The Top 10 Third Day Shows Ever, Man

I did a post here about some of the best concerts I've been to.  So it only stands to reason that I do a post about the best concerts I've ever been a PART of (they're two completely different experiences, btw.  remind me to tell you about it sometime...).  So how about a top 10?

1. April 1996, Cafe Milano, Nashville, TN - we took part in a Rich Mullins tribute concert.  He must've had a greatest hits record coming out, I can't remember.  We were all huge fans of Rich's, and he was there on the front row watching.  We performed "Creed" and gave it everything.  I mean everything.  We were all crying backstage afterwards.  For many people it was the first time they ever saw us.  Not a bad first impression!  I remember hearing later that for Rich that was one of the moments that he realized he was having an influence on younger artists.  That obviously means a lot to us since Rich is no longer with us...
2. January 2001, Parachute Festival, New Zealand - That was a night where a lot of things just lined up.  We were at the height of the Offerings period.  We had just performed a great run of shows in Australia.  It was our first time in the Southern Hemisphere.  It was a beautiful night in a natural outdoor amphitheatre.  The crowd was electric - we responded, they responded.  Just really special.
3. Houston 2004 -   The Wire tour was a fun one, and we knew we were going to have a big night in Houston.  We didn't know how big until we took the stage and saw the "sea of orange".  Apparently (with YOUR encouragement!) the local radio station announced that everyone was going to wear orange as a surprise to the band.  It was incredible.  We had a picture of that on our website for years afterward.  We had a blast with TobyMac out with us on this tour, and the Houston show was by far the highlight.
4. May 1995, The Strand Theatre, Marietta, GA - We love playing to the hometown.  There are probably several shows I could mention - the Fox in '04, the Hi Fi Buys show in '01, Centennial Olympic Park in '99, or the Roxy in '97 - but I'll only name one for now.  We were the "house" band at the Strand in Mariettafor a couple of years there.  The night our Gray Dot album came out was the culmination of that period.  They had searchlights, and JERRY DAVISON was the emcee.  At the time it was the coolest thing we had ever done...
5. February 26, 2006, Ames, IA - Sometimes it's the unexpected that makes a show special.  We went into this night thinking it would be routine, and it was anything but.  The crowd was awesome.  So loud that at times you could hear them singing over the band.  Now we look forward to playing in Iowa (not that we didn't before!)...
6. October (?) 1997, Roseland Ballroom, Portland, OR - The Conspiracy Tour was a fun era for us.  It was the first time that we got to really put a show together with lights and production.  We had just toured with Newsboys and rented a whole truckload of their gear.  We played at a bunch of little theatres and clubs with way more production than we ever needed.  And who could ever forget playing songs like "You Make Me Mad", "Alien", and "Gomer's Theme"?  This Portland show was the standout.
7. July 1995, Cornerstone Festival, IL - We shared the stage with Jars of Clay at a sides tent at Cornerstone.  They were just starting to blow up.  We were just starting to get a buzz about us.  A thousand people packed into a tent to see what it was all about.  Good old sweaty rock show.  We still talk about how cool this show was every time we're around the Jars guys.
8. April 2008, Wildhorse Saloon, Nashville, TN - Switchfoot was with us for #6, Jars of Clay was with us for #7.  Guess what?  We're touring together this summer!  The Wildhorse show was a "preview" of the tour, and if it's any indication, this tour is going to be the best ever.  Watching how awesome those other two bands are definitely makes us bring our 'A' game.  I hope every night on that tour is like that one was!
9. London, June 2005 - This was our first time playing the UK ever, and our first European show in 9 years.  I don't know if we were more excited or the crowd was more excited.  But I'll never forget standing on the roof of that theatre and looking out across the city toward the Thames - I'd always loved the UK and dreamed of playing there - and then looking straight down to see a huge line of people waiting to see the show.  Wherever You Are wasn't out yet, but we still played a couple of songs off it.  Awesome, awesome, night.
10. January 2008, somewhere in Iraq - I still haven't shared about Iraq much on the blog.  We weren't really allowed to talk about it BEFORE, were out of range DURING, and have been so busy SINCE.  That trip is easily a highlight of my whole life.  Being able to go over there and encourage the troops.  And I still get choked up every time I remember that picture of hundreds of men and women in uniform with their arms stretched to heaven in worship.  Maybe the most important show of our career...

Comments

[JanetRN]

I feel so honored I was at 2 of Dr Lee's shows.

