Link 80 was a punk rock/ska punk band from the San Francisco Bay Area.
<… Read Full Bio ↴Link 80 was a punk rock/ska punk band from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Link 80 started in early 1994 in the famous East Bay of California. In the beginning, original members (guitarist Matt Bettinelli-Olpin, drummer Joey Bustos, bassist Adam Pereria and singer Jeff Acree) played around town as Drano, The Rag-Tags, and Mr. Slave-Unit, before settling on Link 80.

The name came from the interstate highway I-80 which they used to get to the drummer's garage for band practice and connected the band members' homes.

In July 1995, Nick Traina joined the band after meeting Adam at a show in San Francisco's Mission District. Nick's passion and voice combined with the rest of the band to make them different from most ska bands and gave Link 80 the "against the rest" attitude they display throughout their lyrics. Far more punk than ska and with an energy and a sense of immediacy lacking in pop-oriented ska bands, Link 80 was able to avoid the clichés of ska-punk characterized by their peers. As Asian Man Records describes them, they are an energetic blend of ska, punk rock, and hardcore.

After some demos, split EPs, complilation releases, "17 Reasons" and "Killing Katie" (both on Asian Man Records) Nick left Link 80 and started another band called Knowledge. Knowledge released one record on Asian Man Records named "A Gift Before I Go". Shortly thereafter Nick Traina committed suicide, at the age of 19... Ryan Noble took over as lead singer of Link 80 and released "The Struggle Continues," as well as some split EPs.

In 2002, the band consisting of Adam Davis, Aaron Nagel, Steve Borth, Joey Bustos, Barry Krippene, and singer Ryan Noble went on hiatus. Steve Borth would join Rx Bandits, before forming his own band Satori in 2006. The remaining Link 80 members would form DESA. They have since maintained that Link 80 would return, but for now they are focused on their respective projects.

Joey and Ryan are now in The Soft White Sixties. Matt formed a band called Dolores (with Nick's brother Todd Traina) and is a member of the comedy trio Chad, Matt & Rob. Aaron runs Two Twenty Two Design Studio and is an artist whose work can be seen on the covers of The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun. Adam Pereria played with Thought Crime after leaving Link 80.

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Dance Floor
Link 80 Lyrics

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Dance floor it's my home away from home,
The music's loud,
I start to dance,
I don't feel so alone,

So much aggression,
But I don't hurt anyone,
I go to the show,

And I dance and have fun.

I found it,
What I've been looking for
Found it, found it on the dance floor
I found it,

What I've been looking for
Found it, found it on the dance floor
Paid my five bucks and go to the show,
This is so great,

I don't ever want to go
So much aggression,
But I don't hurt anyone,
I go to the show,

And I dance and have fun
I found it,
What I've been looking for
Found it, found it on the dance floor

I found it,
What I've been looking for
Found it, found it on the dance floor
Paid my five bucks and go to the show,

This is so great,
I don't ever want to go
So much aggression,
But I don't hurt anyone,

I go to the show,
And I dance and have fun
I found it,
What I've been looking for

Found it, found it on the dance floor
I found it,

What I've been looking for
Found it, found it on the dance floor

Overall Meaning

Link 80's song "Dance Floor" is a high-energy punk tune that explores the idea of finding solace and community in music and live shows. The lyrics speak to the power of the dance floor as an escape from the harshness of the world, a place where one can let loose and feel a sense of belonging. The dance floor becomes a home away from home, and the music provides a sense of camaraderie that helps to combat feelings of isolation and loneliness.

Despite the aggression that can be present in punk music and live shows, the singer of the song emphasizes that their participation in this scene doesn't involve hurting anyone. Rather, they find joy in dancing and having fun with others who share their love for the music. The song's chorus declares that the singer has "found it" - the community and sense of belonging that they were searching for - and that they found it specifically on the dance floor.

Overall, "Dance Floor" is an ode to the power of punk music and live shows to bring people together and provide a sense of belonging. The lyrics emphasize that this sense of community can be found even amidst the aggression and chaos that can sometimes be present in these spaces.

Line by Line Meaning

Dance floor it's my home away from home,
The dance floor feels like another home to me

The music's loud,
The music is played at high volume

I start to dance,
I begin to move to the rhythm of the music

I don't feel so alone,
I feel less isolated when I'm dancing

So much aggression,
There is a lot of hostility in the environment

But I don't hurt anyone,
I don't harm others in any way

I go to the show,
I attend the performance (concert, club night, etc.)

And I dance and have fun.
I enjoy myself by dancing

I found it,
I have discovered something

What I've been looking for
I have found something I have been searching for

Found it, found it on the dance floor
I discovered what I have been looking for while dancing