Cousins in beer, weed and boobs tour? That's what Shaun Morgan, lead singer of Seether, jokingly called the teaming between his band and fellow mates Shinedown. These co-headliners on the Winterfest SnoCore Festival 2006 share more in common than good times, debauchery and narcotic intake. They come out of a similar mode of post-grunge, alternative, metal and angst stylized music. Seether being the most obvious purveyors. Saying that the trio, including bassist Dale Stewart and drummer Nick Oshiro, was Nirvana influenced wouldn't be a stretch or overstatement with angel props adoring the stage resembling imagery from the “In Utero” CD. The played “Heart-Shaped Box" note for note with chilling authenticity and it was as if Kurt Cobain had risen from the dead. With ominous yet, minimalist stage presence, mid-range vocalizing and strum and drone, this South-African unit sticks to the basics performing the songs straight through without a break. There was no commentary from the stage nor little attempts to engage the crowd with conversation. The exception being the tributes to Pantara’s lead singer Daryl “Dimebag” Abbott who was fatally shot during a performance onstage in 2004 and Drowning Pool's Dave Williams who was found dead on the band’s tour bus in 2002. Morgan, who with his scraggly mane of brown and red cherry hair covering his face, screamed and moaned into the mic with anguished intensity. Because of this, it was hard to determine whether the singer made eye contact with the audience or attempted to. The fans were more animated. Many of them held up lighters, crowd surfed and pump their fists high up in the air throughout most of the songs. A moving power ballad of sorts, “Broken,” helped elicit such a response. This number deviated from the steady center shifting the dynamics with the emotive, searing “Broken” from the “Disclaimer” CD. Morgan is famous for co-vocalizing with Evanescence’s Amy Lee on this number. But in concert, the duet took place with Lizzy Hale of Halestorm, a fine substitute who rose to the occasion with a powerful rendition. Hale performed with Halestorm earlier as part of the SnoCore Festival along with one other hard rock band Flyleaf. The chugging riff oriented “Gasoline” further propelled the momentum with everyone jumping up and down, making the signature sign of the devil and bobbing their heads in nodding recognition of a song they liked. “Burrito” and “Truth” from their latest CD, Karma and Effect, would be considered more pop oriented and crowd goers were more subdued standing still and watching the band. Despite apparent enthusiasm and devotion toward the band by the mighty few, it wasn't a sold-out show. But that didn't go unrecognized or unappreciated by Seether. In fact, backstage after the show, Seether drummer Nick Oshiro commented on that fact but said he was grateful for the response and felt it was a homecoming of sorts for the band with their record label and families in attendance. Like any other show, Oshiro said, Seether just enjoyed performing and gave it their all and would do it the same way no matter the size. It was clear the audience was satisfied and no one went home disappointed. Nor did the fans of the Florida-based melodic hard rocks Shinedown. The band led by the charismatic Brent Smith whose steely presence begs comparisons to Ronnie James Dio with whom he shares the ability to be a natural-born leader. Part motivational speaker and tough love coach, Smith issued confusing, conflicting messages from the stage between songs. At one point, during the set, Smith asked the audience to form two lines in which people could reach out and shake the other person's hand next to them in a goodwill. And in the next breath, he said if someone gets in your way or face, tell them what you think and don't take any guff off of them. Smith went back and forth from being in a love space to taking on an attitude of indignation, suspicion and paranoia. Maybe Smith was wrestling simultaneously with an angel perched on one shoulder and the devil on the other whispering in his ear. But he wound up on the winning end of this battle inside his head, to make filled with excitement, tension, aggression and, sometimes grace and beauty. Band mates guitarist Jasin Todd; bassist Brad Stewart and drummer Berry Kerch further aided in this effort. Smith's blues-driven fury drove their sound reminiscent of Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, Staind and Tool to name a few. The focus of the show rested on material from the bands two CDs, “Leave a Whisper,” and “Us and Them.” “45” reflected the bleak, dark side as did the song, “Atmosphere.” “Save Me” and “I Dare You” offered a glimpse of hope but a message that there is still a struggle ahead to believe and try to go on. An emotional version of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” was a crowd favorite (the legendary band is from the same hometown as Shinedown) and was performed in their honor. This number showed the group in yet another light, one marked by sensitivity. This flux is what keeps Shinedown interesting in concert. No one knows what they will do next.