Not Down For The Count: The First Round With Knockout Theory
by Amanda DeLuise
Brian Strelko's driveway is overcrowded with amplifiers, a drum kit, a few guitar cases and various bags of snack foods all hoping to fit into the back of a silver mini-van.
Strelko, along with bandmates Jeff Hersch, Mike Carbone and Derek Munro, are prepping to play their first album release show as Knockout Theory, a power punk quartet hailing from Flemington, New Jersey.
With only five hours left before they take the stage, the air is thick with anticipation and the scent of Cooler Ranch Doritos, a delicacy that drummer Carbone says is hard to find these days.
Much like a good high school punk band.
But in a world of Nacho Cheesier (almost every other girl-jeans wearing, microphone swinging, “CIRCLE PITTT!” cliché high school garage band) Knockout Theory is that hard to find bag of Cooler Ranch.
Coming together last June after their former bands called it quits, Knockout Theory (whose name is derived from a conversation about Yogos that somehow became a conversation about a UFC fighter... hence 'Knockout') worked non-stop for over eight months preparing to release their first full-length album, Killing The Past.
While all four of Knockout Theory's members may be in high school, the album is mature enough to hold its own next to even the most seasoned of punk veterans.
What makes their album truly stand out from the efforts of their peers is the range of genres that it covers in just eleven tracks. Strelko's gritty vocals in songs like "Melancholy" and guitarist Hersch's lyrics in songs like "Conspiracy Government" give the entire album a punk rock backbone. But each individual track feels like it could spawn a whole new album entirely. Amazingly talented guitarist Munro delivers incredible solos on a number of cuts, adding elements of metal and hardcore to the mix.
Its fair share of "whoa's", "oh's" and catchy choruses make Killing the Past a crowd favorite, as well. Whether you're throwing down or singing along on stage (something that is quite common at a Knockout Theory show), the energy clearly transcends from the stage into the entire audience.
After successfully packing up the van, the band heads off to Club Sparks, a popular venue in Bridgewater. While driving down the endless stretch of Route 22 East, the motivated foursome discuss their plans for the remainder of the summer and upcoming fall, when two of its members will be heading off to college.
"It's pretty simple: Write. Tour. Record," says Hersch.
"This week actually starts our East coast tour," adds Strelko. "We're going to play in several venues in Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Massachusetts."
After two minutes in Club Sparks, it was easy to see that their fan base rivaled that of any band on Warped Tour. The majority of the audience was already clad in Knockout Theory t-shirts and the free stickers the band makes available at every show.
When fellow Jersey foursome Crash Romeo takes the stage, I stand alone in the center of the floor. Though Crash Romeo has been signed to Trustkill (home to popular bands like Bedlight for Blue Eyes and Bullet for My Valentine) for over two years, they're not the reason for the turnout of tonight's show. As anyone can see within twenty minutes, everyone is here for Knockout Theory.
As the openers exit and Strelko, Hersch, Carbone and Munro take the stage, all hell breaks loose. Starting with a cover of Ricky Martin's "Livin' La Vida Loca" is quite fitting for the occasion. The audience has certainly gone loco, jumping on stage to sing, running around in the pit, climbing on each other's shoulders and even a few brave souls (including Hersch) attempt crowd surfing.
After almost an hour of antics, they play their final song.
Hersch excitedly screams his first thoughts on the show.
"Amazing! Audience wise, the best show we've ever played."
Lawrence Dwyer, whose production company is responsible for tonight's show and an upcoming Knockout Theory show with local superstars Static Radio, has worked closely with the band since some of their first shows together.
"I started Lawrence Dwyer Productions as a way to put amazing punk and ska shows together for the kids to come have fun at," he says. "Out of the many bands I've worked with, Knockout Theory has got to be one of my favorite to book. Ever since I saw them play at the Somerville Court House last August, I've been in love with them. Every show proves to be better than the last, which is unbelievable. They're always louder, more exciting, packed with crazy kids ready to beat the shit out of each other."
Eighteen year old Annie Banka is one of these crazy kids.
"It's really incredible that kids my age could put on a show like that. I've seen a lot of legit bands, like Green Day and Against Me!, but I swear that Knockout Theory is just as good, as they haven't even been doing this for half as long. I'm really curious to see where they’ll be in five years.”
But according to the band, they're just as curious.
"Five years from now? I can't even answer that question in regards to two years from now," says Hersch as he dines on S'mores near a bonfire at the after-party.
"Definitely a big band on an indie label," adds Carbone, who then starts an analogy that begins: 'Bad Religion is to Epitaph...' but never finishes.
"It really depends on how hard we push ourselves," says Strelko. "If we take the actions that we feel are required, there are no limits. We definitely have a live show that holds its own, and as long as the music finds its way to the public, we're good. We haven't really had much negative response."
For the most part, all responses have been positive. Their debut album is already being sold on Interpunk.com (where it has just been sent out to its first European buyer in Germany as well as a wholesale in Japan) and Vintage Vinyl in Fords, New Jersey, which was recently named number five in Rolling Stone’s Top 100 Record Stores in the U.S. It will also be available for sale on iTunes within in the upcoming month.
Although two of its members will be going away to college in the fall (Strelko is to attend New York University for Music Business and Hersch is to attend Rider University for Journalism), the band plans to stay together for a very long time.
"I'd like to make it to the point where playing music becomes our primary job," says Strelko.
"We've made so many great fans already," says Carbone. "I look back at this last year and can't believe how far we've come. I never expected to have a full length already. I feel like this is just the beginning."
And what a good beginning it is.
