4 of the 5 members of PK (Credit: Kelly Whelan)
It’s hard to put into words exactly what the guys of PK are all about. When Kelly Whelan (photographer) and I sat down with them at Backstage Pizza after a performance on the Cal Poly campus, it felt more like hanging out with a bunch of close friends rather than an interview. The guys of the band: Travis Hawley, Nick Fotinakes, Matt Depauw, Mikel Van Kranenburg, and Kevin Menesez were all friends long before they were a band. Together, they grew up in Templeton, Calif. right outside of San Luis Obispo and are currently living in Paso Robles. Though the SLO music scene isn’t very big, PK has gathered a very large fan base in the area and beyond. The first thing I wanted to know about this band, that sound an awful lot like a mix between The Kooks and The Killers, was how they got their name.
Being the joksters they are, the guys decided to say that it stood for “Princess Kevin” referring to Kevin Menesez, the drummer of the band. In reality, the name “PK” came from a book called, “The Power of One.” Now, the band decides to play around with the meaning of the name by making jokes from the acronym PK. Another interesting aspect of this band is the fact that they all contribute in the song writing and music making process.
Although Hawley, the lead singer, works on a lot of the vocal parts, all of the band’s songs are born when their ideas are blended together. Their alternative rock sound and poetic lyrics have left me wondering where this band gets inspiration from. Though you may assume that they may be influenced by other bands in their genre, PK mainly listens to country and artists like Justin Timberlake and Taylor Swift. Though they can’t necessarily pack up and go on tour, the band knows that their musical journey will take them to where they are supposed to be. They are confident in what they do and know that if a record deal happens, it will happen at the right time. PK wants to take it slow and take the time to build a fan base. As of right now, the band will stay around the San Luis Obispo area, promoting their newly released full length album, “Into the Roaring.”
PK’s CD, released on January 8, 2010 was the first full length album for the band, yet you wouldn’t know it by the sound of it. Some of my favorite tracks include “The Wolves of the East Coast” and “London,” which is featured below:
Though they aren’t sure of their future, PK knows that they will take each opportunity with pleasure. And one day, maybe they’ll get the chance to fulfill their dream and become the opening act for Taylor Swift. I just know that they are successful and will continue to be as long as they keep their optimism and undeniable charm.
Travis Hawley, the lead singer of PK (Credit: Kelly Whelan)
