This should have been called the "Eclectic Music Tour." This tour had hip-hop/rap/ska/hardcore/praise and worship all within three hours. Did it blend nicely? Surprisingly yes. Not only was it entertaining, but by the end of the show many people seemed to be touched spiritually.

 The location was in Alvin TX, at a place called The Journey that resembled the silverdome in Mad Max; lots of room, a mini cafe/juice bar, lots of room, and an upper level complete with a chain link fence to shield the audience from a fall. That balcony was where the parents went, to be away from the action and the loudspeakers.

Before the show started, while the MC was laying down the rules,  a youth group started chanting "Project-project" and  a mini pit broke out, without music. The wiser among us headed for the back. The lights dimmed and out came Project 86. As soon as the first words from "Stein's Theme" were screamed, the place erupted. Arms flying, parents cringing, myself smiling, it was great, the vibe was great, the band was great. Project 86 had a fifth member with them, Cory formerly of No Innocent Victim (NIV), and he meshed well with the group. Project 86 lived up to the chorus of their first song, and didn't "play by their rules," as Andrew jumped into the crowd and rolled along. He must have missed the introduction and discourse about stage-diving. Among the songs they sang were "One Armed Man", "Set Me Up" and a few others. It was a nice but short set.

 In between the sets, two guys from the Supertones came out to a made a push for the crowd to become a part of Food For the Hungry. It's a charity that feeds the poor in foreign lands and they had a booth set up in the back. It was great because the women that worked for the company played tambourines and danced the entire time the show was going on.

Local artist NuWine came up for a short four song set that was interrupted by a "demon" in the monitors. Half the crowd left the front for a snack, and the rest bobbed their heads to the hardly understandable Third Coast rap. What was great was that kids that were moshing earlier were now grooving, putting aside genre' barriers and getting down. A good vibe was in the air, and tight beats were dropped.

Old school Gospel Gangsters hit the set. There were problems at first getting the DAT to work but finally the DJ started cutting, and the lyrics were flowing. The crowd came back up to the front and once again it was in full swing. People breakdanced and moms grooved grooving while the GG's  rhymed. It did fall sweetly on my "hip-hop only/no rap ears." The only problem with their set was that there were too many people trying to talk at the same time, too many "ahhs, yeahs, c'mon's" to call it smooth. But they did sound good. They gave a little testimonial and one couldn't help but feel encouraged in the Lord.

A kid I wouldn't know from Adam came up to me between sets and said, "Man, it's tight, I like this," not caring if I was a stranger, but noticing the friendly atmosphere of Christians. All of a sudden the theme from Rocky came on and people rushed to the stage for the Supertones, dressed in glowing firemen suits. "Make My Resolution" started and a skank-fest ensued. Moms, dads, children, and the Food for the Hungry women were skanking, while conga lines, puppets, and great music filled The Journey.

The Supertones have an incredible stage presence. All smiles, all jumping, and giving all glory to God. Not only were the lyrics uplifting but in between songs they reminded the crowd what it's all about, God. The best material they did was from their new album, due in September. It has a harder groove than most of their stuff, and the audience loved it. They sang their token "I'm a Little Man," jumping around and praising God and up next was an instrumental surf song complete with a huge fake fish, and a surfboard for some real crowd surfing.

The band left and the lead singer played a little acoustic set. When the band came back they had on black T-shirts and started out with "Strike Back," followed by, "Away From You," and a few others. I had as much fun watching the crowd as I did the band. The dance circle of kids lip syncing to songs they didn't know and my "Food for the Hungry" women and their tambourines still crack me up.

Jason Carson gave a sermonette, and the Supertones did their world famous thirty minute praise & worship set. It was beautiful. Kids praising the Lord while the band lead great renditions of "We Exalt Thee," "As the Deer," "Shout to the Lord," and "Hallelujah."

The Supertones had two songs left, but that would be the end of the show. The neighbors called the police and complained, but it didn't matter. We weren't stiffed. We had seen what we had come for, and then some. I had a great time, the crowd had a great time, I even think God had a great time.  I know the "Food for the Hungry" ladies did.