Rapper TobyMac considers himself a humble artist, and that is why he wants his fifth-annual "Winter Wonder Slam Tour," which kicks off in State College, to call for people to think outside themselves.
"Playing a college town is fitting because students love music and students love a cause," said TobyMac, whose real name is Kevin Michael McKeehan. "We not only want to entertain them, but we want to have them walk out of there thinking about deeper issues."
This cause is Toys for Tots, the organization headed by the U.S. Marine Corps that distributes toys to needy children in the area.
"These kids wouldn't have a Christmas otherwise," McKeehan said. "I remember Toys for Tots going to rock 'n' roll shows as a kid, and I found out the Marines did it and they keep the toys locally in the city that you're in."
McKeehan hopes to help the kids in the Centre Region by bringing along his friends -- Relient K, Stephanie Smith and B. Reith -- to perform at 7 tonight at the Bryce Jordan Center. All the acts set to play have some kind of Christian influence.
All three of the acts have at one time been signed to McKeehan's label, Gotee Records, with Relient K having moved on to RCA.
McKeehan said life on the bus is almost like living with an extended family.
"We're all very close friends," McKeehan said. "We go out on days off and have a good time, but at the same time, our relationships go deep and we will always be there for each other."
Matt Thiessen, frontman for Relient K, said McKeehan has been a huge supporter of the band's career and that the members of Relient K were happy to tour with him on the Winter Wonder Slam for a second time.
"It's kind of just like a cool event," Thiessen said. "Toby's show is really entertaining."
Stephanie Smith, who is also the granddaughter of former Penn State soccer coach Ken Hosterman, said it is ironic that she would be signed by McKeehan -- she went to see his show at the BJC for her birthday when he was still in his group, DC Talk.
Although DC Talk canceled that concert at the BJC, she is performing on this same stage with the TobyMac, whom she calls her "idol."
Rapper B. Reith, whose real name is Brian Reith, said this tour has been somewhat of a resume builder for him and will hopefully lead to headlining larger venues.
"There's an over-saturation of artists out there, and sometimes being talented isn't enough," Reith said. "If I don't have people to hear the music I make, it's a pretty unfulfilling calling."
Although all the acts on tour have been involved with making contemporary Christian music, McKeehan said he hopes people are not deterred from coming out to see the acts.
"I never want to be the guy who's shoving this down people's throats," he said. "But at the same time, I want people to know that I believe it."
McKeehan said people see Relient K on MTV all the time and people know his solo songs and songs from DC Talk in TV and films.
Reith said music should not be limited because of the Christian influences in each of the groups.
"It's very easy for us to get into a bubble -- a cultural bubble or a Christian bubble or a socio-economic bubble," Reith said.
Thiessan, whose group has had the most success breaking through to a mainstream audience, said just because music has Christian themes does not make it fit to a particular music listener. He believes combining secular and Christian themes into songs makes them better.
Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing for the BJC, said central Pennsylvania has one of the largest markets for Christian music and the venue has an excellent track record with Christian bands, averaging three Christian acts per year.
"This area is very rich for fans of Christian music," Punt said. "When we have TobyMac coming here with this tour, it just continues the consistent popularity of this type of music in this area."
Thiessen said the main aspect of the tour people should not miss is helping impoverished children during the holidays.
Besides performing on the Winter Wonder Slam Tour last year, Relient K has also worked with Habitat for Humanity and Blood:Water Mission, he said.
"When you're bringing people together through trying to help someone else, it's a pretty awesome thing to be a part of," Thiessan said.
Smith, who went on a ministry trip with Compassion International to El Salvador, said because she can now perform on stage, she considers it her responsibility to raise awareness about injustices in the world.
"I will bleed and sweat and go financially broke to get up on stage to tell people these things that I believe in," she said.
Punt said there will be representatives for Toys for Tots at the show, and audience members are welcome to donate toys at the concert, as well as at the Radio City Christmas Spectacular shows and home basketball games.
McKeehan said he looks forward to playing in the area because the tour previously played venues in the Midwest, and now he can be closer to home. The third show of the tour is at George Mason University, near where McKeehan grew up.
Thiessen has played Penn State several times, but the show he remembers most was at the Crow Bar, now the Cell Block, 420 E. College Ave., where Relient K received gifts.
"I remember everybody got Penn State jerseys on the back, which is kind of cool, even though I'm an Ohio State fan," Thiessen said.
Smith said she is going to enjoy her homecoming visit to State College.
"I have a lot of people coming to see me that have never seen me before," Smith said. "It's so neat that some of my family gets to see me perform with my childhood idol."
Although Reith said he played at several Pennsylvania festivals before, he is very excited to see what kind of crowd the show gets at State College.
"It's a chance for me to put into practice all we've worked on," Reith said. "I grew up in Milwaukee and I'm a fan of Wisconsin, but don't hold that against me."
And McKeehan said he promises to put on a show, and his main goal is having the audience have fun.
"There are reflective moments, but it's a party," McKeehan said. "That's what we want -- that's what we promote."
