‘Go’ time for newsboys

by Joshua Maloni
Niagara Frontier Publications, November 1, 2007

The newsboys

Christian music is, by far, the most difficult genre to understand and critique. In terms of a workable characterization, forget about it. When you have church choirs, Gospel songs, barbershop quartets, the southern rock of DecembeRadio and tobyMac’s hip-hop, it’s a style of music that’s beyond definition.

At the same time, those labeled “Christian” are increasingly shunning the label out of fear they’ll be “pigeonholed.” In reality, they fear they won’t be taken seriously; that they’ll be belittled or ignored. The reason for such anxiety is perception. To the general public at large, Christian artists are often viewed as well meaning, God-fearing musicians trying to copy their mainstream counterparts and coming across as substandard imitators. Their music is thought of as generic; a behind the times sound that fails to resonate with young adults.

Of course, criticizing a singer for failing to sound like Justin Timberlake when that artist’s desire is to honor God is, well, the thought of such disparagement is quite guilt inducing.

To be certain, though, Christian music is facing an uphill battle. Despite successful festivals, a surge in promoters and a growing number of spirit-filled radio and cable television stations, the number of righteous acts cracking the Billboard 200 is few and far between. For whatever reason, and certainly all of the above, most artists fall well below the radar.

But not the newsboys.

Unlike most Christian acts, the Australian foursome realized a long time ago that, to be relevant entertainers, a certain formula was necessary. Their music had to be up to par with mainstream radio; original and passionate. Their stage shows had to shine. And, most importantly, their message had to be presented out of love, and not intimidation.

Led by frontman Peter Furler, drummer Duncan Phillips, keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein and guitarist Paul Colman, the newsboys, over the course of a 20-year period, have served as the prototypical success story in Christian music. Thanks to the band’s ability to sound relevant, look clever and speak tenderly, the band has produced 22 No. 1 songs, appeared on “Good Morning America” and “Entertainment Tonight,” and graced the pages of Newsweek, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly and Rolling Stone.

The newsboys have been one of the strongest impetuses in bringing Christian music to the masses. Even those with no desire to embrace Bible-based, mainstream-quality rock often find themselves hooked, especially in Western New York.

“They’re music lovers,” Phillips says of the typical, skeptical concertgoer. “They’ll come to a show, and they’re kind of sorting you out. They’re probably a little bit more cerebral when it comes to music.

“You might not get them straight out of the gate, but as the show goes on and they realize everyone else is having a great time … I think fans from up north, once they become fans, they’re fans for life.”

Earlier this year, the newsboys embarked upon The Go Tour in support of “Go,” the band’s first pop record in four years. The album cracked the Billboard 200, entering at No. 51 (It also rose to No. 4 on the Christian music chart). Paired on stage with cuts from the group’s six gold albums, the Grammy-nominated newsboys have a catalog of songs that merit their often sold-out status.

Visually, the band has upped the ante in stage presence with a device called “Pandora’s Box.” Catchy name notwithstanding, the gadget is actually quite revolutionary. It edits live video in real time, thus allowing the fellows to be portrayed on screen in a multitude of ways (sepia, for example, or black and white or resembling an old school projector).

“Our live show on this tour is quite different,” Phillips says. With LCD screens and lights that look “like an awards show would be on MTV or the Grammys,” Phillips says, “It’s a completely different look for us. Mixed with the video, it’s incredibly modern. It’s a very exciting production value for the show.”

“If someone comes and spends 30, 40 bucks to come and see the band, we want to give them 100 bucks worth of value,” he says.

For the newsboys, spiritually, The Go Tour represents a journey to spread the Gospel through the arts.

“We’re people of faith and belief,” Phillips explains. “One of the last things that Christ said before he left this earth was ‘Go out into all the world and preach the Gospel.’ We’re really passionate about our faith and our belief.”

To Phillips, God is not a giant flyswatter. The Almighty doesn’t go around zapping people or encouraging them to burn buildings down.

“The Christ I know, from the Bible I read, is not like that,” Phillips says, adding, “That’s a part of the vision of what we believe in. You know, not to throw anything into anyone’s face, just to present the Gospel.”

The newsboys’ out-of-the-box approach to music has emboldened a new breed of Christian musician to up their game, so to speak. One of those acts is newworldson, a band from Niagara Falls, Ontario, that’s opening for the Aussie quartet. The north-of-the-border group recently earned acclaim for its August performance at Kingdom Bound.

“They are the sweetest guys,” Phillips says. “They’re great at what they do. If people were to ask me what their style is, I could not really tell you.”

Settling on Gospel-meets-blues as a picture of newworldson’s sound, Phillips says, “They’re so unique at what they do.

“They’re really, really good.”

The Go Tour featuring newsboys, Kutless and newworldson visits the Rochester Main Street Armory, 900 E. Main St., on Sunday, Nov. 4, at 7 p.m. For more information, or for tickets, call (585) 232-1900 or visit www.ticketmaster.com.