The Tribune-Star
TERRE HAUTE —
Multiplatinum-selling Christian rock band Third Day has played to millions of fans in numerous sold-out arenas around the world. It’s garnered 25 No. 1 singles across multiple formats — not to mention armloads of Grammy and Dove Awards.
Yet the band’s willingness to struggle openly before fans and critics alike to unearth its identity, purpose and mission stands as Third Day’s most valued accomplishment during its first decade together.
Backing up the band’s ascent, Billboard magazine noted the act is “not only one of the best Christian bands of the ’90s but one of the best rock bands, period.”
Third Day has clearly weathered the difficult climb from obscurity to success, but the band is hardly suffering from overconfidence or complacency. In fact, the band’s 11th album, “Revelation,” addresses that very issue head-on. Rather than lean back in a figurative easy chair, Third Day challenged itself immensely, shaking up its direction and reasserting its place as a rock band of enormous depth and passion.
“Our career is like a dream I didn’t even know I had,” drummer David Carr said. “It’s gone beyond anything I could have dreamed of.”
Influenced by the southern rock of Lynyrd Skynyrd and other artists such as U2 and Rich Mullins, Third Day was originally formed by vocalist Mac Powell and acoustic guitarist Mark Lee.
The duo added bassist Tai Anderson and drummer David Carr from another local band and recorded some demos.
Third Day’s live shows gradually built a loyal fan base, and just after lead guitarist Brad Avery joined, the band signed to Gray Dot Records. Their eponymous debut followed in 1996, with “Conspiracy No. 5” appearing a year later.
In 1999, Third Day returned with “Time,” and the next year “Offerings,” a collection of new and live material, followed in 2003 by its companion, “Offerings II: All I Have to Give.” That same year, the American Music Awards tapped them with a nomination in the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist category. For their fifth studio album, 2004’s “Wire” (which was followed shortly afterward by “Live Wire”), Third Day returned to their rock ’n’ roll roots, a trend they kept up for 2005’s top-10 hit “Wherever You Are,” which came out in CD/DVD format the next year. After the release of the holiday album “Christmas Offerings” in 2006 and the compilation “Chronology” the following year, the band announced the departure of Avery in February 2008.
Despite the loss, Third Day soldiered on, releasing “Revelation” in July of that year.
The album was produced by Howard Benson and featured appearances by Chris Daughtry and Lacey Mosley. Third Day won the American Music Award in 2008.
Get tickets
• The show will be at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 13 at Maryland Community Church.
• A VIP ticket will be offered with priority seating and a very intimate question-and-answer time with the band for $75. Remaining ticket prices are $35 and $25.
• Tickets will go on sale Monday through itickets.com or by calling 1-800-965-9324.
