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.
Future
RX Bandits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down a fallible abyss
In a circumstantial fit
But it won't amount to anything
Navigational warrior
Thru the scars that weave our skin
Cut to narcotic bliss
We didn't have to feel anything
It won't account for anything
She goes so hard x 3
I never knew
Oh my baby aren't we crazy?
Oh...
I would be remiss
To be subordinate
Won't surrender anything
Collateral damage
With a fever diggin in my bones
To possess the goal
I didn't wanna hear anything
None of the words mean anything
Won't account for anything
She goes so hard
I never knew (shrugs)
We all been black and blue
Hearts beat, battered and bruised
We all want to give love
And to be loved
Intention misconstrued
A little bit confused
We all want to be loved
And to give love
The future we fear is the past we regret
The times that we forgive are the ones that we will never forget
We all blemished just a little bit
Lets never talk about nothing!
Worth we prop with our brains and our breath
The reflection in the mirror is the simplest one to protect
Ain't no room in my gut left for vanity
I JUST WANNA FEEL YOUR PULSE!
The lyrics of RX Bandits' song "Future Buddy" are filled with introspective musings on the actions and choices we make in life. The song is a commentary on the risks we take, the scars we bear, and the pursuit of love that ultimately defines our existence. The opening lines suggest that the characters in the song made a rash decision, taking a leap into an uncertain future in a "circumstantial fit." Despite this risk, they find solace in the "narcotic bliss" of not having to feel or mean anything. This emphasis on the temporary nature of their choices suggests that they are aware of the emptiness of their actions but are resigned to the fact that it "won't account for anything."
Line by Line Meaning
We leapt to take the risk
We took a big chance even though we knew it was risky
Down a fallible abyss
We jumped into something that could easily fail
In a circumstantial fit
We made the decision impulsively based on the situation we were in
But it won't amount to anything
Despite our efforts, it probably won't lead to anything significant
Navigational warrior
Someone who bravely maneuvers through difficult situations
Thru the scars that weave our skin
Despite the hardships we've faced, we're still moving forward
Cut to narcotic bliss
We found a temporary escape from reality
We didn't have to feel anything
That escape allowed us to avoid feeling any pain or emotions
Didn't have to mean anything
The experience was empty and lacked meaning
It won't account for anything
In the grand scheme of things, that escape won't have any real value
She goes so hard x 3
She lives with a lot of passion and intensity
I never knew
I wasn't aware of the depth of her passion
Oh my baby aren't we crazy?
A playful acknowledgement of the wild and risky choices they've made together
I would be remiss
It would be wrong of me
To be subordinate
To let someone else have more power or control than me
Won't surrender anything
I refuse to give up anything I've worked for or care about
Collateral damage
Unintended harm caused by my actions
With a fever diggin in my bones
Feeling restless and driven by a burning desire
To possess the goal
To achieve what I'm striving for
I didn't wanna hear anything
I wasn't open to listening or considering other perspectives
None of the words mean anything
Everything people say seems meaningless to me
Won't account for anything
It's all pointless and won't make a difference in the end
We all been black and blue
We've all been hurt and damaged in some way
Hearts beat, battered and bruised
Our hearts keep going despite the challenges we face
We all want to give love
We all desire to show affection and care for others
And to be loved
We all crave love from others
Intention misconstrued
Our true intentions are often misunderstood
A little bit confused
We're unsure of our own feelings and thoughts
The future we fear is the past we regret
We worry that what we fear happening in the future will be similar to what we regret in the past
The times that we forgive are the ones that we will never forget
When we truly forgive someone, we remember their mistakes but no longer hold them against them
We all blemished just a little bit
We're all flawed in some way
Lets never talk about nothing!
Let's always have something to talk about to keep the connection alive
Worth we prop with our brains and our breath
We use our intelligence and spirit to create our value and worth
The reflection in the mirror is the simplest one to protect
We're more honest with ourselves than we are with anyone else
Ain't no room in my gut left for vanity
I don't have the capacity to be arrogant or self-absorbed
I JUST WANNA FEEL YOUR PULSE!
All I want is a genuine, intimate connection with someone
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind