Creed brings rock redemption under the stars
By Hector Saldaņa
San Antonio Express-News
Web Posted : 09/21/2002 12:00 AM
The sound of the moment builds from an arpeggio electric guitar riff gently supporting a brooding lyric and hypnotic melodic hook. Perfect.Then, just when things get cozy, soulful (if gutteral) screams shred the night and interrupt the serene, aided by pummeled drums and bass. Guitar power chords slash through Marshall and Mesa amps..Rock redemption is at hand. And it could be no other way at the show of the summer on Friday at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater with Creed, Sevendust, 12 Stones and Cinder..More than 14,000 fans came, said venue director Mike Tabor, on one of the nicest nights of the season under a full moon..Pete Bocanegra, 37, attended with his 7-year-old son, Adrian. It turns out the handsome second-grader is a concert veteran with shows by Stone Temple Pilots and Godsmack already under his cap.."He's seen a lot of up-and-coming bands," his father said proudly. "We hang out a lot." But the Creed show was something extra special. "That song 'With Arms Wide Open,' reminds me of my son being born," Bocanegra said misty eyed. "It's gonna be cool," Adrian added..It was a night for families to rock together. Even Creed frontman Scott Stapp was feeling it, saying that the signature hit "With Arms Wide Open" refreshed emotions of becoming a father.."My son is now teaching me," Stapp said onstage. UTSA freshman Michael Comer, 18, was attending his first concert ever with his mother, DeAnn Havel of Corpus Christi. Havel's first concert was Chicago "when I was 12. The tickets were $6." "Since all of us love Creed, I thought this was something we could share," said Havel, 42. "I love 'Color My World,'" she says of her first concert experience, "but I like Guns 'N' Roses, too." She stood the whole night as Stapp led Creed, dressed in a white shirt and dark leather pants, danced and moved effortlessly, showing no signs of stress from an auto accident injury in April..Strobes, flames, flash pots and creative synchronized video-enhanced songs like "What If." Creed doesn't play nu-metal, they don't hip-hop and they're in slow motion compared to pop punk. They're the biggest-selling hard rock band in America - and San Antonio has loved this group since it played the White Rabbit in November 1997..This is arena rock Jim Morrison style. Stapp evokes the Lizard King with passionate singing and his shaman tribal dancing..Guitarist Mark Tremonti fuels the Doors grooves with cool approximations of Robbie Krieger's old riffs. The platinum-selling band played music from its albums "My Own Prison," "Human Clay and Weathered" in a show aimed to please and seduce..Stapp carried the show, while the band's brutal loud-soft, slow-slower dynamics manipulated the listener's pulse. "This song always stays relevant to me," Stapp said before "Torn," an old favorite. He is dramatic. At one point, he's on his knees asking, "What is the truth now?" Later, he will sing, "maybe six feet ain't so far down." The song "One" is so memorable for its "I feel angry/I feel helpless" chorus..All of it taking place beneath four giant Roman columns, illuminated and framing several giant video screens. The frenzy never subsided, especially through encore songs "Higher" and "My Sacrifice." Opening acts Cinder (a baby band with buzz), 12 Stones and Sevendust were well received. 12 Stones played jagged Creed-style rock songs like "Fade Away," "My Life" and "Broken." The group was energetic with really old-school guitar solos..Sevendust added "oomph" to the night with its hard rock off its new album "Animosity." It was by far the heaviest act. Singer Lajon Witherspoon is a marvel and gives Lenny Kravitz a run for the money for pure sex appeal. His growling vocals manage to compete with a barrage of guitars and drums..This is "extreme" music. But with melody. "Angel's Son," a touching rock ballad about "one last song," was dedicated to the late Drowning Pool singer Dave Williams, who died in his tour bus in August.."Never take life for granted," said Witherspoon. "We're very blessed to be here." Sevendust's "Crucified" was one of the true highlights of the night, with the singer working the stage and his half-dressed buff body..hsaldana@express-news.net
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