Silverstein (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Silverstein | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
||
| Background information | ||
| Origin | June 2000, Burlington, Ontario | |
| Genre(s) | Emocore Post-Hardcore Screamo |
|
| Years active | 2000—Present | |
| Label(s) | Victory Records | |
| Website | Silverstein official site Silverstein official MySpace page |
|
| Members | ||
| Paul Koehler Billy Hamilton Neil Boshart Josh Bradford Shane Told |
||
| Former members | ||
| Richard McWalter Craig Stinson William Barker |
||
Silverstein (pronounced Silver-steen) is an emo band from Burlington, Ontario. The band name was taken from the famous childrens author Shel Silverstein.
When the band started, it was a side project for the original members; At the time, each member was already participating in a separate local band. They recorded their first demo two months later with a slightly varied lineup: Lead vocalist Shane Told filled in as the bass player, since they had not enlisted anyone to fill that role at the time of the release. The demo would be pressed and released locally in August of the same year as the EP Summer's Stellar Gaze.
Contents |
[edit] Lineup Changes
After a couple of lineup changes, the band acquired Billy Hamilton, a local fan who learned of the band's need for a bassist on the Internet message board The 905 Board (an Ontario area outreach board for local musicians). In Christmas of 2001, he joined the band after Told instructed Hamilton as he learned some of the songs. Following a rehearsal on Canadian Boxing Day in 2001, he officially debuted with Silverstein The next spring, original guitarist Richard McWalter left the band to move to Victoria, British Columbia to study engineering; He would be replaced by Neil Boshart, childhood friend of Shane Told. The new lineup recorded a second EP, When the Shadows Beam, in preparation for their first, tour in Eastern Canada.
[edit] Record Label Signing
The band then signed to Victory Records in October of 2002 with a complete lineup as Hamilton attempted to complete his secondary education one semester early. The January after, the band recorded their full-length debut CD When Broken Is Easily Fixed, released on the Victory Records label.
[edit] Recent Touring
In 2005 the band performed on the Never Sleep Again tour with bands such as Aiden, Hawthorne Heights and Bayside—a tour where Bayside's drummer John "Beatz" Holohan would be killed. In January-February 2006, they toured with the band Simple Plan in Europe. They then toured Canada with the Taste of Chaos Tour, and also toured Europe, Japan, and Australia.
The band toured on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour, in support of their current studio album Discovering the Waterfront and an EP compilation 18 Candles: The Early Years. The Early years compiles the band's first two self-financed EPs with some acoustic and live material as well as single remix of the Discovering The Waterfront hit "Smile In Your Sleep". Discovering the Waterfront would be re-released in September 2006 with an extra song, the band's cover of Lifetime's "Rodeo Clown" and a DVD.
In October-December 2006, they toured with Aiden, It Dies Today and other bands on the "Never Shave Again Tour." Few concerts have been scheduled as the band prepares to go into the studio in February 2007 to record its third CD, featured by AP Magazine as one of the most eagerly anticipated of 2007. It is set for release in July. The band has announced a few shows for the spring, followed by an all-summer tour with Rise Against.
[edit] Current Developments
The band's third full-length CD is now under development, and was designated by AP Magazine as one of the most eagerly anticipated CDs of 2007. In a message posted on the band Official Website on March 3rd, 2007, Paul Koehler stated that pre-production for the new album has been completed. Mark Trombino (Blink 182, Finch, The Bled) has been chosen to produce the album. They have 15 new songs written but are unsure of the number of songs that will make the final cut. Silverstein will be contributing a new acoustic version of their song 'Red Light Pledge' to the Punk Goes Acoustic 2 compilation. The CD hits stores May 8th through Fearless Records.
[edit] Members
[edit] Current Members
- Vocals - Shane Told
- Guitar - Neil Boshart
- Guitar - Josh Bradford
- Bass - Bill Hamilton
- Drums - Paul Koehler
[edit] Former Members
- Guitar - Richard McWalter
[edit] Discography
- Summer's Stellar Gaze (EP) (August 29, 2000)
- When The Shadows Beam (EP) (April 26, 2002)
- When Broken Is Easily Fixed (May 20, 2003)
- Discovering The Waterfront (August 16, 2005)
- 18 Candles: The Early Years (Compilation) (May 2006)
- Discovering The Waterfront (re-release) (September 19, 2006)
- Unknown (July 7, 2007)
[edit] Singles
| Year | Title | Chart Positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | |||
| 2003 | "Bleeds No More" | When Broken Is Easily Fixed | |||
| 2003 | "Giving Up" | When Broken Is Easily Fixed | |||
| 2004 | "Smashed Into Pieces" | When Broken Is Easily Fixed | |||
| 2005 | "Smile In Your Sleep" | Discovering the Waterfront | |||
| 2006 | "Discovering the Waterfront" | Discovering the Waterfront | |||
| 2006 | "My Heroine" | Discovering the Waterfront | |||
[edit] Lyrical Origins
Several of the band's key tracks are based upon and derived from previous works. For example:
- Forever and a Day recites Shel Silverstein's Where the Sidewalk Ends verbatim.
- Your Sword vs. My Dagger is based upon the story of Romeo and Juliet.
- The Weak and the Wounded is written around the film Session 9.
- Already Dead is based on the novel The Lovely Bones.
- The title of "The Ides of March" is a reference to Marcus Junius Brutus assassinating Julius Caesar, although the song is not entirely about this.
[edit] Popular Culture References
- American Idol contestant Ryan Hart covered their song Smashed Into Pieces during the January 31, 2006 program.
- Hamilton has a tattoo with a quotation from the poem Hug O' War, by Shel Silverstein.
- In Bleeds No More, the line "You were the worst thing that ever happened to me..." comes from the movie Fight Club.
- In Smile In Your Sleep, the band plays in the Parkwood Estate in a style reminiscent of the murder-mystery Board Game Clue with rooms and weapons as seen in the game. They also each wear shirts related to the characters' color as well. The Parkwood Estate can also be seen in the popular Adam Sandler movie Billy Madison.
[edit] See Also
==External links==
