The Powerknobs

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The Powerknobs are:

Mike Gaynor -- frontman
Bill Knobs -- guitars
The Infamous Dr. Z -- keys
Ross -- drumming
Andrew -- bass

The Powerknobs are the best band I have ever seen. They are also therefore the best band I've played with. Which they are. This is partly due to the fact that they are into weird music and influences which I am completely unfamilliar with. So their music has a completely original element to it. When I try to explain their sound to other people I say that it isn't punk, its racous rock n' roll. And I don't use the word racous very often (if it's even spelled right). There is such love between Low Profile and the Knobs that it is unbelieveable. I marvel at it everytime we play a show together and any of the many times I have gone to see them play seperately. I have seen them:

Rock House Cafe
Wise Fools Pub w/ the Phenoms
A loft/warehouse in Chicago, film benefit
The Lyons Den
Big Wig (got to play guitar on 'Wild Colonial Boy', what an honor!)
Prodigal Son (showed up late and missed there whole set, Hilger did the same thing)
The Mutiny Battle of the Bands w/ Monster Party (greatest show ever)
Bottom Lounge
Bar Vertigo
The Fireside Bowl (their 1st time, w/ Leroy Fix!)

You can play really scary music or really fast music and hope that that will energize the crowd or the people listening to it. Which it might. But the Powerknobs have a different approach.

You would think that of the millions of bands and songs that have ever existed, that certain genres would become totally played out or no longer have anything original to give to the world, regardless of who is writing it, just out of the simple math. Well this is not true, for if it was I wouldn't play guitar anymore. But the Powerknobs really prove it. For all the different styles I've listened to in my life I've never heard that perfect formula for musical success in the Knobs. They are able to mix something 'old' and EXTREMELY familliar. Something based in the most basic musical changes and melodies that seem like you've heard them before. Then they are able to deliver the goods in a way that just takes you aback. The first time we had the good fortune to share the stage with them, we were booked together at a show where we brought 2 bands, and the promoter booked the Knobs. I had no idea what to expect and I was extremely cautious of it. I planned for them to fail. I was purposely and admitadly ignorant and closed minded as I often am, espically in matters of music.

I've been lucky enough to discover this band who I can listen to their music with my eyes closed and actaully feel it combined with the fact that I have drank and partied with all of them and they are the most well-raised and polite (forgive me) bunch of people you've ever met. I feel like anyone: old people, boring people would have to dig the music of and get along personally with this band. They are keepin' it real.

I've changed my 'blurb' (this has become much too large to be defined as a blurb anylonger anyways) on this band on the page many times. It's one of those things that you just can't define. All of my paragraph breaks above seem pretty fucked to me because I lose my train of thought when I try to focus and define what it is about this band that I dig so much.

That lack of focus is due to the greatness they display musically that baffles me time and time again. But it's also due to the fact that it is now 4:11 AM, and we just got done playing our 4th show with the Knobs. I've been sober, drunk and now I'm getting back to sober. Jammin' with the Knobs will do that to you; it just blows your mind.

--satan165
4/25/03

1. At Bigwig I went to see them, and Bill handed me the guitar for 'Wild Colonial Boy' -- this was wild because I was really hammered up, I can remember now and it totally felt like a dream.
2. At Champs when we played with them, Gaynor handed me the mic for the same song and stepped out of the way, and let me sing the whole thing. Fucking awesome!
3. On January 30th I will be filling in for Bill! He cannot attend the show and the band doesn't want to cancel because it is being heavily promoted. This show will be at 602 North in Glendale Heights. Be there!

Also, be sure to check out the newest Powerknobs side project Jimmy Dumpling and the Bitburg Boys

The E-Vans is drummer Ross Woods previous band. I saw them play a reunion with the Powerknobs at a benefit party. The proceeds from the door were to help finance a film being made by Ben, the singer/harmonica player from the E-Vans. Check out their tunes.

Oasis 160

The Prodigal Son

The Mutiny

Champs

Cal's

powerknobs discography

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"raw knobs" (2002?)

theme (versino #1)
wild colonial boy (version #1)
rock and roll
sorority shakedown (version #1)
boot leg boogie woogie
creep out lover
library girl (version #1)
motor citys been shakin
ghost of dragstrip hollow
sideways suzie
fangs
bats blood
-----------------------------
s/t EP (2003)

testosterone twist (live)
skirts up (live)
library girl(version #2)
sorority shakedown (versino #2)
wild colonial boy (version #2)
my babys in teh CIA(version #1)
im bored (version #1)
--------------------------------
wzrd radio session (2002?)

wild colonial boy (live)
testosterone twist (live)
skirts up (live)
ghost of dragstrip hollow(live)
bats blood (live)
---------------------------
"turn on" (2004)

theme (version #2)
cell block strut
gas mask a go go
my wild days have just begun
all night party action (version #2)
full metal assualt
youth culture explosion
testosterone twist (live)
skirts up (live)
library girl (version #2)
sorority shakedown (version #2)
wild colonial boy (version #2)
my babys in teh CIA (version #1)
im bored (version #1)
-----------------------------------
raw knobs unreleased outtakes:

all night party action (version #1)
it only hurts when i bleed

My Baby's in the CIA
Library Girl
I'm Bored
Wild Colonial Boy

WKQX -- "Local Music Showcase" Chicago, IL

I'm Bored

WDOA -- "Life in the Foodchain" Worcester, MA

My Baby's in the CIA
Skirt's Up

KFAI -- "Radio Rumpus Room" Minneapolis, MN

My Baby's in the CIA
Testosterone Twist

WUSB -- "Rock and Roll Dance Party" Stony Brook, NY

My Baby's in the CIA Testoserone Twist
Skirts Up

WEMU -- "The Bone Conduction Music Show" Detroit, MI

My Baby's in the CIA
Skirts Up

WITR -- "Whole Lotta Shakin" Rochester, NY

Testosterone Twist
Skirts Up

WFMU -- "Teenage Wasteland" Jersey City, NJ

Bat's Blood
I'm Bored

WORT -- "Monster Crawfish Roadrally Extravagenza" Madison, WI

Wild Colonial Boy
Sorority Shakedown

WUSC -- "Rock N Roll Radio" Columbia, SC

Testosterone Twist

WHPK -- "Ready Fire Aim" Chicago, IL

Testosterone Twist

WFMO -- "Coffee 'n' Smokes" Medford, MA

I'm Bored
Library Girl

WZZN --"Local Zone" Chicago, IL

Sorority Shakedown

cyclops