10.  Because True Liberty has the coolest touring van on the face of the earth (Lady Liberty – even has a PA system to shoo pesky drivers out of the left lane)

9.  This is the only job that Allen Bays can keep (he is the bass player)

8.  Aaron Liberty does not want to go back to prison

7.  Listening to True Liberty and moshing to their music is way better than rubbing green crisco on other men

6.  Because Micah Gideon says so…..

5.  If you don’t support the band, they promise to become a crappy metalcore/screamo band

4.  Because the band needs and excuse to have green and red mohawks

3.  Your money is better spent supporting True Liberty than buying that These Hearts album you so badly want

2.  Because Cornerstone Festival would be boring…..

1.  And if you don’t support True Liberty, you don’t like America and the terrorists win….

So, I emplore you brothers and sisters, give a few bucks so that we can hear what these guys have in store for us!

There were so many great bands playing this year, in particular, Blood & Ink records did a B&I family and friends day at the Solace Stage (which spanned two different days).  What was cool about this show is that it included such great B&I bands as Venia, Jawbone, Friends, Dependency, Thin Ice, Ironwill, Thirtyseven, Divide The Sea, and Debtor, but also bands including Cool Cough (side project of the guys from Call To Preserve), Strengthen What Remains, Beggars, Call to Preserve, Messengers, Dynasty, and Gideon (whom are not on the B&I label).  What makes the fact that this was going on extra cool is the fact that our tent was wedged in between Solace Stage and Legacy Stage where all of these great shows were taking place.

Some of the highlights of the week were the following:

1.  Meeting so many of you that visit our site and post on the forum, and finally meeting many of the bands we interview in person and getting to know everyone better.

2.  Catching a few Dynasty sets.  I (Josh) really like this band and I think they are solid, their testimony is also very moving.  I think I almost broke my hand and wrist when I was dancing and clobbered some poor kid right over the head.  Turns out my hand is OK, if the kid I hit is reading this, sorry, hope you are OK!

3.  Getting Officer Negative to play the Legacy Stage on Thursday may have been a highlight of the week as well.  I knew of the band, but have never really listened to many of their songs.  Hanging with Chad (the singer) and Justin, Casey, and Rick (who was filling in on drums) was great, awesome bunch of guys, strong in the Lord.  It was awesome to watch everyone getting into their set, singing along, and dancing like a bunch of maniacs.  Plus, I am sporting my new Officer Negative shirt today!

Officer Negative – “JCHC” on Legacy Stage

Click here to view the embedded video.

4.  Final Call To Preserve sets at Cornerstone, while everyone is bummed that these guys are breaking up, it was cool to catch their last shows at Cornerstone.  I picked up their 7″ “Validation” as well, which I highly recommend everyone go and pick up.  These guys have grown musically over the years.  It was also fun to see Cool Cough, their side band with Harbor singing, and John playing guitar.  Good stuff.

5.  Debtor’s new material is awesome, nuff said.  The guys in the band are super cool, easy to talk with, and they blew up every set with their new songs.  Go and buy their new album Bloodseeds and Blood & Ink Records.

6.  Catching a full Graverobber set.  If you have not seen these guys live, then you are missing out.  They are like the Misfits of the Christian punk world, their music is tight, and their stage show is extremely entertaining.  Just a word of advice, if they are singing any song that includes the word “blood” in the title, run for cover.  Catch their midnight shows, way more fun then their daytime shows.

7.  True Liberty and FBS – again, both of these bands just keep getting better, and they are both tons of fun to hang with.  Make sure to catch them live if they happen to be coming through your town.

8.  Branching out – I checked out A Hill To Die Upon, I am not normally a metal fan, but these guys are actually really really decent, and when I listen to their stuff, there is a heavy undertone of hardcore in it.  Go and check them out.

