The album "Revelation" of Christian rock band Third Day

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"Wait, you're wearing black," the guitarist says, gesturing towardbandmate and Third Day frontman Mac Powell. Rummaging through amilk crate with several T-shirt options, he wonders aloud, "Shouldwe go all black?"
And that was the only thing close to a rock star moment of themorning, as the four members of Christian rock band Third Daygathered in a northwest Atlanta studio just a little over week agoto rehearse for tonight's appearance on "The Tonight Show With JayLeno."
The "Tonight Show" spot coincides with today's release of theAtlanta quartet's 10th studio album, "Revelation."
The road to "Revelation" began in 1991, soon after Powell and Leegraduated from McEachern High in Powder Springs, and the band hasgone from playing local churches to major amphitheaters across theUnited States. Third Day has three Grammys, more than 20 of theGospel Music Association's Dove Awards and is nearing the 7 millionmark in total career album sales.
With "Revelation," the band could reach new heights. The foursome'sprevious studio album, 2005's "Wherever You Are, " debuted at No. 8on the Billboard album chart, but the new one could easily topthat. The "Tonight Show" appearance is likely to give the album aboost, so that's why the band is doing something it doesn't do veryoften. It's rehearsing.
"It's a big opportunity for us to be on the 'Tonight Show,' and wethought we should make sure that we're putting our best footforward," says bassist Tai Anderson. "What we're really hoping isthat after we put this record out, that our fans go out and buy itand buy it quickly, and then the next story becomes our chartposition on Billboard. I don't want to curse that, but I would saythat's probably everyone's hope."
The guys in Third Day see "Revelation" as a new chapter in ThirdDay's evolution. It comes after a pair of best-of compilations("Chronology Volume 1" and "Chronology Volume 2") and the departure of guitarist Brad Avery.
"We've had a couple of years where we've gone a little bit dark. Imean, we've still had a presence, but radio stuff has dwindled,intentionally," says drummer David Carr. "We needed that time tofigure it out and start over. I hope ["Revelation"] really bringsus back in a bigger way than ever. I think it has more potential todo that than any album we've ever made."
The band gives a lot of the credit for the album's punchier soundto producer Howard Benson. "Howard was a big part of a lot ofthings for us, not only pushing us in our performances and oursongwriting, but also opening up those doors and inviting otherpeople," Powell says.
Both Flyleaf vocalist Lacey Mosley and pedal steel phenomenonRobert Randolph pitch in on the new album.
The most crucial guest on the album is Chris Daughtry, who lendshis vocals to "Slow Down." The former "American Idol" contestantcalled Powell just before the "Daughtry" album was released andsaid he was a fan. The feeling was mutual.
"I got Chris' album and listened to it and thought, 'this soundshuge,'" Powell recalls. That's where the connection with Bensoncomes in. He produced Daughtry's very successful debut album.
"Revelation" might showcase a new and improved Third Day but don'texpect a radical reinvention. "I think it's probably more like whatthey're used to hearing live. It's got that kind of energy to it,"says Carr.
The band's live energy will be tested on stages from New Jersey toCalifornia over the next two months. The "Music Builds" tour beginsAug. 21 and runs through Oct. 12, including a stop at Atlanta'sLakewood Amphitheatre on Sept. 20.
The band tours hard. The guys call a year with 60 shows an "offyear." 100 shows is closer to the norm, but that makes it even moreimportant for the band members to spend quality time here inAtlanta. "We make sure we're home a lot, too, so that we can keepour family lives healthy, and we can be there for our kids —-we're all dads now —- so that we can do this for a longtime," Lee says.
"Balance is not a passive verb," says Anderson. "It's not likewe've achieved it, this state of balance where we spend the perfectamount with our family and the perfect amount with the band. Wework at our family and we work at the band, but we've been able tokeep an excitement to both."
These men are friends first, and it shows in their easy banter. "Wereally try to seek out times on the road where it's just us," saysAnderson. "That's our favorite thing, whether we go 'let's all goout to lunch tomorrow' or 'let's all go see a movie together.'Those are my favorite times on the road."
Third Day's idea of on-the-road fun is hardly typical rock starbehavior. After all, this is a band that brings along its ownpastor. "We do get to do some cool stuff," Anderson says. "I mean,we get to go to some NASCAR things and we always go to baseballstadiums whenever we can. That's one of the things we do together.But a lot of times it's nothing that's all that exciting."
"You know what we should start?" Powell interjects. "Museums."
"Totally, man," Carr says.
Lee chimes in, "Listen, I've been wanting to go to museums foryears."
"We're kind of nerds," Anderson says.
With a little bit of rock stardom and a whole lot of family, nerdsnever had it so good.
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