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.
Decrescendo
RX Bandits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To put your sharpened dagger in
And watch the look on my face
It was all you were searching for
A picture frame consistent
To being alone
Now we're content with illusions
And our arm length smiles
Did you get what you wanted
Did you get what you wanted now
This is all that I'm asking
Cause its the love we're forgetting now
Did you take what you wanted
Did you get what you wanted from me
This is all that I'm asking
This is all that I'm asking you
Oh the years that have all been erased
No superficial shelter could ever replace
And its all you we're searching for
Another adequate replacement
To walk through your door
We're content with illusions
And our downhill eyes
Did you get what you wanted
Did you get what you wanted now
This is all that I'm asking
Cause its the love I'm forgetting now
Did you get what you wanted
Did you take what you wanted from me
This is all that I'm asking
Yeah this is all that I'm asking
Have you ever felt what it means to be truly alone?
Stop and think right now
Have you ever been alone?
Have you ever felt so cold?
Have you ever felt to truly alone?
So freezing cold?
So find the fakest elation I hope it takes you away
Now I've got it all worked out now
Just a memory, picture framed illusion
Did you get what you wanted
Did you get what you wanted now
This is all that I'm asking
Cause its the love I'm forgetting now
Did you get what you wanted
Did you take what you needed from me
This is all that I'm asking
This is all that I'm asking
Did you get what you wanted?
Now!!!
The RX Bandits song "Decrescendo" speaks about the aftermath of a relationship where one person has taken advantage and hurt the other. The first verse introduces the idea that one person had been waiting for an opportunity to hurt the other, relishing in the pain it would cause. The chorus asks whether they got what they wanted from the relationship and whether the love they once shared is now forgotten. The second verse references the "years that have all been erased," implying that the relationship was once something wonderful and pure, but now it has been replaced with something superficial and inadequate. Again, the chorus asks whether they got what they wanted and took what they needed from the other person.
The bridge of the song takes a different approach, asking the listener if they have ever truly been alone, to the point of feeling cold and frozen. The idea is that being alone and feeling isolated is one of the most painful experiences, and even if temporary happiness is found in fake euphoria, it cannot replace the sadness and emptiness of true loneliness. The song ends with one final plea to know if the desires and needs of the person in question were met in the relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
And I knew that you just couldn't wait
The singer was aware that the other person was eager to cause harm
To put your sharpened dagger in
The other person was ready to hurt the singer emotionally
And watch the look on my face
The other person took pleasure in seeing the singer's pain
It was all you were searching for
The other person had no interest in a genuine relationship, only in inflicting pain
A picture frame consistent
The other person preferred a superficial illusion of a relationship over a real one
To being alone
Rather than being lonely, the other person preferred to create an illusion of companionship
Now we're content with illusions
Both parties in the relationship are now satisfied with the false image they're maintaining
And our arm length smiles
The smiles exchanged between the two are only skin-deep and don't signify genuine happiness
Did you get what you wanted
The artist is questioning whether the other person achieved their goal of causing pain
Did you get what you wanted now
The artist is demanding to know if the other person accomplished their aim
This is all that I'm asking
The singer is requesting a simple answer to their question
Cause its the love we're forgetting now
The relationship between the two is no longer based on love, but on an illusion
Did you take what you wanted
The singer is inquiring whether the other person took what they desired
Did you get what you wanted from me
The singer is questioning whether the other person achieved their goal at the singer's expense
Oh the years that have all been erased
All the time spent together has now been invalidated by the falsehood of the relationship
No superficial shelter could ever replace
An insincere relationship will never substitute for a genuine one
And its all you we're searching for
The other person was never looking for anything real, only a facade
Another adequate replacement
The other person is always on the lookout for a new illusion to replace the old one
To walk through your door
The other person wants to ensure that they are never alone
We're content with illusions
Both parties are comfortable with the artificial relationship they've created
And our downhill eyes
Neither party is willing to admit that their relationship is a sham
Have you ever felt what it means to be truly alone?
The artist is questioning if the other person has ever felt real loneliness
Stop and think right now
The singer encourages the other person to reflect on their actions and thoughts
Have you ever been alone?
The artist is inquiring whether the other person has experienced genuine solitude
Have you ever felt so cold?
The singer asks if the other person has ever felt genuine emotional pain
So find the fakest elation I hope it takes you away
The singer suggests that the other person seeks out shallow happiness elsewhere
Now I've got it all worked out now
The singer finally understands that the relationship was never real
Just a memory, picture framed illusion
What the other person had with the artist was nothing more than a false memory or a shallow image
Did you get what you wanted?
The artist once again queries if the other person achieved their aim
Now!!!
The singer demands an immediate response
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Tyler Tsagakis, Matthew Dean Embree, Steve Choi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
4MWSka
The first RX song I ever heard, and after purchasing 4 of their albums and seeing them at least twice, this is still one of my favorite songs of all time.
Shuriking
I literally get chills every time I listen to this song. I love them so much!
amongcriminals
100 percent as well!
Me Auntie Nora
They put on one hell of a show. Saw them three times over the years and they blew me away every time.
amongcriminals
They're so solid every time!
Lioness006
hell yeah they do. I saw them several times in Seattle and it was always an amazing show!
Stephen Cox
These dudes are so under appreciated. Fantastic musicians and badass songwriters.
amongcriminals
They're so fucking good!
Living Logical
Amen to that. Truly
XVITNG
I love Sound of Animals Fighting too. I love the third record they did Ocean and the Sun.