Intro: Adam Croft (Convulse Records)
We had the chance to talk with Adam from Convulse Records, a DIY hardcore label here in Denver we all absolutely love, about the local scene, having longevity, and more!
Can you tell us a little bit about everyone involved with running the label?
Yeah my name is Adam and I run Convulse Records and play in a hardcore band called Destiny Bond. Cloe and Amos also play in Destiny Bond and help me with the label. Cloe does a lot of graphic design work for it and Amos works directly with some of the bands and helps with mailorder. Young Nick was Convulse’s first volunteer, he plays in Sanitizers, The Clue, and Tender Object, and he does video work and helps with mailorder too. Taylor Stribrny also helps with video work and Quinn plays in Candy Apple and Asbestos and has just started doing some mailorder and design stuff. And my friend Ian from Militarie Gun and Regional Justice Center also helps out when he can with video and design stuff and working directly with artists. It’s a big volunteer team but it’s all people I trust very deeply and there are times when people’s schedules don’t leave much room for involvement so it’s good to have a rotating cast of people that pitch in to make it happen when they can.
What have some of the biggest challenges been running Convulse over the years?
Money and space. Money’s the obvious one. Convulse has pushed my personal finances to a place that’s probably bad to most people, most of the time. But that kind of comes with the territory, it’s not like a DIY punk label is always going to take care of itself financially. It’s gotten easier as the label has grown and its because people buy records and take the time to support us, which I don’t take for granted. Space is tough though, I live in a small apartment so we have to use storage units to do mailorder and keep inventory. They don’t have wifi or power so we have to do everything from a mobile hotspot in the hallway of the storage facility.
Photo of Asbestos by Joe Lacey / Convulse Weekend 2021
Being part of the local music scene for years, what do you think is an essential part of having longevity as a band?
Honesty with yourself and your bandmates about what you want to make and accomplish as a band. I think most bands fall apart because there’s a difference in expectations between the members. One person wants to play a million shows locally because they love drink tickets and their friends, one person wants to tour, one person just wants to record some songs and chill -- eventually everyone is annoyed and no one is excited to make stuff. So you have to start by finding people with the same goals. I also think setting your expectations very low in terms of how a project will be received and focusing on making something honest that you’re proud of is the best way to achieve longevity or even initial joy from a band. Too many people suffocate a band with weird expectations that suck the creative element out of a project before its realized, I’ve been guilty of it.
Photo of Candy Apple by Joe Lacey / Convulse Weekend 2021
What can we all do collectively to make Denver a better place for artists?
I mean I could say buy merch and stuff but you all know that. Pouring whatever resources and time you have into our DIY venues probably goes the furthest to supporting artists. D3 and 7th Circle support artists the most in my experience. They make space for bands beyond what they’re capable of generating in bar sales or merch cuts. I love a lot of other venues in town, and will book shows with them, but at the end of the day, they’re only going to support bands that make them money. If we want young artists especially to figure things out, and we want smaller touring bands to come through, we have to keep those spaces open. So send them some money and get involved if you can.
Photo of The Consequence by Joe Lacey / Convulse Weekend 2021
Are there other qualities that you look for in the artists that you work with besides music?
Yeah – it needs to be rooted in hardcore/punk. I love a lot of music but Convulse’ doesn’t mean Convulse needs to put out a prog record or something like that. Sometimes the connections to hardcore and punk come from the shows a band plays or how they present their band as much as it comes from sonic elements. They also need to exhibit care for respect for what they do and work hard touring or making and presenting their work, ideally both, but that can’t always happen which is understandable.
Photo of GEL by Joe Lacey / Convulse Weekend 2021
As someone who grew up in the Mississippi music scene, it’s been so inspiring to see MSPaint where they are now. Can you tell us a bit about how that relationship formed with Convulse?
Yeah during COVID, Young Nick booked an online fest where bands just sent in videos of themselves, and he showed me a video of this band from Mississippi called MSPAINT that all wore hasmat suits – I was floored. We hit them up after that and said we wanted to do a record and asked them to come play Convulse Weekend in 2021. They called me up a lot in the runup to the fest and we just became friends. We’re both from the middle of nowhere to varying degrees and I think we just found out we had a lot in common and valued a lot of the same things. After they played here, they came back again right away, and it’s just been a close bond ever since. They’re an incredible band and incredible people and I’ll be shocked if they don’t take over the world soon.
Photo of MSPaint by Joe Lacey / Convulse Weekend 2021
What have been some of your personal favorite releases so far this year?
I’ll just say non-Convulse releases because I obviously love the records I’ve put out. This year so far I’ve really liked records and demos from Direct Threat, No Idols, Cosmic Joke, Public Acid, Cindy Lee, Planet on a Chain, Gouge Away, Uranium Club, Reek Minds, BIB, Alienator, Sinister Feeling, Klonns, and Kidnapped. I’m sure there’s more but those all stand out as being in heavy rotation.
Photo of Militarie Gun by Joe Lacey / Convulse Weekend 2021
Do you have any fun/crazy stories from shows in Denver or tours?
I’m pretty boring on tour and in general, but Convulse Weekend 2021 will always stand out to me just because the Aztlan felt like it was on the verge of caving in all weekend and so many people came out to a floor show in a old theater. Looking back we could never replicate that lineup now, it’s just insane to look at the poster.
Photo of SPY by Joe Lacey / Convulse Weekend 2021
Are there any newer or unknown locals that you wish more people knew about?
I think the Consequence are probably the best band in Denver. That’s the only conclusion I can reach when I watch them. Their next record will be a defining moment for Denver hardcore. Just an absolute force that’s completely dialed in. Everything I want from a hardcore band and then some. I think people know about Public Opinion because they’re the hardest working band in the world right now, but I’m excited for people to hear their next record and it’s cool to watch them grow. Some slept on or newer locals that I really enjoy would be: Supreme Joy, Ukko’s Hammer, The Cycle, Death Possession, Angel Band, fishlegs, and The Clue. There are more but those come to mind first today.
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