SATURDAY Cypress Hill's
6th Annual		 November 15, 2003
Show review by Alex Distefano All Images by Caren Spitler
 

Stoners drew in by the thousands, to once again celebrate the annual Smoke Out, a mind opening music festival, put on by none other than the proud pot head rappers Cypress Hill. This year's show, the 6th annual was held at the

National Orange show in San Bernadino, where just a week earlier massive wild fires swept through the area. But, safety was the main priority at the event, and the only smoke that came was from the burning of a certain unnamed herbal essence. This year, the bands were more exciting and eclectic than any other year.

Ice-T's Body Count
  His Executioner  
 
Along with the tons of underground rave and house style DJ's in the raver rooms and tents, the main stage started up in the cloudy afternoon with the OG gangsta pimp ICE T rocking it out hard-core style, with his metal band BODY COUNT. the crowd was not too receptive, but then again most people were already too stoned to know what was going on. A few pits broke out here and there but most people just watched in awe as the band pummeled through it's energetic violent set, which of course included the controversial song from over a decade ago, "Cop Killer."
 
 

Hatebreed

 

Vox Jamey
Sean Matt Chris
 
Hatebreed took the stage as well with fierce brutality and sheer force. Jamey Jasta was pumped up. The band played songs from all three of their albums, including new songs from their latest release, "The Rise of Brutality." The hard-core and metal kids in the crowd that weren't too stoned got the mosh pit flared up and started a fire of their own, (not literally) but after 45 minutes, Hatebreed left everyone wanting more of their intense metal/hard-core hybrid.
 
     
 
As the special un-announced 4:20 surprise act, Xzibit came out and made the crowd bump up and down, with his infectious grooves and skilled rhymes. People loved it and were diggin' the change in atmosphere after such a hardcore set by Hatebreed. This is what makes Smoke Out a great concert, contrast. Most in the crowd chilled out and yup... smoked More while Xzibit flowed easily through his set.
 
Super Joint Ritual

Philip Anselmo (you know that dude from that other "mega" hard-core band that starts with a "P") came in with his current band in tow, :
Jimmy Bower: guitar
Joe Fazzio: drums
Hank III: bass
Kevin Bond: guitar

"You've never forgiven, exploited in dirt, it bothers you, it tortures you One more plight, left in life, shoot me dead, in the head Catch me if you can..." -- 4 Songs
They also played; It Takes No Guts, then they played : Fuck your Enemy, Haunted/Hated, Personal Insult, The Alkoholik, and Ozena.
 
Next up, Superjoint Ritual took the crowd as the skies began to darken. With their scary brutal and angry blend of 80s hard-core punk, black metal and thrash, the crowd was eating out of the palm of the band's hand..most notably the infamous and outspoken front man Phil Anselmo. Some of the trendier kids up front though were scared shitless by the venomous force and brutality of Superjoint ritual, and as they screamed 'Linkin park!" Phil told them all to fuck off and got a pit going to shut them up for the next song. Overall a brutal energetic entertaining and memorable set.
 

Pennywise

Jim Linberg

In addition to playing their own tunes (like "Alien," "Yesterdays," and "F*ck" Authority" Pennywise took a crack at some crowd pleasers by covering "Hey Ya" by Outkast and Nirvana's "Territorial Pissings."

Pennywise took the stage next and these melodic punk rock vets held their own. With old school fast songs, and newer more melodic songs, they played a solid set that pleased both fans of the old school and fans of the new school. Mosh pits erupted though none were as brutal as the previous band. All in although a good time by a band that knows how to be melodic yet rock, and have fun and be socially conscious at the same time.
 
"Last Resort" "Broken Home" "She Loves Me Not"
  Papa Roach - Jacoby  
Cypress Hill
Sen Dog "Paging Dr. Green Thumb!" B Real
 

Cypress Hill took the stage and grew a huge crowd. No wonder they call it the smoke out. People were smoking herb in the open, and as the group played many of their timeless hits the smoke rose above the stage. The crowd was bouncing up and down, getting their groove on to songs spanning the band's decade-long career.

 
  Linkin Park  
Chester Bennington Mike Shinoda Ben & Chester
     

Next up Linkin park took the stage, and by this time it was cold, dark, and rainy, but that didn't stop the massive crowd. Playing hits off their latest album, the fans drew in close to the stage, and now steam was rising from the heat and sweat that people gave off. The band didn't let that get in the way, they kept on going and gave 100 % in a stunning performance. As a surprise they even had Ice-T and B-Real come up and rap on their hit song, "In the End."

Last but not least, to end the night was DMX in a rare and special live performance. The crowd was tired but that didn't stop them from getting down and bumping to DMX's rhymes and beats. Wow! Even those not into rap were feeling it, and though they may have been stoned it's sure to say everyone had a good time. For nearly 45 minutes, DMX blazed through a very energetic and exciting set, which ended the night, up in smoke.
 
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