Let the Games Begin: Gametime reunites at Minibar after 20 year Hiatus

October 31, 2024

Whitney Young,

Gametime // Photo by Whitney Young

Let’s take a jaunt down memory lane and recall what made Kansas City’s pop-punk scene so iconic in the early 2000s. Imagine a community of Kansas City metro kids swarming into spots like El Torreon and New Earth—one of the DIY venues set up in a church in an attempt to transform them into hip hangouts for local youth, where local bands could share the stage with big-name touring acts passing through town.

Labels like Tooth & Nail and Drive-Thru Records were the heartbeat of this scene. Bands like MxPx and Slick Shoes brought introspective punk grit, while Drive-Thru acts such as The Movielife, and Fenix TX offered high-energy, singalong-ready anthems.

Enter Kansas City’s own Gametime, who embodied this blend of “refreshing pop punk” perfectly. They weren’t just another local band; they represented the heart of Kansas City’s pop-punk spirit, inspired by the authenticity and energy from both Tooth & Nail and Drive-Thru’s rosters.

Gametime’s sound was Kansas City’s answer to the national pop-punk movement, combining catchy hooks with a unique local resilience. Thanks to Kansas City’s prime location, Gametime played alongside top touring acts, helping cement KC’s role as a vital stop on the Midwest pop-punk circuit and giving local fans a scene to call their own. Sadly, at the peak of their popularity, the band took an indefinite hiatus.

Fortunately for us, they returned to the stage on Saturday, Oct. 26, at Minibar, where we caught up with guitarist Kyle Devlin to hear about what the band has been up to since their last performance.

Gametime. // photo by Whitney Young

The Pitch: Okay, so first things first: What inspired this reunion after 20 years? I know I haven’t been the only one asking for this reunion since you last played, as seen by the fact that your reunion sold out two weeks after the show was announced. The elder millennial pop-punk kids are excited!

Kyle Devlin: We had been discussing the idea of playing an official reunion show for a few years, especially after releasing new music. We knew the logistics might be tricky with where we’re currently at in life. There’s kids, jobs, and adult responsibility stuff in the mix. But this felt like the right year and the right time, so we carved out the time to rehearse and make it happen.

How does it feel to come back together for a live show after two decades? I know you have been making new music for the last few years.

Playing together has been surreal. Getting in the room with the other guys to play songs that we haven’t played together in twenty years felt like stepping into a time machine. But it’s been a blast hanging out and reconnecting. We’re laughing and enjoying each other’s company like we used to.

What inspired you to release some new Gametime tracks?

It was a bit of an experiment. I had a decade-old demo that had an uncanny resemblance to that of a Gametime song. It had all of the elements of what our band used to be, but it didn’t have vocals. I asked Nick Pickrell if he’d like to finish it and he immediately agreed. Our good friend Kyle Ward had been recording some stuff that we loved, so it made sense to have him help us. The first song was released at the end of 2021. We loved the outcome and had so much fun recording it, we didn’t stop.

Historically speaking, Gametime was one of the busiest bands in the local Kansas City music scene. If memory serves, you often played more than three shows a week at the height of your popularity (internally thanking my dad for all the transportation he provided to get me to those shows before I knew how to drive). Walk us through the work you put in to get signed and the band’s decision to go on a hiatus.

Aw, your sweet dad! Bless those parents who take their kids to the local shows. I love that. I can’t wait to do that for my kiddos. I love taking them to shows with me now. I think they’re making their own connection to live music and it makes me so happy.

But, to answer your question, we used to play so many shows. We were happy to play anywhere and everywhere. Churches, basement shows, skateparks, schools, etc. We were hungry and determined back then to really market ourselves. We had routinely been told that the best way to establish ourselves as a professional and credible band was to play as often as possible. We weren’t strategic about it, we just agreed to play whenever we were asked.

I think we went on hiatus in 2004 because, collectively, we were burnt out and we didn’t know how to communicate with each other about it. The musical landscape was shifting and it had a much darker tone, and Gametime was this very bright-sounding pop punk band. We weren’t sure which direction to go with new music, and I think that brought about a subtle identity crisis. In retrospect, I think we should have taken a shorter break and then reconvened. But life happens and a series of events can shift people away from each other.

Gametime // Photo by Whitney Young

Here is a softball after that last question: What has everyone been up to since their time away from the band?

I’ve been personally training people for the last 12 years. Nick has done a ton of community service and nonprofit work over the last twenty years, and he’s currently crushing it as a realtor. You may have seen him on some local commercial spots too, as he’s a part-time actor. Gabe spent many years working in ministry as a professional musician and he’s just recently had a big transitional life change. I’m excited for him because he’s such a wonderful person and I think he’s carving out an exciting new path for him and his family. Caleb is a professional musician who plays gigs every week. He and his wife are an incredibly talented musical pair.

What has changed in your dynamic as a band since you last performed?

Everything is less serious. It’s more fun because there’s not a ton of internal high-stakes that we’re placing on ourselves and each other. We recognize that this is a creative outlet that we’re fortunate enough to do. It’s been a real life-giving pastime for me and the other guys. I love working on songs and constructing them to life. When the time comes to release a new song and throw it out into the world, it’s the most thrilling feeling.

Twenty years ago, I wanted to express myself, but I didn’t have a lot to say. Now, I have a lot of things to say and I’m able to express myself with music and that’s a wonderful thing. I don’t know if I’ll ever stop.

Gametime // Photo by Whitney Young

What about your musical influences? Have your musical influences evolved?

Absolutely. I love discovering new music. Musical tastes will evolve with time, but I will always love punk rock. My friends have made fun of me because they say I still listen to the music I listened to when I was younger. But, for me, I’m always adding music to my life, I’m very rarely subtracting. I love discovering new bands, as well as new genres and sub-genres. But I think it’s healthy for my brain to have my go-to music that I’ve been listening to since I was a young kid.

Put the discussion to rest—Which local venue was your favorite to play at?

I’m going to say The New Earth. We played there so many times. We had many of our best shows there. We also had a couple of total disaster shows there. But, I think for the time and place, that’s what I think of most when I reflect back on playing large local shows in the early 2000s. El Torreon is a very close second.

Okay last question: Any official plans for a new EP, or dare I ask … an LP?

Yes, we’re recording an LP right now. We’re four songs in and I’m thrilled with how the songs are coming together. We originally thought it would be a seven-song EP of sorts, but I can’t stop writing, so I think a proper LP is in order. The first one we’ve ever done! It’s never too late.

All photos by Whitney Young:

Gametime