Members of the Lawrence Arms have also played in The Broadways, Slapstick, Tricky Dick and Baxter.
The three musicians came together to form the Lawrence Arms in 1999. Although punk rock bands in their infancy generally start out by releasing EPs and 7" vinyl singles, the band members used their existing relationship with Asian Man Records to immediately begin recording a full-length album, a guided tour of chicago, which was released later that year. A second album, ghost stories, followed in 2000. Both albums focused heavily on the members' own stories of growing up and living in Chicago.
The band's next two releases were split EPs with other bands. The first, a split with Shady View Terrace, was released in 2000 and was their first release to be recorded by Matt Allison, who would continue to record and produce all of their subsequent releases. A second EP, Present Day Memories, was released in 2001 and was a split with The Chinkees.
The band's records and touring schedule had brought them to the attention of Fat Mike of NOFX, who signed them to his label Fat Wreck Chords in late 2001. Their first release on the label was a 7" vinyl single, part of the label's "Fat Club" series of 7" records. This was followed by the full-length album apathy and exhaustion, released in 2002. The album spawned the band's first music video, for the song porno and snuff films and they toured extensively with NOFX and other bands from the label.
Their next album was 2003's the greatest story ever told. Arguably their most ambitious album to date, it demonstrated the band members' continued growth as musicians and songwriters and included extensive footnotes to the lyrics detailing their many references to history, literature and pop culture. It also showed an evolution in the band's vocal style. Kelly had sung most of the vocals on their first album, while on subsequent releases he and McCaughan had split vocal duties almost equally from one song to the next, with Kelly's voice tending to sound more harsh and urgent while McCaughan's sounds more relaxed and melodic. With this release, however, the two began to move towards more of a duet style of singing which would feature prominently on their next album. Extensive touring following the album's release saw the band on the road for much of 2003 and 2004. They also contributed a song to the Fat Wreck Chords Rock Against Bush, Volume 2 compilation, leading up to the 2004 presidential election and became involved with the Punk Voter campaign.
In December of 2004 Kelly and Hennessy joined with fellow Chicago natives Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio (who had played with Kelly in Slapstick) and Todd Mohney, formerly of Rise Against, to form The Falcon, and released an EP on Red Scare. Meanwhile, with interest in the Lawrence Arms increasing and their EPs out of print, Asian Man Records planned a CD release of the band's EP tracks. The resulting compilation album, Cocktails & Dreams, was released on Asian Man in June of 2005 and included their songs from both EPs along with nearly all of their compilation tracks, rare songs and b-sides.
The Lawrence Arms re-entered the studio in October and November of 2005 and recorded the album oh! calcutta!, which was released on Fat Wreck Chords in March of 2006. It had an overall faster and more urgent feel to it than their previous album, and demonstrated another step in the development of their singing as Kelly and McCaughan shared vocals in a duet style on nearly every song. They filmed a music video for the song the devil's takin' names.
The Lawrence Arms spent most of 2006 touring extensively alongside bands such as NOFX, Alkaline Trio, The Draft, Lagwagon, and A Wilhelm Scream. The full-length debut by the Falcon was released that fall on Red Scare. In December, the Lawrence Arms embarked on their first headlining tour of Australia, also playing supporting shows with Frenzal Rhomb.
In March of 2007, guitarist Chris McCaughan released the debut album from his acoustic side project Sundowner, entitled four one five two.
The band toured again in 2007, with their side projects The Falcon and Sundowner as openers along with the recently reunited American Steel.
The 2010s saw minimal studio activity by the band, but for one album. 2014's Metropole was received well, and marked the band's first full-length in eight years. The band took another extended break in between albums again, taking six years before releasing their seventh album Skeleton Coast in 2020.
A Boring Story
The Lawrence Arms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Apathy pervasive emotions narcoleptic
No more smiles since fucking Sunday
Sinking feelings drinking early stinking septic
Stinking like a dream
Spoken outside in outside voices
Struck silent into shruddering and cold ground padded noises
Sucking myself up a truth that I don't need
No slowing down
No faces smile no lips that frown
Grey to neutral every synapse
Stinking thoughts a pool of dinner
Wipe my mouth and hope to die
This street is cold early morning noises
This body reeling ugly early morning choices
No more drinks til fucking noon
Rotting teeth and gums a blackening that sets in soon
And an all revealing smile
Just falling down
Won't make these hours turn around
I wish I could remember what I'm trying to forget
The Lawrence Arms's song A Boring Story is a vivid portrayal of apathy and the feeling of being stuck in a rut. The opening lines, "no more smile and no more outrage, apathy pervasive emotions narcoleptic," capture the numbness and detachment that the singer is experiencing. They are devoid of any strong emotions, both positive and negative, and are merely going through the motions of everyday life.
The second verse delves deeper into the singer's state of mind, with the lines "stinking like a dream spoken outside in outside voices struck silent into shuddering and cold ground padded noises." This imagery creates a sense of disorientation and confusion, as if the singer is unsure of their place in the world. The repetition of the word "stinking" also adds to the grim and depressing tone of the song.
The chorus, "just falling down won't make these hours turn around, I wish I could remember what I'm trying to forget," encapsulates the feeling of being stuck in a cycle of monotony and trying to escape from it. The singer wants to remember something, perhaps a happier time, but is unable to do so.
Overall, The Lawrence Arms's A Boring Story is a poignant exploration of apathy and the feeling of being trapped in an unfulfilling existence. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the despair and hopelessness that the singer is experiencing, and the repetition of themes and images add to the overall emotional impact of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
no more smile and no more outrage
Feeling indifferent and emotionally numb
apathy pervasive emotions narcoleptic
Numbness is everywhere, even in emotions, leading to sluggishness
no more smiles since fucking sunday
Feeling unhappy since last Sunday
sinking feelings drinking early stinking septic
Depression and anxiety seem to worsen after drinking, leading to an unclean state
stinking like a dream
Feeling gross like in a nightmare
spoken outside in outside voices
Talking about inner turmoil with an exterior tone
struck silent into shruddering and cold ground padded noises
Feeling numb and speechless as if underground in a cold environment
sucking myself up a truth that i don't need
Forcing oneself to face an unpleasant reality that does not need to be faced
last nights i don't believe
Feeling skeptical or unsure about past events
no slowing down
Unable to pause and reflect
no faces smile no lips that frown
Seeing no expression from anyone's face
grey to neutral every synapse
Mental state is dull and unresponsive
stinking thoughts a pool of dinner
Unpleasant thoughts like undigested food in a pool
wipe my mouth and hope to die
Feeling disgusted and wishing for an end
this street is cold early morning noises
Street is chilly and quiet in the morning
this body reeling ugly early morning choices
The physical self is in turmoil after making regretful decisions
no more drinks til fucking noon
Delaying alcohol consumption until midday
rotting teeth and gums a blackening that sets in soon
Physical damage from alcohol on teeth and gums will happen quickly
and an all revealing smile
A smile that conveys one's true emotions or intentions
just falling down
Giving up and losing control
won't make these hours turn around
Difficulty in turning the situation around
i wish i could remember what i'm trying to forget
Wishing to forget something but unable to forget it
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind