This was the second time I had seen the guys at Night of Joy, the other being two years earlier, and I must say it was very cool. DC Talk's musical style may have changed but their energy and flat out great performance had not. Keeping the crowd up with three covers of other pop icons (Beatles, REM, and Nirvana) along with their new material and a short unplugged set, their was something for everyone.

The lights began off and the set was dark. From the darkness the voices of Kevin and Toby were heard as a few monotone lyrics of "So Help Me God" came from the mic. The players than took there positions and the crowd was greeted with a bright white light and "Help" a Beatles Classic. Kevin, stage left looked at home with his euro style hair and tambourine by his side. Toby, resembling the lead singer of Alice and Chains, dawned shades and a bright red jersey of some kind. Same white t-shirt and jeans for Mike Tait and dc talk had arrived. The supporting musicians looked like different ones that played on the album and on the Free At Last Tour, but were equally effective. The crowd, unfazed by the Disney Boycott by many Baptist and Episcopal churches, had some in numbers to see DC Talk, the most popular Christian pop/rock band around. And they would not be disappointed.

Most of the new album was played along with two favorites off their last effort. "Luv is a Verb" and "Jesus is Just Alright". At many times during the show fans would begin chanting Jesus freak, but this would be put away for last. As the set neared closer the lights were turned off once again. Then the voice of Toby was heard and the words " We ain't nothin but a bunch of Jesus Freaks!" and with the lead of a ruff guitar the boys began the song that pretty much sums up what they are all about. Not ashamed and proud of it. They also broke out into the chorus of "All Apologies" but altering the words to "Everyone is Gay" to "Jesus is the Way"......all in all a great show and a very energetic dc talk performance.

In the end Toby addressed the crowd about Jesus and why dc talk do what they do. He emphasized that just because they perform on a platform does not mean they are better than anyone else. He left the crowd with this: "If you seek Christ, he will find you".