Third Day's successful Spring Wherever You Are Tour returns this Fall for a second run, bringing back a promising night of rock, worship and everything in between. Adding newcomers, and personal favorites of Third Day, HyperStatic Union to the billing, the evening's lineup of music was only strengthened - and a stop in our hometown was a nobrainer when it came to attending again.

The April 1st show in Nashville we attended first landed us with nosebleed seats and later in a room which made it near impossible to hear the show clearly. The end result felt impersonal and disconnected. This time around, with floor seats and a chance to meet the artists before the show, it was easier to connect with the bands and be drawn in by the strong performances. The evening opened with HyperStatic Union, a funk-pop band that proved with even its opener "Lifegiver" that their live show vastly out-shines their average debut record of the same name. The band's stage presence and interaction with the audience helped aid in the enjoyability of their set, and I found myself liking it much more than I was expecting to. After a couple of their own songs, including their radio single "Praying For Sunny Days," they ended with their own take on Stevie Wonder's "Superstition," which especially hit home with the older audience participants.

A brief set change preceded my first true David Crowder Band experience with all distractions aside. While I herald Crowder as one of the most respectable worship leaders around, I can't say I've been a significant fan of their work... until now. Growing up, there have been some shows that have converted me entirely from a non or casual listener to a full-on fan, and I can say Crowder has the kind of show that is prone to conversion (and not just the spiritual kind). Crowder has, in recent years, grown from a worship leader to a ground breaking artist in the genre. And hearing selections from his latest full-length release, A Collision, live confirm that this band has so much to bring to worship music, let alone the altar.

The dimly lit stage featured an incredibly large sheet backdrop to host projected lyrics, and as a subtle instrumental intro to their set began to build, the lights slowly illuminated the players on stage as they opened with "Here Is Our King." Crowder, sporting his usually wild hair and prominent goatee, offers a fantastic stage presence. Always addressing the audience -- sometimes even stopping mid-song to do so -- created this living room personableness that isn't present in a lot of performers. And since Crowder's craft is worship music with a sincere knowledge for artistic intent, the worship is passionate, intimate, and unique. The Crowder Band is not your run-of-the-mill conference praise team. David has a truly strong vocal talent that is missing from the majority of worship leaders, and a sense for simple lyrics mixed with deeper imagery and even wit to weave unique songs from sometimes familiar praise-style choruses. Crowder knows how to work an audience, make them feel comfortable, and even get the least-likely participant to dance in their seat. The DCB is all about variety -- especially when you see the violinist go from his stringed instrument over to scratching vinyl on turntables and back to the violin. Even when the group breaks into a full-on hoedown with "I Saw The Light," it doesn't seem strange or even displeasing to the non-country fan. You're just made to feel like you're amongst friends. Worship hasn't been this fun since a youth retreat.

DCB mixed old and new favorites, moving from "There Is No One Like You," to the ridiculously catchy "Foreverandever Etc," which featured Crowder picking up a keytar and reminiscing about the 80s - which inspired guitarist Jack Parker to break into a short tune of the Super Mario Bros. theme on the keyboard. David encouraged a hoedown for "I Saw The Light," following it up with the worshipful "Wholly Yours" and the intense "rock opera" of "You Are My Joy." The more straightforward worship of "O Praise Him" preceded the sing-a-long qualities of "Sing Like The Saved," which had Crowder encouraging everyone to join hands and dance. It was neat to see how fast people dropped their guard to dance alongside complete strangers.

Immediately following DCB, Third Day's bassist Tai Anderson came out to share with the audience about Invisible Children, a documentary that reveals the horrors of children being kidnapped and forced to fight in wars in Uganda. Anderson introduced some footage that was taken when he visited the children with World Vision last year, and urged everyone to consider supporting World Vision in the fight. I really appreciate the fact that Third Day is a band not afraid to get their hands dirty and support causes Christians should be helping with.