Cornerstone 2008

Cornerstone 2008! The greatest time of the year and everybody is having an amazing and glorifying experience in Bushnell, IL! I walked up to the stage in anticipation of my first Cornerstone 2008 show, Flatfoot 56. I remember my first Flatfoot show… I walked up to the tent around 11:55 for the midnight show, Chicago flags were waving, people were chanting a good punk, “Hey!, Hey!, Hey!” as if they were ready to tear down a building. I saw an illuminated plastic Santa crowd surfing above everybody’s head, and all of the sudden the lights turned out and I heard bagpipes blasting. The whole crowd turned into a huge circle pit which I could not resist jumping into despite my fears of my leg breaking off. The rock show had started… That was back in 2006, let’s get back to 2008. I walked up to the tent, but Flatfoot wasn’t at that stage so I had to go find which one they were at. After walking a bit I found them, this was one of their day shows, not their big one they play every year at midnight. I was hiding my wrist because I didn’t have a wrist band, which acts as a ticket, to be on Cornerstone grounds.

-”George, I thought you were in New York?”

-”You didn’t let me finish my story.”

And then I woke up.

I woke up in New York. At 10th and 3rd, the same place I have all summer. 1000+ miles from Bushnell, Illinois. 1000 miles from the place that changed my life 2 years ago in having a better understanding of Christ’s character and power.

On Wednesday morning I realized that if money was no object I would have been able to go for a 3rd year in a row. I have a four day weekend because of the 4th and worked out all the details in my head of how I could have been in western Illinois in time for Flatfoot’s midnight show that night.

If you don’t know what Cornerstone is, here is a quick overview. Christian Woodstock. 25 years ago a group called Jesus People USA (a whole other story that you should research) thought it would be cool to bring a bunch of Christian bands together for a giant music festival. All kind of bands play: rock, metal, Celtic, acoustic, praise, punk, alternative, rap, you name it, they’ve got it. Music plays from 10:00 am to 2:00 am. I would say that the point of the festival is to bring glory to God through worship, fellowship, and prayer. The other objective is to show Christ’s love to encourage others and so that all may believe that He is the Great I AM.

WAIT! We have an interruption, Jesse just called me so that I could hear Anberlin playing Time and Confusion at Main Stage. Anberlin’s 2006 show was probably the best I’ve ever been to. WAIT AGAIN! He just called again so I could hear Unwinding Cable Car. Last year, before their set, I bet Jesse $10 that they wouldn’t play that song that night. They didn’t and I have yet to see the ten bucks. Apparently he thought that them playing it this year would erase his debt. I must say, I have been encouraged that Jesse has been calling me throughout the week and giving me updates about the festival. He knows how much I want to be there and proving true dedication to Cornerstone to Jesse is not an easy feat. I think he saw that I belonged there within the first 30 minutes I was on the grounds in 2006.

I drove up to the campsite headed by my Dad behind the Merch tents in the clown car (Note: Let me add here that Dad is a veteran at the festival and this is his first time in, I believe 7 years, he is not there either. In many respects I believe he would express the same sentiments I would regarding the experience knowing that he has been affected by the movement as well). I remember driving through a sea of people of every look and age you could imagine to the site. I went late on Wednesday because Michelle got food poisoning right before we were supposed to go that Monday. I asked Dad where everybody was and he said, “I don’t know, you’ll have to find them”. Even though there were 30,000 people on the grounds I didn’t think to question it and started walking. I was overwhelmed by the tents, Johnny-On-The-Spots, generator stages, dust, people, and things around me. Over the years my brother had gone to the festival (He started going with Dad), Jesse had talked about the Asylum, a tent where a bunch of freaky people garbed in Gothic wear would do who knows what. This was the first tent I walked into. Imagine me, standing in the middle of this dark tent clothed in my happy Illinois gear. All of the sudden, I heard “George?!, what are you doing in here, ha ha,” It was Jesse and his crew. We left the odd place (I accept the Asylum, but I still don’t get it) and I said, “Where’re the shows? Let’s do it.” He said, “Alright” and walked directly into a tent (the Underground stage, also the location of Flatfoot’s midnight show) where a good band named Dizmas were playing. When I had decided to go to Cornerstone weeks before, Jesse nor anybody believed that I would get in the mosh pit. They forgot that before Jesse ever loved the Christian rock scene, I was a member. It was just that I had taken a sabbatical for five years. I took him to his first show in Mt. Prospect to see Five Iron Frenzy, so hah! Anyway, to test my claims, Jesse told me to follow him through the crowd to the pit in the front. To his great surprise, I did not hesitate and tore it up with the rest of them! He told me after that he didn’t think I would do it. Since that time, Jesse nor anybody else never questioned my ability to rock or my commitment to Cornerstone and its movement.

Jesse isn’t the only one keeping me close to the action. Tim is doing his part as well. Last night he went to the Flatfoot midnight show, a toga themed concert, and stayed in the pit for the whole show (an hour) to make up for my absence. He also fulfilled my special request. Remember that illuminated plastic Santa I mentioned? I hate it. It hits your head randomly and hurts. Thus, I make it my mission to kick, hit, throw, or anything that could harm the object at every opportunity. Tim picked up the slack and contributed to my vendetta last night at every sight of the bane of my punk show excitement. Jimmy is also in attendance and said this of my distance, “I’m planning for Cornerstone with Lindsay [his girlfriend], and I think of the times we had last year and how you won’t be there this time. It makes me cry a little inside. When I see Johnny on the Spot, I’ll think of you. When it is Braveheart time with Flatfoot, I’ll think of you. When Showbread sings Mouth is like a Magazine, I’ll think of you. When stupid boys try to protect girls near the main stage and start to hurt others, I’ll break it up for you. Is this creepy enough yet?” It is heartwarming that I’m not forgotten by my fellow comrades of rock. Also, if you don’t know what the Braveheart is, check out the link at the bottom of this post.

Alright, I know. You’re probably not interested. You would rather hear about New York City. You probably are wondering why I’m not seizing the day and instead daydreaming about Cornerstone. Because, my heart is with the 30,000 people praising the Lord in the middle of western Illinois. I’m not mad I’m not there, the Lord wanted me here this year. He is teaching me to praise Him right where I am and to pray for those there. God willing, I will be there next year.

And please don’t worry that I’m wallowing in self pity and sitting in my room all day. I am keeping myself busy, today I went to the Museum of Natural History and I’ve got other things to do this weekend. Still, I would rather be in Bushnell.

-George the Rocker

Click Flatfoot 56 Braveheart or go to YouTube and type it in. While you’re watching YouTube, click Showbread Cornerstone 2007 and watch near the front for an orange hat bouncing around in the pit.

Be sure to check out the Cornerstone 2008 Website!

See Jesus People USA as well!

Cornerstone 2006 Main Stage (Jesse and I in blue caps at the bottom)

Hopefully this lone protestor can see the love of Christ at the Main Gate 2008

A crowd at Tuesday’s Tooth and Nail Day 2008

Flatfoot 56 midnight show 2007

Circle pit at Flatfoot 2007