Cornerstone - 2003 Roundup
Our C-stone Recap this year (slightly expanded here from what is in the print version of issue #103), is broken up into 3 diaries -- David Allen, Doug Van Pelt, and Kriss Stress. One of the three is an amusing parody of a real-life set that are what dreams are made out of -- an established band (recently signed to MCA) who throws down a set of old tunes that've laid dormant for years. All for the fans (well, almost... You know those guys had a blast doing it). I won't spoil the surprise and tell you who it was, but you can guess from all the hints...
DAVID ALLEN’S DIARY:
Ah, Cornerstone. It's been 20 years, and Cornerstone continues to draw in the crowds. Every year I look forward to this festival. And every year, after arriving, I look forward to leaving the sweaty heat. It's certainly a bipolar relationship, but I wouldn't have it any other way. There were many great shows, below we've highlighted a few:
• Doug releaved me for a few moments to run and experience Robert Randolph and the family band. Great performance, playing and I loved the falsetto glory.
• Squad Five-O and Mike Knott was fun. But geez Mike, leave your shirts on.
• MxPx is always fun, this year was no exception. Also a treat, Arthur played a solid set on the Decapolis stage.
• Much to my surprise, Demon Hunter laid it down thick. Ryan's voice was even more manly live, although I'm not sure what that means.
• One of the definite highlights was Living Sacrifice. It was bittersweet to see them knowing that they'll no longer be around.
• The Danielson Famile dressed as a huge tree with hanging fruit.
• Figure Four threw down and people were talking days after. The response to Comeback Kid was incredible. Everyone knew the songs and nobody stopped singing along.
• I still miss P.O.D. at Cornerstone. Anyone else remember sharing communion during their set?
• Somebody got Toby Mac started this year and he wouldn't stop.
• I was happy with the Agony Scene and I wasn't. Maybe I got my hopes up and expected too much, but then their second show they delivered without expecting a tip. It was nice.
• I seriously enjoyed xDisciplex AD. Always solid, they had the crowd in the palm of their hands.
• The response to the new HM look and merch was tremendous. Also, seeing other companies and magazines push a stronger look and design was good to see.
• I've grown accustomed to the white and red stripes on the tents, but each year more and more lead singers act more feminine. I think I may have a hard time growing accustomed to that.
• Still, to this day, nothing beats the pasta booth place.
DOUG VAN PELT’S DIARY:
• Robert Randolph & the Family Band was hands-down the highlight of my Cstone experience. Like seeing, hearing, and feeling the very essence of music, it made you move your feet and scream.
• The Agony Scene on T&N Day was there. Intense and impressively tight. Those drums rule. The bassist’s tongue doesn’t. I'd fallen so much in love with their debut album prior to the show, and I really wanted to see if they were the "real deal" live. Yep.
• Jason Moody (ex-NIV)’s new rockabillyplike outfit, The Regal Line, put on a hootinanny of a show at the Gallery Stage, complete with sideburns, big mics and a country-fied version of the Maiden classic “Run To The Hills.” Awesome. Jason made a shout-out after the song, refering to the age of those that were singing along to that one. Elvis would've been proud.
• Anberlin rocked the HM Magazine Stage. Melody+Energy=Fun.
• Embodyment dominated for a full set of great songs. “One Less Addiction” still brings it with feeling, as “Heaven In A Letter Bomb” does with urgency.
• Nodes of Ranvier was incredimetal. What else can I say?
• xDisciplex A.D. brought more awesome metal. It’s funny that people call them “the hardcore disciple” (differentiating from the older school Disciple from TN), since both bands play full on metal, guitar riffs and bodies flying everywhere. Great stuff.
• Comeback Kid took 15 of set time after the xDxAD set, and the crowd went off. With simplistic chords and singalong choruses, the band has certainly found a phenomenal niche to exploit. 15 minutes of crowd hysteria, power chords and singalongs ensued.
• The best thing about Demon Hunter was seeing a skinny mountain man pounding away (I mean pounding!) on drums. Jesse Sprinkle finally gets to cut loose on stage. After all the hype, the show didn't deliver an "I'll never forget this" performance, as the band adroitly played each note but I never once believed that anyone on stage was angry or ready to explode (okay...maybe Jesse on drums...). Overall, it was a solid set. Nice ‘n’ heavy.
• I noticed a different vibe immediately upon entering the Underground Stage tent while Rock & Roll Worship Circus was playing. It was nice “walking into praise,” which is how it felt. The band seemed kinda tired, though.
• Josh Garrels showed his talent as a great beat poet on just guitar and beat machine. Very smart lyrics.
• Firefly came all the way from England and delivered a really good show. Not many people probably knew that the stage was being mastered by two greats from Christian heavy metal's past -- Seventh Angel's Simon Bibby and Mark Broomhead of Detritus -- but there they were, putting out atmospheric, gentle sounds dynamically contrasted with smoothly transitioned heavy walls of power chords, drums and keys that are only delivered right when its tight; and it was evident that these guys have been together for ages.
• Another band who made a long trip was Poland's Fruhstuck, who also performed in front of an enthusiastic and growing (but grossly under attended) crowd that showed the imbalance between musical quality and the lack of familiarity; but being consumate professionals, they delivered and won fans the old fashioned way -- by rocking them out.
• Thursday night was coined "International Night" at the HM Magazine Stage, and Man Alive from Israel helped cap off the evening with their friends from Norway in Extol. Man Alive sported a giant Israeli flag (bringing to mind a conversation I had with some fest people that involved a visit with the FBI prior to the fest... Anytime an event brings 20+ thousand people together post-9/11, it becomes a homeland security issue. But you had to wonder if any of it had something to do with an Israeli band playing this stage... Hmmm, probably a far-fetched concern, but it still came to mind as the band started its set with the Israeli National Anthem. These guys rock it, too. Extol were solid, heavy, and mean. I'd have to say, though, even though it was an excellent feast of metal, it lacked the ferocious bite of previous years. It's hard to be this good and live up to and surpass previous efforts... Sigh. It must suck to be this talented!
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