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Does this make my hips look big?
What happens in Cleveland, goes on the internet… Well this is true for us if it’s a Christian music concert, festival or those embarrassing moments for my wife at Target.
Sept 11th 2008, our relentless editor (my wife) worked her magic and surprised me with front row center tickets for The Music That Builds Tour as it stopped in Cleveland, Ohio.
The Music That Builds Tour is a four headliner tour. GRAMMY® award-winning band Third Day and multi-Platinum rockers Switchfoot will team up with the acclaimed Robert Randolph & the Family Band and GRAMMY award winners Jars of Clay for 23 dates throughout the U.S. The tour will benefit Habitat for Humanity’s home building with a portion of ticket sales, ticket auctions, merchandise items and event packages designated to fund Habitat for Humanity in each tour city. The bands are also lending a hand at various Habitat for Humanity build sites along the tour.
Since it was a surprise to me that we were going to the concert, we arrived a little late and I was a bit 
disappointed that we missed most of the set by Jars of Clay, so I hope we get to see them again soon.
I tried live blogging the event but due to technical difficulties and the fact that I was focused on enjoying the concert, unfortunately it did not come out as well as I would have liked (note to self, sit in the back if you are going to live blog and bring a laptop). But we did have a great time with an incredible line-up of musicians and got some amazing photos.
As I mentioned previously, we had arrived as Jars of Clay was finishing up so the first band we actually got to watch from our seats was Robert Randolph and the Family Band. These guys really know how to move a crowd. By the time their set was done we were all wound up and needed to step out to cool down some.
Switchfoot's Jon Foreman
Switchfoot came out next, performing a great list of songs from their catalog. Lead singer Jon Foreman gave security and possibly the insurance underwriters for this event quite a nail-biting experience. He was up and down the stage, off the stage, on the wall of the stage and out in the audience throughout their set. Crowd favorites like Gone, Dare You To Move and Meant To Live combined with the great lighting effects to showcase another great band that sounds even more incredible live than on a recorded album.
I was hoping they would have played “This Is Home” from the Chronicles Of Narnia soundtrack as I enjoyed their performance at the Dove Awards this year. Nevertheless, Switchfoot put on a great show and contributed to making this event climb into my Top 5 concerts of all time (looks like VeggieTales Live! may have to kick it up a notch).
Third Day's Mark Lee And Tai Anderson
Third Day finished up the night with an incredible set list. This was my first time seeing them live and I was completely in awe of their talent. Being in the front row right in front of Mark Lee, watching the Dr. work (as Mac Powell referred to him throughout the night) was impressive (he gets very into it and plays with his eyes closed a lot. Mark, thanks for not noticing my Lightvox - RagamuffinSoul t-shirt). Songs from the evening included hits from Third Day’s ever growing list and new ones from their latest album Revelation. Mac truly is a dynamic speaker for Christ and His word through Mac’s voice will stay with me every time I listen to a Third Day song. The benefit of being so close to the stage I could see the adoration and love in his eyes as he spoke and sang the words to the songs.
The Music That Builds Tour
The grand finale for the evening……an all out jam with all the artists performing that night. As it was their first time in a few weeks back on the tour, it only took a moment to get back in synch and then really nail it. We got to see Jars of Clay come back to the stage again and perform (still we need to go see them next time they are in town)
Thank you to all the bands for Rockin’ Cleveland.
I also wanted to mention… during the concert, Third Day’s Tai Anderson shared a story of their trip to Iraq and a surgeon they had met who had enlisted in the Army the day after 9-11. This was a touching reminder of the events of that day. For me, someone who was at the base of the towers looking up and watching that second plane come crashing into the second tower, the evening added a new positive memory of a great evening with my wife, the gift of life that God has given us and the power of music to minister.
If you liked this article, then try these...
- Music That Builds Tour - Cleveland Ohio by Christopher
- Switchfoot - From Narnia to Jay Leno And American Idol by Amy Sondova
- Switchfoot This Is Home Selected For Disney’s Narnia Prince Caspian by Hoganson Media Relations
- Jars Of Clay Celebrates Globe-Spanning Career With ‘Greatest Hits’ by Christopher
