Local hardcore quartet Walk with Wolves is at once an attempt at reformation, while simultaneously something altogether new. Sonically, long-time followers of Northeast Florida’s hardcore and punk scenes might recognize both the accomplished rhythm section and the gruff, bellicose vocals featured on the Wolves’ newly released demo–six hostile tracks of drive-y rhythms under lyrics exploring commercialism, religion and conformity.
Drummer Danny Knieriemen, bassist Pat Lally and vocalist Tony Prat first performed together as the punk-hardcore-rap ensemble Ringworm in the early ’90s. In its day, Ringworm built a respectable local following, as they toured extensively and opened for a range of popular acts from Ohio underground punk rock heavies Liquid Legbone to Portland alt-rock softies Everclear.
“Back then, all I wanted to do was be in a band and tour,” says Knieriemen, reminiscing on the early days of Ringworm. Before Ringworm, Knieriemen and Lally served as the rhythm section of several groups–including the highly popular, local HC punk outfit, The Creeps. Following The Creeps split, Lally then played bass with Duval punk guru Stevie Stiletto, as well as sludge-merchants Gloryhole, featuring none other than Folio Weekly A&E editor Daniel A. Brown on guitar. Knieriemen’s and Prat’s relationship, meanwhile, predated Ringworm by at least a decade–the Atlantic Beach locals were on the same tee-ball team.
In the spring of ’92, Knieriemen bought a van with the sole intention of going on tour. He had just formed Ringworm with Lally. Prat, meanwhile, had just returned to Northeast Florida after several years in New York and California.
“It’s funny because at the time, ’92, I was the hardcore kid. Pat was into Nirvana and Mudhoney–totally grunged out,” says Knieriemen. “Tony was just totally into rap. We were all coming from vastly different backgrounds. It was a melding of all these different sounds.”
Despite their incongruous inspirations, Ringworm came out the gate firing, recording a demo and hitting the road within the first six months. The band’s thrash-y hodgepodge sound found a receptive audience within the local skate and surf community, infatuated, at the time, with bands like Rage Against the Machine and Bad Religion.
Ringworm toured the country three times between ’93 and ’96. There was no shortage of highlights for the then-twentysomethings. They hit the Whiskey-A-Go-Go in LA, Trees in Dallas, The Continental in NYC. They made friends wherever they went, even earning an invitation to open for Orange County punks Manic Hispanic in Long Beach.
It was grueling at the time. Redeeming only in hindsight.
“The best way I could sum it up is after being on the road a few days, I wished I was home, but as soon as I got home, I wanted to be back out there on the road,” says Knieriemen. “The van’s breaking down. The money is short. For those few years, we basically lived to do the band and make records. We hit it hard.”
“I wouldn’t trade [the experience] for anything,” Prat echoes. “We were so tight. We practiced four nights a week. It was our life.”
Lally was asked to leave the band in ’96. Prat left the group shortly thereafter, albeit unceremoniously.
After Ringworm, Prat chased his muse through several new musical projects and spent the better part of a decade living in New York, before returning to Jax in 2013. Knieriemen focused on raising his kids and finishing up a college degree. He also started Rat Town Records–a concert promotion outfit and successful online retail and mail-order service specializing in punk and hardcore vinyl.
The former Ringworm members stayed in touch over the years and even got together for a secret show at Mayport Road’s Harbor Tavern in 2016. It was around the time of the Harbor show that Prat caught wind of Lally and Knieriemen’s new material. With Tom Ogburn on guitar, they had nearly a dozen songs and had begun the process of auditioning singers. Prat insisted he deserved a tryout.
“[Tony] basically did exactly what he did when he tried out for Ringworm more than 20 years ago,” says Knieriemen. “He didn’t hesitate. He just jumped right in and started singing. It sounded good.”
Prat was in. And while the quartet is a reunion of sorts for three-fourths of its current lineup, the Wolves benefit not only from a different name, but from a renewed artistic vision.
“The only similarity [to Ringworm] is that [Walk with Wolves’ music] is fast and aggressive,” says Knieriemen.
While thrash-y and antagonistic on the surface, in songs like “Satan Isn’t So,” and “Slave to the Pop,” the band’s new demo makes use of dynamics and melody in a way that underscores its members’ musicianship and maturity.
“It’s just a more mature sound,” Prat says. “I love the direction we’re going. We aren’t reinventing the wheel. But it’s aggressive and powerful.”
Well past their post-teenage-angst heydays, the members have tempered their expectations while diving headfirst in a new, though still-heavy musical direction.
“It’s just fun right now,” Knieriemen says. “I’m less interested in playing shows because I just love getting together to practice with these guys.”
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