Several of Streetlight's members were already well known among the New Jersey ska community for their roles in past ska bands from that area, most notably Catch 22's Tomas Kalnoky, James Egan, Mike Soprano, and Josh Ansley, as well as One Cool Guy's Stuart Karmatz, Pete Sibilia, Dan Ross, and Chris Paszik.
The band's first album, Everything Goes Numb, was released on August 26, 2003, and was distributed by Victory Records. They headlined their first ever show at Rutgers University on December 9, 2003 in front of a sold out audience.
The line-up has gone through several changes since the band's conception and currently consists of Matt Stewart on trumpet, Mike Brown on alto and baritone saxophone, Jim Conti on alto and tenor saxophone, Tomas Kalnoky on guitar and lead vocals, Pete McCullaugh on bass guitar, Karl Lyden on trombone, and Chris Thatcher on drums.
Though the band has enjoyed little mainstream commercial success, they have received acclaim in alternative music circles, and their debut album is currently in Interpunk.com's top 100 items, over 2 years after its release. In addition, they regularly sell out their live shows, and their first few shows at Rutgers and The Stone Pony not only sold out, but had people coming from as far as Minnesota and Canada. Their second album, a reworking of Catch 22's Keasbey Nights was released on March 7, 2006.
Streetlight Manifesto's third album, entitled Somewhere in the Between came out on November 13, 2007. Rumors also have it that the band is currently working on a series of 8 albums entitled "The 99 Songs of Revolution" in co-operation with Bandits of the Acoustic Revolution, a side-project of singer Tomas Kalnoky slated for release in early 2009.
On November 17, 2009, the band's website announced that "99 Songs of Revolution: Volume One" has been ready for release for quite some time but "some record labels are just plain horrendous." They are also in the process of arranging a tour for 2010 but will spend some time in the studio until they have "a few records to release."
The first album of 99 Songs of Revolution was released on March 16, 2010. On this CD, the band covered songs by artists such as The Postal Service, Radiohead, and NOFX.
Band Members:
Mike Brown - Baritone Sax
Karl Lyden - Trombone
Jim Conti - Tenor Sax
Matt Stewart - Trumpet
Chris Thatcher - Drums
Tomas Kalnoky - Guitar, Vocals
Pete McCullaugh - Bass
www.streetlightmanifesto.com
Dear Sergio
Streetlight Manifesto Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey Sergio, it's getting kind of hot in here
And so I say:
Hey Sergio, you gotta' to get us out of here
And so I say:
Every other day you don't care what they say because they always leave you two steps behind. You try to smile and it lasts for a while but they always send you back to the start. Eenie meenie miney mo they shoot down everyone you know and then they leave you there all alone. You wish they'd stop but they never give up and you know deep inside that you're stuck and so I say:
Hey Sergio, it's getting kind of hot in here
And so I say:
Hey Sergio, you gotta' to get us out of here
And so I say:
Sergio laughed for the last time today, He said â??It never really bothered me: we all have dues to payâ?? Like a man that's cut off at the knee, he hobbles and hobbles because nothing is free. So wake up, wake up, wake up but don't cry because you'll fuck up your make up and if you do, you won't get laid, you won't make money, no you won't get paid. So you act so free, you act so free, everybody's happy because you act so free. Well you might fool them, but you can't fool me with your mindless chatter like â??I don't need them, I don't need helpâ?? I don't even need to see the end.
Hey Sergio, it's getting kind of hot in here
And so I say:
Hey Sergio, you gotta' to get us out of here
The song Dear Sergio by Streetlight Manifesto is a powerful and introspective piece about self-doubt, perseverance, and the need for someone to help you out of a difficult situation. The song starts with the singer, who is feeling lost and running away from themselves. They admit that they have been in this position before, and they feel like they will be there again. The stars are referenced in this song, but the singer doesn't care what they say because they feel like it's just more "bullshit" being fed to them. They lament that they have lost something that they're never going to get back again.
Then, the chorus kicks in, and the singer addresses Sergio, pleading with him to get them out of their current situation. They say that things are getting hot here, which could be a metaphor for feeling like they're in danger or that things are about to come to a head. Sergio is portrayed as a figure of hope or salvation, the person who can rescue them from their situation.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's insecurities and fears. They feel like they're always two steps behind, never able to catch up, and they always end up back at the start. People they know are being shot down, leaving them alone, and they wish it would stop, but it never does. The singer feels stuck, and once again, they call out to Sergio for help.
The final verse is the bleakest and most cynical part of the song, where Sergio admits that he is not bothered by the difficulties he has faced because everyone has to pay their "dues." The singer wishes they could be as indifferent as Sergio, but they can't. They recognize that being "free" isn't as easy as it seems, and that everyone else is just fooling themselves by acting that way. In the end, they still plead with Sergio to help them get out of their current situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Run, run, run all you do is fucking run but you'll never run away from yourself.
You're constantly running away from your problems, but you'll never escape from yourself and the issues you carry.
I know it's hard but you've been there before and you know you're gonna be there again.
You've been through challenges before and you know it won't be the last time, but you'll make it through.
I don't care what the stars may say because they always feed their bullshit to me.
Don't believe in horoscopes because they're usually filled with nonsense.
It's kinda sad how you lost what you had and you're never gonna have it again and so I say:
It's heartbreaking how you lost something you had and you won't be able to regain it, which is why I'm telling you this.
Every other day you don't care what they say because they always leave you two steps behind.
You're used to people leaving you behind, which made you indifferent to what they say.
You try to smile and it lasts for a while but they always send you back to the start.
You put on a false front and try to be happy, but they always bring you back to the beginning.
Eenie meenie miney mo they shoot down everyone you know and then they leave you there all alone.
People indiscriminately hurt those around you and then leave you isolated.
You wish they'd stop but they never give up and you know deep inside that you're stuck and so I say:
You hope that they would stop, but they won't and you feel trapped, which is why I'm telling Sergio to help.
Sergio laughed for the last time today, He said â??It never really bothered me: we all have dues to payâ??
Sergio made a dark joke about his situation, saying we all have to pay for something.
Like a man that's cut off at the knee, he hobbles and hobbles because nothing is free.
Sergio is struggling like a man who lost a leg, as everything requires a high cost.
So wake up, wake up, wake up but don't cry because you'll fuck up your make up and if you do, you won't get laid, you won't make money, no you won't get paid.
Wake up from this nightmare and try not to cry because it'll ruin your appearance and affect your opportunities for sex, money, or payment.
So you act so free, you act so free, everybody's happy because you act so free.
You pretend to be free and easygoing, making everyone think you're happy.
Well you might fool them, but you can't fool me with your mindless chatter like â??I don't need them, I don't need helpâ?? I don't even need to see the end.
You might fool others with your empty talking about not needing anyone or help, but you can't fool me because I can see you don't care about the outcome.
Hey Sergio, it's getting kind of hot in here
The situation is becoming unbearable, and we need Sergio's help.
And so I say:
These words are my way of telling Sergio what needs to be done.
Hey Sergio, you gotta' to get us out of here
Sergio needs to take action and rescue us from this difficult situation.
And so I say:
Once again, I reiterate my plea to Sergio to do something.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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