Third Day hits no bumps, takes no lumps on a 12-year-long road


Is there anything Mac Powell of Third Day hasn't been asked?
The 31-year-old Atlantan has even been asked that question.

The Christian rock band attributes its success — and all the interviews that come with it — to "finding the balance of learning our business more and how things work and learning our craft, and yet at the same time not losing focus of our fans."

The band will return to Columbia tonight with tobyMac, formerly of dctalk, and local band Overflow, which is replacing Hyperstatic Union while one a band member attends a wedding.
How successful is Third Day? Besides helping other artists such as Overflow and Hyperstatic Union, the band has released seven albums, including its latest, "Wire."

All of Third Day's records have gone gold, and its 2000 album, "Offerings," went platinum. The band has received an astonishing 21 Dove Awards and a Grammy.

Perhaps most impressive, Third Day has received accolades from such magazines as Billboard — not just for being one of the best Christian rock bands but one of the best rock bands, period.

The band's unity is a factor in its success. They have played together for 12 years, and Powell doesn't recall any big rifts, nor does he foresee one.

"We've been through so much," said Powell, the band's lead singer. "It's very rare that bands are together for this long with the same people."

The widespread appeal is in the band's solid musical production and meaningful lyrics. Consider the words of the title track from "Wire": "Turn on the spotlight, strike up the band/Everyone's looking my way/They came to see the excitement firsthand/And hear all that I've got to say/Oh, it makes me wonder/What if I slip, will they catch me?"

Fans aren't the only ones watching Third Day — so are the critics.

For about two years, Chevrolet has sponsored the band. Some say picking up a sponsor makes both the band and the car company's motives questionable, but Powell's reasoning is simple: Chevy pays the bills so the fans don't have to in higher ticket prices.

The band's popularity and media attention even have revealed some intimate secrets — including Powell's love for Reese's Puffs cereal and Batman, a superhero who worked hard to get where he was without the help of superpowers.

What could be more impressive than critical success, a loyal fan base and huge record sales? How about the fact that Powell and his bandmates have sustained all of this and still have time for large families.

"We're all married, and we have 12 Third Day children. And one on the way," said Powell, who has been with his wife, Aimee, for about eight years.

"It's a lot of kids. We got our own little football team."

Powell gets to visit Aimee and their three children, ages 1, 2 and 5, when the tour makes nearby stops. Last night, they planned to get together for Thanksgiving and got on the road sometime this morning. All of his children have been born around the end of June or early July, prompting a request from his wife, his high school sweetheart, to stay away from her during the month of October.

Family, fun on the road, and the friendship of bandmates. What could make Powell's life any sweeter?