Creation stuff...aka a really long post
I got back from Creation fest on Sunday. Except Sunday and Monday I was too busy catching up with other stuff to make this post. It's kinda funny, I almost got used to the 90-100 degree weather, and actually need to put a sweatshirt on when the AC turns on. Weird. I just wish my sun burns would go away.
A general outline of the Festival:
1) Relient K: This was the first time I'd seen them since the last Creation fest I went to in 2003. I'm still a huge fan. They played a pretty good mix from all their cds, though I wish they played "Softer To Me" For Sadie Hawkins, they invited any guitarist who could play 4 chords onto the stage. One poor kid in front of "the chosen one" thought Matt was pointing at him. Anywho, the guy chosen was pretty good too, except he played the verse a little slower than the real muscians.
2) Phil Wickham: I actually didn't see this guy at his actual concert. He lead worship for about 2 mornings I think. Kinda freaky though, he sounds exactly the same in person as he does on the radio. Wiiiiiiiiiiierd.
3) Group 1 Crew: I'm not a HUGE fan of rap/hip hop, even Christian rap/hip hop, especialy in concert. But these three were pretty good. Especially their message, about not giving up on your dreams. And the girl singer was pretty good. I had a hard time imagining that she'd tried out for American Idol and didn't make it. Weird stuff happens I guess.
4) Emery: The best part about this band was the keyboardist. I don't care if he looked out of place with his keyboard throwing and all out craziness. The rest of the band needed to follow his antics. Seriously. I'm not much of a fan of this band, and the concert didn't change my mind. Especially when teh non-conformist in me refused to agree that this was one of the best concerts at Creation.
5) MXPX: Yet another unconvincing band. But maybe it was because I was too busy trying to believe that a band that has gone so mainstream has returned to Creation Fest. Or maybe it was that they should have been on the Mainstage based on the crowd rather than Emery.
6) Skillet: They played mostly stuff from their new cd, which I don't know very well. Rather disapointing. And no bringing their kid on stage like last time. Oh well.
7) Chris Tomlin: I mainly went to this concert to try to find Josh L. and get a good spot for Switchfoot. Niether plain worked very well. I still ended up without finding him, and 2 rows of people were still seperating me from the sectioned off mosh pit (see rant under Venue). Never have been a fan of worship bands, still ain't.
8) Switchfoot: Up till Thursday night, I hadn't seen them since their "Meant to Live" tour in Portland. That was in junior high. They were pretty stinking amazing, playing stuff from "Meant to Live" "Nothing is Sound" and "O Gravity!" Mostly from the first and last cds mentioned, which is fine with me. At one point Jon Foreman (lead singer) ran between the two mosh pits with a security guard racing behind him. Pretty darn hilarious. Earlier, the entire band froze mid song, and someone next to me shouted "I DARE YOU TO MOVE" And I'm like, "they already played that song" Fun times. I can't wait to see them on tour with Relient K.
9) KJ-52: I think I arrived a little late for this one. But it was still a lot of fun. He did a lot of free style, and messing around with his band. I liked that, especially when one of the sound guys caused Eurythmics, and Backstreet Boys to come through the sound system. That took me back a few years. The only song I recognized from KJ was "Gimme That" which made me laugh. Poor caffine addicted rapper boy.
10) Red: Meh. I might have enjoyed them, if I weren't constantly being doused with water. Seriously, people, save your water for drinking, especially when you're in the middle of a desert.
11) Day of Fire: The lead singer actually encouraged people over 21 to go see them perform in a bar. Hilarious, considering that most people in the crowd were underage, and that they were saying this crap at a Christian music festival.
12) Project 86: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I got several pictures with my new crappy spy camera, that actually takes crappy pictures. But they're pics none the less. They started playing, and Andrew Schwab came out in a sweatshirt and a white bandana. So freaking cool. I don't care what the rest of my youthgroup says, Project was the best band there. I liked their latest cd "Rival Factions" better live. The fans on the other hand, not so cool. I hated that I had to leave the most pit before the first song was even over, because I had already been pushed to the ground. One girl was their for almost an entire song, screaming cause she was so freaked out. It was forever before some helped her, because people kept tripping and fall on her. I really learned to respect the staff during that concert. I would not want the job of crowd control.
