HXCHISTORY! - SEPTEMBER 28, 2025 - NOW PLAYING: “THE DOGS ARE BARKING IN TEXAS” - CUERNO TX

WRITTEN BY: XIMENA ANALI SIFUENTES

The 210 & 512 HXC Scene Combined - Exclusive Interview with SMTX HXC Band Cuerno TX

FRIDAY 9/26 - SOMEWHERE BAR HXC SHOW IN THE 210

“Live Show at the Marc”. Photo rights to Cuerno TX

Exclusive Interview with San Marcos HXC Band Cuerno TX & How Existing as a Hardcore Band is Political - People Get Hurt!

On September 6th, 2025, I had the opportunity to travel to San Marcos, TX, and spend the day with local hardcore band Cuerno TX. Cuerno TX has a special place in my heart, as the wonderfully talented lead singer, Leo Saldivar, is one of my best friends. Cuerno TX was set to play at the San Marcos Skatepark with ATX Hardcore band Gutwrench for Nat’s Birthday Bash. As the band was rehearsing, I got to sit with the 3-piece (now 4-piece as they accepted their new bassist, Desarey Elizondo, later that night) and interview them on historical & political implications of the scene as well as personal questions as a hardcore band in 2025. The 3-piece which includes lead singer Leonardo Saldivar, guitarist Michael Flores, and drummer Jack Furbee, all provided amazing answers that tie into the history of the hardcore genre and also let me know the ways in which the scene was changing.

One of the first questions I asked the band was why has there been a recent surge in hardcore’s popularity? To give some clarification: my research is built on the cycle of trends that come with political turmoil and conflict. My main 3 (Minor Threat, Bad Brains, and Dead Kennedys) all surfaced in the late 1970s-early 1980s after decades of extreme conflict in the United States. I have found that the genre of hardcore punk (and alternative music in general) always seems to make a huge comeback during these times. In our most recent cycle (spanning the last 5 years or so), hardcore has broken into the mainstream. With Knocked Loose playing on Jimmy Kimmel, bands such as Turnstile and Scowl being featured on the soundtrack of ‘Skate’, it seems that hardcore is breaking records. But, what is it about hardcore that is so attractive to people now? Well, Cuerno TX brought up amazing points. Michael, the guitarist, started off and emphasized that the hardcore scene offers a community to people with similar interests and views. After the COVID pandemic, many were left feeling isolated. But now that we are in a post-pandemic time period, there is a sense of longing for community. The hardcore scene gives many a space to come together and enjoy themselves.

Jack, the drummer, brought up how the media has portrayed political opposition to the rise of conservatism with the example of the most recent Superman movie. Jack follows, “It’s kind of a way of life. With Superman recently, who's hardcore?” Leo, the vocalist, goes deeper into the cycle of trends that my research surrounds. “The specific style isn’t all that’s back, but modernized versions are too. Turnstile’s new drops have hardcore elements, but they also draw elements from pop music. I think it’s like stars aligning with the political climate and cycle of trends. Regression indicators go hand in hand. Even though it’s not a good thing, it’s what’s happening right now.” When I asked the band if existing as a hardcore band was political, all three immediately said yes. Leo followed, “The label of hardcore - specifically left-leaning ideologies for the working class. Our existence as a band, considering most of our members are Mexican, I think our existence, our music, yeah. It’s political.”

Another point to emphasize about hardcore music and the scene is that there’s a sense of exclusivity based on views. I talked about this exclusivity in my last article, but to paraphrase: you cannot be in the scene if you don’t believe in its accepting community-based values. Cuerno TX gave me their perspective on what beliefs are required to have if someone does participate in the scene. Michael begins with, “Don’t be racist or homophobic. Especially right now, there’s more people who think it’s okay to be that. Be a good person, care about people who are less fortunate, and do what you can to provide for them. For us, hardcore is about being outspoken. And at a time where it’s becoming increasingly punishable by law, I think hardcore is a good vehicle for that.” Leo continues, “If you want to be part of the scene, be nice, and be involved.”

