It is present from the very moment you press the play button until the very end of the show that Toby Mac’s “Alive and Transported” concert is full of energy. Toby Mac has captured the enthusiasm of his fans and the excitement of his shows onto a dual disc CD/DVD called “Alive and Transported,” released on May 27, 2008.

This dynamic concert takes place in Houston, TX and the fans show to be just as dedicated to the band as the band is to the music. Screaming fans welcome you to the concert and slowly die down as the haunting voice of Nirva begins the concert. Nirva is one of the many members of Toby Mac’s backup band, DiverseCity. The concert consists of various songs from Toby Mac’s previous albums. While the songs are mostly hip-hop, some funk can be found, a bit of rock, and a taste of Jamaican music are included. There is even a song that might be able to pass as a pop-punk song, favoring the pop side, called “Gone.” On his song “Irene,” Toby Mac puts a twist on the children’s song “Lullaby” with a touch of Latin music added. My personal favorite is the harmonious praise song, “I’m For You.” Included in their eclectic song selection, DC talk fans will be delighted to hear the former member’s spin on some of the more nostalgic DC talk songs such as “Jesus Freak” and “In the Light.” The live CD is a great introduction to Toby Mac’s music for new listeners. Devoted fans will enjoy seeing Toby Mac’s performance on the live DVD.

Although nothing is as exciting as being at the actually show, in my personally opinion, live CDs are a close second. There is a certain invisible bond you feel when surrounded by fellow fans. Everyone else’s energy is infectious and it makes you appreciate the music even more. Live albums compared to studio albums provide a little more intimate setting between fan and musician because artists tend to speak to the fans while they are in concert. This live CD/DVD is no exception as Toby Mac gives his audience some words of wisdom. Although, at times his lyrics can be a bit campy, his melodies and music style will attract a ride range of listeners. The music is catchy, the lyrics lack somewhat creativity, but all in all, the CD deserves a listen. It maybe not be a hook, line and sinker album, but it is a fun album to bob your head to.

The energy from the live album is translated on to screen with the DVD. It is doubtful that a fan will pay too much attention to the performance of a concert, but first time watchers might be confused as to what kind of concert they are watching. At times they are just free flowing to the music and jumping around. In some songs, however, they add some choreography moves and then dive back into random motion. For the slower songs they tend to be a little too theatrical and then they proceed to follow it with a crazy and hectic performance and song. Though the music and performances vary, the one thing that stays constant is the bands’ love for God as they clearly profess through their songs and messages.

The only thing that distinguishes the DVD from the CD is the hour long bonus features. The bonus feature proves to be dramatically mellower when compared to the high voltage performance seen in the concert. It includes a less than energetic interview by tobyMac, and some background history on each of the members of DiverseCity. While interesting if you are a die hard fan, it can get tiring going through each of the eight members’ story on how they came to be DiverseCity. I patiently waited to see some band interaction that takes us behind the scenes and into the lives of these performers. There were snippets of the band’s downtime, but they lacked sound and appeared sporadically throughout the interviews. It wasn’t until the end where they showed actual interactions, sound and all, but even then they were displayed in small visual frames. This is great for fans who want to soak in all the knowledge they can get their hands on about the band. As someone who has a tendency to obsess over certain bands, I know fans will appreciate anything the band has to offer, but for those just tuning in or looking for something more casual, the CD alone is enough to satisfy your musical curiosity.