13) Kutless: I made it to the concert late because the stupid cook haaaaaaaaad to see Brit Nicole before she started cooking. Ack. But I did get to see Jeffery drum again, so it made me happy. I just wish they're signing wasn't as the same time as Project's, otherwise I would've asked Jeff if he got my sisters email.
14) Newsboys: Their concert/testimony was almost identical to the concert in Salem, which I find hilarious. But the drum battle was worth seeing again.
15) Disciple: Meh. Still not a big fan of them, though they prayed and read the Bible on stage. Really. I think they were only able to take time for that because Sanctus Real cancelled their concert that was originally after them. But still, funniness. They weren't expecting to do an encore, and their actual guitarist had a bad back so he couldn't be there. So the fill in guitarist (from Staple, I think) only knew a certain set of Disciple songs. When they had been asked to do an encore, the lead singer is like "Can we just play again one of the songs we already played today?" And so they did. Hilarious.
16) Thousand Foot Krutch: I was late to this concert as well, but I didn't mind much. I didn't even head down towards the mosh pit. TFK just isn't that great in concert. Which is pretty disapointing, cause I like most of their albums a lot.
17) Leeland: Wow. Simply amazing. They sound even better in concert. And they're all 18-19 years old. And their heart for ministry, just crazy. They really convicted me to examine my heart for worship. Just amazing. I want their cd now.
18) David Crowder Band: The best parts of their concert? Seeing all my youth leaders going crazy over them, the blow horns we got for free, and David Crowder playing an entire song on a reprogramed guitar hero controller.
19) Toby Mac: We didn't even stay for the whole thing. We decided that sleep was more worth it. Which it was.
The Venue: I have a love hate relationship with Creation Fest/ the Gorge Ampitheater. The ads/promotions from the bands for Compassion made me want to never sponsor one of their children, which sounds bad, but it's the truth. They shouldn't have to milk people out of their money using emotional appeals. They should leave up the convincing to the Holy Spirit. And the closing off the mosh pit thing, retarded. It isn't going to stop people from moshing. And telling us the morning after all the concerts that we had to clear the campground by 8 AM. Freaks.
General: The music was worth the heat and the sunburns, and the loopyness caused by both of those.
Kitty's Random Concert Hit List (2007):
1)Project 86: 5 cheezes, Newsboys and Kutless: 5 cheezes (tie)
2)Switchfoot: 4.5 cheezes. Leeland 4.5 cheezes.
3) Relient K: 4 cheezes.
A general outline of the Festival:
1) Relient K: This was the first time I'd seen them since the last Creation fest I went to in 2003. I'm still a huge fan. They played a pretty good mix from all their cds, though I wish they played "Softer To Me" For Sadie Hawkins, they invited any guitarist who could play 4 chords onto the stage. One poor kid in front of "the chosen one" thought Matt was pointing at him. Anywho, the guy chosen was pretty good too, except he played the verse a little slower than the real muscians.
2) Phil Wickham: I actually didn't see this guy at his actual concert. He lead worship for about 2 mornings I think. Kinda freaky though, he sounds exactly the same in person as he does on the radio. Wiiiiiiiiiiierd.
3) Group 1 Crew: I'm not a HUGE fan of rap/hip hop, even Christian rap/hip hop, especialy in concert. But these three were pretty good. Especially their message, about not giving up on your dreams. And the girl singer was pretty good. I had a hard time imagining that she'd tried out for American Idol and didn't make it. Weird stuff happens I guess.
4) Emery: The best part about this band was the keyboardist. I don't care if he looked out of place with his keyboard throwing and all out craziness. The rest of the band needed to follow his antics. Seriously. I'm not much of a fan of this band, and the concert didn't change my mind. Especially when teh non-conformist in me refused to agree that this was one of the best concerts at Creation.
5) MXPX: Yet another unconvincing band. But maybe it was because I was too busy trying to believe that a band that has gone so mainstream has returned to Creation Fest. Or maybe it was that they should have been on the Mainstage based on the crowd rather than Emery.
6) Skillet: They played mostly stuff from their new cd, which I don't know very well. Rather disapointing. And no bringing their kid on stage like last time. Oh well.
7) Chris Tomlin: I mainly went to this concert to try to find Josh L. and get a good spot for Switchfoot. Niether plain worked very well. I still ended up without finding him, and 2 rows of people were still seperating me from the sectioned off mosh pit (see rant under Venue). Never have been a fan of worship bands, still ain't.