9.  Strengthen What Remains and Clear Convictions – their split set was probably one of the most fun sets at Cornerstone.  Strengthen What Remains is out of Florida and the guys in the band are among some of the coolest you will meet.  Their music just keeps getting better and better.  Clear Convictions came all the way from Puerto Rico to play Cornerstone.  I was pissed that so many people slept on the this band during their set on Texas Stage, but I was glad that I was able to tape the set (check out video page).  Both of these bands are signed to On The Attack Records run by our friend Sammy.  Love you guys!  Make sure that you pick up both of their albums from On The Attack, worth every penny, and how often do you see the record label owner in the pit???  Now that is support for your bands!

Clear Convictions Set from Texas Stage

Click here to view the embedded video.

10.  Discovering new bands that everyone needs to check out.  Beggars, With Increase, Blackhole.

And number 11.  The super secret show at the barn.  WOW, Debtor and Beggars both played a set, and then there were three cover sets including songs by Minor Threat, Advent, Seventh Star, and Shockwave.  This was by far THE best show, held in the storage shed by the skate park.  There where probably two hundred people that showed up and only enough room for 50 in the venue.  I was lucky enough to get up in the storage rafters to tape some of the show.  It was insane.  And as one of the guys from Debtor told me, “I just had a huge smile on face the whole time cause it was so awesome.”  I agree that it was awesome and I think there should be more intimate shows at Cornerstone like this.  Check the video page for coverage of the event.  Sorry you missed it!
Over all, the event was great, seemed fewer people were there this year, actually seemed kind of empty this year.  Rumors are floating around that they may not have Cornerstone next year because they did not sell enough tickets this year.  I say, don’t listen to rumors and sit tight, they may change the look and feel of Cornerstone next year, but I find it hard to believe they will altogether cancel the event, it touches so many people’s lives.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanks for all your support and for everyone that stopped in to say hello, your kind words and blessing edify what we do and why we do it. Until next year, God bless and be safe!

Check out our video page for more videos, you can find our youtube channel here, and make sure to “like” us on Facebook!

Josh and the HXCChristian.com crew (John, RJ, Katie, Seann, Doug and special helpers like Mike!)

And one more fun video of the “best of” Cornerstone!

Click here to view the embedded video.

For those of you who have not heard, HXCChristian.com will have a comp album due out around March 16th.  Special thanks to our pals at Thumper Punk Records who helped with all the heavy lifting on the comp.  “We at HXCChristian.com are really excited for this comp album to be released,” says Josh of HXCChristian.com, “not only did a ton of great bands step forward to contribute to the album, but the proceeds will help HXCChristian.com to continue to have a great presence at music festivals such as Cornerstone.”  While HXCChristian.com keeps it overhead low by a pure DIY ethic, we really like to do it up at Cornerstone.  Last year, we had an official generator tent where we were able to have bands do “meet-and-greets” with all the folks who attend Cornerstone.  Leroy – lead singer for War of Ages, Andy – lead singer of A Plea For Purging, and the guys from Debtor, all came out to answer questions about the band, life on the road, and how God has used them to reach out to people at shows.  We also had a pancake breakfast with Call to Preserve, and a free spaghetti dinner where we must have fed 200 people.  We look forward to doing it bigger and better at Cornerstone this year.  So, by purchasing a download of this comp, or buying the disc will help support our efforts.

Enough about us…..Who is on the comp?  Well, we had 25 bands volunteer to put a song on the comp.  It is just short of a full disc of music.  There are two sides of the comp, hardcore vs. punk.  Here is the track listing:

Side A (Hardcore Side)
1.   Welcome to Hardcore Christian Radio
2.   “Familyhood,” In Shepherds Arms, Armor of God
3.   “Nineteen Eleven,” Braveheart, Speak to These Bones, 1981 Records
4.   “Pale Rose,” Messengers, Anthems, Facedown Records
5.   “Keep On Smiling,” Gorilla Warfare, Keep On Smiling
6.   “Big Question,” Carrying The Fire, Demo (2011)
7.   “Lazy Sunday,” Those Who Fear, S.O.T.S. Demo (2009)
8.   “The Seed,” Killing Years, Demo (2010)
9.   “Control Freaks Who’ve Lost Control,” Divinity Theory
10.  “Bare Heights,” Debtor
11.  “Voids,” Strengthen What Remains, Humanity, On The Attack Records
12.  “Season of the Starved Wolf,” A Hill To Die Upon, Infinite Titanic Immortal, Bombworks Records

