BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

Those who like Christian music hopping and sizzling will be in their element when two major Christian acts come to town.

Grammy winner TobyMac and Grammy-nominated Skillet will bring their “Awake Tonight Tour” to Johnstown at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St.

TobyMac describes his music as “a big old pot of musical gumbo” blending hip-hop, rock, funk, soul and reggae.

“The short version is urban rock,” he said while on a bus in Illinois before the start of his current tour.

“It ends up being pop. It’s melodic, but based in the groove of hip-hop.”

TobyMac doesn’t expect his Johnstown audience to sit down at any point during the concert.

“There will be intensity and passion,” he said.

“I always try to drop a joy bomb on the audience. There’s nothing wrong with having a party and celebrating.”

This won’t be the first time TobyMac has toured with another Christian headliner.

“I like to get another group to have a presence,” he said.

“You get a stronger bill and more for your money. I’ve done tours with Reliant K and Third Day, and I’ll do a tour with Chris Tomlin this summer.

“You need to be willing to share the stage, to compromise and be open-minded. It’s good for both groups.”

TobyMac expects to do five songs from his most recent release, “Tonight,” along with personal and fan favorites.

“I don’t want to lean too far into my newest album,” he said.

“I’ll be doing numbers from all four solo albums.

“ ‘Lose My Soul’ and ‘Made to Love’ are songs I have to do. There are always those who want to enjoy the past eight years of my music.”

TobyMac said his fans can be any age and even include families who remember his days with dc Talk, the four-time Grammy- winning Christian group that was popular in the 1990s.

Before founding dc Talk with Michael Tait and Kevin Max, TobyMac had grown up with the music of Police and Bob Marley and was known as Kevin Michael “Toby” McKeehan.

As a solo artist since dc Talk disbanded in 2000, TobyMac has had his own share of Grammy recognition.

His albums, “Momentum,” “Welcome to Diverse City” and “Portable Sounds,” were all nominated for a Grammy, while “Alive and Transported” won a Grammy in 2008.

TobyMac also was nominated for a 2007 American Music Award as favorite inspirational artist and was named the Gospel Music Association Dove Award’s 2008 Artist of the Year.

His song “Ignition” was chosen to be played during the 2009 Super Bowl when the Arizona Cardinals entered the stadium in Tampa, Fla.

TobyMac attributes his Grammy success to writing honest lyrics about situations people are familiar with.

“I write about my own struggles and things I have overcome,” he said.

“I try to write from an honest life perspective and put out my weaknesses and strengths.”

TobyMac believes that songs matter, that a song can penetrate a heart and that God can use a song to open someone’s mind and heart.

“My music meets my faith in God through the mirror I look into every day,” he said.

“I see who I am and how to respond.”

TobyMac said fellow headliner Skillet is a dedicated hard rock band with an intense onstage presence, complete with fireworks.

“They are one of the most entertaining yet passionate bands I’ve ever seen,” he said.

Skillet was originally formed in Memphis, Tenn., in 1996.

Their music has spanned many different genres over the years, including post-grunge, Christian rock, hard rock, industrial rock and symphonic rock.

They have toured with rockers Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Flyleaf.

Skillet has produced eight albums with two of them, “Collide” and “Comatose,” receiving Grammy nominations.

Band members are John Cooper on lead vocals and bass; his wife, Korey Cooper, on keyboard, rhythm guitar, backing vocals and synthesizer; Ben Kasica on lead guitar; and Jen Ledger on drums and backing vocals.

Skillet’s newest release, “Awake,” has spawned the hits “Hero” and “Monster.”

“Awake” was the best-selling Christian CD of 2009 on amazon.com, where “Monster” was the No. 4 mainstream active rock single in the country.

“Hero,” a No. 1 Christian contemporary hit radio single, has been used by the NFL in its Sunday Night Football and NFL weekend kickoff promotions.

Skillet’s other accolades include seven consecutive No. 1 Christian radio singles, a 2008 Dove Award for Rock Song of the Year and a 2009 nomination for Artist of the Year.

House of Heroes, an alternative rock band from Columbus, Ohio, and considered to be Christian rock, will be the special guest.

Band members are Tim Skipper on lead vocals and guitar; Colin Rigsby on drums and backing vocals; his brother, Jared Rigsby, on guitar and backing vocals; and Eric Newcomer on bass guitar and backing vocals.

A.J. Babcock covers bass guitar and backing vocals in the studio.

The group has released three albums – “What You Want Is Now” in 2003, “House of Heroes” in 2005 and “The End Is Not the End” in 2008.

Information: (724) 744-3524 or www.genexconcerts.com.



Onstage

What: “Awake Tonight Tour” with TobyMac and Skillet.

When: 7 p.m. Saturday.

Where: Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 326 Napoleon St., Johnstown.

Tickets: $75, $39, $29 and $19.

Information: (724) 744-3524 or www.genexconcerts.com.