Live at the Stagger Inn
Kentucky Knife Fight

Rating: 4/5
For fans of: Victoria, Reverend Horton Heat, rocking out country style
Tracks to Download: Got My Heaven, Herschel Walkers

Hailing from Edwardsville, Ill., Kentucky Knife Fight brings to mind sitting in a smoky bar and drinking hooch out of the bottle. And that’s just their name. The five-song live album, aptly named “Live at the Stagger Inn,” may be short, but it packs a punch. Lying somewhere between rockabilly and blues rock, the album doesn’t hold a candle to the live performances they offer.

“Crooked Waltz” showcases the band’s ability to incorporate many instruments into one clean sound. Full of enough energy to make you tap your toe, the only thing the song seems to be missing is cleaner sounding vocals. Undoubtedly this is due to the poor recording equipment at the Stagger Inn, but the sound still leaves you wanting a slightly higher production quality.

In general, the raw nature of a live show serves the band well. The pure power is easily heard in every note, with the crowd response energizing but never overbearing.

The highlight of the album is “Herschel Walker.” A lyrically heavy song, Jason Holler, the vocalist, does the track great credit with his twang. If anything, Kentucky Knife Fight is a good lesson teaching us that everything from the south doesn’t have to be bluegrass or country pop. Their style is refreshing among myriad local pop-punk bands.

“Nothing To Lose” features a harmonica solo which sounds better in the recording than expected. The harmonica compliments the thumping drum and bass lines proving why they were so prevalent in early rock.

“Got My Heaven,” a MySpace exclusive track features more of the distinctive voice of Holler. This song could easily be used as a test of consciousness. The beat is so toe-tappingly great that it would be impossible to hear and not get into the beat and repetitive chorus.

Overall the band shows us why rock music took off in the first place. Channeling the bluesy rock vibes from the good ol’ days, Kentucky Knife Fight is able to prove that old formulas are just as applicable in modern times, just as long as you have the passion to play it.

Sound like something you like? Kentucky Knife Fight will be playing The Bluebird Friday, Feb. 1. Tickets are $7 if you can prove you’re at least 21, $10 otherwise. Show your student ID and save a dollar. A sweet deal, considering the parking is free, too.

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