Silverstien

Silverstein is a Canadian post-hardcore band from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 2000. Their band name is a reference to the famous children's author Shel Silverstein, whom the band had admired and read the stories of as children. They have released a total of five studio albums, three EP's, a compilation album and a live DVD/CD. Their lineup has remained unchanged since December 2001, consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Shane Told,
guitarists Neil Boshart and Josh Bradford, bass guitarist and backing vocalist Billy Hamilton, and drummer Paul Koehler. The band achieved moderate success with their second studio album, Discovering The Waterfront, reaching #34 on the Billboard 200 charts, with the following two albums charting at similar positions.

The band left long time record label, Victory Records in 2010, and are currently signed with Hopeless Records and Universal Music. Silverstein released their fifth studio album, titled Rescue in April 2011. An EP titled Transitions was released on December 7 as precursor.

Formation and early years (2000–2002)

Silverstein formed in January 2000.


During that same year, they self-released their first EP, Summer's Stellar Gaze. 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 December 2001, he joined the band after Told helped him learn the music for the songs. Following a rehearsal on Boxing Day (December 26) in 2000, 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. The band signed to Victory Records in October 2002 with a complete lineup as Hamilton attempted to complete his secondary education one semester early.

[edit]When Broken Is Easily Fixed (2003–2004)

Drummer Paul Koehler in 2009 in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia

The following January the band went into the studio to record their first full-length debut album, When Broken Is Easily Fixed. It was recorded at Unity Gain and Mount Fairview studios, with producer Justin Koop and was released on the 20th of May, 2003 through Victory Records. Six songs were re-recorded versions from Silverstein's previous EP's; Summer's Stellar Gaze and When The Shadows Beam. When Broken Is Easily Fixed sold over 200,000 copies, surpassing the expectations of the band.

“ Silverstein's Victory debut is a jarring mixture of emo's earnest determination, elements of hardcore, and the heaviest of heavy metal. While vocalist Shane Told delivers lines like "How can I say I love you back, you never made me happy" in a cracked, soaring singing voice, When Broken Is Easily Fixed actually begins with a ragged scream that's as arresting as his singing is plaintive. Musically, the LP is dominated by the dynamic shifts and driving melodies of emo. But Silverstein's membership was derived from existing hardcore, metal, and punk squads, and these fragiles are never very far from view. "Last Days of Summer" begins as a June day ends, with shuffling percussion and gently strummed guitars. But just as the fragile strains of a violin drift in, Told's growling, scarred alter ego appears behind his singing self. ”

[edit]Discovering the Waterfront (2005–2006)

In August 2005 the band's sophomore studio album, Discovering The Waterfront, was released through Victory Records. It was the first album to be produced by Cameron Webb, and marked the beginning of a long relationship between the band and the American producer. It also marked a shift in sound from When Broken Is Easily Fixed, with faster paced and more energetic songs, and with the band also incorporating more punk rock aspects into their music. Discovering The Waterfront opened the band up to a wider audience, with the music video for the first single "Smile In Your Sleep" receiving airplay on stations such as FUSE[15] and IMF. The album sold 26,229 copies in its first week.

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 was then killed in a car accident. 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. They also performed at the Give It A Name festival at Earls Court & MEN Arena in Britain opening the main stage.

The band also toured on the 2005 Vans Warped Tour, debuting on the main stage in support of Discovering the Waterfront and a compilation album, 18 Candles: The Early Years. The Early Years compiles the band's first two self-financed EPs along with various alternate versions of songs from their first two studio albums, including a dance remix of "Smile In Your Sleep" and an acoustic version of "My Heroine". 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 including music videos, a making of featurette and a live set from the Never Sleep Again Tour, in Chicago.

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.

[edit]Arrivals & Departures (2007–2008)

Told shown in 2009 performing in Melbourne.

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. The album sold 27,000 copies in its first week.[21]

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.

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. After heavy touring for their album, Arrivals and Departures, in Canada, the US, the UK, and other areas in Europe during late 2007 and early 2008, which included the band's 1000th show in Paris, France, the band took the summer off. In a news post on their site, Silverstein's Paul Koehler said the band was "taking a bit of downtown time to write a new album!"

In October and November 2008, the band toured the United States (with a final show in Toronto) with Chiodos, Escape The Fate, Alesana, and A Skylit Drive, during which they performed the newly-written song "Broken Stars", also made available as a demo on their Myspace page. The band played a South American tour in February followed by one show in Hawaii and festival dates in Australia.

[edit]A Shipwreck in the Sand (2009–2010)

Silverstein at a fan signing at FYE in Chicago, April 28, 2009

On December 14, 2008, the band announced by MySpace bulletin that their fourth album would be released by March 31, 2009. The name of the new album, A Shipwreck in the Sand, was announced on January 29, 2009, when the band concluded a viral marketing campaign by revealing the track listing at the album website. A demo version of one song, "Broken Stars" from the new CD had been put on the band's MySpace profile in late 2008 and played during their final U.S. tour in support of "Arrivals and Departures". A clip of a second song, "Vices", was also made available on MySpace, as occurred with the songs "Born Dead" and "American Dream." On March 17, the band filmed a music video for "Vices" with director Robby Starbuck. Later, on March 23, 2009, the band posted the full album to stream on their official MySpace page.