Side B (Punk, Oi! and Ska Side)
13.  Welcome to Hardcore Christian Radio
14.  “Old Rugged Cross,” False Idle, Hymns of Punk Rock Praise, Thumper Punk Records
15.  “Revolution,” True Liberty, City of the One, Wounded Records
16.  “Walking Dead,” The WAY, The Fight Is Ours, Thumper Punk Records
17.   “Lost Cause,” The Kings Kids, Thumper Punk Records
18.  “Take Me Away,” The Rekoning, The Road Less Traveled, Facedown Records
19.  “They Hate You” (originally performed by FBS), Grave Robber, Exhumed, Rottweiler Records
20.  “Standoff,” FBS, Live Grenade
21.  “Mad At The Girls,” Lust Control, This is a Condom Nation, Captive Thought Publishing
22.  “You Forgot Something,” Unshackled, Overcoming Years, Thumper Punk Records and Caustic Fallout
23.  “Another Day Gone,” The Hoax, Stumbling Through, Thumper Punk Records and Caustic Fallout
24.  “Boxcutter,” Skamikaze!
25.  “10,000 Ladders,” Send Out Scuds, High Score
26.  “I Wanna Let You Out of the Box,” Destroy Nate Allen, Until My Ankle’s Better
27.  “Hope, UniSEF,” Can These Bones Live?

AND….for the big reveal, we have been teasing folks with what the album cover would be.  I am big fan of the punk DIY style and lifting an existing design or album cover.  SO…we were huge fans of the Christian Aerobics album that was released many years ago.  And we thought, what a better way to honor such an interesting piece of Christian art/Americana than to update it to “Hardcore Aerobics?”  After all, anyone who has ever been in a pit knows that it is a real work out!  Folks that buy the physical album will also get some cool info on the insert including an exclusive on the how and why the site was started.

How much? Digital downloads will be available and will be priced at $5, physical copies of the CDs will be $10 plus shipping ($2.50).  Also, we should be able to take orders on this site or from Thumper Punk Records.  So check back often before the 16th for more details.

Thanks for your support, thanks to the great folks at Thumper Punk Records, Caustic Fallout, Seth from False Idle, and all the fantastic bands that have contributed to the album!  See you at Cornerstone 2011 and God bless!

Clear Convictions - “The Mystery of Iniquity”

This is Clear Convictions sophomore album (for those in Rio Lindon, that means their second album).  I do not have their first album, so I can’t compare it to their first album.  Here is what is cool about the this album.  There are two tracks on the album that are dissertations on the bible.  Cool stuff, the background music on the tracks is a little out of place, but the biblical teachings on those tracks is really cool and reaffirms our beliefs as Christians.  What I like about the album.  The musical style is somewhere between hardcore and metal.  With strong hardcore riffs and a bit of metal mixed in between, the album is heavy, so heavy in fact that the bass drum seems to drown out the rest of the instruments at time, but I love drums, so I don’t mind.  The vocals are pretty guttural as well and lend a primal sound to the album.  In all their are 10 musical tracks, and the songs roll into one another, I could imagine going to a Clear Convictions show and hear them play all 10 tracks off this album, one after another with no breaks.  The album is a great album overall, if you like Clear Convictions, then pick it up.  You can go and buy the album from On The Attack Records for $8.  Well worth it and would make a great stocking stuffer.

