Rx Bandits

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).
Rx Bandits

Top: Chris Tsagakis, Steven Borth, Steve Choi
Bottom: Matt Embree, Joe Troy, Chris Sheets
Origin Seal Beach, California, USA
Years active 1997–present
Genres Rock, ska punk, progressive rock
Labels Mash Down Babylon, Drive Thru Records

RX Bandits is a five-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. Their musical style is an eclectic mix of ska, punk, rock, and reggae, also involving elements of progressive rock fusion.

Contents

[edit] History

The band was originally called The Pharmaceutical Bandits amid other popular southern California ska-influenced acts such as Reel Big Fish and No Doubt. After their initial release, Those Damn Bandits, pop/punk label Drive-Thru Records signed the band to their label. While at Drive-Thru the band shortened their name to Rx Bandits and released three albums, Halfway Between Here And There, Progress, and The Resignation.

They have toured with such bands as former label mates New Found Glory, Something Corporate and Finch, as well as with The Bloodhound Gang, Reel Big Fish, The Format, DESA, Catch 22, Big D and the Kids Table, The Exit, Slow Gherkin, and Keziah Jones. They have also appeared on the Vans Warped Tour.

Their live shows are known for being highly energetic, with pre-rehearsed jams in between songs. They perform extended versions of many songs and have been known to bring out multiple drummers to play on numbers such as "Decrescendo" and "Only For The Night." Still, they fall somewhat short of being a full fledged "jam band", however it is fair to say that they exhibit musicianship live that is not captured by their recordings. They are known to interpolate songs by other artists, as well as their own, during their jams.

They are also noted for their strong political views.

[edit] Those Damn Bandits

In 1997, the band released Those Damn Bandits, their first full-length album. Those Damn Bandits was essentially a re-recording of their demo, but excluded "Sleepy Tyme" and "High Skool" and added four new songs as well as a secret track. Originally released through Antedote Records, it was this album that caught the attention of the ska scene and allowed the Bandits to headline their own local shows. Striking while the iron was hot, up-and-coming pop/punk label Drive Thru Records immediately signed the band (in turn buying the rights to Those Damn Bandits and releasing it under their label) and geared them up for production of their first album that would see greater distribution nationwide.

[edit] Halfway Between Here and There

Bigger production budgets and the backing of a bigger label saw the band explore new styles with Halfway Between Here and There, but the band held on to their ska roots while exploring a larger element of distorted punk rock. While not nearly as experimental as their later works, the album did work to branch out past the third wave ska sound on tracks such as "Gun In Your Hand" and "Cornered", allusions to what kind of elements, experimentation and thoughts that would be found on their later albums.

The album's success opened doors for the band, which allowed them to tour with well-known acts such as The Bloodhound Gang, New Found Glory and Reel Big Fish.

Halfway sold out rather quickly after it's initial 1998 release. In 1999, the album was re-released with a new track list, 2 remastered songs and new artwork. The '99 release was also released under their newer and simpler name: Rx Bandits.

In the time between Halfway Between Here and There and their next release, Progress, bassist Franz Worth and saxophonist Noah Gaffney quit the band. Worth was replaced by James Salomone, formerly of My Superhero. Gaffney's position was left open.

[edit] Progress

With 2001's Progress, the band took a huge step forward musically, moving beyond third wave ska. Progress involved elements of punk, reggae, and hardcore punk. Indeed, the band itself notes influences ranging from Fugazi and Bad Brains, to Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Toots and the Maytals. The album spawned the song "Analog Boy," which was made into one of their two music videos. The band at this point consisted of Embree, Tsagaskis, Balling, Salomone, and the album included a number of guest performers, including former Bandit Noah Gaffney, who contributed on the song "Anyone But You."

Shortly after the release of the album, Chris Sheets joined the band on trombone as well as Steve Choi (formerly of The Chinkees) on guitar and keyboards. Choi had played keyboards on the demos for Progress, but when it came time to record, they decided instead to have Rich Zahniser of The Hippos, who was touring with the band, play on the album. Former Jeffries Fan Club trombonist Chris Colonnier also played with the band at times, in the same role as Zahniser. While they had just gained the two new members James Salomone and Rich Balling left the band. They had many temporary replacements for Salomone, most notably Johnny Tsagakis, Chris' younger brother, but eventually Joe Troy, a longtime friend of Embree, who helped to write the song "What if?" on Halfway Between Here and There, eventually joined the band as their bass player. Balling was replaced by saxophonist Steve Borth, who had played formerly in the popular East Bay ska-punk band Link 80. Their line-up of Embree, Tsagakis, Sheets, Choi, Troy and Borth would go on to spawn two critically acclaimed albums, The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun.

[edit] The Resignation

2003 saw the release of The Resignation, a CD/DVD combination. The production of the album was uniquely approached; Guitars, bass, drums, and some keyboards were all recorded live and vocals, horns, percussion and additional keyboard parts were then overdubbed. The band allowed themselves a limited number of takes for each parts, and once a take was recorded it was left as it was, with no punch-ins. Embree also shared songwriting duties with Steve Choi, whereas he had previously been responsible for all of the band's material.

