By Framework Media Strategies
The Knight Owls are John Check (lead vocalist/back-up guitar), Matt Check (lead guitarist/back-up vocals), Manny Pena (bassist) and Ron Wagenhoffer (drums/percussion). On Saturday, August 11, Woodbridge’s resident rockers will cap eight months of hard work in the studio with the release of their second album, Turning the Triad, during an album release show at 10th St. Live in Kenilworth.
Opening for the band will be Steve Kelly of South Plainfield’s The Battle Begun, who will be playing an acoustic set, and Hightstown’s alt-rock five-piece Wilson-N-Main.
"The album is transcendental experimentation," says Matt Check, the band’s lead guitarist and back-up vocalist. "That’s how I’ll describe it. We were very glad to go back to Studio 522 in Fords to put it all together. If we didn’t go back there return to 522, we wouldn’t have been able to have the freedom we did in composing it."
Although the band stays true to their blues, country and folk music roots this time around, The Knight Owls also get a bit psychedelic on their sophomore release with several tracks incorporating a noticeably different edge.
"There were many musical ideas left behind from our first album, we just had to get back to them," Pena says. "We have the same core, we just started branching off a bit. We hope to bring back all the of our fans from the first go-around and add to our following different, new music."
John Check, the band’s lead vocalist and back-up guitarist agrees. "Yes, I think that our vocals and some of the new songs definitely have the "Knight Owls" sound," he says. "However, some of the newer, more progressive songs, will attract more of a jazz, fusion and psychedelic crowd. I think we’ll have a very musically diverse following for sure."
According to Check’s son Matt, unlike their debut the The Knight Owls’ sophomore release is more of a concept album than a collection of songs.
"The album focuses on life’s three very specific emotions; hate, love and pain/heal," he says. "All the songs that we’ve pieced together on this release either singularly reflect one of these emotions or are a combination of all three. More than humming along or tapping their feet, with our new album we hope people will experience our music."
With the band’s release of Turning the Triad, The Knight Owls plan to travel the tri-state area with their newly-available material in hand as they remain eager to continue engaging new ears with their eclectic sound. Where can fans catch the band next?
Wagenhoffer says, "Anywhere there is good music, food and drinks. I heard Asbury Park is really happening again with the new music scene coming back a bit. Keep your eyes peeled."
The Knight Owls broke onto the New Jersey music scene during the summer of 2010, debuting at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park. Several months later, The Knight Owls released their debut album Who Gives a Hoot at Garwood’s Crossroads while opening up for popular Led Zeppelin tribute band Black Dog. Led by father and son duo, John and Matt Check, the band has performed at venues in the tri-state area including Architekt Music, Backstage Coffee House, Bar East, The Court Tavern, Frankensound Studios, Mexicali Live and more.
Adding to their credentials The Knight Owls have called upon their talents to support select charitable causes, including performances for the Arthritis Foundation’s annual walk at Middlesex County College as well as hosting a benefit show for The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network’s New Jersey affiliate this past November.
10th St. Live is located at 104 North 10th St., Kenilworth. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; this is an all ages event. A $5.00 cover charge applies for all attendees.
