Reminiscent Review

Creed at Cleveland’s Gund Arena
by Nici Lucas
January 27, 2002
(Via the now-defunct Revue Magazine)

The verdict is in: Creed’s Gund performance ROCKED, and certainly was not “weathered!”

Scott Stapp at a recent 2016 performance

When was the last time an audience witnessed an entire stadium standing for the duration of a rock concert? What about a show packed with fire, explosions, and a grand finale of fireworks? Or even a show with band members that actually seemed like sincere rockers and thankful human beings, rather than cocky dickheads anxious to get backstage to the booze and babes? No, this wasn’t a concert with a seatless auditorium, a KISS concert or Independence Day fireworks display, nor was it good-boy rock band oxymoron. This was a Creed concert — an awesome display of true, genuine rock.

On Sunday, January 27, 2002 Creed gave the Cleveland Gund Arena audience exactly what they wanted and more: a truly unforgettable concert. From beginning to end and every second in between, Creed was consistently entertaining, rockin’ ’n’ rollin,’ and just all-out fabulous. The show consisted of a superb range of music in Creed’s 16-song gig. From the opening Bullets and head-banging Freedom Fighter, the audience was quickly absorbed into the enchanting sensations that the band created. Creed thrilled long-time fans with Are You Ready?, What If, and, of course, the goosebump-inducing My Own Prison.

The band mellowed the audience, yet still kept them rocking, with softer tunes like Lullaby, Weathered, and Don’t Stop Dancing, all from the band’s latest CD Weathered. Powerful ballads like What’s This Life For, Higher, and With Arms Wide Open continued to gratify audience members throughout the show. Yes, Creed managed to touch all the bases from the soft to the hard, from the mellow to explosive, from My Own Prison to Human Clay to Weathered. Scott Stapp’s mighty and powerful voice puts most singers to shame. Nonstop, relentlessly powerful, and sincere, Stapp’s singing is purely phenomenal. Equally, Mark Temonti’s guitar vibrations are simply extraordinary, as is Scott Phillips’ fantastic drumming. Unique guitar riffs and percussion in “What If” and “Higher” would be difficult for any music fan to dislike. This original trio, combined with substitute bassist, Brett Hestla from the Virgos, created a tremendous, synergetic feeling between band and audience that Stapp readily and openly acknowledged.

What on Earth could make a band this good? Is it a powerful belief, creed if you will, from beyond? The band members certainly seem to be a bit different than most rocker dudes. They actually seem to have hearts and souls. No offense on other bands’ performances, but lead singer Scott Stapp actually said to the audience in a truly genuine voice, “Thank you so much.” He sang most of the time with his arms wide open, as if he were embracing the audience, as if he really cared about creating the best show possible.

Creed has been incorrectly labeled a Christian rock band by many, but who cares anyway? The group still rocks with the best of them and beyond. Creed is one of the best bands and best performers in the rock world today. No appeal necessary. For more information, check out www.creed.com.

Tantric
Creed fans filling the Gund Arena were unsure what to expect of opening band Tantric, especially when lead singer Hugo Ferreira walked on stage and gave the crowd a demonic, Gene-Simmons-type once over, accused the entire front section of the arena of not being worthy enough to even have seats to the show since they weren’t standing or dancing, and then gave the finger to most audience members at one point. But, the crowd soon realized that Ferreira’s bark was much worse than his bite. In fact, his bark, his bite, and the entire band were pretty damn cool.

Tantric, twin brother to the late ’90s post-grunge rock band The Days of the New, is actually composed of three of the Days’ four original members. Todd Whitener (guitar), Jesse Vest (bass), and Matt Taul (drums) recruited Hugo Ferreira in 1999 to form Tantric, a band with a sound virtually indistinguishable from The Days of the New. Ferreira sounds so similar to Days’ singer, Travis Meeks, that even a hardcore fan might have problems telling the two singers apart.

Regardless of the similar sound, the band was able to rock the Creed-loving Gund crowd with its exceptional hits, Breakdown and Live Your Life (Down). Even tunes unfamiliar to the audience demonstrated the band’s talent. Whitener’s superb guitar playing with Vest’s bass and Taul’s drums produced a head-banging, engrossed audience. More of Tantric can be heard on the band’s self-titled CD.

Virgos
Who? Yeah, you might not have heard of the band, or the original name Virgos Merlot, but you probably will. The Virgos opened up for both Creed and Tantric, and put on a rockin’ good show. Brian Hesta, lead singer, guitarist, and substitute bassist for Creed, helped to produce a Chris Cornell meets Alice in Chains-type sound. This opening rock band gave the crowd a preview of what radio listeners will most likely hear in the near future.

2016 Verdict
Is a Scott Stapp show as powerful today as it was in 2002? Find out in my next post!