The Briefs are a punk rock band originally consisting of Daniel J. Travanti… Read Full Bio ↴The Briefs are a punk rock band originally consisting of Daniel J. Travanti (guitar/vocals), Steve E. Nix (guitar/vocals), Lance Romance (bass/vocals) and Chris Brief (drums/vocals). The group was formed in 2000 in Seattle, Washington. They play punk music common to the Pacific Northwest independent punk / new wave scene, influenced by acts such as the Buzzcocks, The Undertones and the Adverts. They released their first full length, Hit After Hit, in October 2000 via Dirtnap Records. The band was courted by and reportedly signed with major label Interscope Records following the release of 2002's Off The Charts, but the deal fell through. The Briefs surfaced on California's BYO Records with the release of 2004's Sex Objects and the reissue of their Dirtnap-era full lengths. They most recently released Steal Yer Heart in 2005. The Briefs have released a prolific number of 7" singles in their career for a number of small independent labels.

In 2004, the Briefs went on European tour without Lance Romance, who had stayed behind to get his GED. They took in his place bassist Steve Kicks of Vancouver's New Town Animals. Lance rejoined the line-up for the 2004 release party of Sex Objects, however retired from the band in 2005. Kicks has since become a permanent addition and was a full member for the follow up Steal Yer Heart.

Lyrically the Briefs have carried on many themes prevalent in `77 era punk rock. The Sex Objects single "Orange Alert" gained notoriety as a seething criticism of the Bush administration and the of the culture of fear in post-9/11 America. It is one of a number of songs critical of the U.S. Government, including "No More Presidents" and "Destroy The USA" from Sex Objects, and "We Americans" from Off the Charts. The band has written a number of love songs a consciously off kilter style similar to the Buzzcocks' "Orgasm Addict." Through songs like "Dolly Parton" the band has also shown a penchant for light-hearted absurdity.

The Briefs are currently on hiatus while Chris is in Germany and Daniel continues his quest towards becoming the world's littlest astronaut, training at a secret location underground, possibly in California. Nix and Kicks are both in a new band called Steve E. Nix and The Cute Lepers. They play a very similar style of music as The Briefs with some added power pop drive. They have released a 7" single for the songs "Terminal Boredom" backed with "Prove It" on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records. Two more singles are due on the europeon labels NFT and Drunk'n'Roll records.

Sylvia
The Briefs Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

She's got a secret a hidden mission
No one's going to stop her known intermission
With country style she goes wild

Sylvia

one place got robbed last Wednesday night
They got real scarry she put things right

Sylvia

OHHHHH
AAAAAHHHHH
GOOOO
Go Go Go Go

well if you see her don't try to run
She'll take you out just like a gun
With country style she goes wild

Sylvia

don't get me wrong, no she ain't evil
She's like a stunt man evil kanevil

Sylvia

OHHHHHH
Sylvia

Overall Meaning

The song "Sylvia" by The Briefs tells the story of a woman named Sylvia who has a hidden mission and is on a wild adventure. The first two lines reveal that Sylvia has a secret plan that she is determined to carry out, and no one can stop her. The next line talks about her country-style, indicating that she might be from the countryside or that she has a particular way of doing things. The chorus comes in, and we hear her name being repeated several times, emphasizing her importance in the story.

The next verse talks about an incident where a place got robbed the previous Wednesday night, and things got scary. However, Sylvia stepped up and made things right. This episode highlights that Sylvia is a strong, capable woman who can handle herself in tough situations. The second chorus follows the verse, and the singer emphasizes Sylvia's name, adding to her mysterious persona. The bridge reveals that Sylvia is not evil, but rather a person with a passion for adventure, like the legendary stuntman Evil Knievel.

The song's overall theme appears to be about a strong, independent woman who is not afraid to take on challenges and break norms. The lyrics give Sylvia a sense of mystery by never revealing her mission, making the listener wonder about the scope of her quest.

Line by Line Meaning

She's got a secret a hidden mission
Sylvia is a person with a secret motive that she does not reveal to anyone.

No one's going to stop her known intermission
Despite being aware of her plans, no one has the power to stop Sylvia from achieving her goals.

With country style she goes wild
Sylvia's approach to things is unique but effective.

Sylvia
Sylvia is the name and main focus of the song.

one place got robbed last Wednesday night
There was a robbery at a place on a particular Wednesday night.

They got real scarry she put things right
The situation was terrifying, but Sylvia managed to handle and fix it properly.

OHHHHH
This line represents a vocalization of excitement/enthusiasm.

AAAAAHHHHH
This line represents a vocalization of surprise, excitement, or fear.

GOOOO
This line represents a vocalization of encouragement.

well if you see her don't try to run
If you happen to encounter Sylvia, it's best not to run away from her.

She'll take you out just like a gun
Sylvia's effectiveness is compared to that of a gun.