Take it live

Kr’uppt has shows scheduled for May and June. To check out specific show dates and locations, visit www.kruppt.com.The first song Kr’uppt performed at a recent show gave no indication of the heaviness that was to follow. The song was “Happy Birthday,” and it was dedicated, in part, to Kr’uppt’s guitarist and namesake Mike Krupp. Many members of the audience sang along. Many others were too busy brooding. “I’m finally 21,” Krupp cracked, blowing out the candles on his cake.

After that, things got heavy.

Kr’uppt is a four-piece band playing music that roughly fits in the new metal (or is it nu metal?) genre. Their music is loud, usually mid-to-fast tempo, and built upon really heavy guitar riffs. In addition to Krupp, the band features bassist Chris Ferris, drummer Tracy Cobb and vocalist Seth Walker.

Walker’s vocals are partly sung, partly rapped and occasionally screamed. Most of the lyrics are angry and angst ridden, with exemplary lines such as “I thought this was my life—I’ll take it back, you whore,” from “No Heart,” and “I hate you, so go away,” from “Go Away.” But on a few songs, Walker shows a more sensitive side. “Mindfall” is about a pair of lovers reuniting, and “For the Boys,” written from the point of view of an absentee father, has a chorus that is a sort of metal version of “I Believe the Children Are Our Future.”

Kr’uppt’s one available CD is an 11-song disc that sounds amazingly good for having been produced using home recording equipment. The members of the band pride themselves on their live show, and the CD is, as far as is possible, a reproduction of their live sound. It was recorded much as they play live, with very few overdubs—what Krupp describes as “the meat-and-potatoes approach.”

“When fans say the live show beats the CD, it’s the best compliment you can get,” says Krupp.

The crowd at Knuckleheads was extremely receptive. They bounced and nodded along with the music, and though there was a no-moshing rule, a pit broke out for the last few songs. Although no one, as Walker said, waved lighters for a slow number, one audience member did relight the candles on the birthday cake. And, unusual for a local band, many audience members knew the lyrics and sang along with several songs.

“We did a couple shows where we could hear the crowd [singing] louder than Seth,” says Krupp.

Starting with their current lineup less than a year ago, the band has already built up a dedicated following.

“Tahoe … Fallon, wherever we play, we see the same faces. We have … one of the most loyal fan bases in Reno,” says Walker.

“We’ve packed every show for the last four months, and we started with two people coming to shows eight months ago,” adds Krupp.

And that fan base continues to grow.

“We see new faces at every show,” says Krupp.

They are sure to continue seeing familiar faces, like Kitra’s, who considers herself “a good fan.”

“I think they’re an awesome band," she says. "They’re better live than their CD."