posted by Christopher at 7:59 PM

Monday, July 08, 2002

 

Exhausted. Sick. Unbelievably Happy.
I got back in from Cornerstone and Creation at 4AM last night. Two weeks ago, I left for Pennsylvania and Creation Festival. HM was sponsering the Fringe stage, so I spent most of my time there behind the booth of HM. I did however get to catch a few shows, including FIF, Bleach, Phil Keaggy, and Rock and Roll Worship Circus. Five Iron put on a great show as usual. I was very impressed with the new Bleach material...they are almost like a different band...very weezer now. I can't wait for their new full length to come out. The most startling event of the fest, though, was R&RWC. Justin had been raving about them for a month, but i never listened to them. When they came out on the stage though, I was mesmerized. THey are truly going places. Anyway, enough about creation...on to Cornerstone...
I have wanted to attend Cornerstone Festival for about the past 5 or 6 years, but my mom has never let me because it is really far away. Finally, I had my opportunity. We arrived on Monday night, the day before the festival began. With nothing to do, I and several others ventured about forty minutes (actually an hour and a half because we went the wrong way at first) to a church where Poor Old Lu was performing. They sound outstanding to say the least, but we had to leave after they played only 20 minutes....very dissapointing. BUT, this cool band called Seven Head Division also played.
Tuesday was Tooth and Nail Day. This is an entire day of Tooth and Nail bands playing 30 minute staggered sets between two stages. The day started out with The Blamed, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite bands. Other highlights included a very tight set by Further Seems Forever (the best of them I had ever seen), Two Thirty Eight, Element 101, Starflyer 59, Poor Old Lu again, and an assortment of others. The week continued on Wednesday through Saturday. Some of my favorite sets were Zao, The Lost Dogs, Pedro the Lion, MxPx, Brandston, Roadside Monument, Dennison Marrs, and Noise Ratchett. I had never been exposed to so much outstanding music in such a short amount of time. I think, though, that my favorite show was Zao. This was Zao's last ever Cornerstone performance, as they are breaking up soon, so it was a bittersweet hour. They sounded incredible. Played all of the classics, but nothing new. At one point, Jesse Smith made a farewell speech which brought figurative tears to every true fan. He explained that Zao had been a great experience and he was sad...He closed with "goodbye cornerstone." The lead singer of Training for Utopia joined Dan on stage for a song, as did Jason (the new singer for Further Seems Forever). Goodbye Zao. Cornerstone was a place for goodbyes and new beginings. Ghoti Hook closed out the festival with their last performance ever. They dressed as skeletons, representing the death of Ghoti Hook (RIP). About new beginings, Poor Old Lu and Roadside Monument. Both bands are playing again...great news. I actually saw Johnathon Ford, the bassist, at three performances. He also plays in Unwed Sailor and Pedro the Lion. A busy guy. Ohhhh. I forgot about Ester Drang....that show was incredible. It was an experience. I saw them a few weeks previous in Austin, but this was AWESOME. So ya, while I could go into much greater detail about everything about these two weeks, I am tired of typing and Seinfeld is almost on. Just remember this: next year, Go to Cornerstone Festival.