Young Knives

Young Knives
Young Knives
	File:TheYoungKnives.png
Background information
Origin	Kirtlington, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England
Years active	1998–present
Members	Henry Dartnall; House of Lords (musician); Oliver Askew
Website	theyoungknives.com

The Young Knives are a British indie rock and post-punk revival band from Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire. The name is based on a misunderstanding of "young knaves", which was found by the band by rummaging through a book. The group consists of:

Henry Dartnall - vocals, guitar
House of Lords (real name Thomas Dartnall) - vocals, bass guitar
Oliver Askew - drums, backing vocals

The band are known for their energetic live performances and tweed clothing. After beginning to garner national coverage upon the release of their debut single "The Decision" in late 2005, they played their biggest live gig in June 2006 and are currently touring in support for their first proper album Voices of Animals and Men, which recently entered the #21 in the UK Album Charts to a modestly positive reception.

Biography

Formed in Ashby-de-la-Zouch under the name 'Simple Pastoral Existence', the Young Knives began their career "playing bad funk and Ned's Atomic Dustbin covers",^[1] but it was their subsequent move to Oxford that saw their career begin to take off. After changing their name from 'Pony Club' their 'big break' came in 2002 with a successful set at the popular Truck Festival, which was followed by the release of their debut mini-album The Young Knives... Are Dead on local label Shifty Disco.

After some years playing successful support slots to bands such as The Futureheads and Hot Hot Heat in Oxford and surrounding areas, the band were signed to Transgressive Records, and a limited EP, Junky Music Make My Heart Beat Faster, was a sell-out success. Their debut single "The Decision", produced by Andy Gill of Gang of Four (a noted influence on the band^[2]), was released in December 2005, and was followed in February 2006 by "Here Comes The Rumour Mill" - the latter their first chart success, reaching #36 in the UK and receiving significant airplay on MTV2 among others. They have continued to work with Gill on their full-length.

The band completed a lengthy UK tour in early 2006, and supported Dirty Pretty Things and The Rakes later in the same year, fitting in an appearance at SXSW in Texas and a terrestrial television debut on Later with Jools Holland in June. In July that year, the band made their second appearance at Truck, and two more singles, "She's Attracted To" and "Weekends and Bleak Days (Hot Summer)" (originally the lead track of the Junky... EP) followed, just before the release of Voices of Animals and Men in August. A re-issue of "The Decision" is due for release 30th October.