Knapsack

With such anthems as "Effortless" and "Courage Was Confused," Northern California's Knapsack helped plant and proliferate the stylistic seeds for many of today's Emo acts. Beginning in 1993 as a duo, singer Blair Shehan and drummer Colby Mancasola soon added bassist Rod Meyer and Pivot guitarist Jason Bokros to complete the band's live incarnation. Knapsack's fiery songs were marked by Shehan's vitriolic shriek and careening octaves, Mancasola's tasteful bashing and terse arrangements, and an overall sense of melodic urgency. Each of their three full-length releases challenged the structure and performance of its predecessor, yet their tried-and-true fusion of smart, creative production values with an infectious, hard-driving assault always remained intact. Committed to dynamics, Knapsack's thunderous Emo hymns raised the bar for countless Indie acts wishing to marry melody, emotion, and the Marshall stack.