Patrick Schneeweis, better known by his stage name Pat the Bunny, is a retired American musician, singer-songwriter, and producer. He has been the front man of notable folk punk and anarcho-punk groups such as 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 the DIY ethic.[2]
Biography
Schneeweis was born in Brattleboro, Vermont. He has been playing music with his younger brother, Michael, for a long time. He attended the Putney School for a short period of time. His father, Charlie Schneeweis, plays the trumpet.[3]
In 2009, Schneeweis 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, Schneeweis released a slew of Ramshackle Glory records, solo acoustic records, and split albums with other DIY musicians.[4] He toured both with Ramshackle Glory and independently for the next five years.[5]
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.[6] Ramshackle Glory played their final show at the final Plan-it-X Fest in June 2016.[7] They released their final album, "One Last Big Job," in December 2016. Patrick Schneeweis announced he will eventually donate the proceeds of his solo work and his band's releases through the social media music platform Bandcamp to bail funds in Vermont and Arizona.[8]
In 2019, Schneeweis was brought out by Ceschi to play "This City Is Killing Me" off of their split EP.[9] It is unclear if Schneeweis will continue playing shows in the future.
Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains
Pat's first major recording project was called "Running with Meat Cleavers" and was inspired by the contemporary Brattleboro punk scene, including bands such as Vomit Dichotomy and Fancy Pants & the Cell Phones. Following this was a band whose name would regularly change and was tongue-in-cheek, with the format of "Johnny ___ and the ___." For example, the band was called "Johnny Sexless and the Virgin Mafia" to reflect the themes of the song "DIY Orgasms." Eventually the name "Johnny Hobo" stuck, despite the vocal irritation of Pat himself at this name. The first demo was primarily solo, with just acoustic guitar played atop 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.[10]Song for a Harmony ParkingLot 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."[11] 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 Wingnuts
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)
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 to 2007)
DIY Bandits
Vinyl, Digital
Michael Jumpshot Touchdown Pass
Michael Jumpshot Touchdown Pass is a solo recording project of Pat's younger brother, Michael, which began when he was 15 or 16. It was previously known as the Michael Jordan Touchdown Pass.[13]
Three albums were also released under the name sadjoy.[14] Pat played bass and back-up vocals during live shows.[15][16] Michael has played with Ramshackle Glory live on at least one occasion.
Wingnut Dishwashers Union
With the ending of Johnny Hobo, Pat continued writing songs and formed the 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.[2] Wingnut Dishwashers Union broke up when Pat entered rehab at the end of 2009.[17]
Wingnut Dishwashers Union / James K. Polk and the Family- Split
Triumph of Life
7"
2009
Partner in Crime No. 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
"The Green Mountain State's second-best rap crew, shattering all preconceptions and slanderous chatter, is a hot buttery corn muffin of rhyme." A humorous hip-hop side-project formed by Pat and several friends.[19]
Full-length album
Year
Title
Label
Format
2010
Summertime Sounds of the Playtime Posse
Rhymetonia Records
Digital
Solo
Shortly after discharge from an in-patient drug treatment facility, Schneeweis moved to Tucson, Arizona, and began writing new material about political agitation and his battles with drug addiction. Most of these songs were used by 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. From the beginning of 2014 until his retirement, Pat was touring frequently as a solo act.[5] 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 change in identity in contrast to his former persona as "Pat the Bunny."
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, Vinyl, Digital
Ramshackle Glory
After discharge from in-patient drug treatment, Schneeweis 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, toured the country twice, and then took a hiatus from 2012 to 2013. The group got back together, 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 Bloomington, Indiana, and the release of their third and final album.[20]
One Man Romance is a pop band originally from Tucson, Arizona, and the lead singer and songwriter, Wyndham Maxwell, now resides in Worcester, Massachusetts.[21]
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 is a fictional narrative album about god and the devil, set in a spooky small town.[22]
Full-length album
Year
Title
Label
Format
2013
Big Swamp Gospel
Savage Wasteland Music Collective
CD-R, Digital
Personal life
As of 2011, Schneeweis is sober and off drugs, describing it as his "life for a very long time" and "defined my life."[23]
^ abBince, 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. December 27, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
