September '26
THE FIELD REPORT
OBSIDIAN GETS TILTED AT PINBALLZ
On September 5th, 2026, at 7pm, Obsidian Frequency (Frank Rodriguez) threw another banger show at Pinballz at Lakeway in Austin, Texas. These shows are easily the most fun in the area. Yeah, you might think it's cool to go see a big act at the Moody Center or some other arena, but local joints and DIY promoters like this are really where it's at. The community feels so personal. Playing various pinball machines, Big Buck Hunter, and Guitar Hero (duh) in between bands while I'm one beer deep is nothing short of a spiritual experience. Plus, the moshing is fantastic.
A huge thanks to the Pinballz staff and Joe Villarreal for hosting and allowing us to sow some chaos in our community. Extra thanks to Anthony Gonzales of LVS Productions and Jake Evans for running the light rigs and keeping things sick-looking.
We had a really special bill this time with a flyer inspired by the video game "Gauntlet". The artists performing this time where She Wears My Blood (whose name you may recognize from last month's Field Report), Mousch, Eviscerated Flesh, Arterial Vivisection, and last but certainly not least, For What It's Worth.
All the bands did alright, but the performances that stood out the most from this evening came from Eviscerated Flesh and For What It's Worth. After the show, I followed up with them and asked them a few questions about their bands.
For What It's Worth
Richard Castillo (Rhythm Guitar):
[On the origins of the band and their sound]:
We are a band from San Antonio, TX called For What It’s Worth. I feel like we’ve clicked pretty fast as far as getting to know each other as a group and have become more than just “members” but we're a family and I love that about us. The music we write, whether it’s lyrics or instrumentals, come from emotion and not just “trends” so I think that’s why our music and the band mean so much to me.
Justin and I met through GroupMe on a UTSA emo club and we started with a first band that never succeeded. We then formed FWIW together and later brought Anthony and Adan in. After a couple of shows, we found Ramsey, our bassist. Though we’ve been a band for a short time, we’ve really gained so much respect and love for each other. Our genre is metalcore and we play on 7 strings so it’s definitely on the heavier side of that spectrum.
The album is one of our first big accomplishments with it telling a story throughout. Anthony wrote all the lyrics so he will go more into detail on them.
[On what drives him to play]:
I’ve always loved music since I was little and started playing guitar at the age of 13-ish but eventually dropped it to be in concert band in middle school. In high school, I was in drumline so even when I wasn’t playing guitar, I was still constantly playing music. I later picked up the guitar again and self-taught myself to play.
[Top 3 influences]:
Texas in July
The Devil Wears Prada
Hail the Sun
All of these bands speak to me in different ways, some are instrumentally and emotionally.
[On fulfillment and gratefulness]:
I’ve always had the dream of playing on a stage in front of a crowd and I am living my dream. I couldn’t be more thankful for my band mates and the people who support us because they’re the ones who are helping me fulfill that dream.
Anthony Delarosa (Vocalist/lyricist):
[On the origins of the band and their sound]:
We’re a 5 piece metalcore band from San Antonio, Tx. With catchy riffs, powerful vocals, and a demanding live performance aura; we are your next favorite band! We are.. For What It’s Worth!
Justin and Richie were recommended to me by my spouse. Then we picked up Adan, and shortly after Ramsey.
[On concepts in the music]:
Metalcore heavily inspired from the MySpace era/Crabcore era from 2008.
[On their newest release]:
Our newest release, it’s a song called Sandcastles. A lot of cool stuff about the song will be apparent when it comes out, so you’ll have to see for yourself, BUT, what I can provide about the song is its lyrical direction.
Sandcastles have a sort of whimsy to them. A childlike resonance to them, that when you look at one, you can sometimes remember one that you made as a child. Something that makes one reminisce of better days, or recollect memories of loved ones who aren’t around anymore. Sandcastles are always looked at with a certain amount of fervor. I wanted to flip that. What if something so innocent, was actually a literal prison? Whether that be physically being entombed, or metaphorically where your deepest and most inner “sins” were cemented on display for all to see?
Something about this concept really clicked in my head, and I knew that lyrically, this song was already gonna hit in ways that would paint a perfect portrait in someone’s mind. As for the rest of this song, I like the listener, or the reader to ascertain their own takeaway from what they observe.
[On what drives him to play]:
Honestly, I’m pretty introverted. Something not common in frontmen of bands, haha. The literal push that drives me to play music, is that nothing else really makes me feel alive, other than playing music. Whatever life may be hitting me with, I can perform, lay it all out on the stage, and then walk off a new man. It sounds cliche and stupid probably, but music is a literal escape from reality. Something that I can free my mind with, express myself in ways I couldn’t probably do through other conventional means, and also, just something to help/guide others in life. Nothing beats listening to a song that has something relatable, whether that be a mindset, feeling, or an actual event, that the listener can revolve around. It gives the song a personal sense of meaning, and that to me, is priceless.
[Top 3 influences]:
Shane Told (vocalist from Silverstein)
If it weren’t for him and the guys in Silverstein, (When Broken Is Easily Fixed album) I don’t think I would be the vocalist that I am today. Like I always had a passion for music, but Shane Told is the person who inspired me to chase being a vocalist. I then found my “sound” and mastered it.
(Editor's note: You most certainly have. You have an excellent balance of cleans and harshes. You also have a really specifically flavored timbre. I love how you engage your epiglottis when you scream, similar to Frankie Palmieri.)
Vans Warped Tour
I know it sounds crazy, but after going to my first Warped Tour in 2004, it honestly awoke something in me too. Besides the obvious grandeur that Warped Tour has, it has a magnetic pull about it. I was affected by that allure. The intoxicating, often times the hot and sweaty, grab of the whole experience itself. I wanted to be one of the people who gave future generations that feeling of “I want to do that one day”. And if I could do it, you most definitely can too.