Messengers - “Anthems”

I was able to get a hold of some older Messenger material, before they were signed to Strike First records.  I love their old stuff, and their new stuff is equally as good.  Hailing from Texas, which seems to be a growing area for Hardcore, particularly Christian hardcore, these guys are keeping the hardcore tradition alive.  If you like Thin Ice and Dependency, then I think you will like Messengers.  They mix a solid hardcore sound with a little bit of metal edge (I think it is a Texas thing) with driving hardcore style chug riffs.  The best song with the most awesome lyrics on the album is “Judge” with the chorus that rings out “Who are you to judge what I put my hope in? Who are you to judge? Who died and made you judge? You’ll never get the best of me, because you can’t take, what’s left of me.”  Gets me so fired up in their particular brand of breakdown.   I highly recommend this album and it can picked up from Strike First records for $6.99, and, check out the cool Messengers T-shirt done up with the “Not Man” from Anthrax style!

Destroy Nate Allen – “Until My Ankle’s Better”

I did a review of Destroy Nate Allen’s last album “Perfect Recipe for a Smile” featuring the dynamic duo Nate and Tessa.  I LOVE Destroy Nate Allen.  If you like folk punk, you will love Destroy Nate Allen.  This album is a little bit different than the last, seems like Nate does a lot of the vocals on this album.  It is also a bit cleaner in production value, but you still don’t lose any of the campiness of DNA.  What I love about DNA is the self deprecating humor of Nate.  With songs like “Math, I Will Defeat You.”  I can totally relate.  You can go download “Until My Ankle’s Better” from the Destroy Nate Allen Download page.  You can name your price for the album.  I suggest giving something $5, $10, whatever you can for the album, it is worth it, promise.  Also, you can catch DNA on tour still, they still have some shows while they are making their way back to Oregon, check out tour dates on the DNA website, and go and see them live, they put on a heck of a live show!  (and yes, Tessa does steal the show Nate!!!).

Fleas Naughty Dog Vol. 1 – Christmas Compilation

Beside having some really awesome covers of Christmas tunes done by some of our favorite artists, this download is also FREE!  That’s right….FREE.  So just go and download it already!  The good:  True Liberty’s punk cover of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen.”  True Liberty is amazing, they just keep getting better and better and their cover is just incredible.  Grave Robber does another great cover of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”  crap, it is a Grave Robber, you know exactly what to expect.  Desiring Dead Flesh contributes with “Holidays Suck” and original punk song, DDF is really a band to check out,  pure punk, everything about these guys is punk!  Sef gives us a tease of more False Idle with a cover of “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” which might be one of the best songs on the album.  If you still have not gotten the False Idle album full of punk rock hymns, then you need to crawl out from under the rock you are living under.  You can go to Rottweiler Records and download the album for FREE.  The album contains rock, metal, death metal, and some other styles too, overall, it is a pretty cool album.

Have a Merry Christmas everyone.  I hope that God blesses each and every one of you!

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

Click here to view the embedded video.

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

Monday:

Strangely, my first show of the week came via the youthful Nashville death-mongers As Hell Retreats. Big hardcore style beat downs and fast blast beat sections could easily have overwhelmed the bulbous crowd assembled at the large generator stage (I’ll not name it) if the sound had not been an obvious hatchet job. I’ve rarely seen such a blatant attempt to monkey wrench a band but fortuitously team ‘Retreat showed a professionalism rare in many young bands and worked through it. The punters responded favourably and a good time was had by all regardless. Kudos to them.

A chance meeting with some friends from Denmark heralded a some great entertainment from Solace The Day on the Greenlight generator stage. The sound was poor but the wiry Vikings swung their dreads and contorted their way through a half hour of fairly convincing slovenly southern metal. Unfortunately, it became apparent that with so many ultra-tight metal bands at the fest STD’s calculated slop-core seemed to go over the heads of many of the passers by. I couldn’t believe that so many seemed to miss the point that its meant to sound like that.

During the general malaise of what I call ‘festival admin’ – setting up tents, bimbling around and finding your friends etc. – I found myself distracted by the horde making their way to the Anchor tent and a band hitherto unknown to me called Children 18:3. A kind of east coast punk thing set out by this 3 piece seemed to go down well with the large mob assembled and a proper excited vibe became apparent. It I thought they where quite good but that their attempt to show off the skills of their more than proficient drummer fell a little flat with me.

