JAM SESSION
Newsboys teams up with former members to headline Winter Jam tour
Newsboys has reunited with former members to headline Winter Jam tour
It's the reunion that keeps on giving. When the Newsboys reunited with Peter Furler to record “The Cross Has The Final Word,” the single was such a hit that they decided to bring the group's former frontman back for a tour.
Duncan Phillips, the band's drummer, said the result was Newsboys United, and the unified group played to sold-out crowds for the Newsboys United Tour.
Phillips said the tour is giving people of different generations an opportunity to share their favorite songs with each other for a night of musical memories.
“It's been this really cool thing to watch,” he said during a recent telephone interview.
“Mom and Dad have said `Come listen to this, this is my jam' and the kids have said `Well, this is my song, listen to my jam'. It's been fun to see.”
Now that they've affectionately been dubbed a “super group,” the band is headlining the 2019 Winter Jam Tour. The concert tour will make a stop in Oklahoma City on March 2 at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Besides Newsboys United, others on the tour include Grammy-nominated former “American Idol” finalist Danny Gokey; Grammy Award-winning recording artist Mandisa; Northern Ireland's Rend Collective; Skillet drummer and female solo artist Ledger; Grammynominated NewSong, the Winter Jam tour creators and hosts; and Dove Awardnominated recording artist Hollyn. The Pre-Jam Party will feature Ty Brasel; Manic Drive; Dan Bremnes and special guest Adam Agee, former Stellar Kart and Audio Adrenaline frontman.
Phillips said concertgoers may expect Newsboys United to play many of their hits like “Greatness Of Our God,” “Shine” and “He Reigns,” keeping in mind that there are multiple recording artists and bands performing throughout the concert.
“We're going to try to condense 30 years in about 45 minutes,” he said matterof-factly. “It's been really tough to please everybody. We've cut some songs down to two minutes, but we're trying to sing 10 to 12 songs.”
Phillips said longtime fans may enjoy seeing the drum battle between him and Furler, which they did “back in the day.”
Bringing back memories
A lot of life and music has happened in the three decades since Phillips, Furler and Philip Urry (Phil Joel) started the Newsboys in 1985 in their native Australia. The band became known for chart toppers like “He Reigns,” “Joy,” “Shine” and “Entertaining Angels.”
Furler left to pursue a solo career in 2009, and Michael Tait, of another popular contemporary Christian band dcTalk, joined the group as lead vocalist. With Tait, the group recorded hits like “Born Again” and “God's Not Dead.”
Newsboys United brings current band members Tait, Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein and Jody Davis together with former members Furler and Phil Joel.
Phillips said the current members initially asked Furler to join them in the studio as they were writing “The Cross Has The Final World.”
“We were stuck on a lyric, and we just thought `Why don't we just shoot it to Pete?'' Phillips said.
They loved what he did “so much we said `Hey Pete. Come sing on this song with us,' and he did.”
With Furler in the mix, the group recorded the song, and it immediately seemed to resonate with fans upon its release in 2017.
The Newsboys United tour seemed to enjoy similar success with fans.
“I think when we did the first weekend of shows at that end of that weekend, man it was confirmation. People were seeing something they thought they would never see again,” Phillips said.
“It's in essence two different bands coming together.”
The coming together has been a great way to celebrate more than 30 years in music ministry, Phillips said.
“God has been so good to us as a band. We're really starting to see wonderful things happen. We've had a wonderful back half of our career,” he said.
In some ways, the unified group brings a message of unity at a time when division runs rampant.
“We as a country and as a culture are so divided,” Phillips said.
He said the band's shows bring back good memories for many people “and they see guys who genuinely love each other and come together. You don't see that all the time, and that is resonating with people.”