Tarzan Q & A: Kevin Maida from ‘Knuckle Puck’

Chicago pop-punks Knuckle Puck are coming down-under this May in support of fellow rockers The Wonder Years. The group burst onto the scene in 2011 with a number of EP’s and last year released their debut album ‘Copacetic.’ We threw a few questions at Knuckle Puck to see how they’d approach jungle living and the influences behind their sound.

While living in the jungle would you be more of a Tarzan or a Jane?

Jane.

If you lived in the jungle, would you rather befriend the hyperactive most likely diagnosed with ADD Terk, or the more sensitive, anxious Tantor?

Tantor.

If you were faced with a dual against a psychopathic tiger, would you a) fight it off with your hand made spear, or b) run away and hopes that it doesn’t chase you?

I would run. I’m much faster than stronger.

If you could choose to be one animal out of the jungle, what would it be and why?

A lemur. Lemurs are sick. Maybe a turtle too. They just take it easy, man.

If you were a human among apes, do you think you would feel slightly insecure about your body; given you would be the odd one out?

I bet I would. I feel insecure among other humans so I can’t imagine what I would feel around apes that have bodies like The Hulk.

Living in the jungle would you be a hunter, gatherer, or crazy scientific researcher?

Gatherer 1000%.

What is the story behind your band name ‘Knuckle Puck’?

John saw the name on a t-shirt and we had our first show coming up and they needed to make a flyer for the show and voila!

You guys self-released a number of EPs in the lead up to your debut album ‘Copacetic’. How rewarding was it to see the positive response to the album after all of your hard work?

It was extremely rewarding. Especially since putting out a full-length was a completely new and foreign experience to us. We sincerely could not have asked for a better response to the album.

Where do you guys find your inspiration for your music and song writing?

Musically, we look up to mainstay bands like Jimmy Eat World, The Starting Line, Lifetime, etc. but also some of our contemporaries such as Modern Baseball, Foxing, Somos, The Maine, Head North, Sorority Noise, Seaway, Crying, Cayetana, The Technicolors, etc. As far as finding inspiration for songwriting, we just want to impress ourselves and keep things interesting to ourselves first and foremost. As long as we can do that, we’ll be content.

Knuckle Puck are heading to Australia in May to support The Wonder Years, tickets are on sale now!

The Wonder Years Support Tour Dates:

THURS 5 MAY
The Triffid, Brisbane

FRI 6 MAY
The Lab, Brisbane

SAT 7 MAY
UTS Underground, Ultimo NSW

SUN 8 MAY
Cambridge Hotel, Newcastle

TUES 10 MAY
The Basement, Canberra

WED 11 MAY
Arrow on Swantson, Melbourne

THURS 12 MAY
Corner Hotel, Richmond

FRI 13 MAY
Fowlers Live, Adelaide

SAT 14 MAY
Amplifier Bar, Perth