MxPx, Evangelical Sub-Culture, and the Problem of Going Mainstream

In the mid-nineties, MxPx was a staple of the contemporary Christian music industry, and from 1993-1997, was signed with Tooth and Nail. Appearing on the same marquees as CCM bands like Audio Adrenaline, DC Talk, and the OC Supertones, MxPx was a popular fixture of the evangelical music sub-culture. In 1998, MxPx caused concerns among evangelicals when they left Tooth and Mail records and signed with a “secular” label. Additionally, they were a part of the 1998 Warped Tour and toured with bands like Bad Religion. While singer and bassist Mike Herrera stated that he saw this as an opportunity to reach a secular audience with a Christian message, fans of the band expressed concerns that Christian kids who went to see MxPx would be negatively influenced by the music of Bad Religion.

MxPx’s decision to go mainstream presents an interesting case study of how the boundaries of evangelical sub-culture, with its alternative bookstores, educational institutions, and music industry, are policed. The decision of MxPx to go mainstream raises concerns about the exposure to unsanctioned ideas. Adding to this conundrum is Mike Herrara’s own de-conversion from evangelical Christianity.

This paper will examine the evangelical reaction to CCM bands going mainstream, with a particular focus on MxPx. It will examine the concerns that such a decision raises in the evangelical sub-culture, and it will evaluate the need for such boundary policing for maintaining evangelical identity.