By Joanna Zaradkiewicz
 |
Walking
Concert |
Frontman to an impressive sequence of influential
bands from the likes of the hardcore Gorilla Biscuits,
punk-standards Quicksand and the indie-rock Rival
Schools, Walter Schreifels has been a primary
figure in rock since the hardcore scene of the
early 90s, as well as a pioneer in the fledgling
days of emo-rock.
Walking Concert, the latest handiwork of this
veteran rocker, encompasses bits and pieces of
all that was splendid with his past endeavors.
Taking it back to the old school, boasting 60s-era
influences such as the Kinks as well as elements
of 70s glam-rock, Walking Concert emphasizes the
softer side of Schreifels' punk flare.
The band's debut album, Run to Be
Born, is a tight-knit collaboration whose
influences spawned mostly from Schreifels'
childhood. He sings the main vocals, plays guitar
and percussion while Ryan Stratton is on bass
and Jeffery E. Johnson is on guitar.
Run to Be Born celebrates what Schreifels fans never really got
to hear — his singing voice. After shedding
most of (not all) his hardcore influences, the
album developed into 14 tracks of guitar-driven
rock accompanied by quirky lyrics with melodically
poppy tunes. On the album, Schreifels's
voice morphs into a quite engaging and even soothing
vocal as opposed to his epic wail of yesteryear.
