Garner Knutson--Guitar & Vocals, Carla Betz--Bass, Ellen McGuyer--Drums
Influences
You, The Replacements, Kiss (70's-era), Green Day, MxPx, caffeine, Alkaline Trio, alcohol (not all of us), Teenage Fanclub, Dr. Teeth & the Electric Mayhem, yo mama, The Clash, Jimmy Eat World, a strong gust, The Beatles.
Sounds Like
Green Day or Rise Against or MxPx.
Check out The Trainwrecks rockin' in VEGAS, baby!
Who are The Trainwrecks? An uber-energetic punk-pop band catering to rowdy crowds of diehard music fans. Formed in Hollywood, CA @2001, when vocalist/guitarist Garner Knutson (of The Piper Downs fame) joined up with bassist Carla Betz (fan of The Piper Downs fame). Garner and Carla both knew their musical collaboration was going to be a smash when they both discovered their mutual love for bands like Green Day, Dinosaur Jr., The Replacements and vintage Kiss. After looking around for awhile they found the missing piece to their musical triangle in drummer Ellen McGuyer.
Lead singer and guitarist, Garner, shows a natural ability on stage. His guitar work is a fun mix of power chords and quirky lead lines which play very well with clever, occasionally sardonic lyrics. Vocally, he delivers attitude and verve in true punk style a la Billie Joe Armstrong.
Bassist/Backup singer, Carla pops off animated performances which are skilled as well as fun to watch. She knows how to hold down the bottom end yet can interject inventive fills when a song calls for it. And when she’s on the mic, her backing vocals add even more to the already catchy melody lines.
Drummer, Ellen McGuyer, dominates the kit with her impressive force and presence. Particularly remarkable is how hard she hits the drums! It’s a guarantee that Ellen hits harder than most guys! Think of her as a female Dave Grohl. And she knows how to play exactly what is right for the song. This playing style ensures that the three piece never sounds incomplete.
Songwriting in this group is an unmistakable strength. The witty lyrics are outshone only by radio-ready melody lines that stick with you. With a loyal fan base always growing, this is a band in motion and certainly a band to watch.
CD review from LooseyLucy's Headquarters...
If one thing could be said about the music of The Trainwrecks, it is that they write melodies that get stuck in your head and stay stuck there. From Los Angeles, CA, this pop punk trio has released an admirable self-titled, debut album. The catchy beginning track, "You Say What You Want," is full of energy and that energy builds throughout the entire album. "Your Skull" is kind of poppy with strong lead vocals by Garner Knutson. Bassist, Carla Betz, belts out background vocals on the Green Day-ish, "100 Times." The slower tempo rock ballad, "Wait for Me," has tight breaks, a soaring guitar solo and shows off the vocal versatility of Garner. "Rest Easy" showcases the lightening fast drumming of Jason Rarick, and "Drag Me Out" demonstrates how unified the band is with its tempo changes & breaks. The punk rock Christmas-themed, "Burn It Down," urges everyone to "Burn it down, burn it down, the Christmas tree. Burn it down, burn it down, burn everything." "Coffee Stains" is a good sing-along song with great lyrics, and "Catchin' On" has a really radio-friendly melody. "We Just Need a Place to Play" details the troubles of being a musician starting out in pay-to-play L.A. There is even a bonus track, an acoustic version of "Burn It Down" with new lyrics about people ripping MP3s and burning to CD. Awesome album!
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