Grammy winning gospel/R&B duo Mary Mary sets out a spring club tour beginning April 8 at the Rams Head On Stage in Annapolis, Maryland, and ending April 29 at the House of Blues in Anaheim, California.
The duo’s latest release, The Sound, peaked at #1 on a variety of Billboard Christian and Gospel albums charts shortly after its release in October 2008. That same week, the album entered the Billboard Top 200 at #7, giving Mary Mary their highest charting — and second Top 10 — album on that chart (2005’s Mary Mary peaked at #8 on the Top 200). Mary Mary and The Sound achieved one of the highest chart debuts on the Top 200 of any gospel album released in 2008. A bonafide crossover smash, The Sound made a “Hot Shot” debut on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart at #2. Mary Mary took home a 2009 Grammy for Best Gospel Performance Grammy for “Get Up.”
A overtly Christian act performing at mainstream venues isn’t new. But Monica Johnson, a writer at Examiner.com, raises the question whether the the words “gospel” and “club” are basically an oxymoron:

“This genre of music is like no other in that its specific purpose is proclaiming the good news about Jesus Christ, giving glory to Him, worshipping, praising, and thanking HIm. So if the music is all about God, who is holy, why would His music be taken into an unholy environment? This is not to say that Christian groups can’t perform in concert halls or other types of venues, but clubs are for drinking, worldly dancing, secular music, hooking up, and being seen. If you want to go to a club, in most cases any adult over 21 is legally able to do so, but the issue comes when God’s name is brought into the equation under the guise of holiness. How are any of those activities giving glory to God?”

I’ve never met Mary Mary but from everything I’ve read about them they’re certainly not shy about their faith. And Johnson makes some good points about the blurring of the line between Christian and non-Christian.
But be honest. If we were talking Christian rock or pop, most people wouldn’t question an act performing in mainstream venues. Should there be a difference for gospel? Is there any reason why an R&B/gospel act like Mary Mary shouldn’t be performing at the House of Blues?
Personally, I don’t think it’s a big deal. A gospel group singing about God in a club venue is just bringing the gospel to the people. But I’d love to know what you think!
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