Knuckle Puck

The "knucklepuck" shot (ice hockey) was popularized by the 1994 film D2: The Mighty Ducks.
Knuckle Puck
Origin Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres Emo, pop punk
Years active 2010 (2010)–present
Labels Bad Timing, Rise
Associated acts Rationale.
Website knucklepuckil.com
Members
  • Nick Casasanto
  • Kevin Maida
  • Ryan Rumchaks
  • John Siorek
  • Joe Taylor

Knuckle Puck is an American pop punk band from the south suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. The group started out as a cover band, before they started writing songs in April 2011. Following this, they released a number of EPs, one of which, While I Stay Secluded (2014), peaked at number 5 on the Heatseekers Albums chart. The band released a split EP with the UK band Neck Deep. The group signed to Rise in December 2014 and released their debut album, Copacetic, through them in July 2015.

History

Formation and early releases (2010–14)

Knuckle Puck started out covering songs in fall 2010[1] in the outskirts of Chicago.[2] The band got their name from a Stick to Your Guns t-shirt that said "Knuckle Puck Crew".[3] The band consisted of vocalist Joe Taylor, guitarist Kevin Maida and drummer John Siorek.[1] The group started writing original songs in April 2011 with the addition of guitarist Nick Casasanto.[1] The group had friends fill in on bass.[1] In July, the band played their first ever show.[4] In October, the band released a self-titled EP,[1] this was followed up by the Acoustics EP in March 2012.[5] In October, the band released the Don't Come Home EP.[6] The band co-headlined a tour with Seaway from late May to early June 2013.[7] In August, the band self-released the The Weight That You Buried EP.[8] In February 2014 Bad Timing and Hopeless[9] released a split EP that featured two songs each from Knuckle Puck and Neck Deep.[10] Both bands toured together (alongside Light Years) from late February to early April.[10] In spring, the band gained bassist Ryan Rumchaks.[1] Between May and June, the band supported Man Overboard on their The Heart Attack Tour alongside Transit, and Forever Came Calling.[11]

A music video was released for the song "No Good" in June.[12] It was directed by Eric Teti.[13] In late July, it was announced the band were recording,[14] and in early August the band finished record their next release.[15] Knuckle Puck supported Senses Fail on their Let It Enfold You 10th anniversary tour from late August till early October 2014.[16] In early September, the band released a 7" flexi containing the songs "Oak Street" and "Home Alone", the former of which was intended for release on their next EP.[17] The flexi was released by Bad Timing.[18] On October 16, 2014, "Bedford Falls" was available for streaming.[19] On October 23, the While I Stay Secluded EP was made available for streaming[20] and on October 28, it was released[21] by Bad Timing.[22] The EP had peaked at number 5 on the Heatseekers Albums in the U.S.[23] Guitarist Kevin Maida revealed that the band "firmly and confidently" considered the EP their best work so far.[21] On October 31, the band released a music video for "Oak Street".[24] In November and December, the band supported Modern Baseball on their fall tour.[25]

Rise Records and Copacetic (2014–present)

In November 2014, the various artists compilation album Punk Goes Pop 6 was released, it featured Knuckle Puck covering The 1975 song "Chocolate".[26] On December 22, 2014, Knuckle Puck signed to Rise Records and plan to release their debut full length album in 2015.[27] Maida said that Rise would be "a bountiful new home" for them and would help them evolve.[27] Throughout January and February 2015 the band supported Neck Deep on their The Intercontinental Championships Tour.[18] In late February, the band announced they had started recording their debut album[28] and by early April, they had finished.[29] The group joined The Maine's The American Candy Spring 2015 Tour, as a support act, throughout April and May.[30] On June 11, the band's debut album, Copacetic, was announced.[31] The artwork and track list was revealed.[31] On June 19, a music video was released for "Disdain".[32] On June 30, "True Contrite" was made available for streaming.[33] The band played on the 2015 edition of Warped Tour.[34] On July 14, "Pretense" was made available for streaming.[35] On July 23, the album was made available for streaming.[36] Copacetic released on July 31.[31] The band supported State Champs on their European tour in September and October.[37] The band toured the U.S. in October and November, with support from Seaway, Head North and Sorority Noise.[38]

