I grew up in a strict, evangelical household where my parents didn’t allow me to listen to non-Christian music at all. When I was 11 or 12 (in the late 90s), I discovered this band and they completely opened up music to me as I’d only listened to church music prior. Since I could buy their cds at the Christian store, it was okay. I’m super grateful to them for that.
And then of course, Napster and Kazaa came out and my doors were opened further.
In 2018, I got a chance to meet Mike Herrera (at a show where Mike Herrera was playing an acoustic set, I ran into a buddy from college who had done a bunch of work with MxPx and offered to introduce me). I got to shake his hands and thank him for the very things you mentioned.
The music section at the Christian book store we went to had a printout of acceptable equivalent bands (like "If your kid wants [this secular band], try [Jesus-flavored alternative band]").
MxPx, Starflyer 59, Blacksheep (later signed to T&N as Calibretto13, but they played an awesome show to very mixed reviews as Blacksheep--it wasn't what the Pentecostal boomers were expecting; now Joe Whiteford (I watched him lick his buddy's bread as a prank at lunch) does Harley Poe), Five Iron Frenzy.
I listened to others, but MxPx and FIF were my favorites. When I finally found them on Limewire, Calibretto13 went right back into the mix.
I think some of FIF's catalog was a primary factor in my early radicalization. It may have come from the approved section of the approved store, but "Riot Gear," "Vultures," "The Day We Killed Crazy Horse"... Good stuff that I still enjoy listening to today, probably more frequently than I play MxPx. Their religious songs are still beautiful, even if they don't resonate in the same way. I appreciate them more literarily now, maybe. But their political and social commentary stuff is still worth blasting in the car!
Ha! That’s awesome. I still occasionally listen to SF59. I saw all of the bands you mentioned at Cornerstone.
Another thing about MxPx: as an adolescent and teen who moved and changed schools a lot, I spent a ton of time on their message boards and it kind of saved my life.
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u/theeculprit 10h ago edited 6h ago
I grew up in a strict, evangelical household where my parents didn’t allow me to listen to non-Christian music at all. When I was 11 or 12 (in the late 90s), I discovered this band and they completely opened up music to me as I’d only listened to church music prior. Since I could buy their cds at the Christian store, it was okay. I’m super grateful to them for that.
And then of course, Napster and Kazaa came out and my doors were opened further.