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The earliest ticket-buyers may not have known it when making their purchases, but it became common knowledge soon enough. The guy behind me in the convenience store where I mentioned it even remarked upon it.

"They're combining with DC Talk," he said. Technically, that wasn't quite the case. Former DCT member Michael Tait has, however, taken Peter Furler's place singing lead for the Newsboys. That a new, Furler-led Newsboys album was to release days after this last date of their Join The Tribe tour (hey, wasn't DCT's fan club called the Vibe Tribe?) looked to have no effect on attendance this Sunday afternoon. The venue, in a hotel attached to an Indian casino, was packed.

And Tait-whose career profile lately hasn't been as high as those of erstwhile bandmates TobyMac and Kevin Max-gave 'em a show. After drummer Duncan Phillips gave an introduction wherein he explained that Furler and his wife saw fit to step away from the band life to take care of his parents, Tait  prayed, after which, per that prayer, he proceeded to rock for God.

And, not only in the amiably slick rock-disco hybrid that has become their calling card to radio, rock they did. Opening with "Something Beautiful," Tait's pleasure at fronting a band again was palpable, especially from my seat next to the runway constructed for the stage.

That catwalk not only allowed Tait to strut his pressed bluejeans, sportcoat, white T-shirt and Dolce & Gabana wristwatch (I was sitting close enough to notice the brand); the 'Boys moved to the catwalk's end for an amped-down hits medley.Wouldn't it figure that during it keyboadist Jeff Frankenstein would sing the first song I imagined Tait chiming in on once I read of his joining them: "I'm Not Ashamed"? The African-American with the cornrows in his cap did take the lead in that farrago, however, for everything else in it, including a snippet of "Shine" and DCT's "Colored People" and "It's My Will."

As if to confirm the understanding of my Kwik Trip buddy, Tait also revisited a couple of his old group's hits in their entirety. Their remake of Charlie Peacock's "In The Light' percolated with a bouncy reggae undercurrent absent from the 'Talkers original take. In assaying the DCT half of their two encores, "Jesus Freak," Tait got
nigh feral, prowling the runway on hands and knees and lying on his back at one point, though he jettisoned the song's second rap verse.

Some of you who have attended past Newsboys concerts are likely wondering whether Phillips did his revolving drum kit thang. Yes, during sing-along favorite "Breakfast," though he only went sideways, and not all the way upside down (unless I wasn't looking at the right time).

Lest they'd like to go to the marathon length of Bruce Springsteen concerts, Newsboys understandably have to cut some hits from their set. I'd still like to hear them perform perhaps their darkest number ever, "Lost the Plot" (from Going Public), among others. Tait's creamy baritone, electric smile and preacherly magnetism likely have many of those in attendance looking forward to him having his own string of radio biggies with the band.

If their own gig didn't given enough value, three opening acts made for a mini-festival. With two national longplayers and Dove Awards under their belts, DecembeRadio played the longest.  The Virginians' glam take on Southern boogie rock bubbles over with star quality, and the harmonica solo during "Believer" made for rootsy fun. Bonus points for getting the headliners' stage manager to come out to play cowbell! 

Vota seems to have changed their style some since switching their name from Casting Pearls. The lads from Nebraska have taken to a new wavy fashion sense (dig the pink necktie!) to match a sound that leans toward power pop, which rocked its hardest on the last of their four songs.

Sevenglory's acoustic/electric guitar mix and anthemic earnestness mark them as the halfway point between U2 and Jars of Clay you might have figured to exist but weren't sure. With a longer set and a tad more confidence, they may have it in them to headline shows around the same size as they one they opened here.

In addition to their local activity, Green Bay Packer Ryan Pickett is assisting the ministry in a project involving water towers in Uganda that has already improved the health of thousands; look for the Tackle a Tower button on the Acts1:8 homepage, http://www.acts18.org/.

Jamie Lee Rake