A Hill To Die Upon on the impromptu stage at midnight provided me with my first ever black metal show (or ‘black death’ as I was later corrected) and a fearsome spectacle it was. Extremely aggressive, tight and focussed I was impressed enough to decide to explore the genre more thoroughly upon my return to blighty.

So day 1 down and its metal: 3, punk: 1. But Tuesday is still to come…

Tuesday:

FBS (Fight Before Surrender) where nasty as ever, whipping up the crowd and pummelling out the low down street punk in short sharp bursts, just like yo momma used to make. I consider these guys a festival essential and suffice to say they brought the goods and all where summilarly rocked. Nuff said.

For me, cornerstone this year was all about Tuesday punk at Fatcalf. I missed earlier sets from the likes of Destroy Nate Allen and True Liberty but managed to get back in the game in time for the ever faithful Scurvies. I was disappointed that the bands whole line up had been replaced but the Aleutian quad brought the beef none the less. Flanked by two former members of the Mainline Riders, singer Chris held court over a crowd who where intent on freaking out – and freak out they did indeed. A large, fast but sparsely populated circle pit opened up and bodies flew out of the way like rag dolls. Pure rock n roll is rarely as pure as this. The Scurvies are thoroughbreds and you NEED to see them.

Revolution Radio stepped up to the mark and provided some respite from the madness with a good old sing along. Aaron has a knack of connecting with the audience and much singing along entailed. Backed by the boys from the Last Hope and sporting a new drummer RR seemed to be flexing some new muscle and really enjoying themselves. Half an hour with this band is time well spent.

A few band later and bumbling on stage came Sexually Frustrated. Decked out in splendidly tasteless Hawaiian shirts they barrelled through a host of intense hardcore numbers, stopping only to allow space for the totally entertaining poetry of their mascot Mikey. This band is a joy to watch – pure and simple. It was also cool to see loads of girls watching a purity band and I was surprised to find out that it was their first show in a Christian environment. I can only deduce that there where some fairly rowdy crowd antics in the offering as I was buffeted from all sides, having worked my way forward to shout along like a mad man. Sheer glee.

Having lost my shirt in the SF swim pit I took the opportunity to grab a couple of Flatfoot shirts and ran to my tent to deposit them. Upon returning to Fatcalf I heard the sounds of OCD (Our Corpse Destroyed) covering Black Flags Rise Above and ran join the fun. I braked hard as what can only be described as utter carnage met me. The maddening scene comprised of the stage brimming over with punters all gleefully making a grab for the mic. Bodies where surfing from the drum kit into the generous pile up enveloping the stage and the circle pit was nothing short of a frenzied drag race. Ill be honest – my bottle went and already knackered by the preceding bands I decided to enjoy this one from the sides. In all my 32 years I have never, ever, witnessed a gig with such ferocity to have such an unbelievably positive vibe. A new wave of craziness swept over the crowd as Reap What You Sow opened up and my resolve broke and I lobbed my aching frame into the fray to bark along with all my heart. The chant of REDEEEEEMPTION! REDEMP-TION TODAY! must have been heard all the way to the main stage. Amazing.

Few people could have followed this set and the knackered crowd thinned considerably for relative newcomers Brain Freeze. Cheap and nasty in all the right ways the three piece rattled out a bunch of loose fitting choons at a reasonably receptive crowd. Personally, I was glad of the relief from the intensity and enjoyed laughing along with their happy go lucky chant-o-pop. Good times and Mickey Mouse ears are their modus operandi and very effective it is too. A turn in events came with a cover of Jesus Christ Hardcore brought a sudden rush of people darting in from the edge of the tent and further a field to grab the mic and throw their lungs into it.

