While For Closure started fairly recently, having launched in 2023, the members of the band are anything but newcomers. Born out of the ashes of San Fernando Valley band For Sale, vocalist Gizz Lazlo (former drummer of Dr. Know, U.K. Subs, The Freeze) and guitarist Luis Estefania (F.Y.P., Rhythm Collision, Buford) found themselves with a lot of leftover material but no band to play it. So they reached out to drummer Wal Rashidi (Jr. Juggernaut, Turning Violet, Sleep Pod Two), bassist Steve Wilenkin (Dead Man’s Life, I.D.K., Life in a Burn Clinic), and guitarist Marc Maxey (Sloth Fist, The Killing Flame, Justice League) to round out the new band.
Since then, they’ve started building their name for live performances throughout Los Angeles and San Diego counties, and their single “Moon at Noon” ended up being dubbed the “Coolest Song in the World” by SiriusXM’s “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” radio show.
The band are gearing up for the release of their debut LP Cliffside Serenades which is due out on November 8 via Mindpower Records. Today, they’re debuting the latest single off their upcoming album, called “One More Day.”
“‘One More Day’ was originally written for an old friend I met while on tour with one of my former bands,” explains Lazlo. “When we were in Florida we met ‘Skinny’ Eric Sanders, and this guy was one of the funniest guys I’ve ever met. He had me laughing at the club all night and then invited us back to his condo to spend the night so we didn’t have to spend money on a hotel. We remained close dear friends for many, many years.
Several years ago, I was notified that he had passed away, and when I spoke to his mother to give my condolences, I promised that one day I would honor him by writing a song in his memory. I wrote the lyrics for a demo Luis and I had recorded with our former band, For Sale. I sent the demo to his mother, and I was happy that I could do that for her.
A few years, later when that former band was choosing songs for an upcoming EP, we decided that this song would be the right choice to record. When we showed up to the studio to record it, two of the members of the band didn’t show up, so we ended up recording an acoustic version, which we dedicated to Luis’ mother who had recently passed away. He and I played it at her memorial, then again when my lady passed away not too long after.
Fast-forward to when we were recording this album, Luis and I, with the help of Wal, agreed to record it the way that it should’ve initially been recorded, as a full band. Now the song is dedicated to all our family and friends who have passed way too soon. The song is about going to a show to see your favorite band, and when they’re playing that one song you love and you look around for your friend who you know also loves that song, and then you once again realize they aren’t there anymore, and all you can think is, if I only had one more day with that person.”
With a heartbreaking sense of sadness wrapped up in a sound that comes off as Hot Water Music meest The Replacements, it’s a punk tribute full of melody, emotion, and power. Check out the track below.
Cliffside Serenades is out on November 8, and you can preorder it from Mindpower Records. Follow For Closure on Facebook and Instagram for future updates.
Photo courtesy of For Closure
