Sep/Oct 2003

Mac Attack

By Bob Liparulo

There's something childlike about Mac Powell as he crouches in the corner of a dressing room in Denver's Pepsi Center arena.

Beneath a heavy mustache and goatee resides a smooth-skinned, blue-eyed baby face--but that's not it. Before him, mega-author and pastor Max Lucado is explaining that the words of the Bible's most comforting truth--"The Lord is my shepherd"--can be counted on one hand and remembered by holding the pinkie finger.

Powell grips his pinkie, and the childlike quality becomes clear. Here is a guy completely caught up in a youthful fascination with God's Word, an innocence born of a desire to know the Lord.

Never mind that in less than 30 minutes, Powell will be filling the auditorium with his booming baritone and strutting under spotlights in front of 13,000 screaming fans. And forget, for now, that he fronts a band--Third Day--that has scored 19 No. 1 singles, sold 4 million albums and garnered a tour bus full of trophies, including a Grammy and "Group of the Year" Dove Awards three years in a row.

Right now, he's a little kid in Sunday school.

"The thing is," he says later, "I don't think I could do the music thing if I wasn't grounded in my faith."

It's not as though Powell, who turns 31 on Christmas day, has to proclaim his faith at every concert and in every song. Mainstream critics agree that Powell can sing with the best of them, secular or Christian.

Billboard magazine likened him to Bruce Springsteen, and numerous reviewers have compared him favorably to Darius Rucker, the voice of Hootie & the Blowfish. What's more, Powell can--and frequently does--adjust his vocals to match the spirit of a particular song, evoking the likes of Travis Tritt (on "40 Days") and Cat Stevens (on "Take My Life").

All of Third Day, in fact, are continually championed in the media for their depth of sound and sheer talent.

"Mac isn't singing Christian songs because that's what his audience wants or because that's where the market is," says Michael W. Smith, who traveled with Third Day and Max Lucado for the Come Together and Worship tour. "Mac and all the guys [in Third Day] are doing it because that is where their hearts are at."

It shows. "Mac's genuine hunger for God comes through when he sings," Lucado agrees. "I think that is part of his appeal."

The Rock Star

Near the Pepsi Center stage, two teenage girls try to push past a security guard to get a closer look at Powell and his bandmatesguitarist Mark Lee, guitarist Brad Avery, bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr. Understandable. Good-looking guys, got that rock-star mojo happening, right, ladies?

Flipping their hair back, they laugh.

"Rock music is a dangerous life for Christians," Powell admits. "There are a lot of temptations. It'd be easy to get a big head, to lose yourself in the attention, the money, the stuff. But God has called us to this place, to be onstage, I guess you can say. As men of faith, we want to be on that platform so we can share a message of hope."

If that sounds like so much hype, consider this: Powell and Mark Lee (now one of Third Day's two guitarists) played in a garage band in high school, landing gigs at clubs and parties. But Powell bowed out when he realized he didn't want to be a part of that scene.

A week later, Mark said, "OK, let's turn it all over to God; let's start a Christian band."

"God asked me to sacrifice something I really desired," says Powell, "then He gave me something better."

During interviews, Powell and the other Third Day guys make a point of how normal they are--"just average guys," one of them invariably will say. Is that an important part of their image?

"Not 'image,' like it's manufactured," Powell says. "But it is the truth, that we're pretty much regular Joes. We change diapers and mow the lawn and make mistakes. The problem with achieving some sort of success in this business is it kind of distances you from the people you're here to serve, the listeners, the audience. So we want to remind people: 'Hey, we're you, you're us. We're in this together.'"

And together, despite the sharply rising popularity of its contemporary Christian rock, the group decided in 2000 to record Offerings, their first worship album. "I was very worried about this recording at first," Powell admits. "I thought it had two things working against it--that it might alienate our fans and that it would appear as though we were jumping on the worship bandwagon. But we recorded it to honor God, to thank Him for everything He's done."

