Creed, indeed; Major radio rock act plays packed arena

The Grand Rapids Press November 12 2002

Darn you, Lord Byron!

If it weren't for that 18th century author, whose hypersensitive artistic heroes became an archetype for Romantic literature idealized by some artists even today, Scott Stapp would be able to smile more and brood less.

Stapp looked the part of rock's Byronic hero countless times Monday night as his band Creed entertained a sold out audience of 12,780 in Van Andel Arena.

Stapp's deeply troubled visage, with its sensitive eyes and air of self-importance, cracked into a smile only a handful of times through the band's almost-two-hour show. That poor man, forced into all that money and power, living the rock 'n' roll dream every minute of every day ... It's no wonder he looks so severe all the time.

If you think I sound a wee bit jealous, you're right. Come on, who wouldn't want to be Stapp up there on stage? His power over his fans is almost scary. He's like Kurtz from "Heart of Darkness" -- but in leather pants.

Before even singing a note on "Bullets," the opening song both of Monday's show and Creed's 2001 album "Weathered," he already had most of the audience in the palm of his hand.

Following "Bullets" both on the album and in the set was "Freedom Fighter," a song that shares its heavier punch. Together, the tunes kicked off a mini set of four hard-edged songs that got plenty of momentum going early, allowing Stapp and company to rage a lot harder than they do on their usual program of soaring, radio-friendly anthems. The show didn't take long to unleash some pretty cool pyrotechnics, too, including flares that felt hot enough to knock the November pallor out of my pasty cheeks.

While Creed stopped short of hauling in an entire mountain for Stapp to perch himself atop -- a la the band's videos -- they did pull out all the stops for this stage show. With a backdrop of stone pillars and torches, three huge video screens, fireworks and a catwalk, it was a fitting setup for one of the biggest bands in the world.

The energy of the first few numbers seemed to have gotten sucked out of Stapp and his cohorts -- bassist Brian Marshall, drummer Scott Phillips, guitarist Mark Tremonti -- and the ensuing "One Last Breath" locked Creed into a midtempo quagmire in which it would remain in for the rest of the set.

Sure, it's a big, familiar song with a big, sing-along chorus, but it's also indistinguishable, as far as musical dynamics go, from the band's catalog of plodding redone grunge.

On this midtempo material, just about all of which is meant to deliver some sort of uplifting message, Stapp's strong convictions -- or at least the pretense of his strong convictions -- were on full display.

The slow, soul escalator of "Weathered."

The deliberate solemnity of "My Own Prison."

The solace for fractured people that is "With Arms Wide Open."

This is the Creed that VH1 loves and post-grunge rockers take potshots at.

I found it tiring, but I may have been alone. Every time Stapp stepped out among the crowd on the stage's jutting peninsula during one of these numbers, all hands reached out to him. If it seemed like there was a lick of sincerity left in it ... it would have been a powerful image.

As a two-song encore, Creed offered "My Sacrifice" and "Higher," arguably the band's two most popular tunes. No surprise there.

Like many rock stars who come through town, by the end of the show Stapp was sweaty in his leathers -- and obnoxiously self-important.

But these songs need to be sold that way, don't they?

If he wasn't so serious all the time, they'd be a totally different band, and at least for now, this is the formula that has scored them incredible success.

With Stapp's pretense of uber-seriousness aside, even Creed's harshest critics might be able to get past the singer's tortured rocker posturing and appreciate his awe-inspiring voice (Stapp does have great range -- and not just when prancing across the stage).

All of it was on display Monday night: the off-putting and the awe-inspiring.

Of course, for the thousands of Creed faithful in attendance, Stapp and Creed can do no wrong.

.Curt Wozniak