Here is some great video of Dougle with the Rodent Emporium at Cornerstone this year.  See if you can figure out which is Dougle (sorry Doogs, couldn’t resist sharing this with the world and perpetuation the Doogs legend!!)

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tuesday was a triumph, but Wednesday is coming…

Band: True Liberty
Music Style: Street Punk/Oi!
Home Town: Richmond, Virginia
Myspace Page: http://www.myspace.com/truelibertyrva
Website: www.truelibertyrva.com

Q: When did True Liberty, tell us how you got started?

AARON – True Liberty formed in November 2005. I grew up in a Christian household but was always in secular bands. The summer of 2005 I became very involved in a young adults ministry in my church and began praying to God about what He would have me do. Very clearly I heard a call to use my love for music to share my faith and my story. I’ve been playing in punk rock bands since I was 13; it’s all I knew how to do. So that’s what I did, but this time my heart, mind, and attitude had been changed. I actually found Mike and original bassist Tom through ads on craigslist of all places. God has a funny way of bringing people together.

Q: Where did the name “True Liberty” come from?

AARON – Well, honestly, I had a list of about 50 band names. I’m still not sure that I really like True Liberty for a band name. But it has special meaning to me. I had gone through life feeling trapped, feeling weighed down, after high school, after I moved to my own place, and even to some extent after I got married, I never felt like I had freedom. I thought freedom was being able to do whatever I wanted, but the things I wanted to do held me prisoner. Drinking, anger, rage, loneliness, sorrow, regret, these were all cages that held me. When I recommitted my life to God in 2005 I began to see that He made me, He loves me, and He knows what is best for me. Through listening to God through His word, the Bible and prayer, He began to show me that true freedom; true liberty was in a life lived in the path God sets before me. There is a version of the song Amazing Grace/Unending Love, “My chains are gone, I’ve been set free” is a line we sing in church, and that is very true for me.

Q: What does everyone in the band do when they are not playing?

AARON – I am active in a new church out in Amelia Virginia. I am blessed to be the drummer in the worship band with some amazing talent. I can literally feel the spirit and presence of God with us when we play; it is so moving and powerful. I also am involved with leading small group Bible studies with my wife Bonnie. We are currently beginning a new marriage study that good friends of ours wrote. I have seen many lives changed through small group ministries, it’s a great thing to be a part of. Bonnie and I have been blessed with 10 years together so far. We just had our 8 year wedding anniversary and we have a 1 year old son and one more on the way. To help pay the bills though I work for Mike doing construction for his company. Yes sometimes is sucks working for one of the guys in the band but no one has killed anyone yet. But seriously, times are tough and it’s a great blessing to be working for a friend.

MIKE – I spend as much time as possible with my wife and kids, hang out at the river or hit the country for a day of dirt bikes with the boys. For money I make Aaron slave away and reap the benefits for myself – (Insert evil laugh)

Q: Some of my personal favorite True Liberty songs are “Chosen” and “Warriors of God”. Thus, this question is simply to ask…what gives you all the inspiration to your songs? That is, the lyrics and meanings behind them?

MIKE – Warriors of God is one of the most inspired songs I have written. I had a dream one night that was basically a warning of the end of the world, there was a person who was dark and ominous, he was telling everyone the time was near, to take up our armor. When a demon can he uncloaked himself proclaiming I am a warrior of God and with a fiery sword struck the dark figure down, I woke up and wrote the song

AARON – I was taking some college classes about 2 years ago. Anatomy and Physiology actually, and I wrote Chosen during a class period. I was thinking about all the things I’ve done wrong, all the times I turned my back on God and ignored Him. And all the times, despite myself that God reached out and took care of me. I was sitting in this class learning about how intricate the human body is, and the class was full of people that thought we evolved or just happened. It was all I could do not to scream at them. How evident it is that God made us. And it hit me. God made us to love Him, but he doesn’t force it. He lets us decide. I just started praying to God. Thank you. You chose me. I don.t always choose you. You take care of me, love me and I don’t deserve it, but thank you. Anyway that.s the story of that song.