A Shipwreck in the Sand Sold nearly 17,000 copies in its first week.

Guitarist Neil Boshart (Glace Bay NS, 3 October 2009)

An iTunes bonus track version of the album includes four cover songs, "Help!" (The Beatles cover), Go Your Own Way (Fleetwood Mac Cover), Three Miles Down (Saves The Day cover), and Total Bummer (NOFX cover).

Silverstein contributed a cover version of "Apologize", originally recorded by OneRepublic, to the Punk Goes Pop 2 compilation album.

After three shows in Ontario, the band embarked on a U.S. tour with Norma Jean, Before Their Eyes, and Blessthefall. The band then played several shows on the continent of Europe, and completed a UK tour supporting the Welsh Band The Blackout along with We Are The Ocean, Hollywood Undead and The Urgency. The band completed a small-market tour in Ontario and the Midwestern United States, and played a brief stint on Warped Tour, followed by a show in Anchorage, Alaska and a cross-Canada tour with A Day To Remember, Ten Second Epic, I Am Committing A Sin and an appearance on some dates by Kingdoms . They played Europe supporting Billy Talent starting November 16 in Bielefeld, Germany through December 4, 2009 in Winterthur, Switzerland. They played four shows in Toronto from March 18–21, 2010, with each show featuring an album in full. They have also announced that they will be playing on the Toursick tour with A Day To Remember, August Burns Red, Enter Shikari, Veara, and Go Radio from March–May 2010.

On March 15, 2010, Silverstein announced through their official Myspace blog that they would be filming the Toronto shows during which they are playing their entire discography, and are releasing a live DVD 'some time in June [2010]'. In April 2010, Silverstein announced that their live DVD would be titled 'Decade' through their official band website. On April 23, 2010 Silverstein announced through their official Facebook page that their live DVD/CD, titled Decade (Live at the El Mocambo), would be released June 8, 2010.

The following summer Silverstein headlined the Scream It Like You Mean It tour, along with Emery, We Came As Romans, Dance Gavin Dance, I Set My Friends On Fire, Sky Eats Airplane, Ivoryline, and Close To Home. The first date of the tour also featured the bands The Devil Wears Prada, Miss May I, and Your Demise and took place at the Starland Ballroom.

[edit]Transitions and Rescue (2010–present)

A quote from Shane Told on July 11, 2010, "We have a new album coming out real soon. We wish we could release it tonight, but are scheduled to release early next year." Told also said that the band has written 16 songs so far for the new record, and that the album will be released at some time next year.

On October 8, 2010, online rumors spread about their new album reportedly being titled Set This All Ablaze, and that it would again be released through Silverstein's long time label, Victory Records. The band later rejected the rumor that the new album will be titled Set This All Ablaze, although they did confirm their departure from Victory. However, as of the first week of October 2010, Silverstein's official website contained a banner stating Set This All Ablaze. On September 17, 2010, Silverstein were confirmed to be playing in Australia, for Soundwave, in 2011. This will be the band's second Soundwave Festival.

On November 15, Silverstein announced on Facebook that they have signed with Hopeless Records in the USA/Europe/Japan and with Universal Music in Canada. They also said that a new EP entitled Transitions will be released December 7 and will feature two songs from their new album coming out next year as well as three additional b-sides. In response to a fan on Tumblr, Shane Told described the new music as "a cross between Discovering the Waterfront and A Shipwreck in the Sand".[39] On December 3, 2010, the band posted the first single, Sacrifice, off of the new EP. On February 4, 2011, the band played a free show in Toronto, with Robby Starbuck filming the entire performance for a music video for a song on the upcoming album titled 'The Artist'. A guest vocalist was also present for the filming, who was later revealed to be Brendan Murphy from Counterparts. It was also revealed in response to a question on the band's Formspring that he will feature in the yet to be released studio version of the track. On February 9, 2011, Silverstein confirmed on their Facebook and Tumblr that their new album will be called Rescue. Shane Told also confirmed via the band's Formspring that Martin Wittfooth, the artist and friend of the band responsible for all four of the band's album artwork, has once again painted the album artwork. On February 15, 2011, the band posted the album artwork for Rescue on their official Facebook page. On February 19, 2011, 89X Radio aired a new song from the band named "Burning Hearts". On February 22, 2011, in response to a fan on Facebook, the band stated that they were not releasing a traditional lead single from the new album, and that they had made three music videos so far. They then went on to state that the new record has "tons of screaming and breakdowns". Silverstein has also recorded a song featuring Ryan Key of Yellowcard called "Stay Posi" (Stay Positive) for the Take Action! Vol 10. Compilation.