The Knight Owls

The Knight Owls are John Check (lead vocals and guitar,) Matt Check (guitar and vocals), Manny Pena (bass) and Ronnie Wagenhoffer (drums/percussion).

An original blues and rock band from Fords, N.J., The Knight Owls debuted at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, N.J. in September of 2010. Since, the band has gone on to play other stops along the New Jersey local music circuit including Architekt LIVE, Backstage Coffee House, and The Crossroads. To date, the band continues to perform at venues in-and-around the Garden State.

After several months of refining their blues and rock sound, and writing lyrics to accompany it, the band went into the studio to record. On Nov. 20, 2010, The Knight Owls released their debut full-length album, Who Gives a Hoot, while opening for popular Led Zeppelin cover band Black Dog at The Crossroads in Garwood, N.J.

Recorded at Studio 522 in Fords, N.J., Who Gives a Hoot, includes 13 tracks of original music written by the father-and-son team of John and Matt Check, and Pena, as well as an eight-minute instrumental that closes the album.

After the departure of Pena's son from the band, musician Tony Myers collaborated with The Knight Owls to provide drums and percussion for their debut album. Since the release of Who Gives a Hoot, Ronnie Wagenhoffer has joined the band to replace Myers.

Some of the band's influences, which stretch across music history, include The Allman Brothers Band, the Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Muddy Waters and Neil Young.

The Knight Owls have had an interesting start.

Although the band consists of four life-long musicians, The Knight Owls' history started with the aspirations of a local high-school student.

Currently a sophomore at Woodbridge High School, guitarist Matt Check is the glue that has brought it all together. With an appreciation for the sounds of music past, Check credits the band's early days to an old-fashioned jam-session he and Pena once had. Realizing their sound could be something more, Check was quick to contact Pena's son to sit-in on drums as the three began exploring the early sounds of an album.

Despite their on-going refinement of an original sound, Check realized the growing band still needed something more; a voice. Thankfully, Check didn't have to look too far; his father John Check had been serving as the front-man for the popular New Jersey cover-band The Holy Smokes for the last 15 years.
John jumped at the chance to help his son refine the band's sound and create original music alongside him.

According to Check, in his over 30 years of being a musician, he's never experienced something quite like what he's had the opportunity to do recently; play music with his son.

To listen to several tracks from their debut album Who Gives a Hoot, or purchase their album, log-on to http://www.reverbnation.com/theknightowls.

Also, be sure find them on Facebook for all of The Knight Owls' updates including where their next shows will be.

For more information about The Knight Owls, please contact Framework Media Strategies at (908)-930-1295 or via e-mail at info@frameworkmediastrategies.com