Funknuckle geting recognition within area
By April Biswell
A & E Editor
Funknuckle, a band with a unique name is definitely getting attention throughout the area.Funknuckle covers bands like Foo Fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, Pink Floyd and Tool.
According to the drummer, Ben Bentlin, “the songs we cover are along the same lines as our originals. We have about eight original songs that we have been working on.”“We are an in your face rock band. We are not heavy like Tool, not easy listening and not a pop band. We just rock,” he continued.
“Our inspiration lies in everything. We go through phases of what influences and inspires us. “Right now I am extremely inspired by the Foo Fighters, but tomorrow that could all change,” Bentlin said.“It feels good getting up on stage and performing for people. It is hard to describe how it feels to be up there.
“Everyone is usually there just to watch us unless they are there just to get drunk. It is amazing the stuff you see when you are on stage.
“Some people jump up on stage all drunk and try to dance with you while you are playing. It is cool seeing people get all excited.”
“If we were just in it for money we would have quit a long time ago. There is not a whole lot of money to be made when you are just starting out.
“We can’t wait until we are able to do what we want - touring and playing all the time. “It would be great if one day we could wake up and did not have to go our day jobs,” Bentlin concluded.
The other members of Funknuckle include: Dan Gillman and Jesse Buchanan on guitar and Ben Munson on bass. The guys have played with other local bands throughout the years and finally united to form Funknuckle five months ago. Although relatively new they have been frequenting local bars in the Illinois Valley.
The band is scheduled to perform on May 5th at the Ninth Street Pub in LaSalle, Club Bluz, in Streator, on June 2nd and 3rd, Mexifest, in Streator, on July 22nd and again at Club Bluz on August 4th and 5th.
The band also plans to record a demo in October.
To learn more about Funknuckle visit their web site at http://snap.to/funknuckle and download one of their original songs.