SATURDAY FEBRUARY 17
Well HERE'S a long overdue update, huh? Since almost a year has gone by it might be overstating the obvious to even post this, but the short story is that the Knockout Pills are indeed no more. Around half a year ago we all ended up pulling the plug in the midst of working on bottom tracks for our third album proper (though technically the fate of those songs is stil up in the air, we're not asking you all to hold your breath or anything -- still, we promise to kep you as posted as the situation demands since there were some good tunes there). For the basic story we'll just quote from the Tucson Weekly:

R.I.P. K.O. PILLS As far as local bands go, we seem to be in one of those transformative periods that happens every now and again. Maintenance split town for Portland, Ore.; Manifold recently broke up; Chango Malo lost a guitarist (then picked up a new one from Manifold). Now comes word that one of Tucson's best punk/rock 'n' roll bands has broken up. We had been forewarned a few months ago that The Knockout Pills' demise was imminent, but were at least heartened by the fact that they were working on a new album together. And a new album means a few more shows, right? Well, as it turns out, the band has officially called it quits, with the new album still in progress. We checked in with Knockout Pills guitarist Jason Willis to find out what the hell is going on, and here's what he had to say: "Basically, one of the guys' heart was no longer in it, and since no one wanted to fight to keep it alive if everyone wasn't happy, we pulled the plug. At the end, there were 19 recorded songs in various states of completion, and though it'd be a heartbreaker to most of the band if we never got to finish them up, I can honestly say that while we were around, I wouldn't have traded places with any other group out there." Amen. Here's hoping those tracks see the light of day, and that the band reconsiders long enough to give The Knockout Pills a proper burial (i.e., a farewell show so we can hear all those great songs played live one last time). In the meantime, thanks, guys, for all the great music and memorable gigs over the last several years. You'll be sorely missed.

So it's been almost a year -- what's everyone up to now? Well Matt Rendon is back to work with his (fantastic) one-man studio band The Resonars. He's re-issuing some older material, re-tooling some forgotten recordings, creating some brand-NEW stuff & just basically making up for the 5 years of suspended animation the project has been in. On top of all that he's still busy with Foolscap Fire who you also owe it to yourself to check out -- so Matt's a busy guy. Travis Spillers is ALSO still pretty busy; besides his full-time life he still finds time to sing for the Fuck All Night SuperStars (don't let their MySpace page fool you, they still exisit -- in fact someone smart should put their record out as it manages to both Rock AND Roll). He's ALSO got standing plans to make some more noise with both Gerard Schumacher & Jason Willis (the otherwise bandless guys), so when THAT gets happening (it oughtta be pretty soon by the looks of things) there'll probably be some notice here as well. No, really -- it should be a good time.

So is that about it? Is it? Probably so. Well thanks everyone, we honestly had a great ride while it lasted, and if you liked what we did be sure to check back in with us now & then because we'll either be making good on some of the promises we made concerning the final batch of tunes we all wrote together, or doing something newer (& hopefully even more fun) as in-di-viduals.Thanks again! Knockout Pills OUT.

NEW LP/CD
"1+1=ATE"
STILL OUT ON
ESTRUS RECORDS


DEBUT LP/CD
TOTALLY 100% FER SHER OUT
ON DEAD BEAT
RECORDS


"ODDS AND WADS" LP
MAYBE NEVER EVER COMING OUT ON
MORTVILLE RECORDS

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22
You're a very patient lot, that much is true. So what's up? Well we've been playing the Surly Wench every Sunday for about 7 weeks now & it's been going great. We have a lot of new songs & since we usually manage to drive 80% of the crowd away with our volume levels it clearly means faster service at the bar for YOU, right? I'm pretty sure that's exactly what they were hoping for when they booked us for two months straight.

We're also playing a giant Roller Derby event this weekend, and even though it's already sold out & all that crap, it seems like a good idea to mention it here all the same. It's the big huge enormous so-gigantic-it-threatens-to-blot-out-the-very-sun 2006 Dust Devil Invitational, and we're slotted in from 4:40 to 5:20 on Sunday the 26th. It promises to be pretty amazing, but if we don't see you there, you can still catch us at the Surly Wench that evening, where we'll be dragging our bruised & battered bodies up for the final show of our two month run.

