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Pure punk rock

Calgary-based Knucklehead prepare to celebrate 15 years of music-making
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Who: Knucklehead, Rio Bent, Battle Snakes

When: Friday, May 22, 9:30 p.m.

Where: Garfinkel's

With Kyle on lead vocals, Clay and Jimmy on guitar, Matt on bass, and Eric on the drum kit, Knucklehead has been successfully pumping out straight-up punk rock since the band first came together, almost 15 years ago.

Yeah, that's right, this Calgary-based group has been kickin' around for the better part of 15 years, in one form or another.

"This March is our 15 th year anniversary," Jimmy confirmed.

The original founding members, Matt, Clay and Kyle, played their first show as Knucklehead in 1995, with Matt on bass, Clay on guitar, and Kyle juggling lead vocals and drums. But the lineup eventually evolved to include two new members - affectionately dubbed "strays" - Jimmy and Eric, while Kyle was pulled out from behind the drum kit.
It's clear that these musicians aren't afraid to experiment a bit.

"Anything we want to do, we try to do," he added.

With influences like Stiff Little Fingers, Bad Religion, Billy Bragg and Youth Brigade, their sound is straightforward old school punk rock, though Jimmy points out that they've had just about every trendy label thrown at them, at one point or another, over the years.

"Honestly, we don't really care. It's not of our concern what people call us. We call ourselves a punk rock band - that's basically it - whatever else is going on... or whatever box we fall into for the month is not of our concern at all. We'll keep chugging along past all the trends."

So while their label may change, their music stays the same.

Jimmy actually listened to the group pretty religiously before he joined their ranks about six years ago.

"I was a really, really huge fan and I went to all their shows and the bands that would play shows for them and open for them and stuff," he said.

Over the years, he's watched the band grow and evolve, truly coming into its own sound over the span of its career.

"I think we've evolved, especially in the past few years, quite a bit," he said. "We've matured a lot as songwriters. Knucklehead used to be kind of all over the map and we're a little more focused now on what we do. I think we kind of hit our stride with our sound."

They've clearly managed to nail down the creative process that works for them, which usually entails Kyle coming to the group with a riff or idea, then the other members collaborating on the initial concept.

"Working with the same guys songwriting for extended periods of time, everyone kind of learns their role and does their part, and it kind of just comes out the way it does."

The key to their longevity may have something to do with their laidback approach. You see, the goal for these longtime rockers has never been to get rich and famous. They just wanted to hang out with friends, write some songs, and play for a few audiences. And so far, that plan seems to be working out.

"We're extremely privileged. We have the best fans that have been with us forever, they always come to out shows - coast to coast - so we can't really complain!" Jimmy said.

Over the span of their career they've managed to tour most of North America and produce four full-length albums, plus a range of vinyl LPs and EPs, on a whole host of independent Canadian, American and European record labels.

Their most recent full-length, The New Black List , dropped almost three years ago, and anyone anxious for another new Knucklehead CD to put on heavy rotation in their car can relax - the band is currently busy in the studio working.

If you can't wait for that one, pick up the recently released split seven-inch they made with the Toronto-based band, Hostage Life.

"Actually, it worked out really well. They're really similar to us - they've been around for a while and we have very similar temperaments and tastes in music," Jimmy said. "We kind of call them the Knuckleheads of the east, and they call us the Hostage Life of the west."

And while the three founding members now have the responsibilities of kids, mortgages, and wives, that doesn't mean that Knucklehead has forgotten what it means to be punk rock, and there are no plans to abandon their musical pursuits anytime soon.

"I think Knucklehead's goal has always been pretty simple, and we're not a very complicated band," Jimmy said. "As long as we're enjoying this, we'll continue to do it indefinitely."

While they've done a ton of touring over the past 15 years, this will be their Whistler debut, co-headlining with artist Rio Bent.

"I've actually never been there, period," Jimmy said, adding that he's excited to finally play to a Whistler crowd.

"We've played our fair share of mountain towns and ski resorts - we play Fernie quite regularly. So if it's anything like Fernie, it'll be a total blast."