================================================ Subject: [ Creed Discuss ] NY Daily News review of NJ show ... From: To: Date: Tue 30 Jul 2002 09:45:39 -0400 ================================================ 7/29/02 The music is metal, the message is soul By ISAAC GUZMAN DAILY NEWS FEATURE WRITER The vast majority of modern rock bands are no strangers to psychic turmoil, alienation and rage. But while artists such as Korn and Staind blame their angst on societal rejection, bad parenting and snooty girls, Creed singer Scott Stapp is all worked up over the state of his eternal soul. On Saturday at the Continental Airlines Arena, Stapp and his bandmates put on the equivalent of a heavy metal revival show. The 105-minute concert came complete with Stapp's messianic overtones and something rarely seen in hard rock - pleas for compassion and an admission he hadn't become the person he'd like to be. "I think every single person in here, at some point in your life, you have to come to grips with your life," Stapp told the large but far from sold-out crowd. "I had to realize to just be myself and have no reason to hide." Saturday marked Creed's first area concert since Stapp suffered severe back injuries in an April 19 car accident. At the time, Creed's tour had to be canceled to give him time to recover, but Stapp didn't seem to have any lingering problems as he loped about the stage, hitting rock star poses with his arms splayed wide. Guitarist Mark Tremonti has, unfortunately, mired Creed in the derivative sound of grunge icons such as Smashing Pumpkins and Alice in Chains - whose former guitarist, Jerry Cantrell, was an opening act. But if the music is a retread, Stapp's message grows increasingly strong. As the band becomes more adept at making grand gestures, he's largely dropped the self-consciousness that made his moves look clunky and his voice sound like a strangled version of Eddie Vedder. He's finally filled out his Jim Morrison-style leather pants. While Stapp may largely be concerned with higher issues, he didn't waste any time in hitting back at his detractors, including Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and a host of unrepentant rock critics. Opening with "Bullets" and moving to "Freedom Fighter," he expressed dismay nobody is mean to his face. "At least look at me when you shoot a bullet in my head," he sang. The best of the grunge-era bands succeeded because they expressed their disillusionment with a fervor that was matched by their raging sound. Nirvana's Kurt Cobain ultimately gave up on finding hope. But Stapp has inspired his fans because no matter how down he gets, he's still looking to find the light. If Creed could break some new musical ground, he just might find it. Creed's summer tour continues tomorrow at Nassau Coliseum. To unsubscribe or change your preferences for the Creed-Discuss list, visit: http://www.debbir.com/lists/Creed-discuss.htm To submit your profile, visit: http://www.creedlisters.com/Submit.html To view List member Profiles, visit: http://www.creedlisters.com