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.
Epoxi-Lips
RX Bandits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've got something that I stole
a manuscript, a document
a failure & an argument
kiss to sleep right through the night
promise me & i wont fight,
in an innocent way i shuttered sick
scratched to solve the unrelievable itch
They say the holy wars
were all started by hired crooks
if you believe in your heart, now it's time to let go
Forget tomorrow's sermon
or let the moment pass you by
It's too late
Numbers keep climbing gotta keep up the pace
uproot the lines as they grow on your face
career is over time to take of your clothes
feel the drip as it numbs all you know
it's only skin, oh it's only skin
and you can't stop the reaper
from the scythe that she's swinging
a cut, a shot, the heat of her thighs,
eyes that are crazy cause you can't find a friend
I said the time is now & we got all
the time is now we got it, got it all, we got it.
At the end of the world we'll all have a big party
from sea to sea & into the desert sands
we'll feel comfortable naked, won't need our
prescriptions
to say we're happy and admit we're all scared
of growing old
Now is the time, the time is now, it's not too late
we're running...
The lyrics to RX Bandits' "Epoxi-Lips" appear to describe a situation in which the singer has stolen a manuscript or document, possibly as part of an argument or failure. The singer desires peace and promises not to fight in an innocent way, but seems to be struggling with internal turmoil, represented by the unrelievable itch they scratch to try to solve. The song makes reference to the idea that many wars throughout history have been started by hired crooks, and encourages the listener to let go of their beliefs and forget about sermons in order to fully live in the present moment. The song concludes with a call to action, urging the listener to embrace the present and not wait until it's too late to make changes in their life.
Line by Line Meaning
This is how the story goes,
The singer is about to recount something that happened to them.
I've got something that I stole
The singer has taken something that did not belong to them.
a manuscript, a document
The stolen item was a piece of writing.
a failure & an argument
The item was a symbol of a disagreement or argument and its failure to find resolution.
kiss to sleep right through the night
The artist received a comforting, peaceful kiss that allowed them to sleep soundly.
promise me & i wont fight,
The kiss was accompanied by a promise from the other person to avoid conflict.
in an innocent way i shuttered sick
Despite the innocent nature of the night's events, the singer still feels anxious and unwell.
scratched to solve the unrelievable itch
The artist tries to find relief from their anxiety by scratching, but it is not enough to truly solve the underlying problem.
They say the holy wars
There is a belief that many religious conflicts were actually instigated by those who stood to gain from violence.
were all started by hired crooks
These conflicts were intentionally instigated by people who stood to profit from them.
if you believe in your heart, now it's time to let go
If you hold onto beliefs that fuel conflict or negative feelings, it is time to release them to find inner peace.
Forget tomorrow's sermon
It is not productive or helpful to focus solely on religious teachings, especially if they are used to justify conflict.
or let the moment pass you by
Instead, it is important to be present in the moment and engage with your surroundings.
It's too late
Unfortunately, it may be too late to undo the damage that has been done by past actions and beliefs.
Numbers keep climbing gotta keep up the pace
The pressure is constantly increasing to meet numerical goals in various areas of life.
uproot the lines as they grow on your face
The stress caused by these pressures can cause visible physical changes, like wrinkles or frown lines.
career is over time to take of your clothes
When your career is finished or no longer fulfilling, it may be time to strip away the superficial trappings of success and reassess what truly matters.
feel the drip as it numbs all you know
As they remove layers of artificiality, the singer is left feeling numb, as if the things they thought they knew and relied on were no longer there.
it's only skin, oh it's only skin
The things they are shedding are superficial, only skin deep, not the true essence of who they are.
and you can't stop the reaper
Inevitable death is something we cannot avoid or fight.
from the scythe that she's swinging
Death is personified as a female figure with a scythe, an image often associated with the Grim Reaper in popular culture.
a cut, a shot, the heat of her thighs,
The artist experiences vivid sensations associated with dying or being close to death.
eyes that are crazy cause you can't find a friend
The prospect of death can make one feel isolated and alone, leading to desperation and despair.
I said the time is now & we got all
The artist believes that the present moment is all that matters and that there is plenty of time to make the most of it.
the time is now we got it, got it all, we got it.
We have everything we need to make the most of the present moment and live life to the fullest.
At the end of the world we'll all have a big party
Even as the world ends, there is still cause for celebration and enjoyment.
from sea to sea & into the desert sands
This party will be all-encompassing, reaching every corner of the world.
we'll feel comfortable naked, won't need our prescriptions
There will be a sense of freedom and acceptance, despite not conforming to societal norms or expectations.
to say we're happy and admit we're all scared
People will be able to express their true emotions, even if they are contradictory or uncomfortable.
of growing old
One of the fears underlying this celebration is the fear of aging and the thought of time running out.
Now is the time, the time is now, it's not too late
The present moment is always the right time to make positive changes in our lives, and it is not too late to do so.
we're running...
The song ends with the phrase 'we're running,' suggesting that, even in the face of fear and uncertainty, we must keep moving forward and making the most of every moment.
Contributed by Dominic K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Uncle Odin
This is how the story goes
I've got something that I stole
A manuscript, a document
A failure & an argument
Kiss to sleep right through the night
Promise me & I won't fight
In an innocent way I shuttered sick
Scratched to solve the unrelievable itch
They say the holy wars
Were all started by hired crooks
If you believe in your heart, now it's time to let go
Forget tomorrow's sermon
Or let the moment pass you by
It's too late
And you feel like your time is running out
Numbers keep climbing gotta keep up the pace
Uproot the lines as they grow on your face
Career is over time to take of your clothes
Feel the drip as it numbs all you know
It's only skin, oh it's only skin
And you can't stop the reaper
From the scythe that she's swinging
A cut, a shot, the heat of her thighs
Eyes that are crazy cause you can't find a friend
I said the time is now & we got all
The time is now we got it, got it all, we got it
At the end of the world we'll all have a big party
From sea to sea & into the desert sands
We'll feel comfortable naked, won't need our
Prescriptions
To say we're happy and admit we're all scared
Of growing old
Now is the time, the time is now, it's not too late
We're running...
amanda simms
I <3 this song
Brian Fenley
This is how the story goes
Delaney Smith
So right in so many ways
A W
They have got it going on, as the kids say.
Cisco Krollman
her lips cleanse my soul like oxi-
Unorganized Danish
A-Maz-Ing song
Tactical Mongoose
Why am I here? Because serenity.
Aaron Liebman
2:57 - 3:08 ... yes...
Kit du
Why am I here? Because serenity.