The band started out in 1995, amid other popular southern California ska-influenced acts such as Reel Big Fish and No Doubt. Of the original line-up, only singer/songwriter Matt Embree and drummer Chris Tsagakis remain. Their first two releases were recorded with bassist James Salomone and trombonist Rich Balling. Upon signing to Drive-Thru Records, the band released the album Halfway Between Here and There, a straightforward third-wave ska effort, though lyrics in songs such as "Gun In Your Hand" hinted towards the political leanings which would be evident in their subsequent releases.
They are notable for their strong political views, which they share with fans through periodic website posts.
Their live shows are known for being highly energetic, with improvisational jams in between songs. They perform extended versions of many numbers; they fall somewhat short of being a full fledged "jam band," however it is fair to say that they exhibit musicianship live that is not captured by their recordings.
With 2001's Progress, the band took a huge step forward musically. The incarnation of the band which recorded the album consisted of Embree, Tsagaskis, Balling, Salomone, and current trombonist Chris Sheets. Steve Choi played keyboards on the album, but was not credited as a full member of the band, although he often joined the band on stage. With this album, the band moved beyond playing pure ska. Progress involved elements of punk, reggae, and hardcore punk. Indeed, the band itself notes influences ranging from Fugazi and Bad Brains, to Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Toots and the Maytals. The album spawned their only music video, for the song "Analog Boy".
Some time after the release of Progress, Steve Choi was made a full time member of the band, however both Rich Balling and James Salomone left the band. They gained saxophonist Steve Borth, who had played formerly in the popular East Bay ska-punk band Link 80. Bassist Joe Troy, a longtime friend of Embree, joined the band as well to complete their current line-up.
In 2003, they released The Resignation, a CD/DVD release. The album was recorded live, with the exception of vocals and some overdubs. Embree also shared songwriting duties with Steve Choi, whereas he had previously been responsible for all of the band's material. Also of note is the album cover, which was originally a painting by Aaron Nagel, a Bay Area artist and member of both Link 80 and DESA. Musically, the album continued the genre mixing of Progress and experimented with unconventional time signatures. It again featured overtly political lyrics, evident most obviously in songs such as "Overcome (The Recapitulation)," and "Mastering the List".
Since the release of The Resignation, several members have found time for side projects.
In July 2006 band member Steve Borth left the band to pursue his side project turned main focus, Satori. Embree is involved with his own independent label, MDB Records, as well as his own solo project Love You Moon also contributing to the hip hop group Seekret Socyetee, Coke vs. Bills with Joe Troy, Pebaluna with Lauren Coleman, and Apotheke with members of the Rx Bandits. Steve Choi plays drums in Machines and has collaborated with Asian Man Records founder Mike Park in both The Chinkees and The Bruce Lee Band. Embree and Tsagakis are two of the core members in The Sound Of Animals Fighting. Tsagaskis is the creative force behind his ambient, electronic project called Technology.
On October 10th, 2006 they released the follow-up to The Resignation entitled "...And The Battle Begun"
through Sargent House / MDB Records. ...ATBB continued to show the changes that the Bandits were making to their sound, adding more elements of progressive rock and funk grooves. Sprawling compositions and virtuoso playing from all the members of the band won the band many new fans, and gained a spot on the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival.
On July 14th, 2009, they released their latest album, Mandala. The band showed tremendous musical growth since their early 3rd wave ska roots, and Mandala was a true musical force to be reckoned with. Prodigious drumming from Chirs Tsagakis and solid bass grooves from Joe Troy formed the backbone, while Steve Choi and Matt Embree dueled with noodley guitars and emphatic vocals from Embree. The Bandits had reached a progressive peak, showing that progressive instrumentation could still have soul and feeling, and that a few songs could change a room's demeanor.
In 2011, the band announced that their summer tour would be their last tour. Despite this, on May 6th, 2013 they announced that they will be embarking on a 10-year anniversary tour for Resignation, and will also be releasing an EP this summer.
Rx Bandits toured the United States during the summer of 2013 to mark the tenth anniversary of the release of The Resignation. The band released an EP featuring covers of The Police, Blonde Redhead, Weezer, Fugazi, and King Crimson.
"Gemini, Her Majesty", the bands 7th studio album was released on July 22nd 2014 via (Mash Down Babylon/INgrooves). Produced by Jason Cupp (Maps & Atlases, Birthmark) and recorded at Prairie Sun Recording Studios in Sonoma County, CA, Gemini, Her Majesty is the follow-up to 2009's critically acclaimed release, Mandala.
"In the past, our aim was to bridge the gap between our recorded music and our live performance," says vocalist/guitarist Matt Embree. "But this time around we really didn't ever consider that. We almost willingly ignored it. It was really nice to make a record that we didn't apply live performance constraints to. That said, now we're going to have the hefty task of figuring out how we want to arrange and play these new songs live. We love the challenge."
