“While attempting to communicate what’s truly in our hearts, too often we find ourselves searching for words that have buried themselves between the wanting thoughts and phrases we struggle to convey in these pivotal moments of desperation. Through all my years in this world, I’ve found no other way to unearth such clarity but through musicâ€, says Eddie Simon, lead vocalist of “The Knife Confessionâ€. “Some words weren’t meant to be spoken; only sungâ€.
Formed midway through 2006, “The Knife Confession†was born ostensibly amidst the dark before dawn. A New Orleans native, the disaster of Hurricane Katrina pushed Simon to Los Angeles, ultimately fueling his initiative in search of likeminded musicians. Responding to a classified ad, the primary union was formed upon meeting guitarists Joshua Thomas and Graham Floro, founding members of the act. Self-described musical soul-mates, Thomas and Floro had thus far laid the initial groundwork in terms of the group’s compositions. With the band now a three piece, a picture began to develop of what they would in due course become.
Drummer Christopher Guzzardi was eight months away from graduating Loyola University’s masters program when he received the call from Simon. A New Orleans native himself, the question for Guzzardi soon became at what point he would decide to dropout of school and follow Simon to Los Angeles. Within weeks, he found himself transplanted cross-country. “It was the biggest decision of my life, and thus far the most rewarding one. I knew the opportunity wouldn’t come around againâ€.
The missing piece of the puzzle came in the form of bassist Vanessa Pellon. “I moved to L.A. as a solo artist, but once I listened to the music I knew if I didn’t steal the opportunity to play with these guys it’d be a colossal mistake,†says Pellon.
The band’s debut effort, “Plane Filled Skiesâ€, tells tales of heartache, severance, and an embittered reawakening. Recorded over a handful of months in 2007, the self produced album is filled with rich textures and multi-layered sounds. Following suit of the near paradoxical band name, “Plane Filled Skies†organically melds a striking juxtaposition of arrangements into somewhat of a continuum. “It was important for us to be able to seamlessly demonstrate dueling elements of light and dark†says Floro. “Thematically speaking, the lion’s share of our music covers the equivocal ideas of personal hardship giving way to an eventual overcoming of the impasses in one's life, tantamount to a rebirth of sorts. All of our songs carry a certain conceptual ambiguity, but they are interwoven nonetheless. From track one of the album, until its finish, the songs follow an emotional regression, a regression not yet concluded with this recordâ€, according to Pellon.
In their brief life-span, the group has performed alongside such notable national acts as “Powerman 5000â€, “Ademaâ€, “The Dreaming†(featuring members of "Stabbing Westward", "Deadsy", and "Amen"), and "Glass Pinata" (featuring Meegs Rascon of "Coal Chamber"). Most recently, the band celebrated the release of their debut album before a sold-out audience at Hollywood’s infamous Viper Room.