Right now you're probably wondering what the fuck we do with our time when we're busy not updating this website. A fair question to be sure, and we have a rundown for you here:

Matt plays guitar in another band called Foolscap Fire, and they've just finished up their first full length CD for Star Time Records. You can (& should) hear a few tracks from them here.

Gerard plays a mean game of "Footy" (that's Aussie Rules Football) with the Tucson Javelinas in the AZAFL. When he's not busy saying "footy" over & over, he find time to do work as a non-licensed contractor:



Travis is ALSO in another band, the Fuck All Night Super Stars (or F.A.N.S.S. for short). He sings the songs & they're just finished a full length record that some bright spark should really decide to put out. Liusten and contact them here.

Jason works & works & works, but has little to show for it aside from random entries on this music blog he just started doing called Scar Stuff. He promises that it'll get better eventually, so try to be gentle with him.

Okay, so that's about it for now but stay tuned for some more cool shows, including the International Playboys, the Boss Martians, the return of DMBQ, and a house party w/ the Marked Men!

FRIDAY JANUARY 13
Mea culpa, mea culpa -- there's been tons of real-world Knockout Pills activity & none of it's been represented here on the site. You may sleep easy in the knowledge however that we've played a ton of great shows over the last few months & have been having a real good time writing a bunch of new songs DESPITE the meager cyber indications represented here.

To get back to business here's a quick rundown of some stuff we've got lined up for the next month or so; first off there's the business of these

SURLY WENCH SUNDAYS



Y'see, we're playing a series of early Sunday night shows at the world famous Surly Wench all during Jan & Feb -- here's the deal:

• the shows run from 7-10 (so you can still get out & see any other bands playing if you want),

• we're playing two sets each Sunday with at least two brand new songs a night,

• we're giving away some stoopid prizes,

• and (you know, BEST OF ALL) all of the shows are FREE. That's right! Free as the goddamn air! THAT'S how strong our love is.

Let's see, what else? Oh! We're playing a shows at Plush with our pals the Riverboat Gamblers & the Swing Ding Amigos! It's happening soon too, Thursday Jan 19th. You really shouldn't miss that one.

ALSO we're playing out in Santa Barbara with Gravy Train!!!! & probably some other folks (I think there's a screening of "Over The Edge" as well --- easily one of the finest films ever made) on Feb 18th, so stay tuned for more info on THAT too.

Okay, damn... outta time. Well that's a start at least, right? Hopefully it'll hold ya all 'til the next round of exciting info (soon, soon). Oh wait, here's one more link to keep you laffing. NOW we're done. See you all soon!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 8
Well everything's been going swimmingly for us, so swimmingly in fact that the website's not getting updated in time for all the shows we're playing. Case in point is tomorrow night's shindig at the Surly Wench with The Charms from Boston. There's gonna be two dollar burgers (veggie or meat) And it's only three bucks to get in. It's an early show too -- starts at 7:30 pm "so you can get your beauty sleep in" says Katie the Lawyer. Clearly the right decision for a Sunday night.

Or hey! How about the Crimewave Magazine Powerhouse Show? have we yakked about that on here yet? It's Tuesday Oct 18th and it's gonna be a blowout extraordinaire with a pair of really fine bands joining us: DMBQ (from Japan) & The Fatal Flying Guillotines (from Texas). It's going to be noisy, fun & at Club Congress right here in lovely Tucson Arizona.

There's more (there's always more), but for now this picture of us at the beach will just have to do. C'mon get happy!

TUESDAY SEPT 27
Holy shit what a great tour that was. So great that clearly nothing could be said for a month or so after it -- amazing people, shows & bands. Quite seriously some of the most fun we've ever had; thanks everyone.

Moving on to stuff that's going on now we've got a batch of shows coming up over the next month or two, the nearest being this Saturday at the Surly Wench in Tucson with the Tyrades! It's gonna be really, really (really) great & the cherry on the cake is that Pop Gestapo are playing too, which in 2005 could mean just about anything.

We also finished up the art for our track that's going on the new MaximumRockNRoll compilation, and we recorded 3 or 4 new songs that we're probably gonnatry & slip on the Odds & Wads record that the wonderful folks at Mortville are putting out, just to make it THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL! Why? Why do we do it? Because we love you all so fucking much. We really do.

Oh, and if you read this in time you also might wanna know that we'll be on KAMP (the University of Arizona radio station) tonight spinning some songs for an hour, so tune in at 7:00 (perhaps via the internet) if you're so inclined.

Bon crapatit, friends.