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In 2004, Ben Foster rescinded all of the Riverdales masters from Lookout!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)
Riverdale Stomp
Riverdales Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She always had money on her mind.
She was something like a glow
And she made it to the show
And it made her shiver every single time
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Betty was whacked on sedatives
They said it was supposed to calm her down
But when the band started to play
Betty'd start to sweat
And the crazy chick would shake it all around
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
You know that parents think it's wrong
That kids are dancing all night long
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
The Riverdales' song "Riverdale Stomp" tells the story of a girl named Betty who is described as being "whacked on sedatives" which were supposed to calm her down. However, when the band starts to play, Betty begins to sweat and shake it all around. The chorus features the repetitive phrase "Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go" which can be interpreted as an encouragement to let go of inhibitions and dance until your heart's content.
The lyrics also mention how parents think it's wrong for kids to dance all night long, which adds to the rebellious and youthful nature of the song. The word "Riverdale" in the title may refer to a suburban neighborhood in the Bronx or the fictional town in the popular Archie Comics series, where the TV show Riverdale is set. Overall, the song captures a sense of youthful rebellion and the desire to let loose and have a good time, even in the face of societal disapproval.
Line by Line Meaning
I knew a girl maybe running light,
I met a girl who was carefree and unburdened,
She always had money on her mind.
She was always focused on making money.
She was something like a glow
She had an aura about her, radiating positivity and life.
And she made it to the show
She finally made it to the big event she had been dreaming of attending.
And it made her shiver every single time
The excitement of being there gave her chills every time.
Betty was whacked on sedatives
Betty had been given sedatives, presumably to calm her down.
They said it was supposed to calm her down
Her caretakers believed the sedatives would have a calming effect on her.
But when the band started to play
However, as soon as the music began,
Betty'd start to sweat
Betty would break out in a sweat.
And the crazy chick would shake it all around
And she would start dancing wildly and erratically.
You know that parents think it's wrong
Parents often disapprove of the night-long dance parties that go on in Riverdale.
That kids are dancing all night long
They don't think it's appropriate for children to dance until the wee hours of the morning.
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
The song is an invitation to dance and enjoy life.
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
It encourages people to let go of their worries and dance freely.
Riverdale Stomp, baby lets go
It's a call to enjoy the moment and the party.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: BENJAMIN M. FOSTER, DAN P. SCHAFER, BENJAMIN M FOSTER, DAN P SCHAFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Linda Viencek
These lyrics are just wrong!
Charlie Jenkins
Riverdales are not just Ramones rip offs, they are a celebration of the same Rock and Roll spirit as the Ramones are/were
LilithFilth
I've never been happier to wake up at 4:20am as when this song woke me up this morning :)
mishelu182
love this song :)
Doin
Only just heard this band today. Thought it was the Ramones at first. Yes, a very Ramonesy song in many ways (that solo drum beat in the middle is Teenage Lobotomy) but I really like this.
Anonymous103 Anonymous103
Such an underrated song in punk.
Miles Russell
very Ramones-ey, love it!!
Drake Engelhart
It would have been awesome to see these guys with the Ramones
Javier Alvarez
Una gran banda
LAG3
Incredible.