Band Profile:
Play It Purple
Written by Emily Bloch
In September of 2009, highly regarded drummer Anthony Martone departed from VersaEmerge leaving fans everywhere wondering what happened; but more importantly, what was next.
“I needed a change” says Martone.
After 13 months of work, Martone's new project Play It Purple out of Stuart, Florida has finally surfaced.
Sitting amidst the band's black and red practice room clad with a pop-art Star Wars poster and Johnny Depp's face, the close band mates explain that piecing together the current lineup was no easy feat.
Anthony recalls, “Jasyn Rymer (guitar) went into a local music store named Jam Music and talked to the owner there. He said he was looking for a drummer, and the owner referred him to me. He told him I was the drummer for VersaEmerge. Jasyn didn't know who that was, but for some reason, he lied, and said he did.” The band mates chuckle teasingly.
Jasyn contacted Anthony and the two arranged a casual jam. A longtime friend of Jasyn's, Andy Nicholl, volunteered to play bass for the growing band after hearing the two play.
Jasyn adds “We couldn’t find a singer for the longest time.”
“Anthony called and said 'Hey, I am starting a band that you'd love to be in.' I hopped on the first plane to check it out and moved down to Florida from Maryland, where I sang for Montpellier," says vocalist Jose Perez.
"When he was auditioning musicians for his band, he would tell them to play the song they knew, but to ‘play it purple.’ If they didn't understand what that meant, they weren't allowed to play in his band.”
For those Versa-holics expecting a joint playlist, here’s your disclaimer; considering they play southern metal and draw inspiration from bands like Converge, Pianos Become the Teeth, Every Time I Die and Mastodon, don’t expect a stroll down hipster-indie-lane.
“Obviously, the music is WAY different. It is more of a challenge and I finally feel musically free. Everyone in this band is really mature and we get along better than I ever thought a band could,” Martone gushes.
On Sunday, March 6, Play It Purple posted a song on their Pure Volume account entitled "I See Myself as Always Being on Fire." The cut throat guitar intro followed by Perez’s violent rasp and fast paced full band instrumental leaves little to the imagination. The Touche Amore influence is prominent and the band is unquestionably tight.
Play It Purple encompasses not only a unique sound, but a distinct name.
Rymer explains “It's a Frank Zappa quote because when he was auditioning musicians for his band, he would tell them to play the song they knew, but to ‘play it purple.’ If they didn't understand what that meant, they weren't allowed to play in his band.”
Between throwing around jokes like how when they first met, Jasyn convinced Anthony that he played with Simon LeBon of Duran Duran and Elton John in England, or claiming that their next project is to write a "novel" (yeah, sure), this fun, charismatic, humble, thrash/hardcore band shows great promise.
A confident Martone concludes, “People who like my old bands will listen to this and probably think I have gone completely insane, but I assure you that I have never felt better.“
Check out Play It Purple's new song "I See Myself as Always Being on Fire" at www.purevolume.com/playitpurple
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