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.
Meow
RX Bandits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And mold her out of clay
You could build a reason
To justify anything.
You can find your own way home
Walkin' down that lonesome road
I know what, yeah I know what
But you know I can, you know I can, you know I can.
If you've lost your love, you will find your truth,
You'll find your truth, when it comes for you.
You can find an ocean, to fill with tears
Remember in the moment, we succumb to our fears
You can build a masterpiece all glace and symmetry
And move on, you've got move on
You know that, I said I won't,
But you know I can, you know I can, you know I can.
If you've lost your love, then you'll find your truth,
You'll find your truth, when it comes for you.
We are searching for a reason,
To make sense of this life
Said the fool when he discovered something true
Look outside, look outside
Oh My, Oh my, shes not coming, shes not coming, shes not coming
Oh My, Shes not coming, she's not coming
You don't say, I said I won't,
But you know I can, you know I can, you know I can.
If you've lost your love, you will find your truth,
You'll find your truth, when it comes for you.
Oh my, Oh my, she's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
I said, oh my, oh my, she's not coming home (she's not coming home)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
Oh My, Oh My, she's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming), shes not (she's not coming), shes not
(Oh My) She's not coming, coming home (Oh My)
Shes not, I don't know why.
The lyrics of RX Bandits's song Meow speak about the struggles of finding one's way in life and coping with loss. The first few lines suggest that the singer has the power to create and control certain aspects of their life. They could mold a lover out of clay, build a reason to justify anything, and find their own way home down a lonesome road. However, the repetition of "you know I can" implies that there are limits to this power, and it may be difficult to control certain aspects of life.
The lyrics also discuss the pain of loss and the search for truth in order to make sense of life. The repeated phrase "if you've lost your love, you'll find your truth" suggests that these two things are interconnected, and that the singer believes that it is only through experiencing loss that one can find their true purpose.
The chorus seems to be a lament about a missing or lost loved one. The repetition of "she's not coming home" and the sadness in the vocal delivery suggest that this is a painful experience. The final lines "I don't know why" reflect a sense of helplessness and confusion in the face of loss.
Overall, the lyrics of Meow are about the search for control and meaning in life, and the pain of loss and missing loved ones. Through repetition and emotive delivery, the song conveys a sense of struggle and emotional intensity.
Line by Line Meaning
You could find a lover
And mold her out of clay
You could build a reason
To justify anything.
It's easy to create something out of nothing, whether it be a relationship, a reason, or an excuse.
You can find your own way home
Walkin' down that lonesome road
I know what, yeah I know what
Even when you're alone and lost, you have the ability to find your way back home.
You know that, I said I won’t,
But you know I can, you know I can, you know I can.
If you’ve lost your love, you will find your truth,
You’ll find your truth, when it comes for you.
Sometimes we make promises we can't keep, but we have the power to change our circumstances, find our truth, and move on.
You can find an ocean, to fill with tears
Remember in the moment, we succumb to our fears
You can build a masterpiece all glace and symmetry
And move on, you've got move on
Life is full of challenges and emotions, but we have the ability to create beauty and move forward despite our fears and struggles.
We are searching for a reason,
To make sense of this life
Said the fool when he discovered something true
Look outside, look outside
We are all searching for meaning in life, and sometimes we need to look outside of ourselves to find it.
Oh My, Oh my, shes not coming, shes not coming, shes not coming
Oh My, Shes not coming, she's not coming
Sometimes things don't go as planned, and it's hard to accept that someone or something we want may not come to us.
Oh my, Oh my, she's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
I said, oh my, oh my, she's not coming home (she's not coming home)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming)
Oh My, Oh My, she's not coming home (she's not coming)
She's not coming home (she's not coming), shes not (she's not coming), shes not
(Oh My) She's not coming, coming home (Oh My)
Shes not, I don't know why.
Repeating the same phrase over and over again highlights the pain and disappointment that comes with unfulfilled expectations, even when we don't understand why.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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