Silverstein (band)

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Silverstein
Origin Burlington, Ontario
Genre(s) Post-Hardcore
Emo
Screamo
Years active 2000-Present
Label(s) Victory Records
Website Silverstein official site
Members
Shane Told
Paul Koehler
Bill Hamilton
Neil Boshart
Josh Bradford
Former members
Richard McWalter
Craig Stinson
William Barker

Silverstein (pronounced Silver-steen) is a five-piece Screamo band from Burlington, Ontario. The band name was taken from the famous children's author Shel Silverstein.

Contents

[edit] Lineup Changes

After several 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 which used to be for local musicians). In Christmas of 2001, he joined the band after Told helped him learn the music for the songs. Following a rehearsal on Boxing Day (December 26) 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 was then 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 during which Bayside's drummer John "Beatz" Holohan would be killed. In January-February 2006, they toured with fellow Canadians 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 was re-released in September 2006 with an extra song, the band's cover of Lifetime's "Rodeo Clown" and a DVD.

In 2006, Silverstein was nominated for a Juno Award in the "Best New Band" category, but lost to Bedouin Soundclash.

In Fall 2006, they headlined The Never Shave Again Tour, along with Aiden, It Dies Today, and He Is Legend. Following completion of their third CD, the band played a few shows in the spring, and then engaged in an all-summer tour with Rise Against. The band toured the United States in Fall 2007 with From Autumn to Ashes and then went on a month-long European tour with blessthefall.

Following tours of Australia and Japan in January 2008, the band played their first "Cross-Canada" headlining tour with Protest the Hero, Ill Scarlett and The Devil Wears Prada, which sold out across the country. They recently completed a U.S. tour with A Day To Remember, Protest the Hero and The Devil Wears Prada. Protest the Hero dropped off the Tour and Pierce the Veil took over for them on a few show dates. They have a 2008 Europe tour scheduled for May and June, including several festivals.

[edit] Current Developments

The band's third full-length album, Arrivals And Departures, was released on July 3, 2007, and was designated by AP Magazine as one of the most eagerly anticipated CDs of 2007. Mark Trombino (Jimmy Eat World, Blink-182, Finch) produced the CD. As of early August, the CD had sold 62,000 copies.

Silverstein contributed a new acoustic version of their song 'Red Light Pledge' to the Punk Goes Acoustic 2 compilation, released May 8, 2007 through Fearless Records.[1]

Silverstein (presumably Told) is listed as a client of Melissa Cross, a voice coach for lead singers.[2]

[edit] Popular Culture References

  • American Idol contestant Ryan Hart covered their song "Smashed Into Pieces" during the January 31, 2006 program.Video
  • Hamilton has a tattoo with an illustration from the poem Hug O' War, by Shel Silverstein.
  • In their video for "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. The band each wore shirts related to the characters' color. The same mansion was used in the filming of "Billy Madison".
  • The song "Smile in Your Sleep" was included in the soundtrack for EA SPORTS's, MVP 06: NCAA Baseball
  • The single "Bleeds No More" contains a quotation from the movie "Fight Club" 1999 ("You're the worst thing that's ever happened to me," spoken by Marla Singer)

[edit] Members

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former Members

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Title Release Date Label U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Top Independent Albums
When Broken Is Easily Fixed May 20, 2003 Victory Records - 45
Discovering the Waterfront August 16, 2005 Victory Records 34 3
Arrivals & Departures July 3, 2007 Victory Records 25 1

[edit] EPs

[edit] Compilations

Title Release Date Label U.S. Billboard 200 Peak Top Independent Albums
18 Candles: The Early Years May 30, 2006 Victory Records 148 10

[edit] Singles

Year Title Chart Positions Album
Hot 100 Modern Rock Tracks
2004 "Giving Up" - - When Broken is Easily Fixed
2005 "Smashed Into Pieces" - -
2005 "Bleeds No More" - -
2006 "Smile in Your Sleep" - - Discovering the Waterfront
2006 "Discovering the Waterfront" - -
2006 "My Heroine" - -
2007 "If You Could See Into My Soul" - - Arrivals & Departures
2008 "Still Dreaming" - -

[edit] References

  1. ^ Amazon.com: Punk Goes Acoustic 2 tracklist. Retrieved on 2007-08-31.
  2. ^ Welcome to the Melissa Cross Vocal Studio :: Vocal Coach and Voice Lessons for a New Breed

[edit] External links