Style

Knuckle Puck sound has been described by AllMusic biographer James Christopher Monger as a "melodic blend of old-school punk rock and emo", compared to the likes of The Wonder Years, The Story So Far, and Rise Against.[39] Copacetic has been described as emo[40] and pop punk.[41][42][40] AllMusic reviewer Timothy Monger noted the album's sound "[r]anging from blazing, epic emo and pop-punk to slower, more contemplative fare."[40] Cleveland.com reviewer Troy L. Smith noted that people who liked early 2000s pop punk albums such as Simple Plan's No Pads, No Helmets...Just Balls (2002) and New Found Glory's Sticks and Stones (2002) would enjoy Copacetic.[42]

Side projects

Rumchaks released a solo EP, Decades, in July 2013.[43] Rumchaks plays guitar and sings vocals in Oak Lawn, Illinois-based band Homesafe, alongside vocalist/bassist Tyler Albertson and drummer Eman Duran.[44] They have released two EPs, Homesafe (2014) and Inside Your Head (2015), and a single, "Nothing to Lose".[44]

Taylor and Rumchaks joined with Real Friends' vocalist Dan Lambton to form Rationale..[45] With Rationale., Taylor plays guitar and vocals, Rumchaks plays drums, and Lambton on guitar and vocals.[45] "Hangnail" was made available for streaming in December 2015, and their debut EP Confines followed shortly after.[45]

Accolades

Knuckle Puck was included on Alternative Press's "12 Bands You Need To Know: AP Editors pick their favorite 100 Bands" list in 2014.[46] The band were included on Idobi's "Artists To Watch In 2014" list.[47]