Positive effects on fans and the community
Lastly, this one is more personal, more than the previous two. Look, I don’t think highly of myself. I’m someone who looks in the mirror and thinks of a thousand negative things about myself before I even muster up even one positive thing. I’ve been ridiculed and mocked most of my life. Left in the dust with all the broken pieces, with no instruction or inspiration to know where to go or what to do next. There’s not a lot of stuff in life that I’m good at doing, or being.
But, this? Being a musician? It gives me a sense of purpose. I FEEL like I’m someone. I FEEL like I can make a difference, even if the takeaway is only from one person. If I can save a life, even better. Life is fucked, but when it’s showtime, none of it matters. And if what I speak on stage changes one’s life, or outlook on their reality, then that makes every second of it worth it all. So, my influence stems from a boy, who just wanted to be understood, accepted, and not forgotten, but remembered long after the decisions/impacts I’ve made. I don’t want to be the one to start a revolution or anything, but if my words, my lyrics, or our music can change any of what I previously mentioned?
Oh boy, that’s fucking worth it, tenfold.
Justin Marin (Lead Guitar):
[On the origins of the band and their sound]:
Me and Richie met on a GroupMe chat of Emo’s for UTSA students!
I pitched the idea of starting a post hardcore band similar to my favorite band of all time, Saosin, and then it went nowhere… we had one practice and never met up again because it was terrible :< the name was “We’re lost by the way!”
From then on, Richie and I met up again and decided to start “For What It’s Worth” in January 2025. The band name was taken from a song from a killer band, “The Air I Breathe”.
We were originally supposed to be crabcore with synth and autotune, but we eventually settled into the Metalcore genre.
We grabbed Anthony (vocalist) and then Adan (Drums) through Instagram and then Ramsey (Bass) from a recommendation through Adan!
[On what drives him to play]:
Growing up I had older cousins that were in bands and I looked up to them, thinking they were so cool in that that they got to express themselves in the form of music. The music they introduced me to (metalcore/post-hardcore) when I was very young had such an impact on my life.
All my life I was described as a person that was calm and collected and “never mad or stressed”, but I was a lot of the times having my emotions affirmed through music and able to feel at home and at peace with myself due to the music I listen to.
That’s how much this music means to me. To have a sense of not being alone through hard times. It got me through so much grief, sadness, and anger over the years and has truly shaped who I am as a person. I want to be able to express my emotions through my music and create something meaningful to myself and others.
Anndddd It’s been a lifelong dream of mine, I would always be daydreaming in school of one day I’d be able to play music with my band/friends and just drive far away.
[Top 3 influences]:
The Devil Wears Prada
(With Roots Above and Branches Below & Plagues)
For the Fallen Dreams
(Changes)
Secrets
(Fragile Figures)
All my favorite bands of all time that mean the entire world to me. Each has an element of what I hope to create musically and inspired me to be a musician.
Honorable mentions: my cousin’s Tim and Jon who were in bands before me, and encouraged me to pursue it. I listened to Tim’s music so much, and I knew if my cousin could do it I knew I could do it too!
His band's single inspired me to try and chase my dream:
Living Proof - Fortitude (Feat. Sven Fairchild of I Survived)
Ramsey Callaway (Bass):
[On the importance of music]:
Music is the great bonding between culture, identity, race, religion, sex, and everything in the world. Whether it’s a pop artist or someone just making their first song through Garage Band, the sound of music brings people closer together and grows passion. Knowing what we create as a band and the following we’ve garnered pushes our drive forward more than it would be as a small passion project.
[On his personal influences]:
Influences on my life as a musician have to come from my brother, who also was in the scene and helped build the sound of several local key bands, as well as artists who actively fall into my listening pool, like Tool and RHCP and Lamb of God, plus plenty of others. My last influence would be the music educators who I’ve met at different stages of my life that opened the world of music to me, be it as a young child, all the way well into adulthood. Without their passion and understanding of music, I wouldn’t have felt nearly as drawn to an instrument as I have been for over a decade.
Honorable mention is Guitar Hero 3, World Tour, and Metallica, and maybe Smash Hits. Those games have had so many hours spent in them mastering songs and listening to tracks I wouldn’t have otherwise known or heard about, and playing on the controller also introduced me to handling a guitar, be it in a simple way.
Eviscerated Flesh
If you're interested in their latest music, I have great news. There's a brand new song that just dropped yesterday called Davy Jones' Locker! Check it out and let them know what you think.
They had a couple of interesting things to say when it comes to their motivations and influences as well.
Zane (Guitar):
[On what drives him to play]:
Ever since I started playing guitar at 11 years old, I knew music would be an inseparable part of my life. It’s the ultimate expression for me and my appreciation for it only grows with time.
[Top 3 influences]:
Dying Fetus
Animosity
Defeated Sanity
Landen (Bass):
[On what drives him to play]:
I play music because I love doing it. I love having a creative outlet that allows me to express the joy and turmoil of life at the same time. Music, to me, is expression, and it’s how I've learned to know myself better as a person and who I want be.
[Top 3 influences]:
Piglet
Victor Wooten
Every Halo OST
Ethan (Vocals):
[On what drives him to play]:
Music is the soundtrack to life. The world would be empty without it.
[Top 3 influences]:
The Black Dahlia Murder
Suicide Silence
Whitechapel
Nathan (Drums):
[On what drives him to play]:
I play music because it makes me feel connected to humanity and fulfilled spiritually, there’s no greater feeling than inspiring people with something that you’ve had a hand in creating.
[Top 3(ish) influences]:
Morbid Angel
Leviathan
Trent Reznor or Frank Zappa
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