Walter Schreifels is widely considered royalty in the world of hardcore, playing in legendary New York bands Youth Of Today and Gorilla Biscuits before fronting post-hardcore group Quicksand and then forming the indie-tinged Rival Schools. Walter and co use their day off from the Jimmy Eat World tour to play to a Brighton crowd that can’t wait for this rare performance.
Their set begins with ‘Don’t Change’, a well-known but unreleased track from 2003. Immediately we sense something’s missing and the song doesn’t quite have the impact that was expected. Earlier in the night we had realised it all seemed a bit quiet but figured it’d all be cranked up by the time the headliners came on. We’d hoped the sound would fill the room a bit better, but unfortunately not.
They play a few newer songs but the atmosphere is still lacking slightly and we get the impression that most people here are waiting on the big hitters from 2001’s ‘United By Fate’. This is confirmed when they play ‘Travel By Telephone’ about four songs in and they get their first genuinely enthusiastic cheer from the crowd.
Two of their most popular tracks, ‘Used For Glue’ and ‘Good Things’, follow shortly afterwards and there is a definite increase in energy from both band and fans alike. Everything picks up from here onwards, even when they play more of the newer ones such as ‘Dreamlike Avenger’. It seems like the band made a few wrong choices in how they started their set, as it was all a little slow and boring in comparison.
Walter mentions how pleased he is to have a full-house tonight and begins a story about how the last time he played in Brighton (apparently around twenty years ago) he played with a saxophonist. Asking if anyone in the building is a saxophonist, he is met with the response of “I play the flute,” from somebody near the front. “Have you got it with you?” he asks. “Of course,” replies Mr. Flutey, and so begins the most unexpected part of tonight’s show – Rival Schools jamming with an audience member playing freestyle flute solos.
As an encore Walter returns to the stage alone and explains that their new guitarist only knows the set they are playing on the Jimmy Eat World tour, so he’ll be doing the last few by himself. ‘Undercover’s On’ sounds great and given the opportunity to suggest what song should be played last the (finally) excited crowd shout out a whole host of different opinions.
‘So Down On’ is the final answer and the rest of the band return despite having never played it together before. The solution? Get the guy with the flute back up.
Stale at times, bizarrely experimental at others but an all-round enjoyable evening with a band that aren’t very likely to be coming round again anytime soon.
Words by Chris Biggs
Haunt, Monday 18th November 2013
