et another hardworking, hard-touring band has jumped the label ship and joined the ranks of Come And Live! If you don’t know the story behind C&L then you definitely haven’t been reading our publication. Abel, the indie rock band hailing from Poughkeepsie, New York, spent the past year on Facedown Records, touring on their debut The Honest Love, an understated decent first release. However, Lesser Men, out October 19th (for free of course via C&L), is a more mature approach to the subjects that have enveloped the band over the course of the last year on the road. Redemptive themes and melodies that scream summer Bible studies, Abel’s Lesser Men is a formidable offering that needs to be heard. Vocalist Kevin Kneifel and keys/guitarist Dan Bishop answered a few of our questions while gearing up to head out on the road with C&L brothers Holding Onto Hope. Please also check out our review of Lesser Men in our “Reviews” section of the site.
You guys spend the last year touring on your first EP The Honest Love, tell us about this past year and how that contributed to the songwriting on this new record?
Kevin Kneifel: Well, first off, The Honest Love was written as a three piece–it was just Alex, John, and myself at the time. So, Dan joined up in August of last year, and as you can imagine that really affected the writing for the new record. I think our tour with Deas Vail was probably the most influential run we did, we all got home incredibly inspired by their musicality and songwriting. We are definitely two completely different bands, but I feel like you can really hear the influence on tracks like “The Martyr” and “Standing Still”.
“We also had the chance to tour on some of the songs for the new album before we recorded them, which sometimes resulted in the song becoming an entirely different animal than we had anticipated”
Dan Bishop: Yeah, we’ve definitely been really blessed this past year to tour with some great bands. We also had the chance to tour on some of the songs for the new album before we recorded them, which sometimes resulted in the song becoming an entirely different animal than we had anticipated. Touring really gave us a chance to work off everyone’s playing styles and see how we mesh in a way we hadn’t been able to before.
Recently Abel made the switch from Dreamt Music to Come and Live! Why the departure?
DB: Being able to release our EP with Dreamt Music was such a great opportunity and experience. To have someone come behind us and release The Honest Love, despite us being a relatively unknown band, was a huge encouragement and definitely caused us to take some initiative about being on the road.
KK: Being a part of Dreamt Music was definitely something amazing. The label was super supportive, and really helped us get grounded quickly. By January, however, we were definitely feeling the financial strain of being a small band signed to an indie-label. When the time came to discuss a full-length option with Facedown, it became clear that an independent release was going to make the most sense for us financially–which seems like such an odd place to start a story that ends with us gladly giving our music away for free!
DB: We raised the money to record the album with the help of fans and friends, and it actually wasn’t until fairly recently that the idea of partnering with Come&Live! was presented.
What was the appeal of being a part of an organization like Come and Live?
DB: In June, we toured with The Ember Days and they had nothing but positive things to say about the support they’ve received as a part of Come&Live! It was evident that Come&Live! was doing some really great things, and we wanted to be a part of that.
KK: I’ve actually known Chad Johnson, Come&Live!’s founder, since he was still doing A&R at Tooth & Nail. Our relationship has sort of been one of meeting and re-meeting each other over the last two years. Jase from The Ember Days suggested I speak to Chad at Cornerstone this year, and that’s when the conversation about Come&Live! really started. I think at first, the idea of giving our album away as a gift was really intimidating, but we’ve always considered this band a ministry, and taking it to a level where we’re really trusting God for provision has actually been super refreshing–relieving almost.
“Every day we’re learning more about each other and learning more about what it means to be in a band that’s dedicated to Christ”Tell us more about Lesser Men, what about it would you say defines Abel at this current time?
KK: I think more than anything, this album shows a lot of maturity compared to the last one. I’d like to think that is something that can be applied to our band and our musicianship in general right now. Every day we’re learning more about each other and learning more about what it means to be in a band that’s dedicated to Christ. It can be so easy to get caught up in the rat race of the music industry and “being a band” that it’s incredibly important for us to take time to refocus regularly. The album is about losing your focus on God, but being brought back to him. It’s about the nature of growth and forgiveness.
For fans of your first record, what is Lesser Men like in comparison?
KK: Lyrically and musically we’ve grown a lot. I feel like we were just getting used to writing with each other when we finished The Honest Love. I’m hoping people really see the step forward on Lesser Men.
I feel like there has been a lack of good indie style bands in this scene lately but that has been changing lately with the emergence and success of bands like My Epic and others, where do you feel Abel fits in?
DB: We’re that annoying, tag-a-long brother that desperately wants the older kids to think he’s cool, but is really just a huge pain in the butt. If you give that kid some time though, he’ll come into his own and get to where he needs to be, (Laughs).
KK: (Laughs), but in all seriousness, we’re definitely still finding our place. I love My Epic, and I think they’ve got true servants hearts. There are a lot of other great indie-rock bands stepping up right now as well. I actually think Come&Live! is a big part of that movement with bands like The Ember Days, Sons Of God, and Ascend The Hill. We’re only really beginning to come into our own, so I don’t know if we’ve found our niche just yet. But it’s there, I’m certain of that.
Where will we be able to catch you guys this fall and winter?
KK: We’ve got a short tour coming up with Holding Onto Hope that hits some of our favorite spots on the east coast. After that, we’ll definitely keep hitting the east coast, south, and mid-west with some solid tours–especially when it comes time to support the new release in October! 
