Alfonso Civile, frontman for the heavy rock band Know Lyfe, out of Lansing, has his fair share of battle scars.
"I'm actually recovering from a broken jaw," Civile said. "I fractured my left jaw on my bassist's headstock on accident during a concert last Wednesday."
The broken jaw is a testament to Know Lyfe's give-it-all-up-leave-it-all-up-there mode of performance. But, Civile insists, stage injuries are nothing new. He's had his eyebrow slit open, his face bruised, and other fractures. Now, performing with a bum jaw, Civile gets severe headaches after a few songs, but plays on despite the unbearable pain. Given 10 years in any occupation, you'd expect a few afflictions along the way.
"Yeah, we've struggled from time to time," Civile says. "We almost got into a fistfight with our drummer when he said he was going to quit. We've all said we'd quit once or twice, but we weren't serious."
None of the four members of Know Lyfe have quit, however, and now they'll reach their 10-year mark this September. Know Lyfe will be celebrating its 10-year anniversary at The Loft in Lansing, along with four of its favorite local bands - Adrenachrome, Fifth Sin, Atrium and Coal Mine Canary.
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Know Lyfe 10 Year Anniversary Party
The Loft, Lansing
Sept. 18, doors open at 8 p.m. $10 advance, $15 day of show 18+ theloftlansing.com, (517) 267-7898 |
Even though 10 years together is quite the accomplishment for a band, Civile says Know Lyfe's biggest struggle is not being considered a career band, even after a decade of producing music and touring.
"The thing we struggle with the most is feeling like a horse in a pony show."
Civile has reason to complain. The band has toured nationally a number of times, tearing up stages from Miami to L.A., and has even been on one world tour. It has played with countless bands the members idolize, and opened for the Mayhem Fest — a touring metal festival headlined by the likes of Slipknot, Disturbed, Rob Zombie, and Marilyn Manson in recent years — when it came to Clarkston, Mich.
Know Lyfe's reached such a level of prestige that one female fan willingly wrung out and drank from a band member's sweat-drenched shirt. They also commanded a fan to pee his pants for a free CD — and he did it.
But, until the rest of the metal world realizes their full potential, Know Lyfe will continue to soldier on by owning stages locally and afar.
