Cornerstone:

What makes a rock band really great? Is it the musicians' talent or determination, their sound or their image? Whatever it takes, some bands just rock. There is no way to pinpoint it, no formula for the magic. The greatest of bands put forth an infectious energy and seem to possess an enhanced understanding of what making music is all about. \nMany of the bands in Bloomington have the potential for musical success, but there are always a few that stand out. Cornerstone, a band relatively new to the scene, is in the process of discovering whether it has what it takes to really shine. \nCornerstone formed last August, and the musicians describe their musical connection as an incredible one. "We don't try to make things work, everything just kind of falls in place," vocalist Jason Kritzer says.\nThe five-piece band features Kritzer's vocals, Zack Tharp on acoustic guitar, Kyle Snyder on bass, Pete Kime on drums and Andy Coburn on electric guitar. Though they struggled with finding a personality and identity for the band in the beginning, the guys all agree that it was the music that brought them together. \n"These are my best friends," Tharp says. "I admire all of them and can't see the band with any other members."\nA band in the most genuine sense of the word, the guys insist that they are not interested in fame and glory. For Cornerstone, it's all about the music. The members proudly claim that there are no egos or jealousies between them, as they all have respect for one another as musicians. "We listen to everyone's ideas and are comfortable enough to share likes and dislikes," Kritzer says. Cornerstone members attribute their peaceful coexistence to the idea that they are all contributing to the music as a whole, which to them represents more than their individual talents can offer. \n"It's not about us as a band. It's something greater in the music," Kritzer says.\nThough the guys come from a variety of musical backgrounds, they describe their sound as alternative rock. "It's really our own breed of rock," Coburn says. "We have an edge partly from the music we play and partly from the energy behind it." \nWith influences stretching from classical music to Pantera, the band is innovative in the sense that it tries to incorporate many different styles into the music. The fusion of styles is evident in the cover songs (more than 50 of them) that the band works into its sets. Cornerstone's covers consist of a wide-range of artists from Alice in Chains to George Michael, and the list goes on. With each of the songs Cornerstone covers, the band strives for originality by making the songs its own, accommodating the music to the musicians' individual abilities.\n"We try to pay close attention to every song that we do," Kime says. "It's hard not to play a song perfectly if we really like it… If we mess up, it kills the emotional high."\nWhat might set Cornerstone apart from other acts is the energy that resonates in its live performances. "We have a really high-energy show. We hope to really wow other musicians by being something different," Kritzer says. The members believe that the crowd helps to inspire during their shows. "The crowd feeds off of us, we feed off of the crowd, but most importantly, we feed off of each other," Tharp says. \nThe energy level at shows is important to the band. After their best shows, the members stumble off of the stage from exhaustion. "It's nuts. After the show, the entire crowd stays and cheers for more," says long-time fan, senior Erica Mansfield. "People are in their face, the crowd doesn't die down." The in-your-face connection with the fans is something that Cornerstone values, and the members strive to establish a bond with the audience.\n"We like to give it everything we've got when we're out there," Snyder says. "It's obvious to the crowd if a band is just going through the motions or if they are really feeling it." \nThe band has a fan base that has grown considerably since it started out and usually enjoys a good response from the crowd.\n"It's fun to watch the guys of Cornerstone incorporate raw talent with their skill as musicians," Mansfield says. "Through their unique sound, they surrender the audience to their show." Mansfield says that she was drawn to the band initially because she was impressed with its radio-worthy sound. \nThough the musicians have played a series of venues in Bloomington, they claim Kilroy's Sports Bar on Walnut as their home base. Last fall Cornerstone participated in Jammin' on Walnut as one of the featured acts at Sports. Maggie Prall, booking manager for the bar, is admittedly impressed with the musicians thus far. \n"They are wonderful people who really take their music seriously, but at the same time entertain the crowd and make it fun," she says. Prall has booked Cornerstone to play every four to five weeks during the summer and hopes to have the band back as a steady act in the fall. "No band has been asked to play that often in almost two years," Prall says, explaining that it is rare that a band has that much impact at her venue. \nBesides playing at Sports, Cornerstone has other goals planned for the summer, and the musicians look forward to having more free time to devote to the band. Currently they are in the process of recording their debut album, tentatively titled Beyond Reflection. The album is a showcase for eight to 10 of the band's original songs and should be available by next fall. Though Kritzer is the resident songwriter for Cornerstone, the band members work together to create the final product. "We all bend in our ways a little, and the styles just fuse together," he says. "We leave the little details to the creativity of each person." \nWith respect to original material, Cornerstone is continually striving for a deeper meaning within the music. Kritzer says he writes lyrics that explore real issues and seeks to open minds through his music. Some of his themes include examining stereotypes from an alternative perspective and struggles between right and wrong. \n"You've got four minutes to say exactly what you want to say," he says. "I want people to listen to a song a couple of times, then interpret their own meaning." \nThe idea seems to be a driving force behind the band, or as Kime says, "Music has found me, and I want people to find themselves with our music." \nCornerstone plays at 10:30 p.m. tonight at Kilroy's Sports Bar.