At the beginning of this year a new band hit the Elon University music scene, and although they are young, Knockout Perez is making a big splash.
“The first time we practiced together earlier in this school year we instantly realized this was going to be insanely fun,” said junior Dylan Fitchett, lead guitar and vocals. “Basically we realized that we were all proficient at playing the proper instruments to start a band. So we did.”
The group plays Fitchett’s original tunes and covers audience favorites with juniors Patrick Gunning on drums, Will Lee on guitar and Sean Lauwers on bass.
“We play covers that we know people will enjoy, and maybe we do that in order to get away with the jam sessions,” Lee said. “I think we all just like to put on a good show.”
As far as the name goes, Fitchett said it started as a private joke, but they thought it had a ring to it, so they rolled with it.
As a solo artist, Fitchett is signed with Limelight Records, Elon’s student-run label. Limelight was instrumental in helping the band, which is not formally signed, find some casual gigs last semester.
“I got involved with Limelight at the beginning of my sophomore year,” Fitchett said. “They had open auditions, I auditioned on a whim and happened to get in. I’m so glad they signed me because they’ve been my biggest supporters ever since.”
The group has already undergone some changes this semester because Lee and Lauwers are currently studying abroad.
“Luckily we all knew two people who would be ideal to fill in for them for a semester,” Fitchett said. “Luke Lovett plays bass and Ryan Mandelkehr replaced the second guitar with a trumpet. This chemistry is still fantastic, and we’re getting new material down fast.”
As soon as the new lineup is ready, the band plans to reach out to Elon bars and anyone who wishes to book them.
“We like to get paid, but we play for free most of the time just because we enjoy it so much,” Fitchett said. “At this point there’s really no show that we won’t play, but nothing concrete is coming up at this point.”
The group will revert back to the original members next semester, but they plan on keeping the newly generated material.
Some of Knockout Perez’s original songs are available for free at SoundCloud.com, and some of their live performances can be found on YouTube.
“We work hard to put on a good show, and it’s all worth it when it goes well,” Fitchet said. “I don’t speak for everyone, but I think a live band is much more fun to watch and dance to than a DJ.”