Longwave’s Steve Schiltz On Upcoming Plans & Premiering Videos Via “The Hype Magazine”

Within a few years of forming in 1999, the quartet known as Longwave had a big record deal with RCA Records. Touring was done alongside The Strokes, The Vines and OK Go, music videos were made for singles like “Wake Me When It’s Over,” “Everywhere You Turn,” and “Tidal Wave.” The group went on hiatus not too long after touring in support of 2008’s Peter Katis-produced Secrets Are Sinister, yet none of the “classic lineup” members of Longwave gave up music for the long-term.

Last year, Longwave — which consists of vocalist/guitarist Steve Schiltz, guitarist Shannon Ferguson, drummer Jason Molina, and bassist Christian Bongers — announced on its social media accounts that it was returning for an April 2018 show at New York City’s Mercury Lounge, also noting plans of making new music. This ultimately led to the October 2019 release of Longwave’s full-length album If We Ever Live Forever via indie label Bodan Kuma Recordings. In addition, the quartet performed shows alongside Blue October beyond a proper headlining gig at New York City’s Bowery Ballroom.

Speaking of that performance at The Bowery Ballroom, it was properly filmed and The Hype Magazine is proud to premiere two live videos from that event, as embedded below; both videos were shot and produced by Erik Braund of Braund Studios. Longwave frontman Steve Schiltz spoke to The Hype about all of the above and more in December 2019. Upcoming tour dates and more on Longwave can be found online by visiting its official website at www.longwavetheband.com.

For now the following Longwave tour dates are confirmed and ready for public consumption:
– Saturday, February 15, 2020 – Chicago, IL – Schubas
– Sunday, February 16, 2020 – Detroit, MI – Underground at DIME
– Tuesday, February 18, 2020 – Rochester, NY – The Bug Jar
– Wednesday February 19, 2020 – New Haven, CT – Front Room at Space Ballroom
– Thursday, February 20, 2020 – Boston, MA – Great Scott
– Friday, February 22, 2020 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom

Longwave has been keeping busy since getting back together. What’s coming up for the band in 2020?

Steve Schiltz: Yes! we’ve got some tour dates in February, and a couple of new songs and videos that will be released. We shot the last New York City gig we did at the Bowery Ballroom, so that entire show will be released at some point. We’ve tried to really make the most of the time we get to have together, documenting, because geographically it is challenging now to get us all together. We all live in different cities now.

Having released your first new album as a band in a decade or so, is there a chance of another album from Longwave in the future?

Steve Schiltz: We’ve just started talking about that, funny enough! I think we’ll probably get together to work on new music around the tour dates we have in 2020. But it’s not urgent. We’ll get it together at a comfortable pace, I’d imagine, at my studio, where everyone is comfortable. If We Ever Live Forever is still a new record, and we’re enjoying the moment for a second.

What are you working on at the moment besides Longwave?

Steve Schiltz: I have another band called Wah Together, that I play guitar in. That band is me, Vito from The Rapture on drums, Phil from LCD soundsystem on bass, and Jaiko from Electroputas singing. It’s a New York City band, and it’s a good way for me to get to play the kind of guitar I love, in town. It’s less responsibility than Longwave for me, and I love the music.

There are also new songs by the band Blue October, that I am in and out of being involved with. I am involved when and as they need me. We just did a tour with those guys and there was a bunch of song-scheming.

And there is always “TV commercial and miscellaneous movie” stuff, which is my day job. Composing. I am lucky to have that work. Shannon in Longwave does some of that, too. It’s a good way to use our powers for good. Or at least, to feed ourselves!

Finally, Steve, any last words for the kids?

Steve Schiltz: One day you may find yourself at 40 years of age, and you may discover that you have friends that still want to play in a band with you. You should say YES.

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Tags: Blue October, Boden Kuma Recordings, LCD Soundsystem, Longwave, Steve Schiltz, The Rapture, Wah Together

About the Author

Darren Paltrowitz Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident with over 20 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his then-favorite band Superdrag. Since then, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren's writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, Businessweek, Chicago Tribune, L.A. Times, and the Jewish Journal. Beyond being "Editor At Large" for The Hype Magazine, Darren is also the host of weekly "Paltrocast With Darren Paltrowitz" series, which airs on dozens on television and digital networks. He has also co-authored 2 published books, 2018's "Pocket Change: Your Happy Money" (Book Web Publishing) and 2019's "Good Advice From Professional Wrestling" (6623 Press), and co-hosts the world's only known podcast about David Lee Roth, "The DLR Cast."