Montreal, QC

“DC meets Ottawa meets Olympia in the ‘90s,” is how Big Knife Little Knife succinctly sum themselves up. It’s fair: they’re influenced by various corners of punk and its offshoots. They’re no copycats, however, with vocalist/bassist David Tkach shining through as a do-or-die frontman and Kevin Jagernauth (formerly of Weights & Measures) slinging riffs. Add in how insistently vital the angular guitar and stop-start rhythm section is to their post-hardcore sound, and you have a band that keeps the emotional impact of punk intact.