Q: You guys proudly profess to be a Christian band; I’d like to ask how much of a role does God play in your band, and in your personal lives?

AARON - God is everything to me. Of course I mess up and get off track, loose my temper, and struggle with things but that’s my sin nature fighting with me. Honestly being a follower of Christ is more of a way of life. It’s not a religion, it’s not a fad. I devote as much time as I can to serving the church and others. I lead and participate in Bible studies, serve on my churches worship team, serve the community through service projects such and visiting nursing homes, or helping with construction on shelters and things. I try to do daily devotions with my wife, and spend some time each day in prayer. Learning, serving and living
amongst other followers of Christ has been a great blessing to me. I can’t imagine life without God. He is my everything.
The band is my outlet. Everything I learn, everything I go through I get to channel through these songs.

Q: What music or bands have inspired you all musically?

AARON – Inspiration. I have two categories for this. One is purely musical. The other is spiritually. Musically I grew up on the Sex Pistols, Social Distortion, Ramones, The Business, Demented Are Go, The Metiors. Just tons of old punk rock, hardcore, and psyco-billy bands. Spiritually, well musically too, but, I love guys like Keith Green and Johnny Cash. I could spend hours
telling you what their life stories have meant to me but I’ll leave you to look into them if you are interested

MIKE – Aaron and I have a huge difference in music taste, I have been very inspired by bands like the Replacements, Descendants, Jerry Lee Lewis, old gospel, Opera, etc. There is not much that I don’t like musically, and I take inspiration from everything.

Q: What would you say it’s like being a Christian band in the music world today? And, do you all face any problems with any of your secular contemporaries?

AARON – Here’s the issue. We don’t really fit in anywhere. Being in a Christian band is one thing but a Christian punk band. Honestly, I don’t think we’ll ever be rich or famous doing this. That’s not the point though. We’re just doing what we have to do. Love us or hate us, this is what we do. We’ve had a few times where secular bands are less then excited to find that we are Christians, but we love them anyway. The big time music industry sickens me, Christian and secular. I don’t really like all that. I know there are good people in the industry; it’ just not for me.

Q: What do you think of the music in the punk scene today?

AARON – Some bands I like, some I don’t.

MIKE - There are a lot of great new bands out there, and there is a lot of garbage, I say do what you love, play music good or bad

Q: True Liberty has two albums and a third album on the way. What keeps you all going? And can we (the fans) look forward to more in the future?

AARON/MIKE – we would say first our faith keeps us going. Knowing that we serve a greater purpose. We love music and people. We are trying to build relationships. With the other bands we play with and with the people that come out to shows. Knowing that our time on earth is short and that we need to make the most of our time to impact the world for Christ. No plans of stopping anytime soon.

Q: Speaking of another album, when is your newest (and third) album due out? Can you tell us what to expect with the newest album?

AARON – For me the newest record is going to be a little different than the others. I feel that the overall the music is better, faster, louder, harder. I’m very critical of myself and usually as soon as a record is finished I don’t listen to it anymore. But this new stuff feels different. I have a lot invested in these songs. To me the first album was just us trying to sort out what we wanted to do. The whole Christian band thing was new to all of us back then. The second album, I feel, was miles better than the first, but it still wasn’t quite there yet. I think we finally have it. We’re going to release a single “Take it Back ” in the next few days.

Q: I’m running into a wall, this interviewing is harder than I thought it’d be… Favorite foods? LOL just joking!!

AARON - Punk rock spaghetti! My wife and I have been able to host a few bands at our home over the past few years. We always cook up like 6 lbs of pasta. Best meal ever.

MIKE - Anything Italian

Q: Okay, continuing on *get my serious face back on* Anything in particular you’d like to say to the music scene out there? And to the fans?

MIKE/AARON – So many cliche things are coming to mind. Gotta fight off the urge to spout off cheesy remarks. But I just want to thank everyone that goes out to local shows. Bands are nothing without people to support and believe in them.

