Knapsack was formed in 1993 by Blair Shehan (vocals/guitar) and Colby Mancasola (drums). Shehan and Mancasola were two high school friends studying at the University of California, Davis

University of California, Davis

The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment...

. Guitarist Jason Bokros and bassist Rod Meyer completed the lineup.

In 1994, the band recorded a single for independent label Goldenrod Records

Goldenrod Records

Goldenrod Records was a record label formed by Tod Swank in 1991 in San Diego, California to release the first 7" record by Custom Floor, a band consisting of skateboarders Garry Davis, Phil Esbenshade, and Miki Vuckovich. After the release of the Custom Floor record, Swank's other project,...

 and signed with Alias Records

Alias Records

Alias Records is a small American indie-rock record label based in California.Alias has released albums by American Music Club, Archers of Loaf, Yo La Tengo, The Loud Family, Too Much Joy and Knapsack among others....

 later that year. Their debut album Silver Sweepstakes was released in 1995

1995 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....

. They then toured extensively playing with bands such as Pavement

Pavement (band)

Pavement is an American alternative rock band that formed in Stockton, California in 1989. In their career, they achieved a significant cult following, and they were called the best band of the 1990s by prominent music critics Robert Christgau and Stephen Thomas Erlewine...

, Rocket from the Crypt

Rocket from the Crypt

Rocket from the Crypt was an American rock band led by John Reis, formed in 1989 in San Diego, California and disbanded in 2005.The band gained critical praise and the attention of major record labels after the release of their 1992 album Circa: Now!, leading to a recording contract with Interscope...

, Jawbox

Jawbox

Jawbox was an alternative rock band from Washington, D.C., U.S.. Its original members were J. Robbins , Kim Coletta and Adam Wade...

 and Drive Like Jehu

Drive Like Jehu

Drive Like Jehu was an American post-hardcore and alternative rock band from San Diego active from 1990 to 1995. Formed by rhythm guitarist and vocalist Rick Froberg and lead guitarist John Reis following the breakup of their band Pitchfork, the band's lineup also included bassist Mike Kennedy and...

.

Bokros left the group before the release of their second album Day Three of My New Life

Day Three of My New Life

Day Three of My New Life is the second full length album by indie rock / emo band Knapsack. It was released in 1997 on Alias Records.-Track listing:#"Thursday Side Of The Street" - 2:48#"Courage Was Confused" - 3:51#"Decorate The Spine" - 2:39...

 in 1997

1997 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1997.-January:*January 9 – David Bowie performs his 50th Birthday Bash concert at Madison Square Garden, New York City, USA with guests Frank Black, The Foo Fighters, Sonic Youth, Robert Smith of The Cure, Lou Reed, and Billy...

. Rod Meyer left the group after this release and was replaced by Sergie Loobkoff of Samiam

Samiam

-Biography:Samiam was formed in late 1988 after the breakup of the Gilman club mainstay Isocracy. Their first show was in January 1989 with Christ on Parade. They released records through New Red Archives and Hopeless Records in the US and Burning Heart Records in Europe. In the mid-'90s, the band...

. Their third album This Conversation is Ending Starting Right Now

This Conversation Is Ending Starting Right Now

This Conversation Is Ending Starting Right Now is the third full length album by indie rock / emo band Knapsack. It was released in 1998 on Alias Records.- Track listing :# Katherine The Grateful - 3:17# Change Is All The Rage - 3:27...

 was released in 1998

1998 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia...

. Shehan went on to form The Jealous Sound

The Jealous Sound

The Jealous Sound is a Los Angeles indie rock band composed of vocalist and guitarist Blair Shehan , guitarist Pedro Benito , bassist Nate Mendel, and drummer Bob Penn. The band has recently reunited to support Sunny Day Real Estate on tour.-History:The band's self-titled debut EP The Jealous Sound...

 after the band broke up in 2000.

Discography

Full Lengths

• Silver Sweepstakes
  Silver Sweepstakes
  Silver Sweepstakes is the first full length album by indie rock / emo band Knapsack. It was released in 1995 on Alias Records-Track listing:#Cellophane - 3:31#Trainwrecker - 3:54#Effortless - 3:13#Fortunate and Holding - 3:50#Casanova - 2:43...
  
  (1995)
• Day Three of My New Life
  Day Three of My New Life
  Day Three of My New Life is the second full length album by indie rock / emo band Knapsack. It was released in 1997 on Alias Records.-Track listing:#"Thursday Side Of The Street" - 2:48#"Courage Was Confused" - 3:51#"Decorate The Spine" - 2:39...
  
  (1997)
• This Conversation Is Ending Starting Right Now
  This Conversation Is Ending Starting Right Now
  This Conversation Is Ending Starting Right Now is the third full length album by indie rock / emo band Knapsack. It was released in 1998 on Alias Records.- Track listing :# Katherine The Grateful - 3:17# Change Is All The Rage - 3:27...
  
  (1998)

Singles

• Trainwrecker (1994)
• True To Form (1995)
• Dropkick w/ Stuntman (1997)

Compilations

• Superwinners Summer Rock Academy (1996)
• Don't Forget to Breathe (1996)