Tabernacle: Mormon Hardcore Band

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“Five dollars dude”, a gruff sounding man says while an equally gruff looking bouncer checks over my I.D. I pull the money out of my wallet and hand it to him in exchange for a wristband, or stamp of some kind, signifying that I’ve paid and am of age. I walk into the venue; dark, noisy and crowded. The smell burns at my nostrils and my ears ring with the echoes of chants and screams. Then he appears on stage; his name: Kevin Barton; his band: Tabernacle. Like a reaper and his servants preparing you for the journey, seemingly to the gates of hell, the crowd waits with anticipation. The solemn look on all of their faces matches their attire: black shoes, black slacks, black pencil ties, and white shirts. These aren’t just any Mormons (actually none of them are) but rather masters of hardcore. What set them apart from other bands though are their unique blend of personality and character, and their ability to come together and play music.

I guess you could say Kevin is the ring leader of the group. He is an unassuming man at first look. Sure he is covered in tattoos and has his ears gauged, but that’s not so out of the normal anymore. Once you get to know him however, your outlook may change. Kevin was raised as a Mormon from his childhood. He went to church and was baptized according to their

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beliefs. Things began to change however when he started to question his belief in Mormonism around the age of fourteen. He still continued to attend church for a few years, but by the age of sixteen or seventeen he stopped going all together. He describes this change as an “Ideology Shift” (Barton) that led him to his current beliefs. As of today he proclaims himself to be an Atheist, saying “I used to go by the term agnostic,...

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...d a show, this is an act within itself. “Sing” is a loose term; it’s more like spoken word fused with raw emotion. People bang their heads up and down and throw up their arms in time with the music. As the set continues, you can see the sweat building up on everyone, but none more than Kevin. Flailing around his arms and legs and banging his head up and down, those in the front can’t help but get splashed by it. These people do not care though; they are too entranced by the sound and rhythm of the music. The set ends and the band begins to tear down their equipment. A few approach and give high fives or slaps on the back accompanied by “great show man” or “dude that was amazing” but the band plays it off as routine. The best way to show your appreciation with these guys is to throw bows and buy a round. If that’s not your style, well then Tabernacle is not for you.

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