BEAUMONT —
Every once in a while life will knock you down. It doesn't matter that it put you down, it only matters that you find a way to get back up.
For local rock band Knuckle Deep, that has been the case for the past 11 months. The band will return from a nearly one-year hiatus with a concert at The Gig on Crockett Street this Saturday, Sept. 22. Admission is $5-$7 for ages 18 and older, and special guests include Conspiracy at Sunrise and Boxing Dei Dei.
The bandmembers of Knuckle Deep, which includes Lee Pelly, vocals; Bill Bloss, guitar; Ethan Meadows, bass; and Keith Hilton, drums, have dealt with more than their collective share of tragedies, joyous occasions, and, well, life. Many bands would have folded under lesser conditions, but the bandmates opted to take some time away and let life sort itself out.
The group's last concert was in mid-October 2011. Prior to that, guitarist Bill Bloss lost his mother after a lengthy illness. Since the band’s last show, bassist Ethan Meadows and his wife, Sabrina, experienced the birth of their first child.
Lee Pelly, the charismatic frontman of the group, nearly lost his father to a major heart attack and had to battle his personal demons at the same time. Pelly’s father is doing well now and Pelly is living a healthier lifestyle, even losing more than 60 pounds.
Drummer Keith Hilton lost his father to illness as well, and then Bloss and his family dealt the terrible tragedy of an unexplained house fire and lost everything they owned, including the family pet.
Through it all, the band have never wavered in their determination they would one day return to rule the stage. That day arrives this Saturday.
“We never thought Knuckle Deep wouldn’t survive,” said Bill Bloss in a telephone interview as he started laughing. “If this past year didn’t kill us, then nothing will.”
Bloss believes the individual challenges, obstacles and life-changing events have only strengthened the resolve of the group which should prove to be a benefit.
“I’m not going to lie to you. This past year has really affected everybody in the band,” Bloss explained. “Everyone’s lives are different this year. It’s been a roller coaster, and there was just no room for Knuckle Deep until now.”
The band’s return is being hailed a celebration by both bandmembers and fans. Although it is the same group, it isn’t either.
“We are debuting are new member, Mike Carpenter,” Bloss added. “Mike is going to give us a little more help on guitar. For me it’s a match made in Heaven because he can do what I can’t, and vice versa.
“Lee (Pelly) will still play guitar, but he will play more acoustic guitar like he did on our earlier records,” he continued. “He will still do electric guitar too. We’re just going to have a thicker sound now.”
When the band last performed, before its hiatus, the group was preparing new material for another yet-to-be recorded CD. Nothing has changed, but Bloss said the group has nine songs which are nearly completed and will be the band’s next task.
“We’re hoping our absence has people a little hungry to see us,” he said. “Who knows how many people will be there? All I know is we’re excited for Saturday to finally get here. We haven’t forgotten about anyone, and I hope they haven’t forgotten about us.”
Visit www.facebook.com/knuckledeeptexas for more information on this band.
Entertainment
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Rock band Knuckle Deep will perform at The Gig this Saturday night with special guests Conspiracy at Sunrise and Boxing Dei Dei. Life-changing events have kept the band on hiatus for nearly one year. Courtesy photo
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Local rockers return from 1 year hiatus
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