It’s always been tough to appreciate an underground band when there is the threat of the inevitable looming overhead — the dreaded sellout.

During the last year, hardcore music saw more people introduced to the scene than ever before. The rise in hardcore’s popularity is no doubt due, in part, to the abundance of places making it available to eager fans. Never before has hardcore music been found on MTV, in the mall or giant arenas, but somehow, it has begun to infiltrate all of these areas.

With the market available, many hardcore purists have begun wondering if hardcore will cross the bridge and become a profitable, mainstream genre. While it still remains to be seen, there are many bands who clearly have no intention of becoming a mainstream act, and Denver band Planes Mistaken for Stars seems to be well-suited for that category.

“It’s obviously not much of a subculture anymore,” says guitarist Gared O’Donnell. “It’s not so much a badge of honor.”

By definition, Planes Mistaken for Stars isn’t a hardcore band, drawing most of its fan base from followers of the hardcore genre because of its raw, emotional approach to writing and performing music.

O’Donnell says the members of the band have always considered themselves more of a rock ‘n’ roll band rather than a punk or hardcore band; however, he says they have borrowed aspects of hardcore.

“The only thing we’ve taken with us are the things that we hold dear,” O’Donnell says.

“Try to do as much as you can yourself, take care of your friends … mom and pop shops and the promoters in town who aren’t Clear Channel.”

Musically, the only thing connecting the band to hardcore is the screaming and singing dynamic that has become prevalent among contemporary hardcore bands. Musically, the band tends to blend aspects of many different forms of rock music.

“We steal a lot of Thin Lizzy riffs and maybe some Sabbath riffs. We all love Black Sabbath.” O’Donnell says.

Since the band’s inception in 1997, the members of Planes Mistaken For Stars have stuck to a simple mantra, releasing material themselves or through small independent labels and continually touring, playing shows in small local venues.

The band, created by lifelong friends O’Donnell and fellow guitarist Matt Bellinger, recorded its debut EP after spending six months together. Shortly after, they slowly began converting fans and building a reputation for themselves.

“We’ve been lucky to have always had people support us,” O’Donnell says.

Having years of road experience and several releases behind them has awarded the members of Planes Mistake for Stars with opportunities most will never know, such as having a band named after one of their songs in tribute.

“It’s nice to know we’ve inspired somebody,” O’Donnell says.

Despite all the accolades, Planes Mistaken For Stars is still the same band it was when it started out — a few guys committed to making music they enjoy and playing shows that let everybody have some fun.

Well, not everybody.

“That’s another thing,” O’Donnell says.

“Kids are more worried now about what shoes they are wearing rather than about having good time.”