The gamble paid out big-time. Offerings became Third Day's best-selling album, selling nearly a million copies.

When Offerings II was released in March 2003, it debuted at an impressive No. 18 on the overall Billboard Top 200 Albums chart, competing with releases by mainstream artists such as Eminem and Avril Lavigne.

In a nod to the band's impact on young worshipers, the American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers (ASCAP) recently honored Third Day with a Song of the Year Award for "Show Me Your Glory." That song, along with the group's "It's Alright," were also named two of the Society's 25 Most Performed songs of the year.

"Third Day is a cultural change-agent that has altered the way America worships," says ASCAP Assistant Vice President Dan Keen. "This band's music connects anywhere and everywhere."

Back in the Pepsi Center, one of the teenagers trying for a better vantage of the group turns to her inquisitor. "We're not groupies," she laughs. Then why the excitement to get nearer? Suddenly serious, she says, "Just to say thank-you for making music that brings us closer to God."

The Homebody

Picture this: A halftime marching band is taking the field. Long rows of white uniforms, shako hats and gleaming shoes. Here come the trumpeters, heads and instruments swinging right, left, right ... That was Mac Powell in high school.

"He always loved music," says his wife, Aimee. The two met in that marching band. Aimee played the flute. "The highlight of his school days was becoming drum major," she adds.

The image of Powell twirling a baton refuses to materialize. "It was the leadership role he loved, being the person everyone was looking at."

That may explain the ease with which he talks to the audiences from the stage, the larger-than-life presence he possesses up there. Some fans think of him--or at least his voice--when they think of Third Day, and that troubles him.

"I am not Third Day," he says. "Without any one of the five of us who make up Third Day, the band would fall apart."

This may be humility, but more likely it's honesty and love. Together, these guys act like brothers.

"They certainly keep me in my place," Powell says. "We know each other too well, and care about each other too much, to let some rock-star mentality slip into one of our heads. We read the Bible together, pray, discuss God. We know Who it's all about, and if one of us forgets, the other four happily remind him."

Tai Anderson strolls in. "What kind of lies is this guy telling about me?" he says.

Powell snaps back, "Just how the rest of us have to carry your weight, musically."

Anderson nods, takes a seat.

Guys know it: That's love, trust, respect.

"I absolutely love being on the road," Powell says. "There's a camaraderie--with the band, with the road crew--that I really enjoy. Being away from Aimee and the kids ... " His face darkens as he searches for the words. "That's tough."

Aimee's more passionate about her disdain for this part of Mac's life.

"My love language is quality time," she says. "I used to not understand why God would put me with a man who was gone all the time, who was called to be gone all the time. We've grown stronger as a couple, though, through it all, and I've seen God's hand in it. Still, it's not easy. There are times I want to call Debbie [Michael W. Smith's wife] or Mary Beth [Steven Curtis Chapman's wife] and ask, 'How do you do it?'"

Success has allowed Mac to spend more time at home, though. "There were years when they had to take every offer that came along," she says. "That's what you do when you're a struggling band. Now they can be more selective. And with kids, that's a wonderful benefit."

Ah, but no rest comes for the star musicians. Recently, on a break from touring, Mac took the kids--daughter Scout, 4, and son Cash, 1--and Aimee (who was pregnant and due with another girl in July) on a picnic to the park. While Aimee spread out the blanket and laid out the food, Powell had a cell phone glued to his ear, answering a journalist's questions about the stardom he tries hard to eschew.

Time at home is precious, but so is that platform from which Powell believes God has called him to spread the Word. Ironically, the band's devotion to their faith is threatening that everyman image so crucial to their fans.

"I've heard that some people think we're 'super Christians,'" Powell says. "And I wish we were, if that's what God wants us to be. But we're not pastors; we're just fellow congregants."

