From the state that has already brought us great and unforgettable bands comes Fakeknife, the rising fast punk band in NJ. With they're distinctive style that mixes progressive punk and the west coast style punk that we all know and love, Fakeknife has a sound all their own.
Fakeknife formed in 2003, amidst the fading ska scene and the rising Screamo scene. They were definitely the odd man out, but were determined to start a type of band that they wanted, regardless of what was "in" at the time. After months of practicing and member finalizing, Sal Rivas (bass, vocals), Brian Sutich (Lead Guitar), Mike Lama (rhythm guitar, B. Vocals) and Fabio Amato (Drums) formed what was to become one of the hardest working bands in NJ. They cut a 3-song demo in Brian's basement and played their first show in January 2004 in their hometown of Cliffside Park, NJ, to a crowd of over 150 people, which led to the hall being over the fire code. Immediately after, Fakeknife continued to play shows in the surrounding towns, out of state, and anywhere else they could play. Some shows were packed with people, some weren't. However, the band knew that paying dues was a major part of being in a band. In the summer of 2004, only a few months after forming, Fakeknife bought a van, recorded a 6 song EP, and was on their way to their first full tour. It spanned from New Jersey to California, back down south towards Florida, and back home. This 32-day tour was booked completely by the band and a close friend. Some dates were good, some weren't, but the band needed the experience of touring. Sometime before or during the tour, they landed a sponsorship from Fernandes Guitars.
Since their first tour, Fakeknife continues to play shows relentlessly in and around NJ. This led to 60+ shows per year and shows with bands like MxPx, A Wilhelm Scream, Bowling For Soup, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, Reel Big Fish, Big D and the Kids Table, and I am the Avalanche. Aside from this, they also played with many up-and-coming bands like Royden, The Banner, The Letters Organize, and The Finals in many different venues including The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, and Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ, which was named one of the nation's best venues in 2005.
Fast forwarding to Summer of 2005 finds Fakeknife being invited to play the 2005 Vans Warped Tour, whose main stage acts included The Offspring, My Chemical Romance, Strung Out, and Millencolin. The following fall season would include endless shows and promotion, all while steadily building a fan base.
In February of 2006, Fakeknife was featured on a reality show called "Try My Life", airing on the E! Style Network nationwide. This opportunity helped them get some exposure as well as another accomplishment for their resume. Re-Runs are still airing and the show is available 'On Demand' in some states.
Some plans for the rest of 2006 include Fakeknife's debut full length CD, which is independently released by the band, to be available on June 17th. The CD was recorded and produced at Big Blue Meenie Studios by Arun Venkatesh (Bouncing Souls, Anti-Flag, Streetlight Manifesto). Also, the summer is packed tight with a 17-day tour, shows before and after in NJ with bands like MxPx, Bowling For Soup, Streetlight Manifesto and more, as well as an invite back to the Warped Tour 2006. This proves that Fakeknife's DIY approach is paying off, and they will continue to work hard until they get to where they want to be.
Click 'Play' below to watch our first video! It's for the demo version of So Long, Deathtrap!
