his chance to shine on "Godsend," a number
that highlighted the band's particular genius for mixing message
and medium. Although they took time to preach and talk faith in
between songs - no one was going to be able to question their
devotion or sincerity - they also addressed more day-to-day
concerns, as Mr. Tait did when introducing the gentle, romantic
song.
"Who's got a girlfriend?" he asked before starting to
sing. "There's nothing wrong with having a girlfriend."
Such attention to more secular concerns kept the band out of the
big trap that lies at the center of music that centers on
religious conviction - that you end up singing at someone rather
than to them.
They ventured out onto the island at the end of the runway for an
unplugged - or at least milder, more acoustic - series of songs
that further cemented the bond between band and fan. They also
dropped a number of pop music signifiers throughout their show,
from a snippet of "Give Peace a Chance" to a medley of
'70s soul hits by the likes of Kool & the Gang, Chic and the
Isley Brothers.
By the time the evening was over, dc Talk had done a seamless and
sublime job of mixing old favorites, new tunes, religion and rock
- more than living up to their groundbreeaking reputation.
Matt Weitz is a Dallas free-lance writer. supernatural tour