The Pepsi Center concert ends with a finale that features Third Day, Michael W. Smith and Max Lucado. As the musicians and Lucado stream backstage, and Powell breaks away to stand alone. Perspiration plasters his hair to his head and makes his shirt cling to his body. He leans against a wall, catching his breath. Then he covers his eyes and mouths a prayer.

"Lord, let me have served You well. Let them have heard You in our words. Let them come to know You."

A few seconds later, he's walking toward the dressing rooms, a pinkie finger clenched in one hand.

DISCOGRAPHY 1999-1996

Time (1999)
"This album is not as lyrically deep as their second release. If you are a fan of contemporary Christian [music] and Southern rock though, this album is worth every penny."
A music fan, from Houston, TX

Conspiracy No. 5 (1997)
"The Christian scene's ultimate Southern-fried rockers take a turn for the grungier on Conspiracy No. 5. It could sound as if these guys hail from Seattle, but still have their roots."
Sketchzilla, from San Francisco, CA

Third Day (1996)
"In this self-titled debut Third Day has given me the music I love with the message I need. Purchase this CD. I promise you won't be disappointed."
Tim, from Worthington, KY
Source: The following reviews were found on Amazon.com

DISCOGRAPHY - 2003-2000

Offerings II: All I Have to Give (2003)
"I lead worship at a few Bible studies and I use Third Day's songs. I also find it ironic that they call Offerings II 'a worship album,' because all their CDs are worship.
Gustavo, from Camarillo, CA

Come Together (2001)
"Come Together illuminates the fine guitar work of Brad Avery and Mark Lee, all the while supported by the skin-tight rhythm of bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr."
Michael Lyttle

Offerings: A Worship Album (2000)
"These traditional Sunday-morning style songs are given new life by Mac Powell's lead-vocal style. This is why Third Day is known for uncompromisingly God-centered music."
Israel Button
Source: The following reviews were found on Amazon.com

BAND OF BROTHERS
An interview with Third Day

While Mac Powell is Third Day's frontman, the band consists of five talented musicians--Powell, 31; guitarists Mark Lee, 30; and Brad Avery, 32; bassist Tai Anderson, 27; and drummer David Carr, 29. Backstage, they talk with New Man about popularity and Christianity.

New Man: Congratulations on your newest of 19 Dove Awards! Doesn't such praise go to your heads?

Anderson: Well, it feels good.

Powell: But it's very humbling.

New Man: How so?

Powell: After the first couple Dove Awards, we were like, "Wow, we must be pretty good."

Carr: In this business, you can never be sure.

New Man: Do the awards give you confidence on stage?

Anderson: You have to have some confidence to do your best, and we all want to do our best for these people who've come to hear us.

Powell: Bono said every band has to believe it's the best in the world.

New Man: Brad, you're quiet.

Avery: [Smiles, nods.]

New Man: [to the others]: Is he always this quiet?

Anderson: He lets his guitar speak for him.

New Man: In a way, I guess all of you speak through your music.

Lee: Especially as a Christian band. Mainstream bands may not care what message they're sending, as long as the song rocks. We are very intentional about the message of hope we're trying to spread.

Anderson: Not that there's anything wrong with mainstream.

Powell: No, I believe Christians--musicians--working in the general market do a lot of good.

New Man: Have you ever felt restricted or held back because of the "Christian band" label?

Powell: Definitely. We are glad to have that label, because we love being forward about our faith; we became a Christian band to share our faith. But when we got into this, we didn't realize how limiting that label could be.

Carr: We'd love to reach a broader audience, but the doors are closed to us because we're Christian.

Anderson: Slowly, that's changing. General-market retailers and radio stations are starting to understand good music is good music.

Lee: Groups like P.O.D. and Lifehouse went straight into the mainstream, even though they're Christians and don't shy away from their faith. They've had success, and shown people Christian musicians have a place in their world.
Bob Liparulo

Bob Liparulo once interviewed Arnold Schwarzenegger ... and lived. He's a freelance writer and reviewer who lives in Colorado.