Musically, the album continued the genre mixing of Progress and experimented with unconventional time signatures. It again featured overtly political lyrics, evident most obviously in songs such as "Overcome (The Recapitulation)", and "Mastering the List."

The album cover is an original composition by Aaron Nagel, a Bay Area artist and member of both Link 80 and DESA.

After the success of The Resignation, the band found time for side projects (see below).

[edit] Rx Bandits Live: Vol. 1

In 2004 the band released a DVD of live performances that were filmed during their many live shows. It was one of the first released on Embree's Mash Down Babylon Record label (aka MDB Records). It contains two easter eggs, one being a performance of the song Up to No Good, which is the only song recorded during the sessions for The Resignation that was not included on the album. The other is studio footage of the band working on the album. Also interesting to note is that during the DVD's slide show, the music played in the background is none other than Apotheke, a side project run by several members of the band.

[edit] ...And the Battle Begun

...And the Battle Begun was initially released online on June 24, 2006 and was made available for purchase during the band's 2006 US Tour. As with The Resignation the album art was hand drawn by Nagel, who painted his work in-studio while the band was recording their album. The album's title is, notably, in reference to a number of Lord Byron's poetry, in which the phrase appears repeatedly.

The record was released on Embree's MDB Records. The album was originally slated to be released in 2005 through Drive-Thru Records (with one album left on their contract), but for unspecified reasons, the band and label chose to part ways, causing lengthy delays in the release date. Finally free of any legal setbacks, the CD was made available via online order and on specified tour dates. Officially it debuted in retail stores in October 2006, after which the band performed a Northeastern CD release tour to promote the album.

Musically, the album moves farther away from a reggae/ska sound and into a more progressive rock feel. The band again incorporated more complex time signatures and what has become their standard array of instruments. Notably, Embree used a Fender Stratocaster guitar, where he had previously used a Gibson Les Paul; the tone differences between the two instruments adds another layer of complexity to the band's sound. Lyrically the album continues many of the same themes as before. Their songs touch on the use of prescription drugs, empowerment of women, and anti-violence. The song "A Mouth Full of Hollow Threats" even contains a lyrical interpolation of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War" and a likely reference to Jimi Hendrix's famous quote about peace, "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world shall know peace."

[edit] Departures

On June 28, 2006, the band announced via their MySpace page that saxophone player and backup vocalist Steve Borth had left the Rx Bandits to pursue his own band, Satori. Borth had been a member of the Rx Bandits since the departure of trombonist Rich Balling, and had contributed his talents to both The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun. This announcement came in the midst of their 2006 US Summer Tour to the surprise of many fans. Borth played his final show with the Rx Bandits on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 (incidentally lead singer/guitarist Matt Embree's birthday) at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Sometime after Borth's departure, Andrew Borstein from touring mates Monty Are I joined the band on stage playing trombone and providing backup vocals.

[edit] Current News And Tour

In conjunction with Refused TV, the Bandits recently wrapped up recording a music video for the title track off ...And the Battle Begun. This marks their second music video since the making of a video for "Analog Boy" in 2001, and first independently produced video. They also recently announced plans to tour with popular hip-hop/indie group Gym Class Heroes beginning in early 2007. On Wednesday, February 14, 2007, the Rx Bandits were included in the announcement of the initial artist line up for Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2007 in Manchester, TN. This will be the Bandits first time playing the annual festival.

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current Members

[edit] Former Members

  • Steve Borth (Saxophone, backing vocals on The Resignation and ...And The Battle Begun)
  • Johnny Tsagakis (Bass)
  • James Salomone (Bass on Progress)
  • Rich Zahniser (Keyboards)
  • Franz J. Worth (Bass on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Between Here and There)
  • Noah Gaffney (Saxophone on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Between Here and There)
  • Rich Balling (Trombone on Those Damn Bandits, Halfway Between Here and There and Progress)

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Title Release Date Label
Those Damn Bandits 1997 Antedote Records; Drive-Thru Records
Halfway Between Here and There October 26, 1999 Drive-Thru Records
Progress July 17, 2001 Drive-Thru Records
The Resignation July 15, 2003 Drive-Thru Records
...And the Battle Begun October 10, 2006 MDB Records

[edit] DVD

  • Rx Bandits Live: Vol. 1 (2004)

[edit] Side Projects

Over the years, several members found time for side projects.

  • Matt Embree is currently involved with his own independent label, MDB Records. He also performs in the hip hop group Seekret Socyetee, garage/punk group Coke vs. Bills with Joe Troy, and free form Jam band Apotheke with other members of the Rx Bandits.
  • Additionally, Tsagakis has an electronic drum side project called Technology, also on MDB Records.
  • Steve Choi collaborated with Asian Man Records founder Mike Park in both The Chinkees and The Bruce Lee Band. The Rx Bandits were featured as Park's Bruce Lee Band during the recording of the Beautiful World EP. Choi is also a member of the band Machines, in which he plays the drums.

[edit] External links

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../r/x/_/Rx_Bandits_62b3.html"
In other languages