Rig Rundown - Quicksand's Walter Schreifels
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- čas přidán 29. 06. 2021
- The post-hardcore heavyweight lays out the tonal road map for the new Distant Populations-including a shocking secret-weapon practice combo. Plus, he explains his pedal evolution from abstinence to indulgence.
[Preorder Quicksand's Distant PopulationsDistant Populations (out 8/13 digitally; 9/24 vinyl) - quicksand.ffm.to/distantpopul...]
Walter Schreifels has played foundational foil for over 25 years, with his focused, angular, coarsely melodic guitar grounding his more adventurous, effected counterparts in Quicksand, Vanishing Life, and Rival Schools. (The later even released an album in 2011 called Pedals.)
"Originally in Quicksand, my background was coming into music through a straightforward hardcore perspective, so I took on that simplified aesthetic, similar to Fugazi," says Schreifels. "Both our bassist Sergio Vega and other guitarist Tom Capone were adding in pedals, so I earthed the band playing the straight man and opted for the more direct tone."
The Quicksand quartet rose from the ashes of New York City's late '80s hardcore scene, featuring guitarist/singer Schreifels (Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today), Vega (Absolution and Carnage), Capone (Beyond and Bold), and drummer Alan Cage (who was in Burn with Capone, and Beyond). A self-titled four-song EP scored them a major-label deal with Polydor, where they released the seminal 1993 classic Slip. (It even landed in Decibel's Hall of Fame.) Both recordings are equally abrasive and melodic. Then the quartet moved to Island to release 1995's Manic Compression, an album unrelenting as a sledgehammer. But as quickly as they rose, the band dissolved into the time capsule of N.Y.C.'s once-rich alternative music scene. Yet they still influenced the Deftones (where Sergio now splits time playing bass), Thursday, Glassjaw, At the Drive-In, Torche, and many others.
Schreifels went on to form other two-guitar bands, including Rival Schools with Ian Page and Vanishing Life with Rise Against's Zac Blair. And he's continued to flourish as a frontman and the midrange mattress, allowing his fellow guitar mates to bend solos, color outside the lines, and leave the pocket.
However, life has a way of challenging us and putting us out of our comfort zones. (I mean, hello, 2020!) Ian left Rival Schools, Tom departed from Quicksand, and Walter formed the bluesy, psych-rock Dead Heavens, engaging in celestial spaces and thick, sizzling guitar parts.
"At that point, I sorta had to become the 'pedal' guy, so I was like, 'screw it, I'm gonna get a wah wah. [laughs] I've heard a lot of good things!'" That led to a delay, then a tremolo, then a phaser, and now he reserves a row on his pedalboard for experimentation and tone testing. "I slowly became an effects guy, still knowing I needed their applications to our music to be tasteful. And with Dead Heavens, I wanted to broaden my palette by getting better as a player and creating a space where I could really indulge the sounds in my head."
What sort of positives has Walter recognized from his pedal liberation? "Understanding how to use a piece of equipment that before was mysterious or intimidating, and now, by having broken through that mental barrier, you can get to some new shit and create something you otherwise might not have."
And his longtime straightforward, get-the-job-done, hardcore DNA has avoided any gear-snob blind-spots and pitfalls. "I sound just lazy, but I don't have any care or concern about how I get to a result if I'm happy with it. If it takes a long time, and there's something I have to shelve for a bit, that's fine. If it's with a Roland CUBE practice amp that inspires a song or tone, that's fine, too. I just don't care."
These new gear avenues and the rekindled Quicksand officially downsizing to a trio are creating new paths for Schreifels. "I'm just really excited to continue telling Quicksand's story, carrying on from Interiors, but also through our OG catalog, and a focus on growth has been improving my playing guitar and finding new ground to break."
In this episode, Quicksand's founding frontman details why oft-forgotten Fenders and a "spooky" gold-foil Harmony were 6-string cornerstones for Distant Populations. He explains how an 8" practice combo was an ace up his sleeve while recording, and chronicles his slow embrace of effects and how they've shaped his sound and vision.
