Quicksand (American band)
Quicksand | |
|---|---|
| Origin | New York, NY, USA |
| Genres | Post-hardcore, Alternative metal |
| Years active | 1990–1995, 1997–1999, 2012 |
| Labels | Island, Polydor, Revelation |
| Past members | Walter Schreifels Tom Capone Alan Cage Sergio Vega |
Quicksand are an American post-hardcore band from New York City founded in 1990 by singer/songwriter Walter Schreifels. Their debut self-titled EP was followed by two major label albums, Slip and Manic Compression. Quicksand's sound has been compared to that of alternative metal bands Fugazi and Helmet[1]. The band supported their releases with extensive touring but fell short of mainstream success. These factors and internal stress led them to separate first in 1995 and ultimately disband in 1999 following a failed year-and-a-half reunion.[2] In September 2012, Quicksand will reunite again for at least one special appearance.
History
Formation (1990)
The musicians who would come to form Quicksand had their roots in the New York Hardcore scene. Frontman/guitarist Walter Schreifels, the main creative force behind the Gorilla Biscuits and bassist for Youth of Today, assembled the band's lineup from his dissolved Moondog project.[1] Guitarist Tom Capone had founded Long Island's Beyond (releasing a demo and LP via Combined Effort Records) and had previously played in Bold, writing their album Looking Back. Drummer Alan Cage had been in the experimental hardcore band Burn and played with Capone in Beyond. Bassist Sergio Vega arrived from the short lived Collapse and a later incarnation of Absolution.
Major releases, touring, and breakup (1990–1995)
Quicksand released the 4-track EP "Quicksand" through hardcore independent label Revelation Records six weeks after their formation.[1] The band performed at club venues and rose to touring North America and Europe with Helmet, Fugazi, Rage Against the Machine, Anthrax, and White Zombie. Their exposure led to a deal with major label Polydor Records for the release of their first full-length album, Slip on 9 February 1993, with "Dine Alone" being their first single. The album also featured two tracks that were re-recorded from the "Quicksand" EP ("Omission" and "Unfulfilled"). The following year saw the band tour the United States with The Offspring, performing 250 live shows to support the album.[2] On 1 January 1995, they released their latter, more successful album Manic Compression on Island Records and later that year rejoined The Offspring on their European tour. Manic Compression reached #135 on the Billboard 200 Chart and #9 on the Heatseakers Chart[3] and garnered Quicksand an invitation to the first Vans Warped Tour.[1] Unfortunately, internal conflict and the stresses of constant touring led to the band's break-up in October 1995 at the height of their success.
Reunion and unfinished album (1997–1999)
Following Quicksand's initial split, Walter Schreifels started his World's Fastest Car project and produced records for the hardcore punk band CIV.[1] Tom Capone joined former Helmet guitarist Pete Mengede's supergroup Handsome, releasing a self-titled album in 1997.[4] Sergio Vega began his own solo project entitled Fully while DJ'ing in New York City, and Alan Cage joined the alternative rock band Seaweed, who had also performed on the Warped Tour.
In mid 1997, the band members were rumored to have begun talking about a reunion with the intention of performing on Revelation Night at Brownies during the CMJ Music Conference that September.[1] However, Quicksand's first public appearance since their 1995 split would not come until 6 February 1998 in Osaka, Japan on the first half of a Japanese/Hawaiian mini-tour. In August 1998, they entered Carriage House Studios in Stamford, Connecticut with producer Steven Haigler to begin recording material written in the prior six months. After the band's first North American performance on 26 September 1998 in Boulder, Colorado, they were invited to extend their tour with Deftones and Snapcase and on 3 November 1998 started what was to be ultimately their last tour. Quicksand then returned to the studio to continue working on the new album; despite the recent successful tour and a more collaborative effort in the writing process, resurfaced tensions would eventually split up the band indefinitely in late 1999 and doom the material to remain officially unreleased.[2] The unfinished album, as well as demo material from the Manic Compression sessions, has since been circulated on the Internet.