Discography

Studio albums

Members

Current members

References

Footnotes
    Citations
    1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Galil, Leor (July 21, 2015). "Knuckle Puck do for pop-punk what elastic does for sweatpants". Chicago Reader. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
    2. ↑ Pearlman 2015, p. 70
    3. ↑ Bodkin, Bill. "Interview: Knuckle Puck". Pop Break. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
    4. ↑ Walker 2015, p. 14
    5. ↑ "Acoustics - Knuckle Puck". Knuckle Puck. March 1, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
    6. ↑ "Don't Come Home - Knuckle Puck". Knuckle Puck. October 30, 2012. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
    7. ↑ "Seaway and Knuckle Puck Tour Dates". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    8. ↑ "The Weight That You Buried - Knuckle Puck". Knuckle Puck. August 30, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    9. ↑ "Knuckle Puck release new song, "Fences"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    10. 1 2 "Neck Deep and Knuckle Puck announce tour EP". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    11. ↑ Crane, Matt. "Man Overboard announce headlining tour with Transit, Forever Came Calling, Knuckle Puck". Alternative Press. Retrieved July 20, 2014.
    12. ↑ "Knuckle Puck Release Video For ‘No Good’, Continue To Be Very Good Indeed". Rock Sound Magazine. June 26, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    13. ↑ Knuckle Puck - "No Good (Official Music Video)". YouTube. 25 June 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    14. ↑ "Knuckle Puck Recording". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    15. ↑ "Knuckle Puck Finish Recording". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    16. ↑ "Knuckle Puck stream new song, "Home Alone"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    17. ↑ Kraus, Brian. "Knuckle Puck stream "Oak Street" from flexi seven-inch". Alternative Press. Retrieved September 6, 2014.
    18. 1 2 "Knuckle Puck Release New Song ‘Oak Street’, Continue To Be Awesome". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    19. ↑ "Knuckle Puck Release New Song "Bedford Falls"". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    20. ↑ "Stream New Knuckle Puck EP". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    21. 1 2 "Listen To A Brand New Knuckle Puck Track With Rock Sound". Rock Sound Magazine. October 16, 2014. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    22. ↑ "Knuckle Puck, ‘While I Stay Secluded’ EP premiere". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    23. ↑ "Knuckle Puck - Chart history (Heatseekers Albums". billboard.com. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    24. ↑ "Knuckle Puck Post "Oak Street" Video". AbsolutePunk.net. October 30, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    25. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (September 29, 2014). "Modern Baseball, Knuckle Puck, more announce fall tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    26. ↑ Rock Sound (October 14, 2014). "5 Things You Need To Know About Punk Goes Pop Volume 6". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    27. 1 2 Sharp, Tyler (December 22, 2014). "Knuckle Puck Sign to Rise Records". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 22, 2014.
    28. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (February 26, 2015). "Knuckle Puck begin recording debut full-length album". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    29. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (April 1, 2015). "Knuckle Puck finish recording debut album". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    30. ↑ "Real Friends, Knuckle Puck to open the Maine's spring tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    31. 1 2 3 Sharp, Tyler (June 11, 2015). "Knuckle Puck announce debut album, 'Copacetic'". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
    32. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (June 19, 2015). "Knuckle Puck give first taste of debut album with "Disdain"". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 19, 2015.
    33. ↑ Palmedo, Tree (June 30, 2015). "Knuckle Puck Set Amps and Emotions to Max on ‘True Contrite’". Spin. Retrieved June 30, 2015.
    34. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (April 8, 2015). "Senses Fail, Knuckle Puck, Miss May I, more announced for Warped Tour 2015". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    35. ↑ Biddulph, Andy (July 14, 2015). "Knuckle Puck Are One Of The Brightest Pop-Punk Bands In The Game. Here’s Why.". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2015.
    36. ↑ Biddulph, Andy (July 23, 2015). "Stream The New Knuckle Puck Album". Rock Sound Magazine. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
    37. ↑ Pierangelo, Hannah (May 26, 2015). "State Champs Announce Fall European Headliner". idobi.com. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    38. ↑ Payne, Chris (August 10, 2015). "Knuckle Puck Smash Chairs in Polaroid/Feeling-Filled 'True Contrite' Video". Billboard. Retrieved December 23, 2015.
    39. ↑ Monger, James Christopher. "Knuckle Puck | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
    40. 1 2 3 Monger, Timothy. "Copacetic - Knuckle Puck | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved October 30, 2015.
    41. ↑ Rogers 2015, p. 80
    42. 1 2 Smith, Troy L. (July 31, 2015). "Album Review: Knuckle Puck's 'Copacetic' defines pop punk for a new generation". cleveland.com. Retrieved October 10, 2015.
    43. ↑ "Ryan Rumchaks". Ryan Rumchaks. July 24, 2013. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
    44. 1 2 "Music | Homesafe". Homesafe. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
    45. 1 2 3 Kraus, Brian (December 5, 2015). "rationale. (members of Real Friends and Knuckle Puck) stream debut single, “Hangnail”". Alternative Press. Retrieved December 5, 2015.
    46. ↑ "12 Bands You Need To Know: AP Editors pick their favorite 100 Bands". Alternative Press. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    47. ↑ "Tuesday Ten: Artists To Watch In 2014". idobi.com. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
    Sources
    • Pearlman, Mischa (Summer 2015). Bird, Ryan, ed. "Everything Is Alright". Rock Sound (London: Freeway Press Inc.) (203). ISSN 1465-0185. 
    • Rogers, Jack (Summer 2015). Bird, Ryan, ed. "Reviews". Rock Sound (London: Freeway Press Inc.) (203). ISSN 1465-0185. 
    • Walker, Jennyfer J. (August 1, 2015). McMahon, James, ed. "Fresh Blood: Rock's Breaking Bands". Kerrang! (London: Bauer Media Group) (1579). ISSN 0262-6624. 

    External links

    This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, February 07, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.