Cornerstone has come and gone. Even though it was almost a whole week, it feels like it went by quickly, and there is never enough time in the day to catch all the shows you would like to go and see. And, when you running your own “Generator Tent” it is even harder. I was there to see shows, tape them, talk to the bands, and to meet people and tell them about the site. Not to mention meet a lot of great people that already know about the site and post on the forum.
Doug (one of the contributors at HXCChristian.com) did a pre-show in Campbellsville, KY the Sunday before Cornerstone. I drove 9 hours to get to Campbellsville, it was an easy trip. The show was awesome. Doug is working with the University to put on show for all the kids and peeps in the area. Apparently, like most small towns, there isn’t a whole lot to do there, so putting on shows is a great way to blow off steam and stay out of trouble. The lineup was Restore the Roar (Doug’s band), Debtor (Philly hardcore), Worker (Tennessee hardcore), Dead Icons (Lexington hardcore), and The Showdown (Metal). I was really impressed with Debtor and Worker (Debtor is a Christian band, Worker is not although their message is positive, and the dudes in the band are really cool). It was a fun show, and I was glad that HXCChristian.com could be part of it. After the show, RJ (HXCChristian.com contributor) thought it would best to drive straight through the night to Cornerstone. I think Doug and I could have strangled RJ when we got to Cornerstone at 6:30 AM and the gates weren’t open, but we forgive RJ (just kidding RJ). When we got in, we immediately found our tent and started to setup. We made homemade Gatorade (DIY hardcore style baby) and were a place to just come and hang. We later became known as the place that made good food and usually had leftovers.
General Mayhem and Trouble from the HXCChristian.com at Cornerstone 2010
The first couple of days were a blur, meeting people and going to shows, sleep deprivation. In the first couple of days, I saw Debtor, Call To Preserve, Send out the Scuds, True Liberty, The Meek Estate, and probably one of my favorite shows The Great Commission (where I decided to throw my old butt off the stage). My man Micah at The Legacy Stage really put on a lot of the best shows, he kept the stage limited to traditional hardcore for the most part. Good job Micah! Look for good stuff from this stage next year. Thin Ice and Dependency (new to Blood & Ink records) both played multiple shows and were fantastic. I highly recommend picking up their albums from Blood & Ink, well worth it. I was fortunate to catch the Grave Robber show at midnight at the Sanctuary stage which was right next to us. It was hard to miss it actually, quite and interesting band, if you like The Misfits and other type horror punk, then these guys will make you happy, plus their stage act is really unique.
Check out the Cornerstone 2010 Video Page
The second half the week I started to get used to the confusion and get my wits about me. I was tired from getting into the pit, 
and I proved to myself that a 35 year old dude can still throw down in the pit and handle himself. I think I even out danced some of the younger kids! The Sleeping Giant show was awesome, I had a run in with the Holy Spirit, I am sure people thought I was crazy, but I was moved, and God touched me. Their set was great as usual, and they played a new song, and honestly, I was not that crazy about it. However, sometimes playing new material live is tough because you cannot get a feel for what a clean recording of it sounds like. Look for new stuff from Thom Green and the gang soon. Also, the Great Commission rocked another show on the Undergound Stage, it was awesome, they also played a new song, it was decent. I think there is some big stuff coming down the pike from these guys, I think they have been working on new material. The last day was the craziest, I went from show to show to show. Mason Summers (my punk friends), to Thin Ice, to Sovereign Strength, to All Or Nothing (what up Laz?), to Call To Preserve, back to back to back. Then, it seemed as soon as we got there, we were gone. Doug and I traveled together from Kentucky. Doug is a cool dude, and we laughed the whole way home and told stories about shows and the people we met.
I think that the best stuff of the week was some of the punk bands, True Liberty, Desiring Dead Flesh, The Meek Estate, The Last Hope, Flatfoot 56, Mason Summers. The only ska band there, Send Out The Scuds (I love these guys, and girl!) had to get my skanking in, and I miss good ska! In the hardcore world, I don’t think I saw one bad band. Thin Ice, Dependency, The Great Commission, Call To Preserve, Wild at Heart, Strengthen What Remains, Strength Within, Sovereign Strength, Debtor, Venia, All Or Nothing, Take It Back. All bands that you need to check out. One band in particular from Pittsburg, Those Who Fear. I was happy to hear a band that is still playing old style beatdown hardcore. These guys are awesome, and the dudes in the band are cool guys, so check them out. Plus they had a turtle named XSteveX. They kept me entertained.
We were lucky to have meet and greets with some of the bands, Andy from A Plea For Purging came by in the morning to discuss the band and life in general, it was cool. Leroy the singer from War Of Ages also came out and did a meet and greet, great guy with a great story. On Wednesday night we decided to do a spaghetti dinner, I think we cooked 30 pounds of spaghetti and made about 10 gallons of sauce. I think everyone enjoyed the meal and fellowship. I think we fed about 200 people. On Thursday morning we did a meet and greet with Harbor from Call to Preserve and a pancake breakfast. Again, we had a huge turnout, more people that pancakes, but again, it was a huge success. I am glad that we could be a blessing to the people and bands. That was our mission, and I am glad that we accomplished it.
We had to leave a day early. My family was sick at home. Funny how Satan can attacks your weak spots when you are closest to God, he was attacking my family, coward. The ride home was long, but gave me a lot of time to decompress and think about the experience. I realized that Cornerstone is not really about the music, but about the people. The people are what makes it worthwhile. I met a lot of great people and even talked to people who were not Christians about Christ. On the long trip back after I dropped off Doug in Kentucky, I cried, half tears of happiness that I would be seeing my wife and two beautiful sons, the other half for the all the new friends that I would not see perhaps until next year.
Take a Look at the HXCChristian.com Cornerstone 2010 Photos
Takeaways – Lots of cool people, finding out that different genres of people still have the same core beliefs, that Christ is King. Great shows, I can still throwdown in the pit. People love free food, especially Eastern style BBQ (NC BBQ). The bands are really cool and fun to hang out with, if there is a band coming to your area, go hang with them. They usually hang in the parking lot behind the venue, go introduce yourself. Bring them some goodies, food, baby wipes, stuff they might need, let them crash at your place, have a shower, do laundry, etc. help them load and unload their gear. Metalcore and screamo still suck. Ska needs to make a comeback. Punk is alive and well. Don’t use megaphones at Cornerstone or security will come and cart you away (see below). Have fun and fellowship with you future neighbors in heaven, after all, we will all be together in heaven forever!
God bless and thanks for everyone who came out and visited us. See you next year. Join the forum.
Josh
