KNAPSACK

by Jeff Jolley

Check out their CD review in the last issue of RAD Cyberzine. Knapsack is a band with some serious potential. They are out there hitting the streets and working their butts off in true small-band fashion. This band should definately be checked out before they get huge and stop doing the small clubs.

RAD: I got your CD a couple weeks ago from Wendy (at Alias Records). How come I haven't heard of Knapsack before?
Colby: Well, it's our debut album.
RAD: It should be on the air up here--it's really good!
Colby: Thanks, I'm sure they're working on that back at Alias (Records) right now.
RAD: This isn't your first major tour across the states, is it?
Colby: We went one time before.
Blair: Before, when we just had a single out, we just went out on that to get going and doing something.
RAD: Where are some of your favorite places to play?
Colby: Boulder Colorado...
Blair: L.A.'s getting better...
Colby: New York's been about fifty-fifty.
RAD: How about San Diego?
Blair: We've played there a lot. San Diego's kinda weird sometimes.
Colby: When we play with our friends bands it's great...when we play by ourselves it's a nightmare.
Blair: But San Diego's fun to go down to.
Colby: We have a lot of friends down there, it's just not always profitable.
RAD: How do like being on Alias?
Colby: Love it so far...
Blair: They're great. They're nice people and they seem excited to be doing stuff. We don't get lost in the shuffle
Colby: We know everybody on a personal basis. We can get anyone on the phone at any time. I think they work really hard and they love the music.
RAD: What are some of your (Blair's) inspirations for writing?
Blair: I think with anyone, most of it's problems that you have. Just sort of personal stuff. I don't really write political songs, just daily sort of things that reflect what your life is really like. That's always the toughest question to answer, but that's my shot at it.
RAD: Well then, a little easier question for all of you, what are some of your backgrounds in music? Who do you listen to and what prompted you to get together in a band? Rod We listen to just about anything that's out.
Jason: Rod and I were in another band. we al practiced in the same spot in Sacramento. I just said, "Look, if you ever want another guitar player, I want to do it." And they did, and then they needed a bass player, and our old band was sort of fucked up, and we ended up in Knapsack and it's been bliss ever since.
Colby: We've always been in bands. Each one of us have been in bands as long as we can remember. We don't know why we did it. We were in bands in high school. It's what comes real natural. When we're not playing in a band, we're out seeing shows. I don't really know what else to do. I mean, I have a girlfriend and that's fun...
Blair: Rock is our life.
Jason: We just want to save the world.
RAD: about 10 years ago, didn't you guys put together that one song?
Colby: Yeah, that was a big boost for our career!
Blair: Wasn't that the one with all the hot stars on it?
Colby: I remember being a kid and when Bob Dylan would do his solo I'd laugh so hard. I couldn't believe anybody's voice would sound that bad and anyone would say, "This guy needs a solo in 'We are the World'!"
RAD: Do you like being on the road, do you like being in the studio? Where do you feel most at home?
Colby: Not in the Studio...
Jason: On the road...
Blair: Yeah, the studio can be pretty horrible sometimes.
Colby: We all get ancey to get out. When we just had 7" inch singles out before, we would go out an tour just to do it. It's never that great to go out on tour on a 7" single, but we'd just get ancey, get out of town, loose tons of money and have a great time.
Blair: It's sort of like a vacation. You can't think of it as being work, you have to think of it as seeing things and going out. It's better than staying at home and working.
Colby: When we get done with this tour, we will have seen 35 states, and so that's not something a lot of people can say. Some of them are real ugly, but we've seen 'em!
Blair: [to Colby] The people or the states?
RAD: No comment there, huh? Any plans for more 7"s?
Blair: We'll probably do a 7". We want to get another LP out as soon as possible. We have it about half written. We'll probably do the next 7" as a single from that LP.
Colby: Oh yeah, we're doing a 5" european single. It's the size of a CD, but it's actual vinyl. It's going to be released in europe, but it's going to strategically bleed over here.
RAD: That should be exciting. Any plans to hit Europe? Everyone Yeah.
Colby: Maybe August or September. That's what they tell us... none of us believe it.
RAD: What else would you like to say?
Blair: Rod has something to say...
RAD: Yeah, we haven't heard NEARLY enough from Rod...
Blair: We like to torment Rod because he's quiet.
RAD: [to Rod] Now, you're from Sacramento?
Rod: I lived in Davis, too. All of us lived in Davis at one time.

Well, that's Rod for you. He doesn't even stand on stage during the show! We got two whole sentances out of him. Next time, we'll have an exclusive with Rod. Look for it and read the deep dark secrets of his life. Until then, keep your Knapsack close at hand.