Hot Water Music and Quicksand go way back. Quicksand’s Walter Schreifels produced Hot Water’s 1999 album No Division, and they’ve crossed paths as recently as this year, when Quicksand opened Hot Water Music’s 30th anniversary tour. Their recent reunion has now also led to a split EP between the two bands that’s out today via Equal Vision Records. They each cover a classic song by the other band–something Hot Water Music is no stranger to, having done that on their beloved 2002 split with Alkaline Trio, and also on a 2011 split with The Bouncing Souls–and contribute one previously unreleased track each. Hot Water Music’s “Undertow” is an outtake from last year’s Vows, and Quicksand’s “Supercollider” is their first new song since 2021’s Distant Populations.
As for the covers, Hot Water Music take on the iconic Slip opener “Fazer,” and Quicksand picked a No Division song, “Free Radio Gainesville,” which Walter not only originally produced but also sang backup on. Listening to Hot Water Music take on “Fazer,” you can really hear how Quicksand influenced Hot Water in the first place but also how Hot Water took what they started, ran with it, and made it their own. And Quicksand also put their own spin on “Free Radio Gainesville,” making it sound like something that could it on a new Quicksand album without losing the charm of the original. Here’s what the bands themselves had to say:
“Like many who grew up listening to hardcore and punk rock from early ages on, we were inspired and driven by a lot of work from all the members that make up Quicksand and of course by Quicksand themselves,” Hot Water Music vocalist/guitarist Chuck Ragan said. “Fast forward to 1999 when we had the honor of working with Walter Schreifels as he produced our record ‘No Division’. That experience went from surreal and intimidating to completely comforting and empowering. Our respect and admiration grew tenfold until we got the chance to tour with them. We already admired and respected them, now we love them like family.”
Ragan concludes, “Getting to know Alan, Walter and Sergio on the road and now doing a split together has been an incredible experience, and though we find ourselves in the most normal situations with these salt of the Earth souls, we’re still pinching ourselves from time-to-time.”
Quicksand’s Walter Schreifels adds, “It’s an awesome, full circle moment for me to be a part of this split with Hot Water Music. It wasn’t too long after Quicksand broke up that I got to meet and work with Hot Water Music as producer for their album ‘No Division’. It was an absolutely magical experience. We had so much fun, the album came out amazing, and at the very end of the last day of recording, I added a vocal to my fave song ‘Free Radio Gainesville’, which we covered for the split. I’m beyond grateful that all these years later Quicksand is back doing what we love along with our brothers in HWM, still playing with that same passion that drew us together in the first place. Feels like home.”
Listen to the whole EP below. Hot Water Music and Quicksand are also touring Europe together in November and you can find those dates listed below.
Hot Water Music played The Fest in their hometown of Gainesville this past weekend, and right before that, they were given the Key to the City of Gainesville, FL by Mayor Harvey Ward at City Hall, an honor previously bestowed upon Tom Petty, Laura Jane Grace, and more. It took place on Thursday, October 24, which was also officially declared “Hot Water Music Day.”
Next year, Quicksand will open Refused’s final North American tour, including a show at the same NYC venue they played with Hot Water Music earlier this year, Brooklyn Paramount, on March 21. They’re also contributing a Refused cover to the upcoming Shape of Punk to Come tribute LP.
Hot Water Music/Quicksand — 2024 Europe Tour
NOVEMBER
07 — Munster, DE — Skater’s Palace
08 — Hannover, DE — Capitol
09 — Amsterdam, NL — Melkweg Max
10 — Antwerp, BE — Trix
12 — Stuttgart, DE — LKA Longhorn
13 — Munich, DE – Muffathalle
14 — Vienna, AT — Simm City
15 — Leipzig, DE — Felsenkeller
16 — Berlin, DE — Huxley’s
18 — Stockholm, SE — Debaser
19 — Gothenburg, DE — Musikens Hus
20 — Copenhagen, DK — Richter
21 — Hamburg, DE — Grosse Freiheit
22 — Wiesbaden, DE — Schlachthof
23 — Cologne, DE — Palladium
Tracklist
Fazer (Hot Water Music)
Free Radio Gainesville (Quicksand)
Supercollider (Quicksand)
Undertow (Hot Water Music)