Over the course of the past 19 years (yes, 2015 will be their 20-year anniversary), RX Bandits have managed to stay light years ahead of the pack by taking a genre-blurring approach to songwriting. Their adventurous style of play gives them a unique sense of flexibility, one that allows them to seamlessly fit anywhere and everywhere, from the main stage at Bonnaroo and Coachella to Bamboozle and Reading. Their songs have been featured in video games (Guitar Hero, Rock Band), used as the backdrop for ESPN's X Games and continues to be religion for their legion of diehard fans around the world.
In support of "Gemini, Her Majesty" RX took to the road in the summer of 2014 with support from The Dear Hunter and From Indian Lakes. RX Bandits are looking to a stacked 2015 Spring touring schedule with plans to attend the 311 Caribbean Cruise with 311, Pepper and The Dirty Heads, a West coast run in March and a East coast run in early April. The band is also looking forward to touring the UK with Circa Survive in May 2015.
Apparition
RX Bandits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Look like a ghost sound like a whisper shivering down my spine
I'm just a traveling soul, say you'd never leave me alone,
Tell me you need me so tonight
(Chorus)
She come creeping up slow
I got no place, no place to go
Story's always different, no matter who's telling it,
Now I'm feeling like I fell for you
Apparition x3
I know she lurking the streets tonight,
Sound like silence, slink like a drifter
'tween the darkness & the flickering light
She's just a wandering soul, oh I just can't let it go,
Tell me it isn't so tonight
(chorus)
I swear I heard something sneaking through my corridor,
memories loat like specters, keeps on haunting me evermore
(chorus)
The lyrics of RX Bandits's song Apparition tell the story of a ghostly figure who appears to the singer in the dead of night. The apparition is described as looking like a ghost and sounding like a whisper, sending shivers down the singer's spine. Despite the singer being a traveler who tries to keep moving, the apparition tells him she'll never leave him alone and that she needs him tonight. The chorus repeats the idea that the apparition is creeping up slowly and the singer has no place to go, but he feels like he's fallen for her regardless of the eeriness of the situation. However, the story of the apparition is always different depending on who tells it, leaving a sense of uncertainty and confusion about what is real.
The second verse describes the apparition lurking the streets, sounding like silence, and slinking like a drifter between the darkness and flickering light. The apparition is just a wandering soul, but the singer can't let her go, desperate for her to tell him that it isn't so. The final verse mentions memories being lost like specters, haunting the singer evermore. The song's lyrics convey a sense of haunting and unease, with the apparition representing an unknown and eerie force that is both enticing and frightening. The repeated use of the word "apparition" reinforces the idea of something fleeting and intangible that can't be fully understood or grasped.
Line by Line Meaning
She says she's gonna come over tonight
The persona anticipates the arrival of their female interest to share intimate moments with her tonight
Look like a ghost sound like a whisper shivering down my spine
The woman he's waiting for is so ethereally beautiful that it sends shivers down his spine
I'm just a traveling soul, say you'd never leave me alone, Tell me you need me so tonight
He expresses his fear of abandonment and seeks the reassurance of his lover to affirm their commitment to him for the night
She come creeping up slow, I got no place, no place to go, But now I'm feeling like I fell for you oh baby, no don't you sell it
He feels overwhelmed by adoration for his companion after waiting for her arrival and is afraid of her not reciprocating the same level of longing
Story's always different, no matter who's telling it, Now I'm feeling like I fell for you, Apparition x3
The artist acknowledges the subjective nature of one's perception of reality, then believes that they have fallen in love with their partner, and that she exists outside of the physical realm as an apparition
I know she lurking the streets tonight, Sound like silence, slink like a drifter 'tween the darkness & the flickering light
The persona is sure that his companion is wandering the dark, silent streets and hiding like a nomad between the shadows and the light
She's just a wandering soul, oh I just can't let it go, Tell me it isn't so tonight
He acknowledges that she's just an insecure drifter, yet he is unable to let go of the belief that she might be physically present tonight
I swear I heard something sneaking through my corridor, memories loat like specters, keeps on haunting me evermore
He imagines hearing sounds and sees apparitions that cause him to reminisce and regret past decisions
Contributed by Elijah P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Marcel Miagi
I can’t understand why they haven’t gained more attention. Sooo underrated
KidAmnesiak
Same here. I came back to listen to some of their songs again after a long time. Mandala, And the Battle Begun, and Gemini Her Majesty are definitely amazing albums to this day. I was shocked to see how dead the comments are on all their videos. I mean they're objectively very skilled and made great music, so I can only assume it's more or less by choice that they never got bigger...maybe they were content with being more underground. But they were great.
John Nino Covers
The drummer is KILLING IT! :)
jose freire
What a drummer!! That hit hat work 🔥
Lcsdrums
that crescendo over the 'pumping' hit hat at the final compasses... This is real feeling for a drummer :D
KidAmnesiak
What happened to RX Bandits? They were so incredible. And the Battle Begun, Mandala, and Gemini Her Majesty are all still amazing albums to me. I'm back listening to them after years away and it's still great. They deserved more.
Rydog Rittman
When a songs got you moving back and forth uncontrollably when you hear it
Microtwerks
I got kinda sad when I didn't hear the horns but damn they still sound great
amosminore
Man, I'd love it if they released a live album
amosminore
But I guess their DVD live at the Glasshouse makes up for it