No Knife
Encyclopedia
No Knife were a band from San Diego, CA. They played an innovative form of rock that combined aspects of math rock
, post-hardcore
, and other indie rock
.
The band's original lineup was Mitch Wilson (vocals/guitar), Brian Desjean (bass), Aaron Mancini (guitar/vocals), and Ike Zaremba (drums). Prior to their second full-length, the band replaced Mancini with Ryan Ferguson (guitar/vocals). After their first and second full-lengths, Drunk on the Moon
(1996) and Hit Man Dreams
(1997), Chris Prescott
was enlisted to play drums. The group went on to release two more full-lengths: Fire in the City of Automatons
(1999) and Riot for Romance! (2002).
After hinting on their website in March 2008 that they might reunite in late 2008 or early 2009, the band was announced as the opening act for three west coast dates on Jimmy Eat World
's "Clarity x 10" tour. No Knife played their final show Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, Ca. The last song performed was "Mission Control".
Brian Desjean was playing bass for Get Your Death On!, a San Diego rock trio which formed in late 2005 and now he is playing bass and drums with Wilson in Lunar Maps.
Ryan Ferguson
is now a solo artist who has released an EP, Three Four, and a full length album, Only Trying to Help. He has done some touring, including opening for the San Diego rock band, Switchfoot
.
Chris Prescott
joined the live band for Pinback
in late September, 2005, playing guitar, keyboard and singing backing vocals. then went on his first full tour with them as their drummer in 2006, and went on to record with them for Autumn of the Seraphs
which was released in September 2007. He also is playing guitar/vocals for The Jade Shader which formed in 2004.
Math rock
Math rock is a rhythmically complex guitar-based style of experimental rock that emerged in the 1980s and that was very influenced by progressive rock like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, Henry Cow - and 20th century composers such as Steve Reich and John Cage...
, post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
, and other indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
.
The band's original lineup was Mitch Wilson (vocals/guitar), Brian Desjean (bass), Aaron Mancini (guitar/vocals), and Ike Zaremba (drums). Prior to their second full-length, the band replaced Mancini with Ryan Ferguson (guitar/vocals). After their first and second full-lengths, Drunk on the Moon
Drunk on the Moon
Drunk on the Moon is the first full-length album by No Knife, released in April of 1996 on Time Bomb Records.- Track listing :# "Be Mini" - 4:05# "Ginger Vitus" - 4:30...
(1996) and Hit Man Dreams
Hit Man Dreams
Hit Man Dreams is the second full-length album by No Knife, and the first album after Ryan Ferguson joined the band. It was recorded in 1997 and released on Time Bomb Records.- Track listing :*1 - Your Albatross - 4:13*2 - Charades - 3:50...
(1997), Chris Prescott
Chris Prescott
Christopher Prescott is a professional musician from San Diego, California. He currently plays drums for the band Pinback and plays guitar, keyboard, and does backup vocals for The Jade Shader. He was previously a member of No Knife, Tanner, Fishwife, and Hemlock. In 1998 he toured as the...
was enlisted to play drums. The group went on to release two more full-lengths: Fire in the City of Automatons
Fire in the City of Automatons
Fire in the City of Automatons is the third full-length album by No Knife, and the first to feature Chris Prescott. It was released in May of 1999 on Time Bomb Records.- Track listing :# Academy Flight Song - 3:18# Minus One - 4:19...
(1999) and Riot for Romance! (2002).
After hinting on their website in March 2008 that they might reunite in late 2008 or early 2009, the band was announced as the opening act for three west coast dates on Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
's "Clarity x 10" tour. No Knife played their final show Thursday, June 18, 2009 at the Belly Up Tavern in Solana Beach, Ca. The last song performed was "Mission Control".
Post-band projects
Mitch Wilson is currently singing and playing guitar and keyboards in Lunar Maps who released their self titled debut album on June 15, 2011.Brian Desjean was playing bass for Get Your Death On!, a San Diego rock trio which formed in late 2005 and now he is playing bass and drums with Wilson in Lunar Maps.
Ryan Ferguson
Ryan Ferguson
Ryan Ferguson is an Indie Rock guitarist and singer/songwriter, formerly of Southern California band No Knife. Ferguson's solo debut Three, Four was released in July 2005, winning a San Diego Music Award for “Best Pop Record” that year. The Sims 2 featured an interpretation of the album's lead...
is now a solo artist who has released an EP, Three Four, and a full length album, Only Trying to Help. He has done some touring, including opening for the San Diego rock band, Switchfoot
Switchfoot
Switchfoot is an American rock band from San Diego, California. The band's members are Jon Foreman , Tim Foreman , Chad Butler , Jerome Fontamillas , and Drew Shirley .After early successes in the Christian rock scene, Switchfoot first gained mainstream...
.
Chris Prescott
Chris Prescott
Christopher Prescott is a professional musician from San Diego, California. He currently plays drums for the band Pinback and plays guitar, keyboard, and does backup vocals for The Jade Shader. He was previously a member of No Knife, Tanner, Fishwife, and Hemlock. In 1998 he toured as the...
joined the live band for Pinback
Pinback
Pinback is an indie rock band from San Diego, California, currently signed to Temporary Residence Ltd. The band was formed in 1998 by singers, songwriters and multi-instrumentalists Armistead Burwell Smith IV and Rob Crow. Tom Zinser, Chris Prescott, and Mario Rubalcaba have all contributed drums...
in late September, 2005, playing guitar, keyboard and singing backing vocals. then went on his first full tour with them as their drummer in 2006, and went on to record with them for Autumn of the Seraphs
Autumn of the Seraphs
Autumn of the Seraphs is the fourth full-length release from the San Diego, California band Pinback. The album was released on September 11, 2007 on Touch and Go Records. The first pressing of Autumn of the Seraphs comes packaged with a limited-edition bonus disc...
which was released in September 2007. He also is playing guitar/vocals for The Jade Shader which formed in 2004.
Band members
- Mitch Wilson - Guitar, vocals
- Brian Desjean - Bass
- Ryan FergusonRyan FergusonRyan Ferguson is an Indie Rock guitarist and singer/songwriter, formerly of Southern California band No Knife. Ferguson's solo debut Three, Four was released in July 2005, winning a San Diego Music Award for “Best Pop Record” that year. The Sims 2 featured an interpretation of the album's lead...
- Guitar, vocals - Chris PrescottChris PrescottChristopher Prescott is a professional musician from San Diego, California. He currently plays drums for the band Pinback and plays guitar, keyboard, and does backup vocals for The Jade Shader. He was previously a member of No Knife, Tanner, Fishwife, and Hemlock. In 1998 he toured as the...
- Drums