Q: Is there any specific scripture (or scriptures) that really speak out to you guys?

AARON – There is a lot. John 10:10 had really been huge for me. Understanding that Christianity or a relationship with God was not about rules, but about freedom to live. That was a big breakthrough for me years back. I’ve also been reading a lot of the Psalms, lots of inspiration there.

Q: Can we expect many more great shows and songs from you guys? Will True Liberty be touring?

AARON/MIKE - YES, of course. We are currently booking a short tour. I think in the future we will be doing less local shows and concentrating our efforts out on the road a few times a year. Honestly with having a lot of involvement with the local church, having our families and small children it’s hard to leave for extended periods of time. But we are open to what God has in store for us. It’s always been a dream to pack up the whole family and all hit the road together touring.

True Liberty Live at Alley Katz In Richmond, Virginia – 2007

Click here to view the embedded video.

Q: True Liberty played Cornerstone last year, how was that, will you be playing this year? What bands does True Liberty look forward to seeing play?

AARON – This will be our 3rd year out at Cornerstone Festival in IL. It’s truly amazing. It keeps me going all year. Knowing that there are other bands with the same music and heart as us is very encouraging. Cornerstone to me is like a big revival conference. One of my favorite bands to see out there has been Headnoise. Also this year I hear that The Crucified is playing, that should be sweet.

MIKE- the Crucified! It’s always good to see our friends Flatfoot 56, F.B.S, the Scurvies, Filthy 42′s..I could go on and on

Q: Anything else you’d like to say, shout-outs, bands we should check out, links to sites you visit, etc. Feel free to go wild!

AARON - There are 2 bands that have really been an encouragement to me. They are great people and love God with all their hearts. I just want to let them know that. Flatfoot 56 and FBS. If you know about Christian punk you probably already know them. These guys sacrifice so much to be out on the road, touring relentlessly, sharing Christ’s love with all they meet, and being an example of what it means to be a true Christian. Of course they are not perfect, no one is, but they have been a big inspiration to me. My pastor and friend Tommy Adams at ACC ( www.ameliacommunitychurch.com ) Tommy delivers the word of God in a way that is so real, so powerful, it’s changed my life forever. It is a joy to serve alongside him. I want to thank my friends at Ironbridge Church. John Calhoun, Mike Talley, and the team we started the Crossroads ministry (www.crossroads616.com ) with have been with me through a lot. They were the first to be praying with me when I felt the call to start this band. I truly feel that without their prayers I would not be where I am today. And lastly I have to thank my wife Bonnie for being my rock. Her love and support have carried me

The album I am “reviewing” is “Brotherhood” by True Liberty. A three piece street punk/Oi! band from Richmond, Virginia. The album was actually released in 2008, so I am a little late to review, but I am glad the band reached out to me to introduce themselves. I can tell you that my email conversations with the band have been really positive and that they are all in for Jesus. It shows in their music too. They don’t try to hide the fact that they are Christians, and that they believe in Jesus Christ. The CD starts off really strong, the first two tracks are definitely my favorite tracks. I find myself singing along with “Warriors of God,” and getting pumped up every time I hear the song.  They wind down an aggressive street punk/Oi! sound with “Prodigal Son.”

I really like True Liberty because they are true to their punk roots. You can tell that they draw from their influences that include bands like Cocksparrer (great classic Oi! band), The Business (another great classic Oi! band), The Oppressed (yet another classic Oi! band, I guess you could list every band on Captain Oi! Records), and artists such Social Distortion and Johnny Cash. If you like a great street punk/Oi! sound, then these are the guys for you.

You can go and buy their albums off their website at www.truelibertyrva.com and take a listen on their myspace page. They have a two big shows coming up in the Richmond, Virginia area the weekend of March 13, and a video shoot and concert on the 15th. They are also playing at Cornerstone this year in Bushnell, Illinois. So if you are going, check them out. Support you local Christian punks and go buy their CDs and spread the word.

God Bless!

Josh