Named after the small town of Riverdale from the Archie Comics, The Riverdales formed in 1994. The founding members, Foster (guitar), Dan Schafer (bass), and Dan Sullivan (drums), were all former members of Screeching Weasel, who had broken up earlier that year. Unlike Screeching Weasel, the members of The Riverdales would be credited under their real names. They released their self-titled debut album on July 7, 1995, on Lookout! Records. It was produced by Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Squirtgun's Mass Giorgini. They toured extensively that year as the opening act for the Mr. T Experience, and then for Green Day. Playing off this synergy, the Riverdales supported Green Day's 1995 tour. Also that year, the bands song "Back To You" appeared in the movie Angus. Despite the reformation of Screeching Weasel in 1996, the Riverdales did not split until after recording a second album, Storm The Streets in 1997, and only reforming briefly in 2003 to record Phase 3.
In 2004, Ben Foster rescinded all of the Riverdales masters from Lookout! Records after being unable to resolve a breach of contract dispute over unpaid royalties with the label. All of these masters had then been licensed to Asian Man Records. Asian Man reissued the first Riverdales album in 2006 with re-mastered sound and a slew of bonus tracks including three unreleased tracks, "No Sense" from the Storm the Streets sessions, and live tracks from their tour with Green Day. The Label also re-issued Phase 3 on October 7th, 2008 with five bonus tracks.
On November 19th, 2008, on his ESPN radio show, Weasel Radio, Ben Weasel announced that he and Danny Vapid had been demoing songs for a new Riverdales album, and recording would begin in February of 2009. He also announced that The Riverdales will be playing live shows again and that Adam Cargin (of the Blueheels) would be the band's new drummer. The album, titled Invasion USA was released on July 14, 2009.
In September 2009, it was announced that Simon Lamb would be joining the band as second guitarist [5]. Prior to that, for live purposes, Dan Schafer was playing second guitar (with a notably louder amp) and singing while Justin Perkins, who had recorded Invasion U.S.A., played bass. A couple months later, in November, 2009, Mike Park of Asian Man Records announced that Ben had decided to sever his relationship with the label and that Recess Records would now be carrying the Screeching Weasel, Riverdales, and Ben Weasel solo back catalogs.
On December 13, 2009, Ben Weasel announced on his Twitter that the fifth Riverdales album would be called Tarantula. They began recording the next day. Ben has stated that if he had it his way, Invasion USA would have been a double LP and to consider Tarantula part 2 of Invasion USA. So the songs on this album will be similar to the songs on Invasion USA, having titles based on old, low budget sci fi and horror films, but with a sound closer to The Ramones album "Subterranean Jungle." Tarantula was released in July 2010.
In December 2010, the band announced they had signed to Fat Wreck Chords, and the label would be re-releasing some of their old material.
In March 2011, Ben Weasel was involved in an altercation with two female audience members at a Screeching Weasel show at the Austin, Texas SXSW Festival. This resulted in the other members of both Screeching Weasel and the Riverdales quitting the band. In the aftermath of this, former members Dan Vapid and Simon Lamb started a solo project called Dan Vapid and The Cheats with whom Vapid will be singing his Riverdales songs.
Discography
Studio Albums
* Riverdales (1995)
* Storm the Streets (1997)
* Phase 3 (2003)
* Invasion U.S.A. (2009)
* Tarantula (2010)
EPs
* Back To You/I Can't Pretend (1995)
* Fun Tonight/ I'm a Vegetable (1995)
* Blood On The Ice/No Sense (1997)
Countdown
Riverdales Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Let's Go!
Ten, nine, eight, seven days 'till I'm back from Pakistan
Ten, nine, eight, seven days 'till I'm in your arms again
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Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five days 'till I see your face
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Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Let's Go!
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Let's Go!
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Zero!
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Zero!
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Zero!
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, I'm home
Three, Two, One, I'm home
Three, Two, One, I'm home
The Riverdales' song "Countdown" is a song about a person who is counting down the days until they can be reunited with their loved one. The song starts with a countdown from ten to one, with the person eagerly anticipating the moment they can be with their significant other. The lyrics mention the person coming back from Pakistan and being "in your arms again", indicating that they have been away for some time and are excited to reunite with their lover.
The chorus repeats the countdown but adds the phrase "Let's Go!" at the end, emphasizing the person's enthusiasm for being reunited with their loved one. The bridge of the song is unclear, as the lyrics are difficult to discern, but it seems to suggest that the person is anxious about how their loved one will react to their return.
The song ends with a final countdown from three to one, with the person finally being home and reunited with their loved one. The repetition of the countdown throughout the song creates a sense of anticipation and excitement, reflecting the person's eagerness to be reunited with their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven days 'till I'm back from Pakistan
Counting down the days until the singer returns from Pakistan.
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven days 'till I'm in your arms again
Counting down the days until the singer is reunited with their love interest.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five days, that's all it'll take
Emphasizing how close they are to seeing their significant other in just a few days.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five days 'till I see your face
Reiterating their excitement to finally see their love interest again.
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Let's Go!
A countdown to indicate an impending action or event.
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Zero!
The countdown is over and the awaited event is happening.
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, I'm home
The singer has finally arrived home after counting down the days and is excited to be back.
Three, Two, One, I'm home
The artist is expressing their joy and relief at finally being home.
Contributed by Declan C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
noias
on The Beginning of the End
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOWipWh-PAE
Most of their songs are inspired by MST3K's riffs
Linda Viencek
on Riverdale Stomp
These lyrics are just wrong!