WALKING CONCERT

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.

By Joanna Zaradkiewicz