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.
Tainted Wheat
RX Bandits Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
next chapter is assimilation
We keep you pacified so you will follow
It's a stand in line conglomerate
in a bigot workshop mortuary
We keep you satisfied so you will swallow
It's just beginner's luck if you get out, get out, get out
This finely fashioned fairy tale
spinds a web that's indestructible
and rife with lies
Sooth your sense till you're mine
Next we bring intimidation,
social status segregation
where you all justify & play consumer
fear works further toward division,
indiscriminate spastic decisions
we keep you paranoid, so you can't struggle
It's just beginner's luck if you get out, get out, get out
It's just beginner's luck if you get out
This finely fashioned fairy tale
spins a web that's indestructible
and rife with lies
fill your pockets, now you're mine
And if you find a vein, I'll be the medicine
I'll be the medicine for you
Oh my love, only you, my love
We weave a tale of our stark heroics,
swaying the public from our bully pulpits
Create illusions for imperial schemes
poor against the poor for democracy
While we rape that word with a swift incision
snatch up the poverty to fill up the prisons
boost economy with perpetual war
and everything you buy only feeds us more!
(so just keep buying...)
The lyrics of "Tainted Wheat" by RX Bandits criticize the education system and the society that follows it blindly. The first two lines suggest that education is not fruitful as the next chapter after education is assimilation. The people in power choose to keep the masses pacified and satisfied so that they don't become productive members of society. The conglomerate is so powerful that it functions as a bigot workshop mortuary, where conformity and obedience are valued over independent thought. The lyrics emphasize that it's only luck if someone gets out of this system and finds their own way.
The second part of the song's lyrics speaks about how society is divided through manipulation tactics like intimidation and social status segregation. People are made to justify their consumer behavior and are kept paranoid so that they are easier to control. This section of the song blames the powerful for dividing society while creating an illusion that they are doing this for democracy. Poor people against poor people trope is used here to highlight how the ones in power manipulate and exploit them. The song concludes by saying that society is under the control of the powerful and everything they buy feeds them more.
Line by Line Meaning
The first step's so called education
The initial step is what they call 'education'
next chapter is assimilation
The next phase involves conforming to the norms
We keep you pacified so you will follow
We keep you content so that you obey us
It's a stand in line conglomerate
It's a system where everyone lines up to follow orders
in a bigot workshop mortuary
It's a place where prejudices and biases are reinforced and ingrained
We keep you satisfied so you will swallow
We keep you content so that you accept our propaganda
It's just beginner's luck if you get out, get out, get out
It's a rare chance that you manage to escape the system
This finely fashioned fairy tale
This elaborate tale
spins a web that's indestructible
creates lies that are difficult to expose
and rife with lies
filled with deceit
Sooth your sense till you're mine
Calm your senses till you're under our control
Next we bring intimidation, social status segregation
We use intimidation and segregation based on social status
where you all justify & play consumer
Where you justify and participate in consumer culture
fear works further toward division
Fear is used to divide people further
indiscriminate spastic decisions
Haphazard and thoughtless decisions
we keep you paranoid, so you can't struggle
We keep you paranoid so that you can't resist our control
fill your pockets, now you're mine
If we fill your pockets, you're under our control
And if you find a vein, I'll be the medicine
And if you become addicted, I'll be the remedy
I'll be the medicine for you
I'll provide what you need to keep you addicted
Oh my love, only you, my love
Oh my addiction, only you, my addiction
We weave a tale of our stark heroics
We tell a story of our heroic actions
swaying the public from our bully pulpits
Influencing the masses from our position of power
Create illusions for imperial schemes
Creating false impressions for our imperialistic agendas
poor against the poor for democracy
Pitting the poor against each other to maintain democracy
While we rape that word with a swift incision
Meanwhile, we corrupt the word democracy with ease
snatch up the poverty to fill up the prisons
Incarcerating those in poverty to keep the prisons full
boost economy with perpetual war
Maintaining a state of war to improve the economy
and everything you buy only feeds us more!
And everything you buy only serves to reinforce our control
(so just keep buying...)
(so just keep consuming...)
Contributed by Alexander W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.