Des Moines Cityview: alternative press 
August 16th 2002
By Justin Kendall

LazerFest is doing what its predecessor, the Big Ass BBQ, couldn't
do: actually happening. Barring any unforeseen problems or
complications, headbangers will bob their shaggy mullets to
headliners P.O.D. and Rob Zombie Sunday night at Water Works Park.
Here's the skinny on two of the openers, Cresco's Rearview Mirror and
Pennsylvania's Sinch.


"Rearview reflections"

Wild festivals, runaway carnie trucks and life after U2's producer.
Rearview Mirror weighs in.

Nine months of non-stop touring can wear on anyone. Rearview Mirror
has canvassed the Midwest. They've played colleges and clubs,
festivals and bars. In a Chevy van they've loaded up and set out,
trying to get the Cresco band's name out.

Sunday's LazerFest is their next gig before setting out again late
this month or early in September.

Despite being considered mainstream rock, they'll find themselves
playing on the same bill as hard-core heavies Hatebreed and shock
rocker Rob Zombie. No big deal, they've played with Sevendust. But
the guys in Rearview Mirror are more comfortable alongside Days of
the New than a metal mosher like Drowning Pool, says singer Adam
Ptacek from Lime Springs.

"A lot of times we don't really fit in, because for some reason, they
stick us with heavier bands that don't sound much like us," he says.

The mature and dramatic, emotionally wrenched voice guiding Rearview
Mirror's Gobstopper Records debut is that of 18-year-old Ptacek. His
band, which was touring non-stop until the end of July, is on a brief
hiatus from the grind. The road has had a few bumps, so far. There
was the festival in Sioux City where a carnie's runaway truck slammed
into their van. They didn't find out until after the show.

Then there was the RAGBRAI Festival in Oelwein, where they played to
about 3,000 people.

"It was just insane," Ptacek says. "All they had for security fence
was a plastic snow fence and a bunch of cops standing by it.

"A bunch of people got arrested, people got beat up and cops were
getting hit. We had to stop the show pretty early."

Ptacek and brother Jason (bass) and their friends Matt Olson (guitar)
and T.J. Krammer (drums) started the band about five years ago. The
gigged a little throughout the Midwest and caught the attention of
Steve Lillywhite, who has produced mega-stars such as the Rolling
Stones, the Dave Matthews Band and U2. The Grammy Award-winning
Lillywhite stumbled onto the band while visiting Demodiaries.com.

Lillywhite was intrigued enough to call Rearview Mirror's manager and
request a copy of the band's independent CD. Impressed, he traveled
to LaCrosse, Wis., to see them play at a tiny bar.

That show was enough to sell Lillywhite; he signed the four 18-to-20-
year-olds as the first act for his Gobstopper label. The band's first
of four albums, "All Lights Off," hit store shelves in June. The
record is an image of self-aware angst backed by passionate alt-rock.

"Some of the music may sound like it's about something negative, but
it all has a positive message if you just figure it out and look into
it really," Ptacek says. "We just try to do what we do best: play
rock music."

The Lillywhite sessions were intimidating when the producer didn't
like certain parts, but the band persevered and grew, Ptacek says.

"You had to sit there and try these things out in front of him," he
says. "You kind of feel like an idiot, but in a way it was probably
the best experience because we learned so much and we just kept
developing as songwriters."

Most of the songs they'd written going into the studio were
abandoned, Ptacek says. In fact, their first single, "In the
Beginning," was written last.

Keeping Rearview Mirror rolling is the main goal for the future. As
the tour continues, the band will begin thinking about their next
album. Experimenting and testing boundaries on the follow-up album is
definitely on Ptacek's mind.

"We want to make this last as long as possible," he says.

With four records to go on their Gobstopper contract, they have some
time.


>Show info
LazerFest
Sunday, Aug. 18
Gate open at 11 a.m.
Show starts at noon.
Water Works Park
Tickets $30 available at the door and through Ticketmaster
Parking is free.

Main stage (in order of appearance)
Index Case
The Atomic Punks
Stone Sour
Adema
Drowning Pool
Rob Zombie
P.O.D.

Last Chance Guitars second stage (in order of appearance)
River Bottom Nightmare
Seether
Sinch
Rearview Mirror
Lost Prophets
Hatebreed