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.
Sell You Beautiful
RX Bandits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Plastic lips and fake tits
Ever tasted silicon?
I've got scars on my eyes
Look who is the best dressed
Oh my gosh the worst hair
Who designed that mink coat?
Guess who's got a new car?
Bet she dates a rock star
I want to make a million
I've got lies in my mouth
Eyeshadow and glitter gold
Diamond rings and lip syncs
Anything material
I've got scars on my eyes
Baby, you know if you're not beautiful
Just cover it up
With make-up kits and perforated scalpel seams
We'll do you right up
I'm so obsessed with looking like celebrities
Make myself throw up
But it's all right cause one day
I know I'll be fine like everyone else
Music played to advertise
Logo shirts and hair styles
Chop and cut monopolize
I've got scars in my mouth
Worship to the cash cow
Nod your head now take a bow
Faking grins and cleft chins
I've got stars in my eyes
Baby you know if you're not beautiful
Just cover it up
With make-up kits and perforated scalpel seams
We'll do you right up
I'm so obsessed with living like celebrities
Make myself throw up
With staple skin and back stab flattery
I'm coughing it up
Hey, little darling
I'll sell you the definition
If you follow me through
Pages and channels of deceit
Where everyone is perfect
And nobody grows old
Relax in the ignorance of images
Cause beautiful is what we're selling...
It's not how you feel
It's only how you look!
The song Sell You Beautiful by RX Bandits is a critique of modern society's obsession with beauty and celebrity culture. The lyrics describe a world where people are judged based on their physical appearance and status rather than who they are as individuals. The artist sings about people who have undergone cosmetic surgery to enhance their features and how they are still not happy with themselves. The chorus emphasizes the need to cover up imperfections with makeup and surgical procedures to fit into this superficial world. The verse "hey, little darling, I'll sell you the definition" speaks to the societal pressure to conform to an ideal of beauty and the commercialization of this desire.
Throughout the song, there is a sense that beauty is being sold by those in power to maintain and increase their power. The lyric "worship to the cash cow, nod your head now take a bow" suggests that people are being controlled by those in power to conform to their idea of beauty. The line "faking grins and cleft chins, I've got stars in my eyes" highlights the idea of attracting attention by faking happiness while being unsatisfied on the inside. The song ends with the idea that it's not about how you feel, but how you look in this world.
Overall, the song is a commentary on how society has become obsessed with celebrity culture, materialism, and superficial beauty, and how people are being sold these ideals to maintain the status quo.
Line by Line Meaning
Look who's got a new nose
Someone has had plastic surgery to get a new nose.
Plastic lips and fake tits
The person has had plastic surgery to change their appearance in other ways besides their nose.
Ever tasted silicon?
Silicon is used in many plastic surgeries, so this line is referencing the person's plastic surgeries.
I've got scars on my eyes
The person has been hurt emotionally and may be self-conscious due to their plastic surgeries.
Look who is the best dressed
Someone is wearing fashionable clothes.
Oh my gosh the worst hair
The person's hair looks bad despite their fashionable clothing.
Who designed that mink coat?
The person is wearing a mink coat, but the line questions who would design such a thing.
I've got stars in my eyes
The person is excited and in awe of the people around them.
Guess who's got a new car?
Someone has recently purchased a new car.
Bet she dates a rock star
The person that owns the car is presumed to be dating a musician.
I want to make a million
The singer desires to be rich.
I've got lies in my mouth
The singer is not being truthful about their motivations.
Eyeshadow and glitter gold
The singer is describing the makeup they use.
Diamond rings and lip syncs
The singer is describing other ways to appear beautiful like wearing expensive jewelry and pretending to sing.
Anything material
The singer is focused on material possessions to appear beautiful.
I've got scars on my eyes
The singer has emotional trauma from attempting to improve their appearance.
Baby, you know if you're not beautiful
The singer is addressing someone who they believe does not fit society's standards of beauty.
Just cover it up
The singer suggests that they hide their perceived flaws with makeup and plastic surgery.
With make-up kits and perforated scalpel seams
The singer is referencing the use of plastic surgery to change their appearance.
We'll do you right up
The singer believes that they can improve the person's appearance with makeup and plastic surgery.
I'm so obsessed with looking like celebrities
The singer wants to look like famous people.
Make myself throw up
The singer may have an eating disorder or other unhealthy methods of losing weight.
But it's all right cause one day
The singer believes that they will be successful and reach their goals someday.
I know I'll be fine like everyone else
The singer believes that they will eventually be successful, just like everyone else.
Music played to advertise
Music is used in advertising campaigns.
Logo shirts and hair styles
People use clothing and hairstyles to advertise products or make them more appealing.
Chop and cut monopolize
The plastic surgery industry controls and monopolizes the methods used to improve appearance.
I've got scars in my mouth
The singer has hurt themselves emotionally by trying to fit society's beauty standards.
Worship to the cash cow
The plastic surgery industry values money over ethical concerns.
Nod your head now take a bow
People in the industry should be proud of their work.
Faking grins and cleft chins
People in the industry display fake emotions and fake physical features to sell more products.
I've got stars in my eyes
The singer is still in awe of the people around them.
Hey, little darling
The singer is addressing someone who they are trying to convince to change their appearance.
I'll sell you the definition
The singer will convince them that the definition of beauty is what is being sold by the plastic surgery industry.
If you follow me through
The singer will guide them through the plastic surgery industry to change their appearance.
Pages and channels of deceit
The industry is built on lies and deception used to sell products.
Where everyone is perfect
The industry wants people to strive for perfection in their appearance.
And nobody grows old
The industry believes that looking young is important to stay popular.
Relax in the ignorance of images
People should feel good about their appearance when they see these images, even if they don't match reality.
Cause beautiful is what we're selling...
The plastic surgery industry sells the idea of beauty.
It's not how you feel
The industry doesn't care how people feel, only how they look.
It's only how you look!
The industry places all focus on how people look, rather than any other aspect of their lives.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Christopher Tyler Tsagakis, Matthew Dean Embree, Steve Choi
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind