Walri

Members

Amos Rosenstein: Guitar, Lead Vocals

Chris Coon: Keyboard, Vocals

Dave Goebel: Drums, Vocals

Geoff Saunders: Bass, Vocals

Website

http://www.MySpace.com/WalriMusic

Walri is a local band that was winner of the University of Rochester 2007 Battle of the Bands.

Walri is a small group of happy-go-lucky friends that really love everything that music has to offer. Their influences are wide, and so is their sound. They are known as genre chameleons, jumping from late '60's inspired love-rock to roots country bluegrass to funky dunky to Brazilian Bossa Nova to shoegaze cowpunk to electronic rock candy. They call the result "love-rock."

Walri is dedicated to writing and playing music with craftsmanship and skill...or not, when the songs call for a more gritty, raw sound. Walri asks the questions that most dare not ask: have we made sure that our music will induce hypnotic smiles? Have we avoided cliche's while not turning our backs on tonality? It's 10:00pm; do you know where my keys are?

Some highlights include opening for Ben Lee at the 2006 Lilac Festival in Rochester, and opening for Reel Big Fish on the University of Rochester campus for the D-Day 2006 celebration. The band loves Rochester and can often be found busking near Javas (Gibbs and East), or accompanying the Geva Comedy Improv Troupe. Walri has been building a strong and loyal fanbase at the University of Rochester, The Eastman School of Music, SUNY Fredonia, the greater Rochester area, and in NYC. This summer, Walri will be sharing a stage at Boulderfest, opening for renowned art rockers Dr. Dog.

Walri has played shows at:

The Community Learning Center, University of Rochester, The Bug Jar, The Mez (now closed), Piano's NYC, Boulder Coffee Co. and many other venues.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT WALRI

• "Easily the coolest thing we've played all night" ~Frank De Blase (98.8 FM Rochester's The Buzz)
  

• "The only reason my mom let me come out tonight is because she knows how much I love Walri!" ~Julia Nunes
  

• "Wall-ride?" ~Most people upon first hearing our sonorous name
  

• "Though Walri have been around since late 2006, this stunning debut album makes the Rochester quartet’s entrance onto the local scene official in a big way. Quirky like their musical cousins in Peachy Nietzsche’s, Walri (the plural of “walrus”) restrain their sense of humor enough to let their bountiful musical fluency take center stage. Psychedelic rock, overt nods to the Beatles and Beach Boys, shades of bossa nova, and dense, jazzy chord changes all get executed with smooth precision for a distinct sound the band calls “love rock. ” But you might be too busy with all the hooks to notice. After the band’s strong showing at the release show for this album, one can’t help but wish for a beefier mix, but the songs themselves, not to mention thoroughly satisfying production touches like the ghost keyboard ending of “Lady D,” certainly shine and leave no question about Walri’s skills." ~ Saby Reyes-Kulkarni (City Newspaper (Rochester, NY)

Notes and References

• the Ghost Cop music video on YouTube
  

• Walri - Meet the Band on YouTube

Comments:

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2009-01-21 20:58:11   Saw them on inauguration night, and they were incredible. Everyone was dancing and having a great time. Keep it up guys, you sound great! —jlankheet

2010-02-15 12:57:28   Lots of fun to see live. Their album 'Paper Crane' is great, too.

Thank you, Lady D. :) —ChrisSpiller