Knocksville bring a rockin’ and rollin’ party to Brighton

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

A Halloween bash, in November, in Brighton hosted by Psycho Sinners at the Prince Albert 13/11/2021. A hip-shaking rockabilly musical riot!

Knocksville – Loved the retro-Americana soaked name. Stage Frite – think Generation X and Stray Cats combo and you are almost there.

Now, I found myself pounding the streets after getting my dates mixed up for photo’ing a gig. I dropped into the Prince Albert for a drink and a sit down. Not many gigs going on tonight, then I noticed the black and white poster “Stage Frite” and “Knocksville”. I popped upstairs had a word with the promoter and paid an entrance fee. I love finding new bands and hearing them for the first time. I was told it was a 80’s rockabilly style evening and both bands were top class. In we went! It was pretty busy in there and some finely dressed audience members were already gearing up for the tear up that was about to unleash!

KNOCKSVILLE:

Loved the retro-Americana soaked name, it kind of flavoured the perception of what we were about to receive, and the name “Knocksville” makes them sound as if they were going to be more of a traditional three piece rockabilly outfit. No way were these guys ordinary. They were extraordinary!

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Rockabilly, as I found out, is a subgenre of rock ‘n’ roll with roots in the American South during the 1950s. As its name suggests, rockabilly draws on two primary influences: country music and rock music, which at the time of rockabilly’s emergence, largely referred to rhythm and blues (or R&B) music made by Black musicians.

Knocksville: The Band

Martin Riddington – guitar/vox

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Chris Cooper – drums/percussion

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Jason Walder -double bass/ vox

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The crowd had been well and truly warmed up by Stage Frite. The crowd were hungry for these guys. A lot of folk there knew of Knocksville as they are fairly local, hailing from Eastbourne. Guitars plugged in, drums reset and a huge black double bass dressed the stage as the musicians took to the stage.

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The Set:

Ok, these guys were new to me and so I wasn’t really aware of their material. A quick glimpse of the set list indicated the banger to open was called Bang Bang! Awesome start. The sound produced was so rich and full of guitars, that delicious bass and drums, the drums frenetically keeping it all together. A couple of songs into the set and there’s a lively tasty rockabilly version of Soft Cells Tainted Love in the mix tonight and a wonderful unique twist to create a never heard of before version of Michael Jackson’s Black or White. Damn, these guys were living up to the promise given to me on the door. They were brilliant!

Tops Off!

Into the set and the sheer physical effort from two of the band members saw them tearing off T shirts! These guys were working it hard. Down That Road, Mr Duck Tail, Pretty Little Stalker and Black or White were hammered in firmly. These guys were at it at break neck speed.

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Martin had made an apology early on for his voice, he was struggling after a bad cold. Martin still fired up the vocals and swapped the duties with Jason. I don’t think anyone would of noticed if he hadn’t been so honest. It didn’t stop him producing some fiery guitar work. Quite superb in fact. He played it hard. It was clear the band were enjoying being back in Brighton after a long stay away compounded by Covid and the restrictions that had been in place.

Knocksville do rock around their material in a totally toned up punchy style. There is of course that unmistakeable rockabilly sound but then they pile in with plenty of tough, riff laden blues-ish fuzzed up guitar from Martin.

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

The crowd were up dancing as the set moved along Crazy Ex and a real thumper showing Jasons skills and athletic skills as he literally mounted that bass, flung it around his head and all the while playing the hell out of it! Black Jack and Crazy Ex kept the momentum going, and the crowd. The crowd had backed up to give those dancers some room to manoeuvre.

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

Knocksville properly got the party started from the off with a pure hip-shaking rockabilly musical riot. They mix it all up and what you get is a combination that’s impossible to resist tapping your foot or dancing to. There wasn’t a still body in the Albert from the start and as we hit Lockdown, we were in for a double bass treat.

Lockdown unleashed

Jason Walder used his double-bass as a prop throughout the show. He whirls it through the air, straddles its, and lays it on the floor to play an all out slapping instrumental solo spot during their biggest stomper, Lockdown. The peak of the song sees Jason come out into the crowd, who gave him plenty of room, as he stood on the side of the bass to play. He then stopped and allowed a mini photo opportunity to give me and those at the front a photo opp!

Knocksville: Photo by Ian Bourn for Scene Sussex

All in all this was a super, winning gig and they were without doubt a huge hit with the Albert crowd. Tonight Knocksville fired it up and gave us the real deal. These guys play with such a high level of finesse, style, and showmanship. They were very much live and proud and rocked us all the way. Would I go see them again? Oh yes, without a doubt!

Knocksville are on Facebook