Cornerstone '07 overview

Cornerstone Fest was a great time again this year. i think it was a particularly good year actually. i saw, and enjoyed, more shows than i have in the past few years. but i'll talk about the music a bit later....

Norman and i started our trip Friday the 22nd. we usually leave a couple of days earlier, but it didn't work that way this year. we got there Saturday and set up camp. the youth group that comes from North Carolina was already there a couple of days, and had their huge deck already up by the time we arrived. we like the youth group and Stewart the youth pastor that brings them. and they actually helped us cut the grass and set up in the press tent this year! it was very nice of them, we appreciated it!... Linda and Shari joined us Sunday evening. so camping up on Tony's Hill we had Norman, Jacob, me, Linda, Shari, Steve Ewers, Kyle, and Marlene. the weather for the week started out rainy and muddy, but cleared up and most of the week was lovely.

as always, we (the phantom tollbooth) ran the press tent, but this year was a bit different. we were combined to Mike Hertenstein's idea: the Talking Stage. that meant that after our seminars and press conferences, the Talking Stage moved into the tent and did their programming. Mike is already a busy man at C'stone. he runs the Imaginarium, and oversees all the seminars as well. the Talking Stage was kind of a talk show - discussion - interview format most of the time, which is close to what we have already been doing for years and that's why we're now linked together. that change also meant more visibility for us as we moved into a much bigger tent right in the action of the fest midway. at first i think we were a little leery of the changes but once the fest got moving we really liked our new location. and the way we set up the tent was pretty cool with a little stage and a huge back drop, we had a back stage area that we've never had before and we put to good use. during the fest we had full days of press conferences and recorded them all for podcasting. [they're not quite up yet, but they will be.] i got to do some moderating (which i usually kick against but end up really enjoying and so glad i did them). i interviewed Skillet, Crimson Moonlight, Glenn Kaiser, X-sinner, and Sean Michel. two of my scheduled conferences didn't show up, Showdown and Bride. i was looking forward to both of those too... we had another good staff this year, and some cool moments.... Linda and Shari run the ship and do a very good job steering and navigating. the crew is me and Norman (facilities maintenance), Dan (is very busy running the sound and recording and moderating), Chris aka Grandfather Rock (famous DJ and moderator), Brett (did a great job this year moderating), Jonathan (moderating and encouragement), Julie (support and encouragement, not to mention feeding us!), Steve (all around support), David (all around support and help), Zane (support and smiles).
overall, i'd say the press tent was a rousing success, once again!

the concerts were especially good this year. the shows i caught all or some of were (i'll put stand out shows in bold): Rue Royal, Deas Veil, Mike Roe, Roe v. Pritzl, the Filthy 42s, Headnoise, Flatfoot 56, Maron, the Lee Boys, Glenn Kaiser, Lo-Ruhamah, Crimson Moonlight, Aletheian, Neviah Nevi, Skillet, Anberlin, Memphis Belle, Justin McRoberts, Michael Pritzl, the Violet Burning, beach worship with Violet Burning, Leigh Nash, Rex Carroll Sessions, Jonezetta, the Lost Dogs, Whitecross, Bride, X-Sinner, Bloodgood, Jeff Elbel + Ping, John Davis, Crimson Thorn, Norma Jean, Klank. i really did enjoy all these shows a lot, not a bad one in the bunch, well... maybe one.   :-)   ..... but the ones that just left me going "wow!" i put in bold.....

great week, great fest, great times.