Crowder is spending part of the beginning of 2023 on the road with TobyMac, serving as the opening act on TobyMac’s Hits Deep Tour. Kicking off on January 31, the Hits Deep Tour makes a stop this weekend at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, on Sunday, February 19.
“Toby’s show. It’s such an arena show,” Crowder boasts to Everything Nash. “The production and stuff, it’s absolutely an arena show. And so, to me, it’s been fun because one, we get to use all of his production, which is fantastic. We look like super rock stars. It’s amazing. But, it’s bizarrely intimate. The way the stage is set up and stuff, it feels like you’re right in the middle of things in the arenas.
“The sides are so tall oftentimes, and so it feels like you’re just stuck in the middle of a bunch of people singing right at you,” he continues. “So for us, given that it’s very group-scene oriented, the crowds have sounded amazing. That’s been the best part about this Hits Deep Tour.”
Crowder is grateful to be performing in front of such large crowds, but he’s also grateful for the experience of spending time on the road with TobyMac, someone he respects on and off stage.
“He is a gem. He’s the real deal,” Crowder praises. “He’s a legend in our industry; he’s obviously been around from the DC Talk era to going solo and killing it. His whole crew is amazing. He’s got a good group of people around him, and he’s just super down-to-earth, and the nicest dude you’ll ever be around. He’s a treat, and so professional. He’s pro. All of them are so pro.
“I’m like, ‘We gotta step our game up,’ after being around him,’ he adds with a laugh. “I hope it’s rubbing off. I hope we’re getting some of that pro in us.”
TobyMac is a few years older than Crowder, but the “God Really Loves Us” singer is still in awe of how the tour headliner moves around on stage.
“The dude is still spritely,” Crowder says. “The guy’s running around all over the stage, jumping,” Crowder says. “He still feels like he’s ten is what it looks like. Whatever he is having, I’ll have,”
Crowder is spending time on the road with TobyMac, but he’s also working on his own music. After the release of Milk & Honey in 2021, followed by Milk & Cookies: A Merry Crowder Christmas last year, Crowder is ready to share more music with his fans, and hopefully soon.
“It’s time to get to some new stuff, I think,” Crowder hints. “I’m getting that itch. It’s time to make a new album. I think we’re gonna get back in that studio. We have some downtime over the summer right after this tour’s over. I think we’ll get to writing and then see where it goes. We have some stuff coming up in the fall. We’re gonna go out a little bit here and there, and then, who knows? I’m ready for a new album.”
The Hits Deep Tour also includes Cochren & Co., Tasha Layton, Jon Reddick, and Terrian. Tickets for the Bridgestone Arena show are available here. Find all of Crowder’s music and upcoming shows at CrowderMusic.com.