MxPx started as three 15-year-old kids calling themselves Magnified Plaid pounding out music inspired by and similar to The Descendents and other Southern California punk rock bands. They didn’t really love their band name, however, which was a tribute to the original guitarist’s penchant for wearing one particularly loud plaid shirt. Consequently, the name was abbreviated to M.P., but in Yuri’s handwriting, periods become “X“‘s and since he made up the show posters for the band, the four-letter moniker stuck.
Andy Husted, the former guitarist, left the band in 1995 to continue college.
Andy was replaced by Tom to solidify the line-up that would take the band into their post-teen years. Maybe Tom’s background as a drummer made up for his relative inexperience playing guitar (he had only played for a year at the time). He and Yuri lock into backbreakingly fast rhythms that rank with vintage Minor Threat for speed and percussive attack. Mike then adds to the mix his signature sing-along melodies that call to mind SoCal punk bands from the early ’80s.
Bremerton had been a town most famous for its naval shipyards until MxPx caught the attention of Tooth & Nail Records when they played a “showcase” for the T&N label in 1993 in Herrera’s parents’ garage. Mike Herrera had practiced so much before the first show, he lost his voice.
MxPx released three albums with Tooth & Nail Records: Pokinatcha in 1994, Teenage Politics in 1995, and Life in General in 1996. After a falling out with Tooth & Nail, MxPx left the label and signed with A&M Records.
In July 2010 drummer Yuri Ruley announced he would be retiring from the band to focus on his family. Ruley played his last show with the band in Las Vegas, Nevada on July 18, 2010. In a recent video message from Mike, he stated that Tom and Yuri have both finished touring full time, but will continue to play one-off shows with the band.
Southbound
MxPx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
same old town witha different name
That's fine by me
there's only one place that I want to be
Southbound on I 5
and windows down and music on the stereo
I'm drivin' and I'm dreamin'
there's no place I'd rather go
(Playing every night with the occasional fight)
Been on the road awhile
I gotto get back to a place with style
Hang out havin' fun
I gotta get back to the beach in the sun
The lyrics of MxPx's song Southbound describe the excitement and motivation of driving towards a destination that feels like home. The singer expresses his contentment with the routine familiarity of his hometown and his desire to return to a place that brings him joy and relaxation. Southbound on I 5 represents the physical direction of his journey, but also embodies the sense of moving forward and progress. The imagery of driving with the windows down and music on the stereo captures a feeling of freedom and exhilaration.
The lyrics also suggest that the singer might be a musician or at least part of a band. Playing every night with the occasional fight indicates that they might be performing regularly, but that some tension arises from time to time. The line, I gotta get back to a place with style, could refer to a venue where they have played before, or to an environment that feels comfortable and familiar for them to perform in. Ultimately, the message of the song is about finding a place that feels like home, where you can be creative and happy at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
It's all the same
The places are similar and there's nothing new to explore
same old town with a different name
The name might have changed but the environment has not
That's fine by me
The singer doesn't mind that everything is the same
there's only one place that I want to be
The singer has a specific destination in mind
Southbound on I 5
The singer is travelling on the I-5 highway towards the south
and windows down and music on the stereo
The singer is enjoying the fresh air with loud music
I'm drivin' and I'm dreamin'
The singer is driving the car while lost in thought
there's no place I'd rather go
This journey is the ideal scenario for the singer
Staring at white lines on the side of the road
The singer is looking at the road's white markings while driving
(Playing every night with the occasional fight)
The singer is a musician who performs frequently and sometimes has disagreements
Been on the road awhile
The singer has been travelling for an extended period, probably due to work
I gotta get back to a place with style
The singer wants to return to a location that exudes a fashionable vibe
Hang out havin' fun
The singer intends to relax and entertain themselves
I gotta get back to the beach in the sun
The singer yearns for a trip to a sunny location by the seashore
Lyrics © DistroKid, BMG Rights Management
Written by: MICHAEL ARTHUR HERRERA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind