Pat the Bunny (musician)
Pat The Bunny; born Patrick Schneeweis in 1987, is a retired American musician. He has been the front man of notable folk punk and anarcho-punk groups Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains, Wingnut Dishwashers Union, and Ramshackle Glory. Originally based out of Brattleboro, Vermont, he lived in Tucson, Arizona during the final part of his musical career. His writing often describes topics such as life under capitalism, drug addiction, and the importance of pursuing radical ways of relating socially and economically usually through anarchism and DIY ethic.[1] He retired from the anarcho-punk community in 2016.
Pat The Bunny | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Patrick Schneeweis |
| Born | 1987 Brattleboro, Vermont, United States |
| Genres | Anarcho-punk, folk punk, Riot-Folk |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, singer-songwriter, producer |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar, bass, trumpet |
| Years active | 2000–2016 |
| Website | patthebunnymusic |
Biography
Schneeweis was born in Brattleboro, Vermont. He has been playing music with his younger brother, Michael, for a long time. His father Charlie Schneeweis plays the trumpet.[2]
In 2009 Pat checked himself into rehab for heroin and alcohol addiction, he stated on his website that he was not sure if he would continue with music after rehab. Once out of rehab, he moved to Tucson, Arizona and formed Ramshackle Glory. After rehab Pat released a slew of Ramshackle Glory records, solo acoustic records, and split albums with other DIY musicians.[3] He toured both with Ramshackle Glory and independently for the next five years. [4]
In February 2016 he announced that he was at least temporarily retiring from music, stating that the ideologies of punk rock and anarchism no longer matched his own.[5] Ramshackle Glory played their final show at the final Plan-it-X Fest in June 2016.[6] They released their final album One Last Big Job in December 2016. Patrick Schneeweis announced he will eventually be donating the proceeds of his solo work and band's releases through social media music platform Bandcamp to charitable organizations supporting music education.[7]
Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains
Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brattleboro, Vermont |
| Genres | Anarcho-punk, folk punk, Riot-Folk |
| Years active | 2000–2007 |
| Labels | Spare Change Records, DIY Bandits |
| Members | Flash-C - trumpet Ian Skumfuk - washtub bass Jeff-Face - harmonica Michael Jordan - drums Pat the Bunny - guitar, vocals Roma - bicycle drums Rockstar Mike - bass drum Wyatt - harmonica |
Pat's first major recording project. The first demo was primarily solo, being just acoustic guitar played atop of programmed drums. The group quickly expanded and became entirely acoustic. Johnny Hobo toured extensively during their career, often Pat would be the only touring member. Alcohol, drug use, homelessness, politics, suicide, and the punk scene were common themes in Johnny Hobo songs.[8] Song for a Harmony Parking Lot may be in reference to a parking lot in Schneeweis's hometown of Brattleboro where Schneeweis once did a nude sit-in protest and was quoted as saying "It's too hot to wear clothes".[9] They released four EPs, two splits, a live album, and two compilations before disbanding.
- Demos/EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Fire Hazard | Self-Release | CD-R |
| 2003 | Anarchy Means I Hate You | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
| 2005 | All Power to the Wingnut | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
| 2005 | Easter Sunday Hangover | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
| 2006 | Chaos Infiltration Squad | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
- Split Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Live At Bandit H.Q. (Split with Captain Chaos) | DIY Bandits | CD-R |
| 2005 | Love Songs For The Apocalypse (Split with Mantits) | DIY Bandits | CD |
- Live
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Caught in the Act of Not Being Awesome | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
| 2007 | Live In Cortland[10] | Bootleg | Cassette, Digital |
- Compilation
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | ...is Dead! | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
| 2009 | Smash the Plate! (Johnny Hobo and Wingnut Dishwashers Union from 2007 and Before) | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
| 2019 | FIGHT LIKE HELL (recordings from 2004-2007) | DIY Bandits | Vinyl, Digital |
The Sad Joys
The Sad Joys | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brattleboro, Vermont |
| Genres | pop rock, folk, acoustic |
| Years active | 2005–Present |
| Labels | Spare Change Records, DIY Bandits, Plan-It-X Records, Savage Wasteland Music Collective |
| Members | Michael Schneeweis - guitar, bass, drums, vocals |
| Past members | Pat The Bunny - bass, vocals (live) |
The Sad Joys (Previously Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass) is a solo recording project of Pat's younger brother, Michael, which began when he was 15 or 16. Pat played bass and back-up vocals during live shows.[11][12] Michael has played with Ramshackle Glory live on at least one occasion.
Wingnut Dishwashers Union
Wingnut Dishwashers Union | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brattleboro, Vermont |
| Genres | Anarcho-punk, folk punk, Riot-Folk |
| Years active | 2007–2009 |
| Labels | Spare Change Records, DIY Bandits, Triumph Of Life, Crafty Records |
| Members | Adhi - saxophone Agatha - banjo Alex - vocals, guitar Dallas - drums, bass Davis - drums Douglas - theremin Emily - cello Flash-C - trumpet, drums Ian Skumfuk - washtub bass Jacob - guitar Kris - bass Matt - guitar, bass, trumpet, slide guitar, piano Michael - clarinet Michael Jordan - drums Mike - guitar, harmonica, piano, accordion, bass Nick - drums Pat the Bunny - guitar, vocals Scott - drums Thorin - guitar |
With the ending of Johnny Hobo, Pat continued writing songs and formed Wingnut Dishwashers Union. Similar to Johnny Hobo, Wingnut Dishwashers Union toured constantly, often just with Pat. In contrast to Johnny Hobo, many songs used electric rather than acoustic guitar. They released three full-length albums, two splits, and a compilation during their two-year career, in addition to a solo rendition of their debut album by Pat. Their song topics diverged slightly from Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains with a more hopeful view of the future.[1] Wingnut Dishwashers Union broke up when Pat entered rehab at the end of 2009.[13]
- Full-length album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Toward a World Without Dishwashers | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
| 2008 | Never Trust a Man Who plays Guitar | Spare Change Records | CD-R, Digital |
| 2009 | Burn the Earth! Leave it Behind![14] | DIY Bandits | CD, Digital |
- Split Albums
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Wingnut Dishwashers Union / James K. Polk and the Family- Split | Triumph of Life | 7" |
| 2009 | Partner In Crime #2 (Mischief Brew, Guitar Bomb, Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, Wingnut Dishwashers Union Split) | Crafty Records | 7" |
- Live
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Live in Plattsburgh, NY | Spare Change Records | Digital |
| 2008 | Kalamazoo, MI (4/6/2008) | Bootleg | Digital |
- Compilation
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Smash the Plate! (Johnny Hobo and Wingnut Dishwashers Union from 2007 and Before) | Spare Change Records | CD-R |
Playtime Posse
Playtime Posse | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brattleboro, Vermont |
| Genres | hip hop |
| Years active | 2009–2010 |
| Labels | Rhymetonia Records |
| Members | B.C. A.K.A. the Big Chomp A.K.A. Beat Creep A.K.A. Kick the Gong Entertainment China White Count Compost Monocular A.K.A. SK Murda A.K.A. Filthy T Pat The Bunny |
"The Green Mountain State's second-best rap crew, shattering all preconceptions and slanderous chatter, a hot buttery corn muffin of rhyme". A humorous hip-hop side-project formed by Pat and several friends.[15]
- Full-length album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Summertime Sounds of the Playtime Posse | Rhymetonia Records | Digital |
Solo
Pat "The Bunny" | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tucson, Arizona |
| Genres | Anarcho-punk, folk punk, Riot-Folk |
| Years active | 2010-2016 |
| Labels | Savage Wasteland Music Collective, Plan-It-X Records, DIY Bandits |
| Members | Pat The Bunny - guitar, vocals |
Shortly after leaving rehab, Pat moved to Tucson, Arizona and began writing new material about political agitation and his battles with drug addiction. Most of these songs were used with the band Ramshackle Glory. However, during Ramshackle Glory's hiatus, Pat began focusing on a solo path. In 2012 he started releasing new solo music. Since the beginning of 2014 Pat had been touring frequently as a solo act.[4] After his South Eastern United States tour in October 2015, Pat announced that he would be taking a long break from shows and touring though he would be releasing a final album with Ramshackle Glory. In February 2016, Pat announced that he would be ending his music career altogether, stating a recent drastic change in political views and identity in contrast to his former persona as "Pat the Bunny", as well as general disaffiliation with the punk community as the primary factors.[3]
- Full-length album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Die the Nightmare | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | CD-R, Digital |
| 2014 | Probably Nothing, Possibly Everything | Savage Wasteland Music Collective, Plan-It-X Records | CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Digital |
- Split album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Ceschi / Pat The Bunny split 12" | DIY Bandits | Vinyl |
| 2016 | Surprise! Moon Bandits / Pat The Bunny Postcard Split | Moon Bandits | Flexi Disc, Digital |
- Demos/EPs
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Mark Inside | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | CD-R, Digital |
| 2013 | The Volatile Utopian Real Estate Market | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | CD-R, Digital |
| 2014 | Dividing the Sand (September Demo) | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | Digital |
| 2014 | This City is Killing me, ft. Ceschi (October Demo) | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | Digital |
| 2015 | Cocoon Music | Self-Release | Digital |
- Live
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Pat the Bunny Live @ Tuscan 2/3/11 | Bootleg | Digital |
- Compilation
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | The Volatile Utopian Real Estate Market (Collection of Die the Nightmare, The Mark Inside, and The Volatile Utopian Real Estate Market) | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | CD, Digital |
Ramshackle Glory
Ramshackle Glory | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tucson, Arizona |
| Genres | anarcho-punk, punk, folk punk |
| Years active | 2010–2016 |
| Labels | Savage Wasteland Music Collective, DIY Bandits, Plan-It-X Records, Get Better Records |
| Past members | Alyssa Kai - clarinet Andrew Link - bass (2012) Charlie Schneeweis - horns (2011) Danielle - guitar Dane Rossman - bass Dottie Possie - trombone Dylan Kordani - guitar Douglas-Fur - banjo, violin, tambourine (2011-2012) Eric "Johnny" Freedom - trumpet Luke Romano - drums Michael Schneeweis - trumpet (2013) Nick Berger- accordion, vocals Patrick Schneeweis - guitar, vocals Wyndham Maxwell - piano |
After graduating from rehab, Pat moved to Tucson, Arizona, began writing new music about the politics of drug addiction, and formed the full electric band Ramshackle Glory. They released two full-length albums and toured the country twice and then took a hiatus from 2012 to 2013. The group got back together and released a split album with Ghost Mice in 2013 and went on another cross-country tour. They broke up in 2016 following a farewell show at Plan-It-X Fest in Spencer, Indiana and the release of their third and final album.[16]
- Full-length album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Live the Dream | Savage Wasteland Music Collective, DIY Bandits, Plan-It-X Records | CD, Cassette, Vinyl, Digital |
| 2012 | Who are Your Friends Gonna Be? | Savage Wasteland Music Collective, DIY Bandits | CD, Digital |
| 2016 | One Last Big Job | Get Better Records | CD, Cassette, Digital |
- Split album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Shelter (Split with Ghost Mice) | Savage Wasteland Music Collective, Plan-It-X Records | CD, Vinyl, Digital |
One Man Romance
One Man Romance | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tucson, Arizona |
| Genres | Alternative rock, folk punk, pop punk |
| Years active | 2011–2016 |
| Labels | Savage Wasteland Music Collective |
| Members | Colin - drums, bass, guitar Pat The Bunny - guitar, bass, vocals Wyndham Maxwell - piano, guitar, vocals, melodica |
| Past members | Douglas Fur - banjo, vocals, guitar Lane Doubt-it - harmonica Luke Romano - drums Michael Jordan - drums Nick Berger - violin |
One Man Romance is a pop band originally from Tucson, AZ and the lead songwriter Wyndham Maxwell now resides in Worcester, MA.[17]
- Full-length album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Second Treatise on Love and Timing | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | CD-R, Digital |
| 2013 | Dark Crystals (Part One) | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | CD-R, Digital |
Big Swamp Gospel
Big Swamp Gospel | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Tucson, Arizona |
| Genres | country, folk punk |
| Years active | 2013–2016 |
| Labels | Savage Wasteland Music Collective |
| Members | Pat The Bunny - guitar, bass, drums, vocals Wyndham Maxwell - piano, drums, bass, vocals |
Big Swamp Gospel is a fictional narrative album about god and the devil, set in a spooky small town.[18]
- Full-length album
| Year | Title | Label | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Big Swamp Gospel | Savage Wasteland Music Collective | CD-R, Digital |
Timeline
References
- Bince, Ryan L., "Getting Out of the Basement: Space, Performance, and the Oscillation of DIY Punk Publics" (2017). Theses - ALL. 161. https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/161
- "Your Thanks". Brattleboro Reformer. 27 December 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- Moon, Carter (29 July 2016). "Pat the Bunny: "It's Alright, it's Okay, it's Just That Everything's Fucked" – A Retrospective". XFDR. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- Caron, Gregory (1 February 2014). "Ramshackle Glory lead singer coming to local entertainment hall". Valencia Voice. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- "Pat The Bunny | Facebook". web.archive.org. 2016-02-03. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
- Wu, Lina (June 2016). "The super liberal festival a world away from the rest of Indiana". The Tab. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- Schneeweis, Patrick. "Pat The Bunny Bandcamp". Pat The Bunny. Retrieved 2019-04-28.
- iFghtffyrdmns (2005). "Who needs drugs? Johnny Hobo needs drugs". Sputnik Music. Retrieved 2018-02-02.
- Ceccarossi, Kristi (22 August 2006). "[Vermont] Nudists seek harmony - Town asked to solve downtown issue". Free Republic. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
- "Live In Cortland, by Johnny Hobo & The Freight Trains". No Mans Records. Retrieved 2018-11-13.
- "Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass". Savage Wasteland Music Collective. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- "About". Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass. Weebly. Archived from the original on 17 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- McCormack, Kevin (10 March 2016). "Wingnut Dishwashers Union". Sophie's Floorboard. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
- "Wingnut Dishwashers Union: Burn the Earth! Leave if Behind!". PunkNews.org. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- "Playtime Posse". Facebook. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- "Ramshackle Glory Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- "One Man Romance: About". Facebook. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
- "Big Swamp Gospel". Savage Wasteland Music Collective. Archived from the original on 6 May 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