Full Rig Details: bit.ly/QuicksandRR
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Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
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[Brought to you by D'Addario XL Strings: www.daddario.com/XLRR]
Preorder Quicksand's Distant Populations (out 8/13 digitally; 9/24 vinyl) - quicksand.ffm.to/distantpopul...
And watch videos for their two singles:
"Inversion" - • Quicksand - "Inversion"
"Missile Command" - • Quicksand - "Missile C...
#rigrundown #quicksand #distantpopulations - Hudba
Full Rig Details: bit.ly/QuicksandRR
Subscribe to PG's Channel: bit.ly/SubscribePGCZcams
Don't Miss a Rundown: bit.ly/RIgRundownENL
Merch & Magazines: shop.premierguitar.com
Preorder Quicksand's Distant Populations (out 8/13 digitally; 9/24 vinyl) - quicksand.ffm.to/distantpopulations
i'm glad he spoke about rival schools. highly under-rated band that should be celebrated more than they are
Yes! Soooo many sick guitar tones on United By Fate. Walter is an amazing songwriter.
He played in Gorilla Biscuits and Youth of Today as well.
Ikr. Staples in my collection.
Walter has one of the craziest band track records of all time. Youth of Today, Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, Rival Schools, etc. I mean...goddamn.
He also played bass in Warzone for a time. Wrote practically all if the CIV record Set Your Goals. Walter is Mr. Hardcore 2.0 next to Stigma imo
@@VinSuff28Absolutely. He's a total master songwriter for hardcore and beyond.
Absolute legend.
+Vanishing Life, +Dead Heavens, +Solo record that was decent AF
Came here to see some gear, learned lessons on artistry and creativity. Great stuff! Loved "Distant Populations", amazing record!
Glad you enjoyed it!
I’m 47 … back in the 90s I was a hard-core band and that’s kind of where my guitar playing came from. Ended up working and live sound professionally for a couple years after that and found myself behind a lot of guys in Philly that could play well I’d say about four years ago. I totally recomitted myself and seeing GB this past winter really inspired me .. Walter took the words out of my mouth with everything… can’t wait to see quicksand this Nov in Philly…. Thanks Walter , a longtime fan
Quicksand is one of my favorite bands ever. And Walter's tone and style is one of the best. Thanks so much for this!
Walter is one of my musical idols, thanks so much for putting this together and asking him great questions about his tone!!
omg who's running the camera?
YES! This fellow Iowan is so proud and happy for you Chris
Great episode. So inspiring to listen to Walter to speak on his changing experience with guitar and finding your our style outside of something other players would do.
Rig rundown man. They really did hell of a job. Its not easy to make an interview with musicians talked abt their stuffs. It takes alot of effort and time too. Thank you primiere guitar. Legends !
This was a great rundown. Unique as is Quicksand. I bought a Cube yesterday - Well Pleased.
Saw Hammerhead, Quicksand, & Helmet in the 1st Ave Mainroom almost 30 yrs ago. All 3 were among my faves...with Hammerhead ruling my world at the time.
Most excellent. And my late-teens self was more than a little excited.
Although I couldn't help notice how the venue didn't do Hammerhead justice...they're a more intimate space + overwhelming, crushing volume experience.
I play live and use Fender Deluxe reverb's all day long.....but the Blues Jr and the Cube are the two amps I use at home all the time and I love them......I get it!
love it, one of my favorite guitarist
So good to see Walter being featured for sound and see Quicksand continuing to make records. Truly in my top three favorite bands of all time. I first heard Slip in 1993 not long after it came out, (when I was 16) and I will always treasure that album and love this band!
Quicksand is as good as ever!
Nice to hear him speak on FUGAZI. Ian Mackaye is a guitar player that takes sound economy and nuance to a new level. The dynamics produced by his playing style could not be achieved through any amount of pedals or lessons.
Walter gets it and definitely has a style that is entirely unique.
Great interview/distracting camera work though.
Camera man/woman sinking in quicksand.
The singles from the new record have been fantastic. They really seem dialed in.
