DETAILS

Knucklehead 7-Inch Release with Rum Runner & Colin Decker Free Fall
Palomino
Saturday, January 31 - Saturday, January 31

More in: Rock / Pop

Through five albums and a slew of songs on singles, seven-inches and compilations, Knucklehead has shown that in spite of Calgary’s inherent conservatism, punk rock thrives within the city’s borders. “Alberta and Western Canada in general is a pretty conservative place, that’s true,” says guitarist Clayton MacNeill. “But, I wouldn't say it's too conservative for punk. It is the like-minded people we play for here, not oil execs on the 25th floor of a highrise or a priest in rural Alberta. Sure, it has shaped our songwriting a bit, as we are very left-leaning people in a right-leaning province, but our sound [reflects] who we are, not only where we live.”

While the members have changed over the years, Knucklehead has remained impressively consistent, pumping out staunchly political, head-banging punk rock since the mid-’90s. The subject matter has remained stark, caustic and political, focusing on unemployment, suicide and other social issues, rather than the usual punk themes — girls, love and introspection. It’s dark and entrancing, as if a core group of collective frustrations emerge in each note, so everyone can bang their heads and gripe about them collectively. “A lot of our songs are commentaries on what’s going on in the world, and unfortunately, we don't have a shortage of fucked up things to write about,” says MacNeill. “That keeps the ink flowing. Also, we've had a natural progression because we've played so many shows and practised so much over the last 15 years. As a result, we naturally got better at playing and writing and can now articulate better what we want to say and sound like.”

With a new album in production, Knucklehead has passed the time releasing a series of seven-inches, the most recent being a split with Hostage Life last year. Fans of the format, Knucklehead release more seven-inches than full-length albums, preferring short and punchy doses of material to longer albums. “The reason is simple with us,” MacNeill explains. “We continue to release seven-inches because it’s in our blood. We love it. Plus, we've always wanted to do a split with a band we like, and with this, it all just came together after we toured out with them.”

So until another new full-length is out, Knucklehead will continue to bash out seven-inches featuring Calgary’s best and longest lasting blend of punk rock. The details may change, but the subject matter, influence and desire to speak out about what needs to change remains constant. “We are just trying to get people to think about the world around them, so the end result with us is more of a comment than a statement,” says MacNeill. “We are not saying we are right and you are wrong, we are saying wake the fuck up before it's you or someone you love in the desert defending a pipeline, or living on the street trying to stay out of the cold because of choices and cuts your government made. That will never change.”