The Reptiles
Written by: Cait Elizabeth - December 2019
Edited by: Travis Ryan
Introductions
Indie-rock quartet The Reptiles have transplanted their sound from upstate New York to Long Island, and we couldn’t be luckier. Pulling inspiration from bands like the Beatles and the Arctic Monkeys, The Reptiles combine clean classic melodies with timeless lyrics. They have a seriously dedicated fan base, cross-genre appeal, and some high-quality tunes.
Fate introduced Scott Terwilliger (guitar/vocals) and Alex Savin (drums) while they worked together in a Saratoga grocery store in December 2016. They almost immediately started collaborating on a song called “Proprioception” in the short time before Scott returned to Stony Brook University in late January. Regrouping at open mics whenever Scott was home, the duo really started to pick up momentum in June 2017 playing under the name Boo Fookin' Radley. Challenging themselves to put together their first album Final Beginnings within a three-week deadline, Alex and Scott worked with Mike Dwyer of The Bunker Recordings, who has also worked with Shawn Mendes, The Lumineers, and Bob Weir of The Grateful Dead. With album in hand, more opportunities began to present themselves. Alex and Scott relocated to Long Island and started making the open mic rounds, ultimately starting their own at SBU. Tom Schinkel (bass/vocals) met Scott at the school’s radio station WUSB and Austin Reed (keys/vocals) joined after finding the band at one of the SBU open mics. Thus The Reptiles as we know them were hatched.
Songs often start on guitar, since most of the band is well-versed in strings; Scott brings a short riff or a stanza to the table, and the rest of the band builds on it from there. Alex is the wordsmith, who “stitches together poetic phrases that he's written to form stories, bridging the gaps with improvised lyrics.” When it comes to drums, he fills out the songs by following the influence of the guitar. "It makes it feel like the song is beyond four instruments," he says.
Tours & Shows
Since originally joining forces, the band has played shows across New York State. “Maxwell Peters was a key person in our early days, giving us slots at different bars and music venues across Suffolk County.” They started pushing out of their comfort zone to play New York City venues like The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall in 2018.
2019 saw The Reptiles playing locals spots like JW Dowd's, Cheers, and Broadway 247. "Our favorite part is seeing the same fans come to each show. Some of them have even memorized song lyrics, which is amazing to me. I always thought of our songs as art shared between the four of us, so for somebody to be singing our lyrics back to us is truly rewarding," Scott said.
The Reptiles have full-length album Final Beginnings (2017), EP Solidium (2019), and singles “The World”, “Milkshake Squid”, “Blindside”, and “Torn Up Jeans” available now for streaming.
Brush up on their lyrics and pick yourself up a shirt for their upcoming show at JW Dowd’s on January 31, 2020!
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““You’re not JUST a band – you’re a business too! As uncomfortable as it may be, you have to be able to sell yourself and your band to other people, whether it’s when you’re talking to promoters in hopes of a gig or you’re talking to fans and want them to buy your merchandise. Get out of your comfort zone and strive for growth.” -Scott
“Never count anything as impossible if you’ve tried it.” -Austin
“Take it like a business just as much as a performance. More goes on behind the scenes than people realize.” -Alex
“Make the most out of your current situation in music, and make yourself known to your musical peers in your community.” -Tom
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