I also completely love how non-rock star guitarist this entire rig rundown interview is.
It's almost like Spinal Tap, but more honest and self aware lol
10:48 Imma get wah-wah pedal... I heard a lot of good things...
*Kirk Hammett has entered the chat
i absolutely loved when he worked with title fight when recording shed. i really thought that was cool for sure being a huge title fight fan. definitely a cool dude haha. love this too.
He kinda looks like the bass player/singer
Great band!!!!
Manic Compression is the greatest album in existence!
Thanks Walter
You guys should make "The pickle theory of Premier Guitar" T-shirts.. I know I'd buy one. ;)
leave the bloody camera alone!
6 year old operator? ha!
@@gregmize01 that would explain it! haha
Walter is one of my favorite people out of the entire hardcore scene. He's just so cool and personable, I see him more as a rock guy than a punk guy now.
Punk “Rock.”
Ah, always the punker! Cheap guitar, cheap effects, doesn't know much about em...! So a different kind of Rig Rundown, but still valid - it's great to know that some relatively big artists are out there doing great work with pretty basic gear. We don't all need a £1000 studio compressor or a Klon or whatever on our board.
My friend bitched about him not having much or being a gear head. He’s still great and more people should know about Quicksand, Rival Schools, Dead Heavens and Gorilla Biscuits
i fuckin love this dude
Did Paul Greengrass film this interview?...Dat shakey cam! Felt like I was watching a Bourne film. Great interview though!
51:50 The EHX Synth 9. YES. I have one and use it in the same way. Just create weird moods during jam session.
Dimebag and MBV shoutouts + budget gear demos = legendary status. Quicksand is SO SO underrated
But they’re not underrated… silly comment
One of my all-time favorite song writers. Up there with Townes IMO.
I wish someone could isolate the bass on Fazer & post it. Pretty easy song but in the bass breaks it's hard to hear the last part of the phrase - as to exactly what notes are being played on the E string that is tuned down to D.
quicksand?! GB for life!!
Can't it be both?
That Todd Hido book 😍
So glad to see Walter getting the recognition he deserves as an long term punk icon and especially as a continual innovator.
Super stoked to see these guys still earning new fans to this day. They absolutely deserve to be heard by fresh ears
The picture on the front cover of the book at 2:56 is…the same than for the « Neck of the woods » Silversun Pickups album!!! 😮😮😮 (I was first thinking it was the vinyl but the titles are not the same!!)
The book is called House Hunting by Todd Hido
@@krystianjones27 Thanks a lot!! 😉👍🏻
Harmony is a very light cheap guitar but it sounds an plays great . Cool to see he's jamin one all this time.
He played a Marauder in a Rival Schools video. Those things are heavy as shit. Cool looking guitar though
47:52
Roland Cube??? LOL ...if you want to take it to whole new level get the old orange Roland Cube 60 but pop in a Celestion.
The Harmony ? ... the mysterious place it came from is 4604 South Kolin Ave. Chicago ILL. 60632 :-)
I hope they reissue Skip and Manic Compression.
They did
The lockdown rig runs are going away when ? We have been back to gigging months , time to leave the nest .
We've done a few at rehearsal Nashville-area spaces and studios (Aaron Lee Tasjan and Oliver Wood), but shows of touring bands haven't ramped up yet. Our next episode is with CZcamsr (and Nashville resident) Justin Johnson and then we've got a handful more in-real-life RRs rolling out after that. Just be patient!
@@premierguitar JJ!! \m/
Pickups are not EQs.
impossible to watch due to the horribly shaky camera. sad, bc i love walter and his music. thumbs down.
Only way the camera is excusable is if its walter’s wife doing it!
“Great camera work honey!” - Walter
"I've bee there from the beginning ." -holds up a reissue copy
I bet you're a blast at a party.
He probably owned the cassette or CD first considering it was the 90s
We were there for the beginning when they played awesome shows in NYC and CT. The 7” was revolutionary.
@@chris_kiesHahaha! Well said!
Camera operator is drunk