Indie/alternative band comprising American Nathan Nicholson, Australian Tod… Read Full Bio ↴Indie/alternative band comprising American Nathan Nicholson, Australian Todd Howe and Englishmen Adam Harrison and Piers Hewitt; together they deliver a mixture of raucous bass-heavy grooves, alternately fragile and explosive vocals, and melodic sounds. Packed live performances show that TBR have amassed a solid fanbase, and one forgiving of the long waits between releases.

In 2000, Nathan Nicholson left Tennessee, America after the death of his mother, and came to London. The band formed in 2001 through a chance meeting at London's 12 Bar Club between vocalist Nathan and guitarist Todd. This quickly cemented into a firm friendship which resulted in them living and writing together. College friends Adam and Piers, were soon intrigued, and completed the line-up. All shared common influences, and a passion for epic, escapist music - The Boxer Rebellion was born.

In June 2003, after funding and releasing their own limited edition self-titled EP, they bolstered their way onto Glastonbury's New Bands tent, and were soon snapped up by Alan McGee's Poptones label, who put out first single Watermelon in the same year. Before the enormity of what they were doing had even registered, the Boxers spent months in the studio rehearsing and writing, before disaster struck for Nicholson, and riders and roadies were swapped for a hospital bed and saline drips. A twelve hour operation to remove a life-threatening growth from his stomach was successful. He was lucky. The result was the cancellation of tours with Razorlight and The Killers, among others.

The band was signed by major label Universal Music following Exits, who promised worldwide distribution and a free hand in continuing to create records of longevity and substance. Instead, the deal proved more of a curse than a blessing, as Universal became reluctant to continue to finance the lengthy gestation of the next record. Financial difficulties led Poptones to drop the Boxer Rebellion in early 2007, with Universal following suit soon after; however, both continued to hold rights to the band's catalogue and digital distribution. With the record nearly complete and invitations to tour from Editors and others still open, the band began a lengthy fight to get control back over them, which they eventually won in 2008. In January, an unmixed version of future single Evacuate was released on limited vinyl, but it would be a full year before anything approaching a full release was possible, and some of the band moved to Berlin in 2009.

With the money nearly running out and so a physical self-release impossible, the band entered an exclusive worldwide deal with iTunes to put their new record Union out as well as a re-release of Exits. The album charted highly, reaching #2 on the Alternative chart and #4 on the iTunes UK Top 100, but was ineligible for the official UK Top 40 as it was released when a physical release was required. The CD and vinyl were eventually released in August.

The Cold Still was released in the U.S. on 1 February 2011 on iTunes and is available on CD worldwide through the Boxer Rebellion's own label Absentee Recordings. The album charted on iTunes at #24 with a peak position of #20, spending 9 days on the US iTunes album chart. The band made their network television debut on 2 February 2011 on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman, where they performed the single "Step Out of the Car" live. The Boxer's new song "Both Sides are Even" was featured on ABC's Grey's Anatomy on 3 February 2011. Since the release of The Cold Still, the band have had several music placements including two in the videogame industry. "Step Out Of The Car" from The Cold Still was used in 2011's Rocksmith game and original composition "Losing You" was written exclusively for the Batman: Arkham City game soundtrack. Additionally "Caught By The Light" was used in the serial drama Nikita.

Also in 2011 the band released their first full-length live record Live in Tennessee. It was recorded and mixed by Ben McAmis and featured 16 tracks from a single concert.

On 7 November 2012, the band announced the release of their two volume B-Sides & Rarities Collection, Vol. 1 & 2, which contains tracks that had been previously recorded, but not included on initial releases of any of the studio albums. Volume one focused on material before and around the band's debut, Exits, and volume two included tracks that were released around and after Union, as well as some rarities that didn't make the cut or were included as bonus tracks for The Cold Still.

The band finished recording their fourth studio album, Promises, in the late part of February 2013. The music video for the debut single from the album, "Diamonds," was released on March 26. The band have toured regularly and released further singles, "Keep Moving", and "Promises".

On April 29, 2014, Todd Howe announced he was leaving the band to concentrate on production and other interests, leaving the Boxers as a three-piece.

http://www.theboxerrebellion.com
https://www.facebook.com/theboxerrebellion
http://instagram.com/theboxerrebellion#
http://www.youtube.com/user/theboxerrebellion
https://soundcloud.com/theboxerrebellion

Discography
2003 - The Boxer Rebellion EP, Watermelon
2004 - In Pursuit, Code Red
2005 - All You Do Is Talk, Exits LP, World Without End

2007 - Broken Glass, J F K F C
2008 - Evacuate, Don't Drag Your Dirty Feet
2009 - Union LP, Flashing Red Light Means Go, iTunes Live From London

2011 - The Cold Still LP, Step Out Of The Car, The Runner, No Harm, Live in Tennessee
2012 - B Sides & Rarities Vols. 1 & 2

2013 - Diamonds, Promises LP, Keep Moving
2014 - Promises

325
The Boxer Rebellion Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Leave your cigarettes
Take this flesh and bone
Leave me out your word
The best I've ever
Going to pull apart
every worry
always left to chance
you know, you...

And I
I want

Steady words apart
Choice to be alone
Pride to take the place
Of a another

you can come along
you could come along

It's the start of it
It's the start

And I
I want

Right is heavy inspiration
Pulling on the country peace
Heavy heart recognition
Barked by heavy place I leave
Whined in every voice of reason
From a moment age before
It's a part of us
It's a part

And I
I want

Sashes
Disappear
Worries reside
No brace to this place
Is still behind

I'm home

You'll done corner story
You'll done corner story

Overall Meaning

In “325,” The Boxer Rebellion focuses on a journey of self-discovery, shedding old habits, and finding one’s true identity. The song begins with the singer suggesting that those around them leave behind harmful habits, represented by cigarettes, and embrace the tangible reality of “flesh and bone” instead of empty words. The singer then goes on to express their desire to let go of worry and chance, implying a need for stability and control, ultimately leading to the chorus where they state their desire for something more.

The second verse is more introspective, with the singer choosing to be alone and take pride in their independence. They extend an invitation to others, but only if they bring something positive to the relationship. The song culminates in the final verse, with the singer acknowledging heavy burdens and accepting the harsh truths of the world. Yet, in spite of the weight they carry, the singer finally feels at ease, as if they've arrived at their final destination. The repetition of “I want” throughout the song can be interpreted as the singer claiming their personal desires or perhaps as a self-affirmation, lending a sense of urgency to the overall narrative.

Line by Line Meaning

Leave your cigarettes
Abandon your vices and distractions

Take this flesh and bone
Embrace your physical existence

Leave me out your word
Don't involve me in your empty talk

The best I've ever
The greatest thing I've ever experienced or achieved

Going to pull apart
Intending to dismantle

every worry
All concerns and anxieties

always left to chance
Frequently resulting from luck or happenstance

you know, you...
You are aware, you understand...

And I I want
The artist desire

Steady words apart
Clear and consistent communication

Choice to be alone
Decision to be solitary