“Knockout
Drops celebrate the CD release of Killed By The Lights, which
shakes with roots rock and power pop finesse.” NY
POST
“Knockout
Drops are an effusive power-pop band…One of the best
bands breaking out of the Big Apple.” LOS ANGELES
TIMES
“Knockout
Drops put on exhilarating live shows with psychedelic-pop
songs and theatrically entertaining performances
from
frontman Chris Campion.” GUITAR MAGAZINE
The
setting is downtown New York's Mercury Lounge. The Knockout
Drops are playing to a sold out house and have just blistered
through half a set's worth of material from their forthcoming
record, Killed By The Lights. The joint quiets down as
lead singer, Chris Campion, takes a pull off his cigarette and
introduces the next song, "Always Claire,” a sweet but
twisted ditty about a troubled young woman from the East Village.
After explaining the inspiration for the lyrics, Campion quips,
"It serves me right. My mother always told me not to pick up
chicks down at the methadone clinic.” The crowd breaks up as
guitarist Tom Licameli launches into the familiar opening riff of
this crowd favorite. That's a Drops show.
Knockout Drops music is dynamic, narrative rock-n-roll. It’s
mood changing melodies and sophisticated lyrical content that runs
the gamut from melancholic to exuberant. From sardonic to
intensely serious. The Drops have everything in their arsenal
and they use it all. More than your average rock ‘n roll
singer, Campion entertains and engages his audiences with animated
tales and irreverent commentary in between songs. Chris
Campion is like Dean Martin meets Bill Hicks, with a Tom Waits
chaser.
Chris
Campion (Lead Vocalist), Tom Licameli (Guitarist), and
Phil Mastrangelo (Bass), first met in the bars of Huntington,
Long Island. With a shared passion for books like, A
Confederacy of Dunces, old Who and Replacements records, and an
overall gift for misadventure, the boys soon found themselves in a
band and writing their own compositions. They moved into
downtown Manhattan and began cutting their teeth with shows at
CBGB'S and Brownies. Almost instantly the group garnered a
large following and a reputation for forceful live, anything
goes-style performances. These early songs became the band's
first record. The self-produced album entitled, The
Burning Bush Chronicles, helped the band secure a production
deal with producer Joe Blaney (The Clash, Soul Asylum).
With Joe at the helm, the group churned out the incendiary E.P.,
Nowadays, and cemented their status as one of N.Y.C.'s best
rock-n- roll outfits. In support of Nowadays,
the band sold out both Irving Plaza and Bowery Ballroom.
Notably, Knockout Drops were one of only two unsigned bands to
headline Irving Plaza in a given year. This led to coveted
opening slots with artists such as; Soul Asylum, Pete Yorn,
Semisonic, Violent Femmes and Better than Ezra. Other
highlights include The Guinness Fleadh Festival and acoustic
performances at Jones Beach, opening for The Beach Boys and Jethro
Tull.
In
the Spring of 2002 Knockout Drops decided to try something new.
They took up residency at Siberia Bar in New York City, performing
every other Thursday, in order to debut new material and expand the
show to include more of Campion’s in between songs,
improvisational shtick. The show caught fire and was embraced
by the city’s night crawler set (performance artists, musicians,
comedians, etc…). This
allowed
for many special guests to sit in including Gordon Gano of the
Violent Femmes, Sid McGuinness (guitar player on the David Letterman
show), Mark Pender (horn player on Conan ‘O Brien) and members
of the Bogmen and Vic Thrill. Campion’s also known for
pulling onstage any other vicious freaks (a term of endearment),
that he can find in the audience. Occasionally his lack of a
“PC” filter can get him into trouble. One night while
addressing a couple of flight attendants, Campion made the joke,
“I heard you gals don’t like to be called stewardesses any
more…we have to call you Native Americans now.” With that,
Campion found himself being accosted by a very inebriated 6’5”
Navajo Indian who thought he’d been insulted. To diffuse the
situation he then said, “ Take it easy Kimosabe I think you’re a
little hopped up on the firewater.” Only to enrage our
Native American friend even more. He then said, “I heard you
people are good at the drums.” With that, the big fella
smiled and said, “yeah, I can play drums.” Campion invited
him onstage to finish out the set. When asked about the
incident Campion said it was less about the comedy and more about
the self-preservation. The point is anything can happen at a
Drop’s show. Says Campion, “I don’t believe in the
straight ahead rock show anymore, it’s a bore.” I think
there’s more fun to be had.”
Now
signed to Circus Clone Records (with national distribution
through Mayhem Records and ADA), Knockout Drops are celebrating
their debut full-length release, Killed By The Lights,
which had its’ street date June 17th. The 13-song
collection exemplifies the diverse appeal of the Drops, yet it
remains focused and congruous. The album represents a
significant leap in the band's writing and recording prowess.
Skillfully crafting their songs and constructing rich sonic
textures, yet without sacrificing any of the gritty, hard hitting
energy that characterizes their live sound. Guitarist, Tom
Licameli is a cross-pollination of Pete Townsend, Tom Verlaine and
Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers). When you hear
him play, you won't be able to liken it to a single one of them, but
that's where he comes from. The rhythm section of Phil
Mastrangelo and Vinny Cimino is thunder-locked and loaded and can
take the music in any direction at any time. With Campion out
front, you stir 'm all together and you get Knockout Drops...one
helluva cocktail...............
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