TobyMac hopes his tour ‘Hits Deep’
Robb Cohen
TobyMac performed as part of The Winter Jam 2013 Tour Spectacular at Philips Arena on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (Photo by Robb D. Cohen/RobbsPhotos/Invision/AP)
Robb Cohen
TobyMac performed as part of The Winter Jam 2013 Tour Spectacular at Philips Arena on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (Photo by Robb D. Cohen/RobbsPhotos/Invision/AP)
Robb Cohen
TobyMac performed as part of The Winter Jam 2013 Tour Spectacular at Philips Arena on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, in Atlanta. (Photo by Robb D. Cohen/RobbsPhotos/Invision/AP)
One of contemporary Christian music’s most popular artists, TobyMac will make a stop on his “Hits Deep Tour” in Pittsburgh on March 31 at Petersen Events Center.
With over 11 million units sold and six Grammy awards, TobyMac draws from his faith and personal experiences to share his belief that everyone has only one shot at life.
The former member of popular Christian band DC Talk, said in a recent interview with Don Thrasher of the Dayton Daily News, that he uses his music as a way of spreading “the good news.”
“I love being an artist, and I think the passion shows when you love doing what you do,” Mac said. “I love performing. I love songwriting and how a song can find its way into someone’s heart. You’re dropping a joy bomb on somebody or causing them to think or dialogue or forgive. I love that song somehow has a chance to do all of those things to people.
“I wrote a song about it called ‘Beyond Me’ because it literally is beyond me,” he continued. “It takes something bigger than me to stir up that kind of reaction. When I’m making records, I’m always sort of hoping and praying something will happen that is beyond me.”
Mac’s most recent album, “This is Not a Test,” was released in 2015.
“What hits me now more than ever is that you really don’t get a practice run at life,” explains Toby on his website, tobymac.com. “This is it. In my friendships, raising my children, loving my wife, loving people, performing with my band and stepping on stage at arenas, I want to make very moment count.”
Songs off of “This is Not a Test” include “Backseat Driver” featuring Hollyn, “Beyond Me” and “Love Feels Like” featuring his former DC Talk bandmates.
Joining Mac on the “Hits Deep Tour” are other Christian music superstars including Matt Maher, “Rise Up;” Mandisa, “Overcomer;” Mac Powell from Third Day, “God of Wonders;” Capital Kings, “You’ll Never Be Alone;” Ryan Stevenson, “Eye of the Storm;” and Hollyn, “Alone.”
During the concert each of the performers will have the opportunity to play their hits for the crowd.
“Collaboration takes us deeper,” said Mac on his website. “There is a profound richness that happens when we come together and take the time to learn from each other’s perspectives – the diversity of our upbringing, the color of our skin and the things we are drawn to. If you can work through the differences you enter into a world of richness that is unparalleled. It’s helped me recognize that someone is not wrong just because they don’t think the same way I do. Our life experiences cause scars. Getting to know each other helps heal and soften some of those scars and makes us more receptive to each other. At the end of the day that equals loving each other well.”
Tickets to the Pittsburgh “Hits Deep Tour” start at $15 and can be purchased online at ticketmaster.com.
“I want them to walk away saying ‘I feel good. I feel like I can love my spouse well. I can love my friends. I feel like I’m even open to having a conversation about who God is,'” said Mac on his website. “I want them to know love is worth everything you put in. If that happens, then I’ve done what I wanted to do.”