They were known for their DIY punk ethic, embodied in such actions such as distributing six albums worth of their own material for free on their website, and offering free stencils and paint for fans to create their own T-shirts. They also offered their fans a chance to perform on stage if they learn a song and bring their instrument to the show. Beginning in April 2009, the band would only play all-ages shows with ticket prices of $10 or less. Rosenstock and several other contributors were previously members of The Arrogant Sons of Bitches. As that band was breaking up, Rosenstock recorded the first Bomb The Music Industry! song, "Sweet Home Cananada" using his PowerBook's built-in microphone. "I wrote that song and put it out to see if anybody wanted it. That was how it started, people showed interest and I like recording stuff." Bomb the Music Industry! plays a blend of several musical styles anchored in ska and hardcore punk. The influences go deeper than ska and punk, however, as studio experimentation, synth-pop, and DC hardcore all pop up in the mix. Rosenstock says bands such as Harvey Danger and Neutral Milk Hotel are as much an influence as evidenced by tracks such as "This Graceless Planet" (an adaptation of a song by We Versus The Shark into the musical aesthetic of Bomb the Music Industry!), "Stand There Until You're Sober", and many other songs' meter experiments (which feature, respectively, jarring synth breakouts, backwards looping, and time signatures such as 23/4). In live performances the band has begun using digital technology to create breakdowns that sound like they are lifted from 8-bit video games. Tracks such as "Sweet Home Cananada" and "Future 86" strip down the arrangements to barebones loops and guitar, with the latter (a previously unreleased The Arrogant Sons of Bitches demo) featuring a full brass section but lacking the upstroke rhythms on the guitar, a key element of third-wave ska.
Lyrically, Bomb The Music Industry! songs varied widely from furious rants about corporate rock to ordinary stories about finding a job. They also used a good deal of humor, as in "Can I Pay My Rent In Fun?" and "Sorry, Brooklyn. Dancing Won't Solve Anything." One interviewer described the band as "ska for smart people." Jeff Rosenstock responded, "...you could call us ska music for smart people or indie rock for dumbasses at the same time. That's nice that somebody thinks we're smart." Bomb the Music Industry! has toured as a duo consisting of Rosenstock and Rick Johnson of Rick Johnson Rock And Roll Machine and Mustard Plug. Both carry vocal responsibilities while Rosenstock plays guitar and Johnson plays bass. Both play a variety of instruments as well, such as theremin, tub drum, and saxophone. Additionally, Rosenstock has been known to play keyboard with his feet. Often, this incarnation of the duo performs accompanied by an iPod wired into the venue's PA system that supplies all of the instruments that the duo themselves cannot perform live.
Bomb the Music Industry! has also toured as a duo consisting of Rosenstock and Matt Kurz of The Matt Kurz One. During this tour, Rosenstock fronted the band, playing guitar and saxophone. Kurz sang backup and played bass. As with the Rosenstock/Johnson combo, the rest of the instruments were played through an iPod. Fans were encouraged to join them onstage and play instruments.
In December, 2006, Bomb the Music Industry!, this time as just Rosenstock and Johnson, toured the United Kingdom as part of the Ska Is Dead tour with Mustard Plug and The Planet Smashers. On May 19, 2007, Bomb the Music Industry! headlined Skappleton 2007, the biggest ska fest in Wisconsin. Throughout June 2007, Bomb the Music Industry! embarked on what its website describes as the "Real Bands Tour?". On this tour, the band sidestepped their regular, thrown-together arrangements and opted to perform with a full rock ensemble, consisting not only of Rosenstock as frontman but also of two keyboard players, a bass player, an additional guitarist, and a drummer. The decision to play with this ensemble reflects upon the style of their 2007 album, "Get Warmer", which was recorded with a similar ensemble of live players as opposed to by mainly Rosenstock.
On October 4, 2008 the band entered the studio to record their next album titled "Scrambles", which was released February 15, 2009. The album "Others! Others!" Volume 1 was released on May 7th of 2009, an album of demos, unreleased songs, and bonus tracks. The album "
Adults!!!... Smart!!! Shithammered!!! And Excited By Nothing!!!!!!" was released in early 2010 via their website.
http://www.bombthemusicindustry.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bombthemusicindustry
The band went on an extended hiatus in 2013
Pizza Claus Is Comin' to Town
Bomb the Music Industry! Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let the robot transport me from Clayton to my house
Let the shit roll in, let the shit roll out
Because I'm goddamned bound to stick it out with my survival pals
Let the shit crash down
Let the shit crash down
Let the servers giggle, holler and ignore the sound
Today I played my first show in, like, twenty-seven days
Or got my ass kicked in, like, twenty-seven ways
No matter which way it goes, at the end of the day I gotta change my clothes
Maybe it's mundane when I explain it to you, but I just need something to do
Or else I'll just think about the shows I've played while forgetting all traces
Of the people, the places, the music, the faces
When we could talk in present tense without being complacent
When we could be more honest without being fucking wasted
Man, shit
I let the shit roll in
And at the two a.m, I'll always be alone inside an empty home
Today I played my first show in, like, twenty-seven days
Or got my ass kicked in, like, twenty-seven ways
No matter which way it goes, at the end of the day I gotta change my clothes
Maybe it's mundane when I explain it to you, but I just need something to do
Do you think I want to be this way?
