NO HOLDS BARRED
Rocking out with Amberly Drive

By MITZI GORDON

Pop-punk outfit Amberly Drive could well be described as one of the hardest working acts in local show business. Outgoing and energetic, they play out almost constantly, once rocking four shows in three days.

Their sound is a blend of catchy riffs and jagged rock influenced by groups like Saves The Day, Less Thank Jake, NOFX and Lagwagon.

Members include Joe Cannizzaro, 22, on bass and vocals; David Kissel, 21, guitar and vocals; Jeff Knittel, 21, on guitar; and drummer Mark Newman, 22.

Formed in fall of 2005, the group signed with Lucky Penny Records in 2006. After releasing their first EP “Destination: Home” in May, they toured the east coast for about two weeks.

Catch them tomorrow night at University Area Hangout (2025 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa; (813) 977-2683), and look for their new album this month on AmberlyDrive.com or LuckyPennyRecords.com.

Whether playing a standard weekend gig at The Garage in St. Pete, or an island fraternity party with amps plugged into generators, band members give it all they’ve got, playing with voracious force.

Balancing music with full-time USF studies gets hectic, but they confess to loving every minute.

Joe Cannizzaro: We’re coming up on our 100th show. Working, playing in the band, and then classes. It’s insane, but we’re enjoying the ride. I graduate in three months, so I’m sending out resumes and looking for shows at the same time.
David Kissel: We hate to turn down shows. We’re definitely bonded by music. We’ve been able to do more than we thought possible.

Tell me about the tour last year.
DK: It was a dream come true. We played in Georgia, New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City.
JC: Nothing bad happened during the whole tour, nothing got cancelled, and we actually added a show.

The van didn’t break down, nothing like that?
JC: No, the worst thing (laughs) … was that our trailer got thrown up on in New York. We played Kenny’s Castaways in Greenwich Village, and then started bar hopping. It’s four in the morning when we walk back. We call our trailer “Steve” … and it was just like “No Steve!” Puke all over the side.
DK: We think he might have gone off on his own partying and puked on himself.

Describe your sound.
JC: We’re very accessible, personality-wise and music-wise. We do a little heavy stuff, but with pop sense. Were a pop band, rock, alt-rock. It’s always jumping, and we’re pretty crazy on stage.
DK: We try to do something different with every song … different progressions and tunings. We have lots of influences – Less than Jake, All American Rejects. Green Day was the band that got me to start playing guitar.
JC: Lately I’ve been getting into Coldplay and Snow Patrol, chiller music.

What’s your take on the local music scene?
JC: It’s competitive. If you’re not playing out, no one’s gonna know you.
DK: Our goal is to be the ‘fun’ band. We take a lot of time to tighten up our songs, and we definitely feel responsibility to the audience. Put us in front of an audience, we will entertain. Sometimes it really exceeds our expectations.
We know a lot of bands from out of state, and we try to bring touring bands here. Helping bands when they come through, it helps build the Tampa scene as well. JC: And I think it’s karma – it comes back around.
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