8) Switchfoot: Up till Thursday night, I hadn't seen them since their "Meant to Live" tour in Portland. That was in junior high. They were pretty stinking amazing, playing stuff from "Meant to Live" "Nothing is Sound" and "O Gravity!" Mostly from the first and last cds mentioned, which is fine with me. At one point Jon Foreman (lead singer) ran between the two mosh pits with a security guard racing behind him. Pretty darn hilarious. Earlier, the entire band froze mid song, and someone next to me shouted "I DARE YOU TO MOVE" And I'm like, "they already played that song" Fun times. I can't wait to see them on tour with Relient K.
9) KJ-52: I think I arrived a little late for this one. But it was still a lot of fun. He did a lot of free style, and messing around with his band. I liked that, especially when one of the sound guys caused Eurythmics, and Backstreet Boys to come through the sound system. That took me back a few years. The only song I recognized from KJ was "Gimme That" which made me laugh. Poor caffine addicted rapper boy.
10) Red: Meh. I might have enjoyed them, if I weren't constantly being doused with water. Seriously, people, save your water for drinking, especially when you're in the middle of a desert.
11) Day of Fire: The lead singer actually encouraged people over 21 to go see them perform in a bar. Hilarious, considering that most people in the crowd were underage, and that they were saying this crap at a Christian music festival.
12) Project 86: SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! I got several pictures with my new crappy spy camera, that actually takes crappy pictures. But they're pics none the less. They started playing, and Andrew Schwab came out in a sweatshirt and a white bandana. So freaking cool. I don't care what the rest of my youthgroup says, Project was the best band there. I liked their latest cd "Rival Factions" better live. The fans on the other hand, not so cool. I hated that I had to leave the most pit before the first song was even over, because I had already been pushed to the ground. One girl was their for almost an entire song, screaming cause she was so freaked out. It was forever before some helped her, because people kept tripping and fall on her. I really learned to respect the staff during that concert. I would not want the job of crowd control.
13) Kutless: I made it to the concert late because the stupid cook haaaaaaaaad to see Brit Nicole before she started cooking. Ack. But I did get to see Jeffery drum again, so it made me happy. I just wish they're signing wasn't as the same time as Project's, otherwise I would've asked Jeff if he got my sisters email.
14) Newsboys: Their concert/testimony was almost identical to the concert in Salem, which I find hilarious. But the drum battle was worth seeing again.
15) Disciple: Meh. Still not a big fan of them, though they prayed and read the Bible on stage. Really. I think they were only able to take time for that because Sanctus Real cancelled their concert that was originally after them. But still, funniness. They weren't expecting to do an encore, and their actual guitarist had a bad back so he couldn't be there. So the fill in guitarist (from Staple, I think) only knew a certain set of Disciple songs. When they had been asked to do an encore, the lead singer is like "Can we just play again one of the songs we already played today?" And so they did. Hilarious.
16) Thousand Foot Krutch: I was late to this concert as well, but I didn't mind much. I didn't even head down towards the mosh pit. TFK just isn't that great in concert. Which is pretty disapointing, cause I like most of their albums a lot.
17) Leeland: Wow. Simply amazing. They sound even better in concert. And they're all 18-19 years old. And their heart for ministry, just crazy. They really convicted me to examine my heart for worship. Just amazing. I want their cd now.
18) David Crowder Band: The best parts of their concert? Seeing all my youth leaders going crazy over them, the blow horns we got for free, and David Crowder playing an entire song on a reprogramed guitar hero controller.
19) Toby Mac: We didn't even stay for the whole thing. We decided that sleep was more worth it. Which it was.
The Venue: I have a love hate relationship with Creation Fest/ the Gorge Ampitheater. The ads/promotions from the bands for Compassion made me want to never sponsor one of their children, which sounds bad, but it's the truth. They shouldn't have to milk people out of their money using emotional appeals. They should leave up the convincing to the Holy Spirit. And the closing off the mosh pit thing, retarded. It isn't going to stop people from moshing. And telling us the morning after all the concerts that we had to clear the campground by 8 AM. Freaks.
General: The music was worth the heat and the sunburns, and the loopyness caused by both of those.
Kitty's Random Concert Hit List (2007):
1)Project 86: 5 cheezes, Newsboys and Kutless: 5 cheezes (tie)
2)Switchfoot: 4.5 cheezes. Leeland 4.5 cheezes.
3) Relient K: 4 cheezes.