Third Day
Jars of Clay
December 8, 2007
Grace Church, Eden Prairie, MN

Though the weather outside was frightful (and frigid), inside Grace Church last night was so delightful.

Bundled up teens, college students, couples and parents quickly shuffled into the 4,200-seat Eden Prairie worship center Saturday night, dropping off sacks of canned goods and then filing into the auditorium to see Third Day and Jars of Clay’s “Christmas Offering” Tour.

The sold-out out show kicked off with Jars of Clay, the Tennessean alt-rock band known for their spiritual themes set to mainstream rock.

JOC played a mix of traditional Christmas carols and originals, all all from their very first full-length Christmas project, Christmas Songs, which came out on Nettwerk Records this year.

Wearing scarves amidst a garland-bedecked stage, lead singer Dan Haseltine and bandmates needed no extra frills to help share the Christmas message — especially with the four inches of snow outside.

“We started the tour in Georgia, and after every song, I found myself saying, ‘Use your imagination,’” said Haseltine during one of a handful of humorous band narratives. “But you guys [in Minnesota] have the real thing.”

Favorite tracks included “Winter Skin,” featuring Dan Haseltine at the piano, accompanied only by accordion and vibraphone — a song which reflects on the serene silence when one walks around outside after a fresh snowfall.

Another favorite was “Drummer Boy.” Yes, the same song you performed at your 3rd Grade recital 20 years ago, but this time with a Kid-A twist, complete with samples, bells and dissonance all around. It was not your Grandma’s little drummer boy.

I’d heard lots about JOC over the past 10 years but honestly, haven’t really given them a chance. And while the new Christmas album is great and all, seeing the band live totally sold me on how incredible this band really is — especially with the minor key signatures, odd tempos and penchant for performance far beyond what the unindoctrinated would expect.

Third Day had the headlining spot and although they have a huge rotation of Christmas classics on KTIS, they played plenty of hits, including “King of Glory,” “Your Love Oh Lord,” “Show Me Your Glory”). While JOC preferred to “perform” their arrangements to a seated crowd, Third Day projected words on a screen and encouraged the crowd to stand up and sing right along.

Singer Mac Powell looks like devilishly handsome actor Peter Krause (Six Feet Under, Truman Show) but has a voice like a grizzled, 70 year-old Nashville star…huge, bearish and yet emotive.

After seeing Third Day perform song after song I’ve heard in church and on the radio for years, now I understand why they’re such a big deal. I do wish I’d heard more from Christmas Offerings and plan to pick up a copy before the holidays are upon us.

Overall, a powerful, spirit-filled holiday show that actually has me pining for a white Christmas around the tree with my family…a bit of a Christmas miracle itself.

Remaining “Christmas Offerings” Tour Dates:

• December 9th Brookfield, WI
• December 13th San Antonio, TX
• December 14th Woodlands, TX
• December 15th Broken Arrow, OK
• December 16th Southhaven, MS
• December 27th, Macon, GA

More full-size photos here.