To deep-dive further into the historical events that have taken place, I asked the band for their perspective: what events over the past 25 years do you believe push people to enjoy hardcore now? Leo sets the stage, ”There’s been a lot that sparks this kind of reaction - the killing of George Floyd, for one. And it’s very dehumanizing to think things like that are not just here in the US. Like, the genocide in Palestine? It’s very infuriating and frustrating that that’s even a reality but it is, it cycles back to the political climate everywhere. The majority (like us) are against it, but the people in power are the ones keeping it in place.” Jack continues, “I think the resurgence of hardcore, especially right now, goes hand in hand with things like the LA riots and mass deportations. People are getting more proud to be racist, and people, like us, don’t like that.” Michael dives deep into his own personal journey through politics, speaking about Donald Trump’s administration. “It’s not hard to see what’s going on, and I’ve only been super politically conscious for the last 3-4 years. I knew stuff was bad, but I never thought in my lifetime that I would see things go backwards in terms of social status for people. Years of social progress just down the drain.”

In terms of historical and political implications, I asked the band how current events in the U.S. affect them as a band and how they can bring others together with their music. Leo and Michael, being Mexican American, touched on their personal experiences during Trump’s ongoing administration. Michael begins, “Well, for me personally, I mean I have friends that are illegal. I have a lot of friends that are gay, that are trans - it’s just been hard overall. But I think being in this band, we got some traction now and we’re thinking of doing more benefit shows especially around winter time. Before, I felt like, what can I do? But, you can do things for the people around you. Once you get others into it, we start doing better things.” Leo follows, “It’s just - there’s a lot of things going on right now. I’ve had a family member that got deported so it’s very serious. It’s a looming threat. But it’s like Michael said, our band is an outlet to put my viewpoints and stuff on a pedestal. We want to start doing benefit shows and all that so we can put out for more people. We do have the power to make an impact. It’s about helping people out, especially right now.” Jack concludes, “Obviously, I can’t just sit here and say that I’m as affected as Michael or Leo. I think it’s good that the band gives us an outlet to speak out on it. We have maybe 5 fans that we see consistently at our shows. But that’s 5 people who listen to what we say!”

Shifting onto a more personal level, I asked the band who their musical inspirations are. Michael begins, “Playing with my band, being together like a family. I mean, people get hurt! But my bandmates only continue to inspire me as we keep playing. I didn’t really look into hardcore like that until I got into the band, but I’m glad I did.” Jack continues, “I didn’t even know hardcore was a genre before meeting Leo. Leo got us all into the music. I mean, Jesus Piece (R.I.P), Big Ass Truck, Irate… those are some of my favorites. But inspiration? I like playing with Michael and Leo. Michael’s super passionate. I’ve gotten good with Michael on locking in together. Literally, dude, we’ll write songs in an hour.” Leo finishes, “Being vocals of Cuerno, that’s my inspiration. I’ve always been into hardcore music. The first hardcore band I listened to was Minor Threat. Ian MacKaye (vocalist of Minor Threat and Fugazi) and the straight edge movement really spoke to me. I really resonate with hardcore because it has the same points of view I do. But, outside of hardcore? Honestly, the Aquabats. I’m really drawn to their energy, it’s always inspired me.”

Cuerno TX’s interview was eye-opening to say the least. Having the honor to sit with my good friend and talk to his bandmates on such a deep level about my research and their viewpoints is why I started writing this article; to know the in-and-out’s of hardcore. Thank you to my dear friends, Cuerno TX, for taking the time to sit down with me. Love you guys.

Stay in tune with Cuerno TX in the 512! Click this link to listen to Cuerno TX’s Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Uwx1CZzbCa0yfUzJa1DsH?si=HpHGXeR9SlOGGnZUjXR_Fw

Photo credits to me: Somewhere Bar in San Antonio, TX. Cuerno TX playing live

What’s Up, Texas!? - Somewhere Bar in San Antonio, TX - Featuring Interviews with Mousch TX & Gutwrench Live!

Somewhere Bar in San Antonio, Texas, brought the heat for alternative music as bands lined up to play on September 26th. With bands such as Mousch TX, Gutwrench, and Cuerno playing, I knew I was in for a night of vibrant live music. As someone who frequents live shows and performances, I knew what to expect. But, tonight was different. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview and meet the members of Mousch TX (San Antonio natives) and Gutwrench (from Austin).

As I sat near the stage with my journal and pen in hand, I began to note what I heard, what I saw, what I thought, and specific topics I would ask each band. Although my research is related to the historical and political implications behind the music, I shifted my questions to the music itself and what inspires the different bands in the first place. Getting a taste of the current music scene is essential, and tonight I would get the answers I wanted.