One of my favorite all time Third Day memories that didn't make the list was during Rock the Universe on the Come Together Tour (I believe). I think there was a hurricane off in the gulf and storms were all around us. Just as the band started playing "When the Rain Comes" a light rain started coming down. Just enough to cool everything off and remind us of His presence there that night!

[Dean Robertson]

I have now seen two concerts and by far the best one for me is the show at Busch Gardens, Williamsburg. My wife and I went with our 3 year old son and it has been the highlight of his life so far. I did not think that he was going to remember very much but he can't stop singing ROCKSTAR!!! seeing him have a great time was even better than the front row seats we had.
Thank you so much for not only impacting my life but my son's as well.

[Mama Gomer]

I started to comment on this, and it got a little long for just a comment. So I blogged about it instead,complete with photos! Check it out here: http://gomertopia.typepad.com/new/2008/05/mark-lees-fav-t.html

[stubby]

My top Third Day shows

1 the first show I seen I don't remember the day but it was the night Rich Mullins passed away the band was opening for steven curtis chapman in nashville it was life changing yet sad but a night I'll never forget

2 At the old Starwood Toby Mac opened and came out with the band on I got a feeling and rocked some Jesus Freak with the band MY Sunday School kids freaked it was cool to watch how they responded to the show

3 Nashville Speed way I didn't know Brad had left the band It really showcased how great Mark is he never sounded better

Mark bring back the 72 Thinline and that classic salute at the end of the show I loved the way you'd hold that tele high and salute the fans thanks

[Julie]

The best concert I ever attended was Randy Stonehill at a local church here in California. Just him and a guitar for nearly two hours~great! Oh, and free. Second best was at Farragut High School in Knoxville, TN to see Rich Mullins. I think it was 1994. He was compelling and captivating. First time we saw you all was at SWC and have seen you many times over. Keep the good times rocking! Blessings~Julie

[Adam Riggins]

I have been to around 34 shows since 1994, and they have all ROCKED. I was at almost all of the "hometown" shows mentioned in #4, and the Strand shows were just CLASSIC.

[Murthen]

Best Third Day show was London 2004. Cos that was when you played London for the 1st time!!! It was in the aftermath of Wire and it was just mental. I remember meeting you and in my effort to impress you I made a really really lame joke - I think you just looked at me! But it was definitely 2004 - not 2005!!

[Maria]

Williamsburg, VA of course, since it is my hometown and also THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER THAT THIRD DAY PLAYED BUSCH GARDENS AND I GOT TO BE A PART OF THAT HISTORICAL EVENT!!!!

[dean]

In no particular order...
1) June 8, 1996. New Orleans (Kenner), LA. First time to see you guys. It was a little event the Baptist youth ministers in New Orleans put together called "Hallapalooza" (held on a local softball field) and you guys headlined. Also on the bill: Black Eyed Sceva and Quest for Stones. We were hard pressed for a speaker, and Mac filled that role as well. The stage we rented had railings all the way around it and a very low tent topper... it was almost like having you on exhibit, and at the last minute somebody came up with a wrench and dismantled the railing that ran across the front of the stage. You guys drove up in the van, pulling a trailer, and loaded, set up and broke down all your own gear. We didn't know at the time what would become of you guys long term, but you rocked the place and had a CD out with a bus on it, and that was cool enough.

2)Not terribly long after that, you guys came to Denham Springs, LA and played in a school gym. Actually, the original date, you didn't show up because whoever did your booking somehow double-booked the date and you were somewhere in North Carolina. You guys came back and put on an incredible show... I had dragged along a couple of youth group kids that didn't come to Hallapalooza (what were they thinking!) and they were blown away, which made it a special night for me.

3)Dec. 16, 2007. Southaven, MS (Memphis) Christmas Offerings Tour. I had 15th row seats and thought it would never get any better for me. My wife's family insisted she attend a Christmas play at their church that night (even though I'd had the tix since October), and I actually went alone. But you saved Christmas for me, as I was burned out and bummed out.

4) March 12, 2008. Monroe, LA. It DID get better vantage-point wise. THIRD ROW CENTER! Except the tallest woman I've ever seen in my life was dead in front of me in the front row... and Brad was gone. But it was a very very cool show nonetheless.

[Cebrina]

Houston 2004 was my first show. My life has never been the same since... :)

[rhonda]

I have to agree with #8. It's a little higher on my list at #1 (out of 9). There was definitely some magic in the air that night. I had not heard Thief on the Spring tour, so that was one of the highlights for me.