Post-Quicksand activities (1999–2012)
Walter Schreifels went on to form the alternative rock band Rival Schools with former band mate and CIV drummer Sammy Siegler, releasing the album United by Fate in 2001 (before splitting in 2003).[5] Schreifels later fronted Walking Concert on his independent record label Some Records. During that time Schreifels mixed in occasional solo acoustic performances. In 2008 Rival Schools reformed for live performances at various festivals, and in 2011 they released their sophomore album Pedals. Tom Capone played guitar for Instruction for the majority of the band's existence beginning in December 2002. Sergio Vega has played bass for Deftones, filling in for Chi Cheng on tour in 1999 and from June 2009 to the present, and was recruited to compose their album Diamond Eyes, which was released on 4 May 2010. Alan Cage contributed to Enemy's Hooray for Dark Matter in 2005 and later worked with New Idea Society and the hardcore band 108.
Reunion shows (2012)
On 10 June 2012, Quicksand were the unannounced "special guest" on the fourth night of the Revelation Records 25th Anniversary Shows at The Glass House in Pomona, California. The original members appeared together on stage for the first time in nearly 13 years, performing a five-song set that ended with a cover of The Smiths' "How Soon Is Now?".[6] Quicksand is also scheduled to perform at the FYF Fest in Los Angeles, California in September 2012.[7]
Discography
Studio Albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart |
|---|---|---|
| US | ||
| 1993 | Slip
|
— |
| 1995 | Manic Compression
|
135 |
EPs and Singles
| Year | Details | Accompanying Track(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Quicksand
|
1. "Omission" (2:22) 2. "Clean Slate" (2:48) 3. "Unfulfilled" (3:14) 4. "Hypno Jam with Dan" (1:57) |
| 1992 | "Dine Alone"
|
B. "Can Opener" (3:28) |
| 1993 | "Fazer"
|
|
"Dine Alone"
|
2. "Dine Alone" (Album Version) (3:30) 3. "How Soon is Now?" (The Smiths cover) (3:05) | |
"Omission"
|
2. "Baphomet" (live with lyrics) (4:40) 3. "Clean Slate" (live in CA) (3:09) | |
"Freezing Process"
|
2. "Clean Slate" (live in GA) (3:15) | |
| 1994 | "Divorce"
|
B. "Voice Killer" (3:31) |
| 1995 | "Thorn in My Side"
|
2. "Shovel" (3:11) |
"Delusional"
|
Compilation appearances
| Year | Title | Track | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | CBGB 20th Anniversary Compilation | "How Soon is Now?" (3:22) | Recorded live at CBGB |
| 1995 | Hit Me: The Island Summer Sampler | "Chelsea's Going Under" (3:40) | |
| Hits Rock – New Sckoool, Volume I | "Landmine Spring" | ||
| 2002 | Revelation 100: A 15 Year Retrospective | "Dine Alone" (3:19) | Previously unreleased 1992 demo |
Unreleased material
| Year | Details | Tracks | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | "True Manic Demos" | 1. "Bug Collector" (3:08) 2. "World's Fastest Car" (3:56) 3. "Knee Jerk Reaction" (3:12) 4. "Supergenius" (2:56) |
|
| 1998 | "Unfinished Third Album" | 1. "Instrumental" (4:39) 2. "All in Your Head" (3:26) 3. "Requiem" (3:39) 4. "In the End" (3:18) 5. "Constant Tension" (4:20) 6. "Hostage Calm" (5:12) 7. "Weed It Out" (3:03) 8. "Chelsea's Going Under" (3:59) |
|
Contributions
- The song "Thorn in My Side" appeared in the film Empire Records.
References
- ^ a b c d e f quicksand.net
- ^ a b c sing365.com
- ^ a b Billboard, Allmusic
- ^ Handsome - BandToBand.com
- ^ Rival Schools - BandToBand.com
- ^ Youssef, Andrew (June 11, 2012). "Quicksand - The Glass House - 6/10/12". OC Weekly. Village Voice Media. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
- ^ Pelly, Jenn (June 18, 2012). "FYF Fest Announces 2012 Lineup". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved June 18, 2012.