Do you think I want to be this way?
Hey, don't you know that I've had better days
But we've all had worse and we've all felt hurt so
Maybe it's mundane when I explain to you
But I just need something to do
To get the past out of my head, to stop replaying shit I've said
Put my head right down, scrub hard and I will get through this night
Get the past out of my head, stop replaying shit I've said
Put my head right down, scrub hard and I will get through this night
Leave the pit, giving pizza to the homeless
Show up late at the bar, the drunks are talking about politics
I'm not really digging the idea of driving 15 hours at eight a.m
The water cascades down my head like dirt on the hood of a six-year old van
And go to sleep
And go to sleep
And go to sleep
The lyrics to Bomb the Music Industry!'s song "Pizza Claus Is Comin' to Town" speak about the monotony of life and the need for something to do to get through it all. The opening lines metaphorically refer to daily routines and how one just goes through the day without really feeling alive. The idea of being transported by a robot from work to home and letting the "shit" roll in and out emphasizes how mundane and routine life has become. But the singer finds solace in sticking it out with his "survival pals," even though he's alone at two in the morning closing up.
The song speaks about the need for change and something to look forward to, which in this case is a show that the singer played after twenty-seven days. The line "Or got my ass kicked in, like, twenty-seven ways" refers to how the show didn't go as planned. However, the singer still finds comfort in talking to people, and the line "When we could talk in present tense without being complacent" seems to be about better days in the past. The singer acknowledges that life has its ups and downs but concludes that he just needs something to do to get by.
Overall, "Pizza Claus Is Comin' to Town" reflects on the monotony of life and the need for change and something to do to break the cycle. It's an introspective song that speaks to the human need for stimulation.
Line by Line Meaning
Let the day roll in, let the day roll out
I'm just living life, letting the days pass.
Let the robot transport me from Clayton to my house
I'm just trying to get home, even if I have to rely on a machine to do it.
Let the shit roll in, let the shit roll out
Life isn't always great, but I'm going to tough it out with my friends who are in the same situation.
Because I'm goddamned bound to stick it out with my survival pals
Despite the difficulties we face, I'm committed to staying with my friends and getting through this together.
Let the shit crash down
Sometimes things get really tough and feel like they're crashing down on me.
Let the servers giggle, holler and ignore the sound
Others might not notice or care when things get tough for me.
And at two a.m I'll be closing up alone
It can be lonely when things are tough and everyone else has gone home.
Today I played my first show in, like, twenty-seven days
I finally had something to do, like playing a music show, after a long time without anything to occupy myself.
Or got my ass kicked in, like, twenty-seven ways
Alternatively, life can feel like it's constantly defeating me in different and new ways.
No matter which way it goes, at the end of the day I gotta change my clothes
Regardless of how my day goes, I still have to take care of basic things like changing clothes.
Maybe it's mundane when I explain it to you, but I just need something to do
I know it might sound boring to someone else, but having something to do, even if it's simple, is important to me.
Or else I'll just think about the shows I've played while forgetting all traces of the people, the places, the music, the faces
If I don't have anything to do, I'll just be stuck thinking about past events and forgetting the details of those experiences.
When we could talk in present tense without being complacent
Looking back on past experiences, I recognize when I was more present in the moment and engaged with what was happening.
When we could be more honest without being fucking wasted
Similarly, I remember times when I was able to be more honest and open about my thoughts and feelings without being influenced by alcohol or drugs.
Man, shit
Just expressing frustration and annoyance with life's difficulties.
Do you think I want to be this way?
I don't enjoy struggling and feeling defeated.
Hey, don't you know that I've had better days
I've experienced better times and am aware that there is more to life than just struggle.
But we've all had worse and we've all felt hurt so
At the same time, I know that everyone struggles and has experienced pain and hurt.
To get the past out of my head, to stop replaying shit I've said
Sometimes I need to actively work on letting go of past mistakes or regrets so I can move forward.
Put my head right down, scrub hard and I will get through this night
I'm determined to keep going and get through whatever is happening tonight.
Leave the pit, giving pizza to the homeless
Trying to do something good by giving pizza to people who need it.
Show up late at the bar, the drunks are talking about politics
Going out and socializing, even if it's with people who might not be the most interesting.
I'm not really digging the idea of driving 15 hours at eight a.m
Expressing reluctance to do something that isn't very appealing or comfortable.
The water cascades down my head like dirt on the hood of a six-year old van
Describing a mundane moment of washing hair in a way that highlights the wear and tear of daily life.
And go to sleep
Ending the day and attempting to rest after whatever hardships have been faced.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jeffrey Ernest Rosenstock
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind