THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 28, 1996 TAG: 9606280047
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 70 lines
DC TALK IS riding the wave of a phenomenon.
Along with Jars of Clay and the Newsboys, the modern rock/hip-hop trio ranks high among a growing number of Christian groups that are crossing into the pop and alt-rock mainstream, reaching fans outside the circle of true believers.
Consider the following:
DC Talk, which performs Saturday at the Little Creek Amphibious Base in Norfolk, has sold more than 700,000 copies of its newest recording, ``Jesus Freak,'' and has a video on MTV.
The trio has been written up in People, Billboard, the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.
They've presented their mix of soulful harmonies, nasty rock guitars and urban rhythms to national audiences on ``The Tonight Show,''
``Entertainment Tonight'' and ``Good Morning America.''
And that's just how the band wants it.
``It's never been our goal to simply entertain fellow true believers,'' said singer/songwriter Toby McKeehan. ``With our music and songs we like to shake things up, make people think about where they stand in this world. And it seems that people all over are opening up to us.
``If people are attracted to our art, through our grooves and songs, that's fine. Hopefully they'll also be affected by our lyrics.''
DC Talk - McKeehan, 31, Michael Tait, 30, and Kevin Max Smith, 28 - has been together since 1989. McKeehan said they met when they were students at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
``We were all in different bands,'' he said. ``When we got together, we tried to merge our own three styles into a unique sound. I was into urban hip-hop, Kevin was into British rock bands and Michael, our true vocalist, loves singers from Nat King Cole to Eddie Vedder. He's just into anyone who can deliver a passionate vocal.
``But all three of us enjoy a good groove and we're all into bringing meaner, more distorted guitars into our sound.''
They took the name DC Talk because McKeehan and Tait hail from the Washington, D.C., area.
Although they have released four albums - ``DC Talk'' (1989), ``Nu Thang'' (1990), ``Free at Last'' (1992) and last year's ``Jesus Freak'' - McKeehan said fans should start with the platinum-selling ``Free at Last.''
``It's all been a learning process for us,'' he said. ``The first two albums were like our learner's permit.''
McKeehan describes their music as ``stylistic schizophrenic pop.'' The band sings about faith, as well as race, justice, personal relationships and even doubt.
``We are united in our faith in God, but we're still just a rock band,'' he said. ``We deal with issues we all have to deal with, but we never want to be considered preachy or holier than thou.
``We're just three guys struggling on a daily basis to profess our faith in God, not to shove it down people's throats.''
Saturday's concert will feature a backing band with two guitars, bass, drums and a Hammond B-3 organ - McKeehan's personal request.
``In concert, we present an earthier type of sound,'' he said. ``We present great pop songs passionately delivered with guts. We always wanted to be out there in the world making a difference with a good song and a good groove.'' MEMO: Who: DC Talk with Christafari
When: 7 p.m., Saturday
Where: Little Creek Amphibious Base Main Stage, Norfolk; gates open
at 5
Tickets: $17.50; order at 671-8100
Information: 363-4311 ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
DC Talk by CNB