The fascinating story of a hardcore band that stands out for its originality and passion in their latest releases. Formed unexpectedly through Instagram, this band quickly found its path despite the challenges of a limited local scene in their american town. Dive into their musical universe, deep inspirations, origins, and ambitious future projects with Chris and Playn For Keeps from Colorado.
1. You formed after an Instagram ad by your guitarist Marcos Gonzalez, looking for musicians to jam with, is that correct?
Yes, Marcos and I jammed a few times over 10 years ago, only about twice. He moved to Texas and all over the place. I noticed his (Instagram) post was tagged 10 minutes away. Starting something new sounded fun… so I (Chris) hit him up. Then we roped Nick, and John in by punishing them till then joined.
2. Although country music is predominant due to the agricultural heritage of the Fort Lupton area, is there a good place for hardcore concerts, or do you have to travel to other nearby cities in Colorado?
No real scene in Fort Lupton however our friends and family always show support. There is always a friend to be made in Fort Lupton, if you're into heavy music, you're automatically in the friend group. The plan is to play Fort Lupton soon and welcome other bands to join us, the hard part is finding a building to host us… So far we’ve been travelling to Denver, Fort Collins, Colorado Springs
3. Your songs are really deep, sometimes poetic and well-written. Who among you writes the lyrics and how do you go about writing them?
John Rocha writes them.. he was in a band back 13 ish years ago (Marcos and I love) “come forth by day” and that band John wrote deep poetic lyrics. That’s a big reason we punished him till he joined. But his process in John’s words:
《 My professional background includes completing extensive work with the composition and analysis of academic and other types of literature, so I have actually become quite anal when it comes to writing as an art. I pride myself in my grasp of the English language and feel the written word is incredibly powerful and timeless as an art form. My lyrics essentially begin as poems with existential themes that are then shaped around the music depending on what format we intend to use. 》
4. Do you have any anecdotes about your recording sessions with Talon at Year Walker Studios?
The process was really easy we decided to use Talon because we have known him since we were kids and he has a very unique gift when it comes to music and recording. Talon is super patient with us with all our requests, and his wife makes amazing birria tacos.
5. You released the album "Heart Full of Wrath" in an unusual way, first in two parts on Spotify, then combined into one album. Why did you choose this method? Was it a marketing decision?
Yeah, everybody does the same thing EP, LP.. we wanted to something unique with these 7 songs. Plus we couldn't make a decision on what color we wanted so this was a unique compromise.
6. What does the lion symbolize to you for choosing it as the album cover?
The symbolism of a Lion is a good representation of our selves and our music. Marcos (guitars) is obsessed with with them. Plus we feel its an under used- ish animal in the hardcore imagery.
7. Which track are you most proud of in terms of musical creation on a technical level on this first album?
"Weld County Stomp" always gets a huge pop. I think its because it is "stompy" and 2 steppy.. if that's a word. "the Menace of Imminent Aurora" same thing. I love the contrast of the harmony and slow punchy parts on that song.
8. "Our Ill Fate Elan Vital" seems to evoke a struggle between the ideal and the reality of the dark human condition. Is that the sense in which you wrote this song?
"Our Ill Fated Elan Vital" is actually about the pain and anger associated with crushing loss. It is a deeply personal composition I wrote about losing one of the greatest labors of love I have ever embarked upon, the crippling depression that followed, and the hardening of my psyche because of it. This song goes out to anyone who has experienced devastating loss, or has spent years working on a masterpiece that never came to fruition. Shout out to my two brothers in Time X Heist.
9. "The Paleface Desecrator," which we understand to be a powerful statement against the oppression and injustice faced by Indigenous peoples. Could you elaborate on the content of this song because Fort Lupton has a history about Indigenous people, and can you talk about the featuring of Steve Beam?
Steve Beam has been a dear friend of ours for a very very very long time. He was in a Denver (I think legacy) band called Killing Kings. Which everyone should check out. Plus we align with him on this political topic felt it was right for him to be on this song.
Johns words "Palefaced Desecrator was written during the first Trump administration. Being of Mexican and Native Hawaiian descent, I was enraged and disillusioned with the vitriolic attitudes (that have since been amplified) expressed regarding Latin-American immigrants by the American conservative right. Many Latin-Americans are inherently indigenous to the southwest United States and have been traveling this diaspora for generations. We are descended from the native peoples of this land. It is our home now and forever.
So this song is a response to anytime these fucking cunts tell my people to go back where they came from. We are indigenous to this land and have fostered it for 1000 generations. So yes, it pertains to America’s indigenous population, but is a message to all indigenous peoples in any part of the world at any point of history who have been displaced, subjugated, dehumanized, and murdered in the name of colonization, nativism, Western expansion, white supremacy, and any and all tenets of manifest destiny.
《 FUCK YOU ASSIMILATION AND FUCK YOU WHITE SUPREMACY! YOU MOTHERFUCKERS WILL NEVER BREAK US. 》
Shout out to Steve Beam (of Killing Kings, Denver’s finest Hardcore band, EVER) for his guest spot, profound lyrical contribution, and his unrelenting stance as an ally to all marginalized populations.
10. Can we expect a first music video for one of the songs from the first album in the coming months?
Yes, We filled our previous show at D3 Arts on 7/16. We played with Rvbomb, Writhe In Fear, Outa4Blood (MN), Mindz Eye. We plan on using that footage to put a video together with our music.
11. Can you tell us how your first show went last March in Denver?
Great, Fort Collins hardcore is always awesome. Kids seemed to like us. We played there again a few months later too. Again another amazing show.
12. Even though you have already done a few dates this year, you will surely be hitting the road in the coming months and next year. What festivals or cities do you absolutely want to perform in?
I'd like to play FLYOVER FEST ;) and I saw Kind Eyes played in Alabama and the room was packed and kids were going off.. So I'd like to make our way down there sometime.
13. What can we wish for you in the coming years for your career?
Keeps playing and writing music. Would like to release another 4 to 6 songs by next year and do a little mid-west run also by the end of year.
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We appreciated this interview and learning that the band's lyricist has a professional background in literature, which confirms our suspicions when listening to and reading the lyrics. Like many resourceful bands, Playn For Keeps have ventured out of their town to gain visibility, which has paid off well for a start. After an interview like this, there is no doubt about the band's passion for hardcore music, their commitment to deep and personal themes, and their desire to stand out in the music scene. This is why we will keep them on our radar in the coming years.
