This past Sunday evening Rival Schools took the stage at the newly renamed and slightly redesigned venue now known as Brighton Music Hall. With the band’s original line-up of Walter Schreifels, Ian Love, Sam Siegler, and Cache Tolman together Rival Schools tore through old favorites like “Travel by Telephone” and “Good Thing” along with jams from the new record Pedals including the single “Wring It Out”. They also jokingly played a ska versions of their own’ “Good Thing” and Metallica’s “For Whom The Bell Tolls”. (Metalli-Ska or Ska-Tallica any one?) After seeing Rival Schools over a year ago when they shared the stage with Eagles Of Death Metal this past Sunday’s performance blew the prior one out of the water. This may have been the product of a less cavernous venue (prior show was at the House of Blues) or it maybe just a band happy to be there and realize their still relevant after a 10 year gap between albums… nonetheless Rival Schools were at the top of their game.
To be able to see a musician such as Walter live is a huge privilege. But I guess I am one of the lucky ones as I’ve seen him three times (2 with Rivals Schools and 1 solo performance.) The man has been a member of such great acts as Gorilla Biscuits, Youth Of Today, Civ, Quicksand, and now Rival Schools. The wealth of musical knowledge and importance the man has is incomparable within the rock world. He’s the Miles Davis of the hardcore/post-hardcore world (yeah I went there) as he is continuously evolving his bands’ sound and direction from hardcore to post-hardcore/alt. rock to indie/pop rock.
Sharing the bill that night were local up and coming pop-punk favorites Transit who meld Saves the Day, The Get Up Kids, New Found Glory, and of course Rival Schools into some of the catchiest most honest songs to come from kids all under 25! Take some time to check out their newest releases “Keep This To Yourself” and “Something Left Behind”.