Knifight
Austin, Texas, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2009 | SELF
Music
Press
Officially, Knifight has been jamming for roughly 9 years; though 4 years of that was John Gable doing solo work in Tyler; eventually picking up Patrick Marshall, Nick Garrison, and John Hetherington along the way to Austin, landing circa 2010.
Since then, they've seen the inside of many of the finer venues in the "warehouse district", playing The Mohawk, The Beauty Bar, et al, building up a solid wall of Knifers (if I may) with their pop-laden rock and signature vocals.
And why not? Check out the irresistible "Familiar Steps" to see what we're talking about:
Just to be clear: When we say "pop-laden" here, we don't mean pop as in "pop culture", as in Super Bowl halftime or American Idol-ish pablum. No, we mean "pop" in the more traditional sense of the word: A blending of harmonic elements, oftimes in a major key, using vocals, chord progressions, and traditional structures to create a pleasing tonal (in the western sense) quality. So even if their cuts don't sound all Top 40, don't be surprised if the band winds up there: They have all the essentials in place; sans the high-dollar, studio-sheened mix.
Knifight lures you in with a danceable BPM; seduces you with hook-laden guitar riffs and vocal harmonies; then shivs you clean through with Gable's emphatic, imposing, "voice of conviction" vociferications. Built on a solid base of club-flavored rhythm, minimalistic instrumentation, and sing-along melodics, Knifight is a force of angular pop; inspiring a tribal intimacy with us and the rest of our DIY-indie clan.
We were tempted to leave you with this live vid of the guys at Clicks -
But really, you should listen to their new EP, '"Now We're Invisible". Really. In it's entirety.
- Austin Independent Music Noise
Knifight is an Austin-based indie-electronic band that has been performing and recording since 2002. Their five-song EP, "Now We're Invisible" is available on iTunes and knifight.bandcamp.com. Knifight is a four-piece band that plays incredibly energetic live shows complete with gripping electronic, post-wave pop songs that include synthesizers, electric guitar, bass, and group vocals. - SXSW
Knifight
An incredibly energetic, electronic, post-wave pop band, Knifight, originated in Tyler, Texas, and recently made its way to Austin for a showcase at SXSW 2011.
The band consists of John Gable, Patrick Marshall, Nick Garrison and John Hetherington.
Gable, with his Steven Morrisey-esque vocals, makes it easy to get lost in the music when accompanied by Marshall's psychedelic synthesized beats.
The song "Girls Don't Get Crushes On Me" is a perfect example of how the band uses progressions from a slow, mellow beginning to a dance-inducing electronic vibe, bringing the crowd to its feet.
At the rate Knifight is going, it will not be long before the band gains an overwhelming fan base.
- The Collegian
Carter and I caught the indie electronic Knifight during Free Week and I was definitely intrigued by their mix of synth melodies and thundering vocals. During their live show, I thought “This is what a mashup of LCD Soundsystem and Joy Division would probably sound like.” The synthesizer melodies and beats keep the songs danceable and the vocals turn the songs into anthemic sing-alongs. Backing these two main sonic elements are running basslines and guitar work that add texture and bring fullness to the sound. Below are a couple samples of their tunes.
Knifight - Eva
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Knifight - Faith Don't Help the Hurting
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But I think these songs are really meant to be heard live. The recordings capture the overall sound of the group but the dynamics feel different when you experience the synthesized percussion and harmonized vocals loud in a small venue. Luckily, you’ll be able to catch their live show and hear the difference soon. These guys are playing a couple shows in Austin this week. Tonight, they’re playing at the Mohawk with Binary Sunrise and New Fumes. On Friday night, they’ll be playing with Glasnost, Ode to Oscillator and Cintus Supremus at Red 7. Also, be sure to check out their recently released EP at their Bandcamp page to hear more of their tunes. They’ve gotten some national attention for this release and I only see them getting bigger in the future. So catch them locally before they’re touring everywhere but Austin.
- OVRLD
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Knifight is not the type of name you’d associate with a synth-pop group. You’d probably think of a rough-and-tumble bar metal band with a name like that, cargo shorts and Mesa stacks abound. Vocalist John Gable did grow up in the hardcore scene of Tyler, Texas, where he saw bands like Hatebreed and Brutal Truth. Perhaps that’s where the tough name came from. Knifight started as an industrial project of Gable, and later keyboardist/saxophonist Patrick Marshall would also become part of the group’s nucleus. They performed as a noise duo, eventually finding their way into Austin, and formed into a full synth-pop band, rounded out by guitarist Nick Garrison, bassist John Hetherington, and drummer Nick Cogdill. Knifight may be the only group who’s played a noise fest and opened for Future Islands and Duran Duran in 2014, and dipping in both of those worlds has worked in their favor.
They’re set to release their album, V, sometime next year, which is their first album with live drums. Last year’s Dark Voices saw them heading in a murkier direction, and while this record is clearer, it ups the darkness in many ways. They’re less focused on pop structures, stretching out so Gable and Marshall’s synths sound more brooding and gorgeous. “A Perfect Day To Die” sounds like it was commissioned for a James Bond film, right down to the title. “Buttons (Slow)” has echo-laden growls from Gable that suggest his metal past isn’t entirely behind him. Knifight haven’t gone completely doom and gloom on us, though. John H dials in some bouncy basslines throughout, especially evident on the brief ray of sunshine in the form of “Broken Feeling.” This still has all the hallmarks to make the goth club go up on a Tuesday; the weekend’s too bright, after all. Dance floors are staging areas for all sorts of desires and danger, and Knifight are reflecting that with this new record.
Band Members
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