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by Chris Pecoraro [bio]
READER'S RESPONSES:  andrew writes: i don't appreciate this heavy handed look at the "christian" market by those who have little respect for it. unlike what this article implies, the "christian" market is not merely a bunch of music illiterate youth group zombies, who are waiting to be told what bands to listen to by some right wing conspiracy that is the christian label/industry. Instead the "christian" scene may be better described as a community of like minded musical groups and labeles who are not only spiritualy minded but also socialy and musicaly minded. The idea that there is this large number psuedo-christian bands going around pulling the wool over a bunch kids eye's and tricking them into buying their cds under some sort of tooth and nail wholesomeness front is not only offensive but inacurate as well. i feel that instead, a more acurate statement can be made, that there are a large number of non-christians who are either intimidated or invious of the type of shared community that christian bands have at such events as Cornerstone, that in an atempt to justify their contempt they wish to write articles or speak of the christian scene in a patronizing mindless way. rather than respect this scene, instead they talk about it like its their little group of christian "buddies" they have that don't fully have a grip on what the real music industry is about. on the contrary i feel that its the christian scene that has a firm grip on the realities of the rock and roll industry and thus far have thrived because of it. while other secular acts strugle and fail to make it on larger label, they simply do not share the underlying unity that many christians feel. Now i am not putting down secular acts, i am merely making statment, that i am tired of the people seeing this market as some sort whore to be used for one advantage, a sort of "stepping stone" onto some better thing. if you do not respect don't...Chris Pecoraro-author writes: I'm a Christian, and I like both secular and Christian music. I left Cornerstone with some mixed emotions. On one hand, I saw some great acts, Scientific, Pedro The Lion, Unwed Sailor, Farquar Muckenfuss. However, there was a lot of deception. Some of the bands would say "stop by our merchandise tent after our set, we'll chat and pray together!" When I would go to the tent, all I received was a verbal sales-pitch that mostly consisted of "do you have our CD?" Obviously, I couldn't buy every CD I wanted! Not only that, but to hold an artist's attention longer than for 15 seconds was nearly impossible--so much for praying together. I'm not misinterpreting what I witnessed with my own eyes. I, too, believe that the majority of bands at cornerstone were great and will continue to put out good music, regardless of label or message. However, it's always the couple that ruin it for me. I will go next year, though. To add to that, I wanted to say that I wanted to join the Tooth and Nail street team. I was sent a questionaire asking how many Christian bookstores were in my town--this is totally riduculous! Why is this important? I don't know.The Reverend Rodkey writes: All joking aside, I am a Christian, and I am in fact in seminary. I also work as a pastor and campus minister part time. Now that the seriousneess is aside, I wanted to say a few things about the "Christian Scene." I was at cornerstone for a day with Deacon Pecoraro, and I also had some mixed feelings. Granted, I expect the right wing of Christendom to capitalize on everything and convince people that they are part of some sub-culture. Believe me, as a minister, this is a rhetorical device used to define "communities" just by who isn't in the community (so community do Christians minister to, anyway: their own or the world community?). All ranting aside, the Christian bands I saw there were generally good and they weren't about evangelism by necessity (read: Greek of euangellion).
But that isn't to say that "Christian rock" isn't just about great music and fellowship. There is something very sectarian and political about it.
Not that my act, of, would ever be good enough to perform at Cornerstone, or anywhere for that matter...but as a Christian who does like to support Christian acts, I would never be part of the Christian scene, even though I am a minister, because I would never be invited. Like Moby, for example, as a Christian in the liberal "school" of thought, my theological and political views differ too much with those who run Cornerstone.
It really pained me to sit in a tent with John Palk (or whatever his name is) bash gays in the name of some elusive "Christ" who converted him and his wife from the evils of the beauty of human gender. Much of my ministry involves gay and lesbian rights, and I was very offended by this. Regardless, this sort of preaching that is advertised as the Orthodoxy of Christianity was going on right next to tents of these Christian bands and tents of them selling stuff. The evengelism can't, nor should it be removed from the music at an event like cornerstone.
Artists like Moby (and myself, though I am in Shout the storm league and not Moby's!!) would never be a part of cornerstone, because he represents and promots the "liberal" wing of the religion, which I am a cleric of, which goes against the cornerstone event's powers that be. After all, the organizers of cornerstone are a sectarian group JPSUA, and affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church, *and* connected to North Park Seminary...which, well, investigate the academic prestigue of that place. But those with the microphone will have the kids' attention. I accept that.
