Silverstein

Silverstein is a post-hardcore band from Burlington, Canada, active since 2000. The group takes its name from children’s author Shel Silverstein and performs across related styles including emo, emocore, hard rock, melodic hardcore, metalcore and pop punk.

Formation and early lineup

The band forms in Burlington, Ontario, and goes through several lineup changes in its early years. Billy Hamilton joins after learning of the need for a bassist through an Internet message board for local musicians. He learns the songs with help from Shane Told, then makes his first official appearance with the band after a Boxing Day rehearsal in 2001. The following spring, original guitarist Richard McWalter leaves to move to Victoria, British Columbia, where he studies engineering. Neil Boshart, a childhood friend of Told, replaces him.

The new lineup records the EP When the Shadows Beam and prepares for the band’s first tour in eastern Canada. Silverstein signs to Victory Records in October 2002, with Hamilton finishing secondary education early to do so.

Albums and label history

The band records its debut full-length, When Broken Is Easily Fixed, for Victory Records and releases it the following January. In August 2005, Discovering the Waterfront appears on Victory and marks the first album produced by Cameron Webb, beginning a long association with him. The record shifts the band’s sound toward faster, more energetic songs and a stronger punk rock influence, while Shane Told’s clean and harsh vocals develop further. The album also reaches a wider audience through the video for “Smile in Your Sleep”.

Arrivals and Departures follows in 2007, produced by Mark Trombino. Silverstein also contributes an acoustic version of “Red Light Pledge” to Punk Goes Acoustic 2. In 2009 the band issues the concept album A Shipwreck in the Sand, which includes bonus cover versions of songs by the Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, Saves the Day and NOFX on its iTunes edition. The band also records “Apologize”, a cover of the OneRepublic song, for Punk Goes Pop 2.

After leaving Victory Records, Silverstein signs with Hopeless Records in the United States, Europe and Japan, and with Universal Music in Canada. It releases the EP Transitions in late 2010, followed by Rescue in 2011. The band then records Short Songs with producer Jordan Valeriote; the release contains 22 tracks, each under 90 seconds, and includes cover versions of punk songs that influenced the band. Silverstein also contributes a cover of Kanye West’s “Runaway” to Punk Goes Pop 4.

Lineup changes and later releases

In 2012 Neil Boshart leaves after 11 years, and former I Am Committing A Sin guitarist Paul Marc Rousseau joins. Silverstein then announces This Is How the Wind Shifts, followed by I Am Alive in Everything I Touch in 2015. That album is introduced by the video for “A Midwestern State of Emergency”, and later singles include “Milestone”, “The Continual Condition”, “Toronto (Unabridged)” and “Ghost”.

The band releases Dead Reflection in 2017.

Membership

Members listed with the group include Richard McWalter, Josh Bradford, Billy Hamilton, Paul Koehler, Shane Told, Neil Boshart and Paul-Marc Rousseau.