A youth event coming to the Bismarck Civic Center Nov. 2 is expected to draw more than 6,000 students and be the largest youth event in North Dakota this year, according to Nick Hall, director of Pulse, a national faith-based organization that promotes drug- and alcohol-free events for young people in communities and campuses since 2005.

Hall will be the speaker for the event. Musical headliner is the group Third Day, along with performances by NeedToBreathe and Revive.

The event is free for college students with a current college ID. Tickets will be sold to the general public for $10 for youth and $20 for adults, available online at pulsecampus.com or at the door the night of the event.

Third Day consists of lead vocalist Mac Powell, drummer David Carr, guitarist Mark Lee and bassist Tai Anderson.

Third Day was formed about 16 years ago in Atlanta with a really simple idea, Anderson said: "We wanted to make great rock and roll music that talked about our faith."

From their base in Atlanta, Anderson said in a phone interview that the group is taking its music around the country following the release in July of its 11th album, "Revelation."

From four years of being "the local band, the garage band," Third Day hit the national stage in 1996 and in the 12 years since, has won three Grammys, 25 Dove awards and No. 1 radio singles, Anderson said. "When you start out, you sort of do your thing," he said. "An artist's first record is a pretty pure statement, because it hasn't been criticized. We had a great response."

By their third record, he said, "we decided to make music we like, and others will like it (too) … and it's grown and grown.

"We're very fan conscious," Anderson said. "It's never an obscure art project, but listenable, relatable music."

The core group of Third Day has remained the same over the years, he said. "The drummer and I have been playing together since we were 11 or 12. We have a foundation of friendship. Mac and Mark, the singer and guitar player, were friends in high school."

Now that they'll all getting married, becoming fathers and running the business, the foundation of friendship remains the same, he said.

"What's unique is we've had just the right level of success to foster that," he said. "We're a solid working band. This is our job. It gives us accessibility and relatability to our fans.

"We're really guys that make music we really like."

Third Day identifies with musicians like Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, U2 and Bruce Springsteen; "We keep our fans," Anderson said.

"Artists who are able to write music from where they are and be honest, continue to connect with your peers. That applies spiritually as well," Anderson said.

"We're in our mid-30s, have kids. Our spiritual themes have matured. In 16 years, you become more honest. That's the thing with faith, the deeper you dig, the more questions you have," he said.

Becoming parents has impacted the group, he said.

"Everyone starts in the world selfish. There's a journey - every faith talks about this - to put others above yourself. Becoming a parent is a huge part of that. In a way, I feel like it motivates you to think a little big bigger.

"You'll be handing them this world in a short amount of time," he said. For Anderson, it means looking at bigger issues of justice, for example.

"Instead of circling the wagons, (I know) my kids are watching me. I need to do my part to make the world better."

Doors for the Bismarck Pulse event open at 5 p.m. with the show beginning at 6 p.m.

Pulse events have been held at North Dakota State University, University of North Dakota, Concordia College, Valley City State University, Jamestown College, Dickinson State University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and several rural communities around Minnesota and North Dakota.

Pulse began at NDSU when students joined together to combat drug, alcohol, and depression trends with positive events.

(Reach reporter Karen Herzog at 250-8267 or karen.herzog@bismarcktribune.com.)