tobyMac

If you’ve never had the chance to experience the wonder that is tobyMac live in concert, Alive and Transported, the live album and DVD set, is just what the doctor ordered.

The artist, at forty-three years of age, brings an electricity and work ethic to his performance that far exceeds many twenty years his junior. Coupled with the spot on musical chops of his Diverse City crew, this collection brings the best of tobyMac to the forefront. And to that top-notch audio-visual production, and you’ve got a great recipe for success.

The song selection is what you’d expect from tobyMac, essentially a plethora of solid radio hits from the artist sprinkled in with a few dcTalk tracks to even things out. Weighing in at 21 tracks in all, you’re getting your money’s worth on this one. In concert, the artist seems to focus on those tracks that essentially geared toward getting the audience’s toes tapping and that’s just what happens.

Building from the soulful vocal of Nirva Dorsaint-Ready’s intro, swelling into the sonic frenzy of “Ignition,” all systems are a go from the start. The hook-laden “Catchafire (Whoopsi-daisy)” is included as are rockers “Boomin’,” “Yours,” which is treated to an early change-up, and “Extreme Days.” The artist also showcases “Burn for You” and “The Slam,” a track he refers to as having written after viewing The Passion of the Christ.

On the lighter side, McKeehan and crew bring on “No Ordinary Love” and “Irene,” with live horns as “Love Is In the House” delivers a beatbox breakdown from GabeReal. The artist’s heartsong, “Lose My Soul” features a guest vocal from American Idol alum, Mandisa, while “Made to Love” is offered up twice, eventually closing out the concert.

Yet, perhaps unsurprisingly, it’s tobyMac’s ties to his dcTalk days that ultimately steal the show. “Atmosphere” is played out in a brief bit here as is the anthemic “In The Light” but it’s the ever popular “Jesus Freak” that gets everyone out of their seats. A testament to the talent of Diverse City, this track comes across nearly as good as the original lineup, complete with all the energy one can ask for. This is also a must-see song on the DVD, featuring a killer bit of stagework that serves the song well. Speaking of that DVD, it’s a quality package, featuring not only the full live concert but also tons of bonus footage introducing the Diverse City unit individually. It’s a nice bonus feature that actually sees the artist being a man of his word.

The missteps are few here. “Gone” finds McKeehan’s vocals a bit flat initially yet it’s a small issue overall. Additionally, the speaking bits featured here and there will cause some to yawn. It’s typical CCM concert fare with a Bible reading here or an exhortation to take heart and find hope there. There’s nothing necessarily wrong with those elements but they come across as formulaic at the very least.

Ultimately, Alive and Transported truly is the next best thing to an in-person show with tobyMac. An impressive set list, high-dollar production, and one of the finest bands around make this a great listen. This is an album that will serve as a great addition to the collections of fans everywhere or as a fitting introduction to a newcomer.

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