Ten Times Fast is growing quicker than their name

Ten Times Fast. // photo by Alex Agueros

You may have already heard Ten Times Fast.

Among the hardest-working rock bands in Kansas City, you may have seen them at one of at least 40 gigs since forming two years ago. Comprised mostly of members of Perfume USA, you may have heard three of their five members in action opening for acts like Heart to Gold, Worlds Worst, and SPINE. You may have heard them via a number of bands who share their more-influential-than-advertised nu-metal sound in an everything-is-shoegaze era.

Ten Times Fast. // photo by Alex Agueros

You may also have heard echoes of their weekly practice sessions driving on Southwest Boulevard, where the slapping and banging of drumsets escape the sheet metal confines of their storage unit.

Splitting rent of their practice space eight ways–including storage for another band–Ten Times Fast represent the frugal pragmatism, grueling work ethic, and creative passion necessary to record and perform music in 2026.

“It’s definitely a juggling act, constantly trying to get something done for the band,” says vocalist Tyler Snowden. “Everything we make pretty much just goes right back into the band.”

“I don’t know if I could really stay sane right now if I wasn’t doing something creative,” he adds.

Snowden and bandmates Anthony Keagan, Iestyn Hurtig, and Angela Perschau practice about twice each week after their day jobs. Snowden and Keagan work at GuitarCenter, Jamie Woodard is a clerk at Whole Foods, Perschau is a licensed massage therapist, and Hurtig provides customer chat support for a bank. As their drummer, Hurtig is thankful for the space provided by the largest of the sizes available to the band.

“Other bands are cheaping out,” Keagan says. “Including [Hurtig’s] other band.”

Ten Times Fast. // photo by Alex Agueros

Far from the only group to practice at Storage Mart, Keagan also describes an awkward stint of practicing at the same time as a neighboring band in the storage units, which eventually rescheduled their practices due to the conflicting jams.

“There was lowkey some tension between that wall,” Keagan says. “But they started it.”

Among the first to occupy that practice space, Antonio Marquez of SPINE provided useful advice in navigating the task of managing and booking upon striking up conversations with Snowden at shows.

“Tyler was a really hard mosher too,” Marquez says. “I really appreciated that.”

Marquez says they talked about what to avoid, including predatory terms related to record deals, contracts and tour mangers.

“When I was coming up, there wasn’t a manual on how to tour,” Marquez explains. “Anytime I’m talking to people who are interested I always try to be helpful. It sounds corny, but you try to to leave the place better than you found it.”

SPINE’s frontman, who also has a day job, added another lesson: for better or worse, translating your music-making passion into your livelihood will change your relationship with it.

“I realized at an early stage that it couldn’t be a career,” Marquez admits. “I am able to feel as passionate as I was when I was 13. If I had to do it to make ends meet, I would really change and I would be burnt out.”

Ten Times Fast played its first show April 20, 2024, at Howdy on Stadium Drive and have played at least 40 shows since, releasing two EPs along the way, Off White and Reflections. Citing artists like Jawbreaker, Swervedriver, and Fiddlehead as inspiration, Snowden describes the progression of their style with humility, crediting their development as performers–rather than design–as the driving force behind the band’s evolution.

“It’s more about how my music taste has changed,” offers Snowden. “I started a band as I was learning to play guitar and also learning how to sing. I’m still getting comfortable playing guitar and singing at the same time. I definitely try to stick to a little bit more rockier, indie side of shoegaze and post-hardcore. I’m not as interested in making it heaver and groovier like that.”

Ten Times Fast. // photo by Alex Agueros

Ten Times Fast headlined The Bottleneck in Lawrence for the first time in late April, drawing a modest crowd for a short set on a Friday night. Where pop-punk adjacent melodies and tempo guide the recorded takes of “Haze,” “Off White,” and “Jade,” growling guitars, distortion and intoxicating volume provided warmth to the crashing waves in a live setting. They won over the audience for good with a fuzzed-out cover of “Game of Pricks” by Guided by Voices. Despite a heavier approach, the cover highlighted a shared tightness and simplicity in songwriting with the ’90s lo-fi legends.

“I don’t try to write with a lot of intention, but a lot of truth seeps out,” continues Snowden. “I’m just trying to sound like what goes with the melody. It’s funny how much comes out when you’re not trying to write about a specific thing.”

Drawing a line at the merch table after their set, Snowden said sales were modest that night, and most people just wanted to chat or congratulate the band. New fans and interested listeners are the cherry on top for a group that, despite the hard work and commitment involved, are playing because they love it.

“Most people that that want to see us probably already bought a shirt or a tape,” Snowden says.

Ten Times Fast opens for Public Opinion and Squint at the RecordBar on Wednesday, June 3. Details here.