The Dove Award-winning progressive pop band Tenth Avenue North began its musical career with a bang-or more like an emotional punch.

Its 2008 studio release Over and Underneath achieved unprecedented popularity for a debut album, earning the band the title of New Artist of the Year at the 2009 Dove Awards, and nominations as Group of the Year and Song of the Year. Rarely has a debut band experienced enough momentum to headline its own tour-not only has Tenth Avenue North become known for "touring relentlessly" after its 2009 Inside and Between tour, but it has hit the road again after the release of its 2010 album The Light Meets the Dark.

"I've been trying to consider it like I'm a fireman or a medic," said Guitarist Jeff Owen about the touring lifestyle. "Four days on, three days off. You kind of don't see your family, and then when you do, you get to spend three whole days with them, so it's really nice."

Tenth Avenue North is comprised of three members: Mike Donehey (vocals/guitar), Jason Jamison (drums), and Owen. As with many other bands, theirs began while still in the college dorms-off the street known as Tenth Avenue North, as a matter of fact. But unlike many other college bands, they had a rapport and musical style that just couldn't be denied-not to mention a belief that they were called for a life of musical ministry.

"Our calling wasn't really like, ‘I was praying one day and God verbally told me he wanted me to do this.' I heard it once said that your calling is where your passion meets the world's needs," Owen said. "And so, if everyone was called to ministry, there'd be no more janitors, there'd be no more people writing for magazin

es, interviewing people and there'd be no more radio, no more car mechanics. Your passion is your calling."

The members of Tenth Avenue North have discovered their passion and purpose in the music industry-particularly in the recent release of their 2010 album, The Light Meets the Dark. A continuation from their first record, Over and Underneath, this new collection is just as poignant and powerful as the last, yet with a more seasoned level of musicianship and maturity.

"What we're trying to communicate is the next step in your faith is actually believing that Christ is enough and that your identity is in Christ and it's not in who you are or what you've done in your past," Owen said. "You have full confidence and assurance in Christ, that you can bring these things to light."

Tenth Avenue North will be bringing this message when it hits the roads for its The Light Meets the Dark tour 2010, which will be kick-started on Sept. 10 at the Night of Joy in Disney World. The tour will be stopping off at Kalamazoo First Assembly of God in Portage, MI on Sept. 16.

"We want to communicate something that people can walk away with," Owen said. "Some people might walk away from a concert saying, ‘That was a fun and exciting concert,' or ‘Yeah, Miley Cyrus, Party in the USA!' But we want to instill truth and life in people that they'll still remember and be excited about the next morning."