Peace to my neighbors in Christ.more stories from this author: Rawk the Shpeez-y way High School Students Organize Benefit Concert for School Project PITTSBURGH MUSIC WORKS & THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PARTNER The Secret to Publicity Salena Catalina Local Music Mentor Organization Kicks Off Season With Live Sound Workshop Local Legends Interview Series: Weird Paul Petroskey Pittsburgh's next emerging venue, the Brewhouse Southside The Buzz Was Never Heard Again And Then There Was Only One +/- studio Damon Che Is On Bourd For Touring Looking For A Great Webhost? Host with Us WPTS Needs You Think you know it all about the local scene? We Are Now Cell Phone Ready Grape-a-Don from Grand Buffet keeps it short and simple From Spanish Cowboys to Italian Composers-- The Evolution of Damon Che Writers needed The American Music Cafe, Hope For the Next East-Side Dream jameson, Element 101, Showoff Flickerstick All ages show at Banana Joe's Nob's Zach Moore And His Small History of Math Rock Serene-Beggars of The Sea Rolling Rock Town Fair 2.0 White Hip-Hop Stars in Pittsburgh? PittsburghRock.com added to bla-bla network Scientific to make Western, PA debut at MIT Friday Hot new features for 2001 Bourgeois Bourzia Done: Caballero? Hip Hip HooRea!! The Newest Rea Girls Emotion is Dead-The Juliana Theory News To Make You Shiver New Sites Race To Own The Pittsburgh Rock Web Dead Pressed for New Rock The Operation-The Invisible Man DivisionFactor-ForeverLongingTheNeverlasting Irwin-The Reason For Primary Colors Teddy DuChamp's Army Kisswhistle-Steady as she goes-CD Paul Petrosky-Your Favorite Gum the juliana theory/One Line Drawing/Grey AM The Cornerstone of the "almost" secular pop market? Scott Baio Would be Proud PittsburghRock.com's class on 2000 TO THE TUNE OF 20,000 SCREAMING CHILDREN Iron City Metal Mayhem Mr. Roboto Project--Wilkinsburg's next new venue news archive: Quake records 4 powerful, melodic tunes at MahrsMusic Studio! Who's Keeping Score record their full length CD at MahrsMusic! PITTSBURGH MUSIC WORKS & THE BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA PARTNER Eclectic line up of songs from Blank Verse at MahrsMusic Studio! The Secret to Publicity DJ MAG all the way from Warren, OH! Man With Dogs CD recorded at MahrsMusic! Ten Pounds Lighter back for more! All the way from Girard, PA.....Faktory Collapsing!!! Spin Cycle's infectious, driving beat the latest from MahrsMusic! Salena Catalina Local Music Mentor Organization Kicks Off Season With Live Sound Workshop Tim & B's project recorded at MahrsMusic for only $100! Marcel Walker records at MahrsMusic Studio! Caelestis from MahrsMusic Studio! Bowersox punk from MahrsMusic Studio! Some Girls Like Cigarettes, The Karl Hendricks Interview. Work For Us! Hurt Process infectious punk from MahrsMusic Studio! Thought Deposit brings forth melodious punk from MahrsMusic Studio! E.M.P. are back and heavier than ever! In-your-face metalcore from Deface!! Lost Cause record their latest at MahrsMusic Studio! Pittsburgh's next emerging venue, the Brewhouse Southside The Buzz Was Never Heard Again Ten Pounds Lighter studio CD debut! Have A Merry Christmas With The Sounds Of Pleasure! And Then There Was Only One Master Mechanic Return For Their Best Yet! +/- studio Laga's new 'Theory', bigger, faster, more Damon Che Is On Bourd For Touring Everyone Has A Style The Bureau are back! Looking For A Great Webhost? Host with Us WPTS Needs You E.M.P.'s first recording is HEAVY! Bleak Divine are back again! Think you know it all about the local scene? We Are Now Cell Phone Ready Sala Dubbs Makes Their First Recording Grape-a-Don from Grand Buffet keeps it short and simple From Spanish Cowboys to Italian Composers-- The Evolution of Damon Che Writers needed Perception's best yet! The American Music Cafe, Hope For the Next East-Side Dream jameson, Element 101, Showoff Brand New Venue In The Works! Flickerstick All ages show at Banana Joe's Nob's Zach Moore And His Small History of Math Rock Rolling Rock Town Fair 2.0 White Hip-Hop Stars in Pittsburgh? PittsburghRock.com added to bla-bla network Scientific to make Western, PA debut at MIT Friday Weird Chat to debut on PittsburghRock.com Hot new features for 2001 Bourgeois Bourzia Done: Caballero? Legendary Local Venue In Danger Of Closing Forever Electronic music meet comp-sci with ORI Vote for Artist, Venue, Concert of the Year Hip Hip HooRea!! The Newest Rea Girls News To Make You Shiver New Sites Race To Own The Pittsburgh Rock Web Dead Pressed for New Rock The Cornerstone of the "almost" secular pop market? Scott Baio Would be Proud PittsburghRock.com's class on 2000 Butterbean's Skatepark TO THE TUNE OF 20,000 SCREAMING CHILDREN The Other 'Burg Iron City Metal Mayhem Mr. Roboto Project--Wilkinsburg's next new venue PittsburghRock.com © Copyright 2001 Jonah Media Group site map | about us | contact us | copyright policy | advertise  |
hannah writes:
woohoo the juliana theory rocks!
When Bill Power, emcee of the special Tooth and Nail sponsored day at the Cornerstone Festival,
grabbed the microphone of his label sponsored stage to read the names of the bands performing, the
announcement of "the juliana theory" caused 5,000 fans to go wild.
However, Bill Power and partner Brandon Ebel, founder of the Seattle-based Tooth and Nail records,
break all the rules of what it means to be own a litmus-tested,
every-mother-loving Christian music label.
Since its outset, Tooth and Nail's Ebel has one policy: "I sign who I like."
Crossing into the secular market by signing secular bands like the indie rockers Joe Christmas and heavies Stretch Armstong
and Training for Utopia, Pittsburgh-area based the juliana theory is yet another secular band on this label.
With a lyrics sheet "void of any 'spiritual agenda'" as their website reads, and having not been asked to play the
actual Cornerstone festival, the juliana theory kids were faced with a challenge: to act, think, and look like
the other bands that were. 
Of course, by drawing the largest amount of cheering and one of the largest crowds that day,
the juliana theory felt at home playing on a stage sponsored by their Christian crossover label, Tooth and Nail Records.
However, long gone are the days of living off of the good-willed name of pensive, the former emo-core band that
would had been more suited for this type of festival, with its youth group-ready lyrics.
The pseudo-Christian market must kiss juliana and her theories goodbye.
"This is the last show like this we're doing" remarked drummer Neil Hebrank in candid conversation.
"We weren't asked to play the actual festival!" said Detar at the festival add support to Neil.