Their live performances gained a honorable reputation among the more prominent promoters in the bay area and soon after were invited to perform at such clubs and venues as Slim's, The Great American Music Hall, and The Pound, sharing the stage with such acts as The Aquabats, Yellowcard, Rufio, Rx Bandits, Tsunami Bomb, Home Grown, Slick Shoes, Suicide Machines, A Static Lullaby, No Motiv, Northstar, Audio Karate, Ozma, The Early November, Over It, Park, The Bled, The Higher, Don�t Look Down, The Bled, Steel Train, Hello Goodbye, The Matches, Say Anything, Bowling For Soup, and many more. As word of mouth spread, they later were asked to perform on the Drive Thru Records stage on the Vans Warped Tour in summer of 2002.
The band later put out two releases on their own: an EP entitled "It's Not Pretty Being Easy," and their debut full length album "Forever Broken," both produced by Andy Ernst (Green Day, Rancid, AFI). The tracks "Access Denied," "Lose It All," and "The Second I Asked For," made their way onto mainstream radio, including Live 105 KITS FM, the largest modern rock station in the Bay Area, as well as various college radio stations across the United States.
The band felt comfortable with the crew at Orange Peal records and signed a recording contract with them in March 2003. Later that year they took off for a self booked West Coast tour then, made an appearance at the 2003 Vans Warped Tour. The band then released the EP "Written In Blood" and embarked on their first national tour with the Berlin Project in October of the same year. In Spring 2004, they were invited to join various artists, including Drive Thru Records recording artists Steel Train on the national "Blossoming Media Tour." The band got national media attention through various regional publications as well as being featured on the Budweiser True Music series for HDNet programming. Having completed two national tours in a six-month time period turned out to be a learning experience and a reality check for the band at the same time. "We've noticed that the time of being on the road has made our skin tougher. We're able to endure the hardships of the road, and stay focused on the music,� says Aymen.
After continuing to tour nationally for the rest of 2004, the band went back in the studio in January of 2005 to record "Hellafornia" at Popsmear Studios in San Rafael, CA. The album was produced by Scott Llamas and Dexter Danger, and mastered by Dominick Maita (Fall Out Boy, Hawthorne Heights, Punchline, Less Than Jake,) at Airshow Mastering in Boulder, CO. "We had a blast recording, and it was incredible hearing all our songs come to life." says Aymen.
The band took a different approach to their music prior to recording, taking in a variety of influences not particularly familiar to them. As Aymen puts it, "It laid groundwork of powerful dynamics, energy, and melody that clearly shows throughout "Hellafornia". From the time spent writing each song, to bringing the songs to life in the studio, we feel that our time and efforts creating this album represented "Hellafornia" better than we ever imagined." The result is a maturely crafted rock-influenced punk album that will reach out to new fans while keeping the current fans satisfied.
The boys took 2005 by storm with a whopping 4 self-booked, self-funded national tours, and another spot on the Van's Warped Tour, while always keeping an eye on their hometown Bay Area scene. "This is the most touring we've ever done in an entire year, and the extraordinary response we've recieved with this album has acted as a catalyst to stay on the road." says Aymen.
The band will continue touring as they have been, looking for more fans around the country that find their music as enjoyable as they do in the Bay Area, all the while keeping their D.I.Y. mentality in full swing.
�Part emo, part punk-rock, this one�s definitely for the kids. All fans of AFI, GREEN DAY, take notice. This could be your next big discovery�.
- AMP Magazine
"Bottom line: The record is certainly proof that pop-punk can take a step in a better direction."
- The Spectator, Seattle, WA
"Dexter Danger has built themselves a solid foundation to become a great force in punk rock music."
- Hussieskunk.com, Internet Punk Rock Radio
Honor Amongst Thieves
Dexter Danger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You seem to walk through life so casually
You live inside a world of dead beliefs and shattered dreams
Built upon the honor amongst thieves
Be careful, you don't want to do anything,
That you'll regret
Be careful, you don't want to say anything,
Don't try and pretend we'll make amends, you know this cycle doesn't end
I turn my back you run your mouth again
My pencil can't catch up to all the thoughts inside my head
I'll wait 'til we come come face to face instead
The lyrics in "Honor Amongst Thieves" by Dexter Danger depict a conflict and disagreement between two individuals who cannot find common ground. The first verse implies that the two parties involved have fundamentally different perspectives, causing friction in their relationship. The line "You seem to walk through life so casually" suggests that one person is more carefree and nonchalant about life's complexities, while the other is more serious and introspective.
The lyrics further suggest that one person holds onto outdated beliefs and shattered dreams, creating a world that is built on a foundation of deceit and dishonesty. The phrase "built upon the honor amongst thieves" conveys the idea that this relationship is built on a fragile and precarious trust, reminiscent of a group of thieves who rely on each other but are inherently untrustworthy.
The following verses highlight the tension and caution in the relationship. The line "Be careful, you don't want to do anything, that you'll regret" implies that one person is warning the other to be cautious in their actions, suggesting that there may be consequences or negative outcomes if they don't tread carefully. The line "Be careful, you don't want to say anything, I might break your neck" takes a more literal and aggressive tone, suggesting that the tension between the two individuals has escalated to the point of physical violence.
In the third verse, the lyrics emphasize the perpetuation of conflict and the inability to resolve their differences. The line "Don't try and pretend we'll make amends, you know this cycle doesn't end" implies that attempts at reconciliation or finding common ground have been futile in the past. The mention of the pencil struggles to keep up with the thoughts in the singer's head suggests a fast-paced and chaotic thought process, perhaps reflecting the frustration and intensity of the conflict.
Ultimately, the lyrics express a desire for a confrontation and resolution. The line "I'll wait 'til we come face to face instead" indicates that the singer is willing to confront the other person directly, implying that a face-to-face encounter may lead to a more genuine and honest discussion about their differences. It suggests that the singer sees the lack of genuine communication as the main obstacle to finding resolution in their conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
Now it looks like we can't agree on the most simplest of things
Our inability to find common ground extends even to the simplest matters
You seem to walk through life so casually
Your demeanor suggests you navigate life with ease and indifference
You live inside a world of dead beliefs and shattered dreams
You reside within a realm of outdated convictions and unfulfilled aspirations
Built upon the honor amongst thieves
Constructed on a foundation of mutual trust among dishonest individuals
Be careful, you don't want to do anything, that you'll regret
Exercise caution, as you wouldn't want to engage in actions with lasting remorse
Be careful, you don't want to say anything, I might break your neck
Exercise caution while speaking, for I possess the potential to cause you harm
Don't try and pretend we'll make amends, you know this cycle doesn't end
There's no use pretending we'll reconcile, as this repetitive pattern has no resolution
I turn my back you run your mouth again
Whenever I divert my attention, you immediately resume speaking in a disrespectful manner
My pencil can't catch up to all the thoughts inside my head
I struggle to document the multitude of thoughts swirling within my mind
I'll wait 'til we come come face to face instead
I will patiently await the opportunity to confront you in person
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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