Lee Steffen
“Man, it’s like that moment every touring artist cherishes,” says TobyMac, talking about getting back on the road.
His latest album—the first in three years—The Elements was released in October. To celebrate, he’s taking his tour across the country to 37 arenas, stopping in Nashville to play Bridgestone Arena on February 8. Along the way, Jeremy Camp, Jordan Feliz, Ryan Stevenson, We Are Messengers, and Aaron Cole will join him. The HITS DEEP Tour is just that: a night of each artist’s greatest hits, whether it’s two or 15.
On playing new songs such as “I just need U.” and “Everything” from the new album, TobyMac says it’s the moment “where everything comes together. I put the record out, [the fans] got it, it seems like they enjoy it, and then to walk out on stage, and we’re singing these songs together, it’s just like the crème de la crème of touring.”
The Nashville show is sure to be special for the artists as well.
“Nashville is always one of our best shows. All of us live here, pretty much all of the artists and most all their bands, so it’s like a homecoming, it’s a home game,” says TobyMac.
Home is also where he’s put his other passions to work, too. In 2017, the artist co-founded a retail space in downtown Franklin. Now called Citizen, the store sells sneaker lines that he says, “are typically are hard to find,” and clothing, including pieces from the store’s original label. The name, he says, came about after he did some research to the word’s meaning.
“A good citizen is someone who adds to society, not takes away. I want people to feel welcome when they walk in, feel like they’re part of something,” he adds.
For more information on TobyMac's HITS DEEP Tour, visit tobymac.com.