TobyMac
Akron Civic Theatre, Akron, Ohio
By Rob McCune
For TobyMac, faith is more than just an inspiration behind the music; it’s embedded in the heart of his craft. On an eight-city tour, the contemporary Christian rapper, formerly of the Christian hip hop trio dc Talk, the now-61-year-old TobyMac is doing something he hasn’t before: Performing one of his albums, the 2024 release “Heaven on My Mind,” front to back.
The tour stopped in Akron, Ohio, where the Akron Civic Theatre effectively became a temple for a revival that rippled through a crowd of kids to seniors. Lighting effects at one point turned the stage, dressed impressively as a cozy home studio of sorts with lounge furniture interspersed with instruments and living room décor, into a place of worship, with light and shadow filtered through cathedral-like windows.
Before the music, an emcee from a religious radio station led the crowd in a prayer and a boisterous “Amen.” Then, prior to the curtain draw, TobyMac’s disembodied voiceover shared a personal message, like a diary entry, about faith as a healing power in times of loss. The curtain pull was dramatic, as the scene came into focus with characters as if on their marks for a stageplay, silhouetted and still. TobyMac’s walk-on entrance brought the scene to life.
Wrinkles be damned, TobyMac has to be the most youthful sexagenarian, in style, grace, and energy, there has ever been. At a distance, or to the less visually astute, he could pass for a guy half his age. It helps that he was backed up by his road band, Diverse City, and other vocalists with youth on their side, bringing keytars, brass, guitars and more.
TobyMac, who had five albums with dc Talk and now has released his 10th solo record, is performing essentially two sets on this tour – the first being the full, latest album; and the second a medley of his hits, including “I just Need U,” off his eighth album, The Elements, and “Promised Land” off his ninth.
Believe it or not, he certainly seems to be in the good graces of a higher power, and has nowhere to go but up from here.
Rob McCune is Every_Thing_After_Photo on Instagram, where he shares his concert photography and reviews, as well as clips from his “Every.Thing.After” podcast, with interviews with musicians and bands.
TobyMac brings ‘Front to Back: Heaven on My Mind’ revival to Akron, Ohio
