Walter Schreifels
Encyclopedia
Walter Schreifels is a rock musician and producer from New York City
.
In the late 1980s, he played in many New York hardcore
bands, most notably Youth Of Today
and Gorilla Biscuits
(where he was also the songwriter and lyricist). After Gorilla Biscuits broke up, he formed the short lived Moondog. In October 2006, the band's self-titled EP was officially released for the first time ever on Anthology Recordings
. It was previously available only as a bootleg 7" record. Moondog would transition into the more metal-oriented post-hardcore
band Quicksand
. He also collaborated with his former Gorilla Biscuits bandmates in the melodic hardcore band CIV, writing much of their first LP and one song on their follow-up LP despite not actually playing on the record. He went on to start World's Fastest Car, a relatively short-lived project. The band recorded a demo and an EP, neither of which have been officially released. The EP was supposed to be released by Revelation Records, but that never came to fruition due to their breakup. Later, he helped create the melodic indie rock
-styled band Rival Schools
. After Rival Schools' dissolution, he went on to form Walter and the Motorcycles, who recorded but never released a self-titled LP and played a few shows but quickly broke up. Walking Concert
, his next project, was heavily influenced by classic British
acts such as Elvis Costello
, The Kinks
, Syd Barrett
, David Bowie
and The Smiths
. In addition to a new solo acoustic LP scheduled for release in 2008, Schreifels reformed Rival Schools
in June 2008 with plans to release a new album. In October 2009, he appeared on "Memoria : A Tribute To The Alternative 90s" (Yr Letter Records) with "When You Sleep", a My Bloody Valentine's cover.
On November 16, 2010, Rival Schools released the deluxe single for "Shot After Shot" on iTunes from the forthcoming record Pedals, which was released in March 2011.
As a producer, he has worked with such hardcore-related bands as Hot Water Music
, Sinch
and The First Step. Recently, he produced the EP Deer Strutter, the first from the UK band Cars As Weapons, and a full length titled Days Above Ground from Australian post-hardcore band, Paper Arms. He is also part owner of the record label Some Records
. He has recently produced hardcore/pop punk act Title Fight's first full length titled Shed.
(UK), Academy Fight Song (US), Dine Alone Records (CAN) and Arctic Rodeo (Europe). In support of the album release, Schreifels announced a 12-date UK tour. The album features 10 tracks including covers of songs by Agnostic Front
and CIV. The CIV song he covered, "Don't Gotta Prove It", was written by Schreifels.
In a recent interview with Alter The Press!, Schreifels confirmed his follow-up solo record was 85% complete and would be titled Jesus Is My Favorite Beatle.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
In the late 1980s, he played in many New York hardcore
New York hardcore
New York hardcore refers to hardcore punk and metalcore music created in New York City and to the subculture associated with that music. New York hardcore grew out of the hardcore scene established in Washington, D.C., by bands such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat. Hardcore '81 is an album by the...
bands, most notably Youth Of Today
Youth of Today
Youth of Today is an American hardcore punk straight edge band, formed in 1985 and still in activity. The band played a major role in establishing the Youth Crew subculture of hardcore, both espousing and evolving the philosophies of the straight edge and vegetarian lifestyles.-History:Youth Of...
and Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits
Gorilla Biscuits are a New York City-based vegan straight edge hardcore band consisting of Anthony "Civ" Civarelli, Walter Schreifels, Arthur Smilios, Alex Brown and Luke Abbey. The band is currently signed to Revelation Records.-Early career:...
(where he was also the songwriter and lyricist). After Gorilla Biscuits broke up, he formed the short lived Moondog. In October 2006, the band's self-titled EP was officially released for the first time ever on Anthology Recordings
Anthology Recordings
Anthology Recordings is an all digital reissue label, providing an online outlet for rare and out-of-print music of all eras, genres and cultures...
. It was previously available only as a bootleg 7" record. Moondog would transition into the more metal-oriented post-hardcore
Post-hardcore
Post-hardcore is a genre of music that developed from hardcore punk, itself an offshoot of the broader punk rock movement. Like post-punk, post-hardcore is a term for a broad constellation of groups...
band Quicksand
Quicksand (band)
Quicksand was an American post-hardcore band from New York City founded in 1990 by singer/songwriter Walter Schreifels. Their debut self-titled EP was followed by two major label albums, Slip and Manic Compression...
