Adam Again

Item: Live at Cornerstone 2000
Author: Dave Kerschbaum

Live at Cornerstone 2000

(2000)

Reviewed by Dave Kerschbaum

Discogs YouTube

Label ResolveThe Phantom Tollbooth2001

alternative rock blues rock singer-songwriter

There are some concerts I've attended that have left indelible marks on me. Many of them took place at Cornerstone Festival. Two of them were Adam Again concerts. The first occurred at Cornerstone's Encore tent minutes after the impromptu marriage engagement for my then-fiancee and me on July 1, 1995. The band was tight, as always, and I remember a lot of dancing. The second was July 4, 2000, at the Gallery stage, again at Cornerstone. The band was tight, and there was a lot of dancing. There was also a lot of weeping. It was certainly a powerful, emotional show, as the band and friends celebrated the life and music of, and said goodbye to, Gene Eugene.

This show was recorded, and two record companies have released copies of it. One of those companies, Galaxy 21 music, has released the recording in a two-disc package entitled Adam Again Live at Cornerstone 2000, which contains a bonus studio track from Riki Michele, and an album from Adam Again guitarist, Greg Lawless called Prayers and Lowsongs, which makes up the second disc.

Live at Cornerstone 2000 starts with introductions, and Riki Michele's emotional thank-yous to the audience, after which the band kicks in with "Strobe," the vocals sung by Michele and BGV's done by Karin Bergquist from Over the Rhine. It is a little surprising to hear Michele singing a song that seems to be almost out of her comfortable vocal range. Next, the band kicks into "Dance Around in Circles," in which Michele's vocal talents shine. It is amazing to think about the emotions the band must have had to deal with during this entire set, and especially for Michele singing songs her dear friend and ex-husband sang for years.

Derri Daugherty takes the microphone to sing "Worldwide," and then his partner in crime, Steve Hindalong does vocals for a song he co-wrote with Gene Eugene, "Hide Away." Hindalong's voice is very fragile-sounding, which causes the listener to lean in and pay close attention.

Mike Roe sings three songs next, and eerily evokes Gene's vocal delivery. The liner notes of Live at Cornerstone 2000 give each artist who performed during this show a chance to express his or her thoughts about that night and about Gene. Roe says, "When I opened my mouth to sing the first line of "Deep," I knew for the first and last time in my life what it must feel like to be a 'medium.' The guy was right there in my throat, helping me get the words out." Any thoughts that Roe may be exaggerating are dispelled immediately upon the hearing Roe sing, "My days of wishful thinking..." Greg Lawless' guitar work on this song is also amazing. The passion continues with "Dig," again with Roe delivering dead-on vocals. Roe, whether intentionally or not, brings a new image to mind when he replaces the lines "driving in my car" with "drinking in my car" in the song, "Stone."

Sim Wilson follows with "Don't Cry." Wilson holds tremendous composure singing the lines "If you could go, you would, I know/ and if I could stay...don't cry" as, ironically, the tears pour down his face, as he describes in the liner notes.

Although one can't hear them on the disc, I believe this is about the time that fireworks were being launched over the lake, as part of Cornerstone's annual festivities.

Mike Knott finishes off the set singing five of his good friend's songs. Knott is a good choice to sing "Hopeless, etc." as he delivers angst naturally. Lawless is a monster on guitar during this song. With "It Is What It Is," Knott also is eerily accurate with his vocals. The energy carries over into "Homeboys," and "Relapse" is absolutely haunting. Singing the lines, "It's sneaking up again, again the end/ I thought that I was better," Knott almost conjures Eugene. The pounding, methodic rhythm to this song is almost trance-like. Finally, the set finishes with "All You Lucky People," in which Knott belts, "I've got nothing but time."

After this song, the listener can hear the crowd whistling, clapping, and calling for more. After a minute, the applause evolves into a rhythmic clapping, as the stage is empty. This carries on for some time. I remember thinking to myself at this point, "Is that it?" and realizing that the question seemed very appropriate. After a while longer, someone approaches the microphone and says, "Don't anybody go anywhere, okay?" The sound on the CD fades out at this point, but what followed next was the projection of a video tribute to Gene, with "River on Fire" as the soundtrack. This video is included on the disc's CD ROM feature.

The last track on this disc is a bonus studio track, a dancy number by Riki Michele, called "Mystery in Me." As good as the song is, it seems out of place for this disc. Also confusing is the inclusion of the second disc, Greg Lawless' Prayers and Lowsongs. The tracks sound like they were all recorded live, except for the lack of crowd noise and artist monologue. Perhaps it is a recording of his solo acoustic show, also performed at Cornerstone 2000. I don't know, because there is no information about this recording, nor any explanation for the inclusion of this disc in this package.

Adam Again Live at Cornerstone 2000 is a disc Adam Again fans will want to have. It is an emotional tribute to a lyrical and musical genius. It is a bittersweet thing to hear these friends of Gene's singing his songs: each has his or her own way of expressing what Gene and his songs mean to him or her. At the same time, the listener becomes quite aware that we'll never have a voice like Gene's again. The CD ROM features are very well done, and will be appreciated by fans. Even the bonus disc, although seemingly out of place and lacking information, is an enjoyable listen, and probably deserving of its own review. Overall, my recommendation to anyone who was touched by Gene Eugene's music, is to set aside a space for Adam Again Live at Cornerstone 2000 in your personal music library, and secure a copy of this disc.