Mousch TX - Interview

I had the privilege to interview Mercutio from the groove/nu-metal band Mousch TX. Although I arrived halfway through Mousch’s performance, I had a gauge of their sound from hearing their cover of Deftones’ hit song ‘Bored’. After introducing myself, we began our interview session.

I first asked Mercutio, what inspires you and your band to make the music that you do; and his answer put a smile on my face. “We just want to have fun! We don’t want to be big, doing this makes us happy! Hearing or playing a nasty ass riff, that’s what it’s all about.” I find that hardcore and any alternative genre is kept alive by the passion of the bands playing and the fans listening, so hearing how enthusiastic Mercutio was to talk about his love of the scene let me know that he, among many (including myself), aspire to keep the fire of the scene alive.

I then asked, why do you think hardcore as a genre has become so popular? My research is focused on the cycle of trends that come with hardcore’s popularity. I have tied activism in the presence of hardcore and its other subgenres to political turmoil. Why, as of recently, has there been a spike of listeners who have become so interested in the genre? Mercutio spoke about Knocked Loose’s influence in popular media. “Knocked Loose’s riffs and their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel (R.I.P) were huge for hardcore! I mean, especially here in San Antonio, with places like Snakehill and Paper Tiger, we have an active scene of people who love that shit.” A part of me was glad that Mercutio brought up Knocked Loose and their performance on national TV. After the release of their 2024 album ‘You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To’, Knocked Loose arguably released hardcore’s album of the year for 2024. By highlighting how important Knocked Loose’s album was for the scene, Mercutio proceeded to talk about how different bands inspire his musical prowess.

“For us, as Mousch, our biggest inspirations are Primer 55, Deftones’ first two studio albums (Adrenaline and Around the Fur), and Drain! Sammy’s crowd control and their groove really inspires us. Although we like the noise and the straight oomf it has, we really appreciate something with more groove in it. We really look for easy and nasty riffs with flow.” We then found out we both attended Knocked Loose’s concert in San Antonio in 2024, featuring openers Militarie Gun, Drain, and the Garden; which I thought was interesting. I have found that many of the people I connect with in the scene have been to the same shows, concerts, or events that I have: which only reinforces the community aspect that Cuerno TX spoke to me about.

My final questions to Mercutio were, what do you love about the scene and what would you like to see more of? “I’d like to see more inclusiveness, the same venues host the same bands. Like, why are we so afraid to work with new people? What I love is that it’s a nice community; we played a show up in Austin and worked with the nicest sound guys at the venue. Another thing is that the scene isn’t so stagnant, there’s variety in the sound and new singers, it’s a different feeling to get slumped in the pit.”

Gutwrench

After interviewing Mousch TX, I sat near the stage to hear Austin-based band Gutwrench perform. This was not my first time seeing Gutwrench. I had the privilege to see them play for the first time in San Marcos at the SMTX Skatepark on September 6th. But, ever since seeing them play, I was obsessed. Gutwrench’s stage presence is reminiscent of bands like Big Boy, Big Ass Truck, Speed, and Drain; so as soon as I heard the call to the pit, I was sat and ready.

Gutwrench brought the heat with their heavy riffs, crowd call-outs, and killer vocals! Band solidarity came through as members of Mousch TX started the pit, swinging each other around, two-stepping to the beat, and thrashing around; it was punk at its very core. Midway through the set, Gutwrench announced a new project releasing on Tuesday, September 30th at 4:20PM (a fine detail the band told me themselves). They then played one of my favorite songs, Alakazam, and concluded their kick-ass set with a heavy hitting beat. Through and through, my heart is telling me this band will make it big.

Gutwrench Interview - Something’s going on with the kids!

I asked the band, what and who inspires you to make hardcore? Lead vocalist, Josh, began answering first, giving me a new perspective. “Hardcore is kinda, like, our way of escaping.” The other members, Matt (guitarist), Mattias (bassist), and Simon (guitarist) chime in, “It’s very cathartic. We’re very calm people, so for us to play music like hardcore is what helps us get rid of our negative emotions; it’s therapeutic for us; our music is built on fun, we’re just a bunch of fun guys!” Phillip, the drummer, proceeded to ask me, “Do you want to know the story I tell everyone, or the real one? The real one is kinda sad, but it’s why I’m here.” Phillip then opened up about a special moment with his mom, where she encouraged him to play music; a lovely highlight that spoke to me. After hearing the band’s insight on how the music makes them feel, I then asked them why they, as a band, believe hardcore is becoming so popular.