. He also collaborated with his former Gorilla Biscuits bandmates in the melodic hardcore band CIV, writing much of their first LP and one song on their follow-up LP despite not actually playing on the record. He went on to start World's Fastest Car, a relatively short-lived project. The band recorded a demo and an EP, neither of which have been officially released. The EP was supposed to be released by Revelation Records, but that never came to fruition due to their breakup. Later, he helped create the melodic indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
-styled band Rival Schools
Rival Schools (band)
Rival Schools are a post-hardcore band from New York signed to Photo Finish Records, featuring Walter Schreifels on vocals and guitar; Ian Love on guitar; Cache Tolman on bass guitar; and Sam Siegler on drums....
. After Rival Schools' dissolution, he went on to form Walter and the Motorcycles, who recorded but never released a self-titled LP and played a few shows but quickly broke up. Walking Concert
Walking Concert
Walking Concert is an indie rock band from New York, featuring Walter Schreifels on vocals and guitar; Jeffery E. Johnson on guitar; Ryan Stratton on bass guitar; and Drew Thomas on drums....
, his next project, was heavily influenced by classic British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
acts such as Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
, The Kinks
The Kinks
The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, North London, by brothers Ray and Dave Davies in 1964. Categorised in the United States as a British Invasion band, The Kinks are recognised as one of the most important and influential rock acts of the era. Their music was influenced by a...
, Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett
Syd Barrett , born Roger Keith Barrett, was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and painter, best remembered as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd. He was the lead vocalist, guitarist and primary songwriter during the band's psychedelic years, providing major musical and stylistic...
, David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
and The Smiths
The Smiths
The Smiths were an English alternative rock band, formed in Manchester in 1982. Based on the song writing partnership of Morrissey and Johnny Marr , the band also included Andy Rourke and Mike Joyce...
. In addition to a new solo acoustic LP scheduled for release in 2008, Schreifels reformed Rival Schools
Rival Schools (band)
Rival Schools are a post-hardcore band from New York signed to Photo Finish Records, featuring Walter Schreifels on vocals and guitar; Ian Love on guitar; Cache Tolman on bass guitar; and Sam Siegler on drums....
in June 2008 with plans to release a new album. In October 2009, he appeared on "Memoria : A Tribute To The Alternative 90s" (Yr Letter Records) with "When You Sleep", a My Bloody Valentine's cover.
On November 16, 2010, Rival Schools released the deluxe single for "Shot After Shot" on iTunes from the forthcoming record Pedals, which was released in March 2011.
As a producer, he has worked with such hardcore-related bands as Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music is a punk rock band from Gainesville, Florida. The members of the band are Chuck Ragan, Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo. HWM first formed in 1993...
, Sinch
Sinch
Sinch is an American alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Doylestown, Pennsylvania.-History:The alternative rock quartet Sinch formed in 1994 while its members were attending different high schools in Doylestown and Willow Grove in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania...
and The First Step. Recently, he produced the EP Deer Strutter, the first from the UK band Cars As Weapons, and a full length titled Days Above Ground from Australian post-hardcore band, Paper Arms. He is also part owner of the record label Some Records
Some Records
Some Records is an independent record label in New York City whose acts include Earl Greyhound, Innaway, Hot Water Music, Walking Concert, Six Going on Seven, Form of Rocket, The New Transit Direction, The Exit, The Ghost and Rebecca Schiffman....
. He has recently produced hardcore/pop punk act Title Fight's first full length titled Shed.
Solo career
On May 4, 2010, Schreifels released his first solo album An Open Letter To The Scene via Big Scary Monsters Recording CompanyBig Scary Monsters Recording Company
Big Scary Monsters Recording Company is a British based independent record label. Probably the most well-known acts associated with the label are This Town Needs Guns, Kevin Devine, Pulled Apart By Horses, Walter Schreifels, Andrew WK and Get Cape. Wear Cape...
(UK), Academy Fight Song (US), Dine Alone Records (CAN) and Arctic Rodeo (Europe). In support of the album release, Schreifels announced a 12-date UK tour. The album features 10 tracks including covers of songs by Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front is an American hardcore band. The band began playing hardcore similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic Victim in Pain before evolving to incorporate thrash...
and CIV. The CIV song he covered, "Don't Gotta Prove It", was written by Schreifels.
In a recent interview with Alter The Press!, Schreifels confirmed his follow-up solo record was 85% complete and would be titled Jesus Is My Favorite Beatle.
External links
- WalterTown.com Walter's web site.
- United by Walter fan site.
- Some Records Some Records homepage
- Walking Concert
- AnthologyRecordings.com - Moondog MP3 ALBUM DOWNLOAD
- The Interface with Walter Schreifels an acoustic performance and interview podcast
- Moondog - Walter Schreifels 1989 Demo Anthology Recordings
- Big Scary Monsters Records Big Scary Monsters Records homepage
- Walter Schreifels Interview Walter Schreifels Interview