<… 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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Jennifer's Cafe
Link 80 Lyrics
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The whole band's with me we're just fuckin' around
Reggae is the sound on the radio
We've got nothing to do we've got nowhere to go
I've been told nothing stays the same
Sooner or later it has to change
Fight if you have to
To live your life
But know what's right
Summertime sun and heat you can taste
Ashes and strings and Adam's bass
In the east bay in the summertime
Needles and foil
Having such a good time
I've been told nothing stays the same
Sooner or later it has to change
Fight if you have to
To live your life
Don't let em tell you anything
But know what's right
We all walk over to Jennifer's
We haven't eaten all day
A place to relax
A place to get away
Smoking cigarettes
Hung over so bad
"now" are the best times I've ever had
The Link 80 song "Jennifer's Cafe" is a nostalgic reflection on a time when the whole band is chilling near the sea-side of Richmond during a hot summer, with no particular plan or purpose. The opening lines set the scene and tone for the rest of the song with a reggae sound playing on the radio as the band members hang out, smoking cigarettes and enjoying the heat. The lyrics then segue into a reflection on the inevitability of change in life, with the singer urging the listener to stand up for what they believe is right and fight to live their life. This is an empowering message for anyone who may be feeling lost or uncertain in their life and is a theme that can resonate with many people.
Despite the upbeat and carefree tone of the song, there are indications that not everything is perfect in the lives of the band members. References to needles and foil suggest that they may be struggling with addiction issues, while the mention of being hungover indicates that they may have ended up at Jennifer's cafe after a wild night out. However, the overall sense is of a group of friends who are enjoying each other's company and the simple pleasures of life without any expectations or obligations.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting in Richmond on the see-side of town
We are currently in the city of Richmond, which is located by the sea.
The whole band's with me we're just fuckin' around
The entire band is present and we are just having fun without any serious objectives.
Reggae is the sound on the radio
The radio is playing music that belongs to the reggae genre.
We've got nothing to do we've got nowhere to go
We have no specific plans or destination to go to.
I've been told nothing stays the same
I have heard that everything is subject to change.
Sooner or later it has to change
Change is inevitable and will occur sooner or later.
Fight if you have to
In order to achieve what you want, you may need to combat obstacles.
To live your life
This is the way you should live your life.
Don't let em tell you anything
Do not let others influence or dictate your actions or thoughts.
But know what's right
Be aware and knowledgeable of what is morally or ethically appropriate.
Summertime sun and heat you can taste
The hot summer weather is perceptible on our tongues.
Ashes and strings and Adam's bass
There are cigarette ashes and guitar strings all over the place, as well as the sound of Adam's bass guitar being played.
In the east bay in the summertime
We are currently in the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area during the summer season.
Needles and foil having such a good time
Although we are using drugs, we are enjoying ourselves immensely.
We all walk over to Jennifer's
Everyone is going to Jennifer's place.
We haven't eaten all day
None of us has had anything to eat throughout the entire day so far.
A place to relax
Jennifer's place is somewhere where we can unwind and chill out.
A place to get away
It's a location where we can escape from all our troubles.
Smoking cigarettes
We are all smoking tobacco products.
Hung over so bad
We are all suffering from severe hangovers.
"now" are the best times I've ever had
Despite the chaos and imperfections of the present moment, right now is the most enjoyable and gratifying time of my life.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
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