“Something’s going on with the kids, dude! The scene isn’t really, like, drug-oriented anymore. These kids are breaking shit just plain sober, it’s really fun,” Matt expressed to me. Josh continues, “I think COVID had a really big part, especially with the internet and youtube presenting hardcore the way it did. You know, I think ‘get into hardcore! I don’t give a shit how, just get into hardcore’.”

The final thing to note was Gutwrench’s response to my question, what groups inspire you? The band then proceeded to give me names such as Three 6 Mafia, Speed, Peeling Flesh, With Honor, and Kublai Khan TX. I thought it was interesting to see such a variety of genres and vibes for inspiration. Josh stated, “Three 6 Mafia is very hardcore in its essence, it’s just really powerful to see.” His statement begs the question, what truly makes something hardcore? Is hardcore solely the genre itself, or the energy behind it? I believe that Gutwrench is a mix of both, with deafening riffs and a kick-ass energy that comes from letting loose. Expression, whether it be political or not, is what makes hardcore so valuable. With a more emotion-based motive, Gutwrench uses their music and their performances as their time to let go and feel the heat.  

After some fun back-and-forth and a small break to watch the last band of the night play, my interview with Gutwrench concluded with the members emphasizing one main message: hardcore makes sense. “The world is fucked up! The political climate is scary, and hardcore is our, and many people’s, way of escape. Hardcore has a raw energy and the passion is so unique. You won’t find the energy of hardcore in something like shoegaze, for example. It’s fun. The only thing we want to do is have a good time, so we’ll do just that and hope everyone listening can have a fun time, too.” (Gutwrench, members Josh, Matt, Mattias, Simon, and Phillip).

My last highlight of the night was Cuerno TX’s energy. As the last band of the night, they had the ability to close out the show with heavy-hitting riffs and a crowd-requested encore. Cuerno TX takes a lot of creative liberties with their music, which I find refreshing and unique. One unreleased song of theirs begins with a riff you would find from bands such as Glare or Trauma Ray; but as the song continues, the riff goes back to hardcore, especially with an entrance from lead singer Leo Saldivar’s vocals.

Now, after my interviews and my notes about the show: what are my final thoughts?

Hardcore is alive and well, my friends. The beautiful thing about the hardcore scene is that it is constantly growing. Not only is hardcore’s popularity related to political turmoil, but I have found that hardcore is also an escape from said turmoil. Gutwrench’s testimony on the emotional release they experience is a key part of why so many people love the music. Hardcore, in its essence, is both kick-ass and sentimental to listeners everywhere. And think about it, I only looked at the local scale. Texas is a hub for hardcore and adjacent genres with bands such as Kublai Khan TX, Sanity Slip, UnityTX, Omerta, Skourge, etc. playing a huge part in the growth of the scene here. Not to mention the hardcore hubs of the country which include Washington D.C., the Bay area, and New York city coming out with different, amazing bands everyday. The music is strong, its energy is unique, and the passion from listeners is one-of-a-kind. Hardcore isn’t going anywhere, my friends. And I sure hope it only stays alive.  To conclude with a quote from Gutwrench’s vocalist Josh, “Get into hardcore. I don’t give a shit how, just get into hardcore.”

Stay in touch with Mousch TX and Gutwrench’s shows via their social media and check them out!

Click this link to find Gutwrench’s music on Youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/@GutwrenchTX

Thank you for reading HXCHISTORY, I’ll see you till next month’s edition!

Check out the bands I interviewed here!

Cuerno TX

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuernotx?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=NWxhOXRqMDN1Z3Bp

Mousch TX

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mousch_tx?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MXV0YW5kZHlmcGIxZw==

Gutwrench

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gutwrench_tx?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=YnZ4b3o1MHFsZDZs

Who am I?

Hey, everyone! My name is Ximena Anali Sifuentes. I’m a history & political science student at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. My goal with HXCHISTORY is to keep you in the loop of hardcore, hardcore punk, history and the political climate of the United States. My interest in alternative music goes back about 10 years. It really wasn’t a phase, mom. By writing this article series, I’m hoping to keep hardcore fans educated about its history and write updates about the music! If there’s anything you want me to write about, send me an email at hxchistory@gmail.com. Thanks for reading HXCHISTORY, I’ll catch you guys later!

Where to contact me

Email - hxchistory@gmail.com

Instagram - @_hxchistory