Keeping the Faith with Third Day

...And God Said, "Let There Be Rock"

originally published March 19, 2008

“We’re ready to share our music with people outside the church.” This is Christian rock’s most frequently voiced campaign promise. All contemporary evangelical bands talk about following in the steps of Jars of Clay, P.O.D. and Sufjan Stevens, artists who first became popular within Christian circles and then achieved mainstream success. And like political candidates, Christian bands seldom make good on their boldest ambitions. Sometimes, they fail for lack of trying; in most cases, though, their lack of talent keeps them trapped in their subculture.

Atlanta’s Third Day, one of the Christian market’s most acclaimed acts, has attempted to break into the mainstream a number of times during the last decade. “We’ve come to a place where we’re realizing that if you’re a person of faith,” says frontman Mac Powell, “you want to reach outside the walls of the church and share that faith. That’s where we’ve been at for the last 12 years.” What has held the group back?

Third Day lacks neither chops nor drive. Its blend of Southern rock and massive, Top 40-ready hooks isn’t innovative, but it is well executed. Third Day’s music is every bit as catchy as that of Lifehouse or Maroon 5, and it’s far more dynamic and skillfully played. And the group has certainly worked hard to build its fanbase, touring and recording regularly during its 15 years of existence. The fellas have three Grammys, a platinum record, and six gold albums to show for their efforts.

And maybe “held back” is the wrong way to look at Third Day’s position, anyway. When Powell formed the band as a high school student in Powder Springs, he aimed to encourage fellow believers. “That’s what we wanted to do from the beginning,” he responds when asked why Third Day entered the Christian market. “That’s where we felt comfortable, being able to be straightforward with our lyrics and not having to worry about watering down or hiding who we were. [Christian music] was really helping us, encouraging us, so that was what we wanted to do.” Powell readily accepts that others will pigeonhole Third Day in light of its past. “Because of the success we’ve had within our market,” he says, “people know who we are within [the music industry], and so I think there are eventually those people who assume what the music is like before they hear it. They hear about us, and know who we are, and go, 'Okay, that’s not for me.' And that’s fine for us, really. We’ve been successful at what we’ve done, and we’ll continue to try to make quality music for people of faith and people that listen to mainstream music. It’s a unique calling that we have and something that we’ll continue trying to do for the next few years.”

For Powell, all of Third Day’s music, regardless of whom it’s intended for, is an act of worship. “Modern worship music is probably defined as music that has a lyric that’s directly worshipping God and speaking to God,” he says, “but I think praise and worship music can go beyond that. If it’s a song that can make you think about life, and faith, and God, I think it can be considered a worship song.” But aren’t songs that actively affirm the attributes of an authoritative Yahweh an anathema to rock’s transgressive nature? Powell thinks not.

“I would look at the history of music,” he explains. “As you go through the years, and you think about rock and roll; it got its start in the church, in gospel music. Country music, it got its start from bluegrass music, which was an offshoot of church music and hymns. Faith has always been a part of contemporary music. Of course, there are great names through the years who were people of faith, whether it be Bob Dylan or Aretha Franklin, who made great music. Faith’s a part of life, and therefore it’s a part of music.”

Phillip Buchan

WHO: Third Day, Decemberadio, Sanctus Real
WHERE: Classic Center
WHEN: Friday, March 21
HOW MUCH: $20–$35