In their return to the Spirit West Coast stage, Jars of Clay took the main stage as the evening’s first performance. They opened with their hit single “Work,” and it wasn’t long before the entire audience was on their feet. Strong messages dominated “Love is the Protest” which urges the spread of messages of love and peace. Lead vocalist Dan Haseltine energetically paced the length of the stage, inciting the crowd to participate during “Lift up Your Hands.” In response, the crowd lifted their hands and their voices when Haseltine encouraged them to sing the chorus.
Seventh Day Slumber also performed at 6:00 that evening. Despite the huge crowd at the main stage, SDS attracted a large following of diehard fans as well as newcomers to the Air1 stage. Lead singer Joseph Rojas was openly emotional throughout the set as he testified to his troubled past and redemption through faith. The band continued its emotional tone in “Saturdays,” a song about dealing with loss. Rojas had the crowd enthralled as he told the story of a record executive who wanted the band to drop its Christian message for things he thought mattered. In response, Rojas wrote the admittedly angry “Break Me,” to illustrate that promotion comes only from God, not from earthly success that the record label might provide. As the band began its hit song, “Oceans from the Rain,” the crowd immediately displayed their enthusiasm, cheering and singing along, even as the song wove between Spanish and English.
At the end of their show, Rojas did something a little unusual for a concert. Emphasizing that Seventh Day Slumber’s performances are not just another concert, Rojas invited those members of the crowd struggling with destructive behaviors and thoughts to come to the stage and pray. He continued to call forth the broken, reminding them that they would not be judged here. Rojas recalled his own struggles, including an attempt at suicide, and ensured listeners knew that God had something better in mind for them. By the show’s end, over 100 individuals were kneeling at the stage, praying to God, and rededicating their lives to Christ, as counselors offered help to anyone who wanted it.
The much anticipated tobyMac took the main stage at 9:00, as the crowd chanted his name. He made a remarkable entrance; vocalist Nirva "Nirvassence" Dorsaint-Ready opened for him on a darkened stage, while tobyMac emerged from the darkness. The drums and bass pumped out intense dance beats while the dancers’ funky choreography accompanied the artist’s rapping and singing. During “Catchafire (Whoopsi-Daisy),” the audience continued to be enthralled with the group’s catchy dance moves.
The group is known for its urban, hip-hop sound. The dancers appeared to have a lot of fun with “Boomin’/Opera Trip,” jumping and bouncing off one another passionately. After a short break, Toby and his crew returned to the stage playing an ensemble of brass instruments for “No Ordinary Love” – one of the highlights of the night.
As usual, tobyMac put on a fantastic show Friday night. After the show was over, the crowd dispersed, heading to the late night comedy shows or back to their campsites to rest for the full Saturday ahead.
