The band’s conception was first shaped in 2001 from an appreciation of their local music scene, and inspiration from bands such as No Knife, Three Mile Pilot, and Inch. Guitarist and vocalist Jaime Solis explains, “The band came together from the remnants of several other defunct local bands. Except for Mike, who grew up outside Philadelphia, San Diego was a total music playground for us.” However, although they’ve obtained success, their earlier years weren’t cut short of painless experiences, and failed endeavors. One illustration of this is the number of line up changes the band has been through, which ironically foreshadowing their name, has kept them in transit.
The original lineup united around current lead singer, guitarist Jim Hughes and bassist Mike Frey, with the addition of guitarist Anthony Levas and drummer Bernie Tiano. When they began recording their first full-length album, Ah Discordia!, with Harbor Records, Levas and Tiano were replaced with present guitarist Jaime Solis and drummer Brad Bohensky. This change has proved to be a success for The Transit War, as Solis clarifies, “It was just like finding that perfect ingredient you never knew was missing. Where the band might have had a couple of drivers and a couple passengers before, we’ve ended up with a connection between four people who really belong behind the wheel.”
The band underwent another change when they switched labels for their most current release, Miss Your Face, from Harbor Records to the comfortable and productive Orange Peel. “Harbor wasn’t really much more than a kiss and a good luck handshake for us. Orange Peal is a place where we can grow and function as a band,” Solis says, as the band has always kept in good spirits about any hardships or changes. “We’ve always said The Transit War motto was, whatever can go wrong will go wrong. We love what we get to do in this life and know we’re lucky to be doing it at all, so all the blood, sweat and tears are given very willingly.”
Miss Your Face was inspired by many elements including alcohol, storytelling, regret, tour, families, shortcomings, and the music from which the band members derive their influence. Recording this record was the first time they were able to be attentive in creating the music, as most was written on the road together as a band. When they were recording Ah Discordia! it was more of an impulsive time, as Brad and Jaime were unsullied to the band. For Miss Your Face they were able to center more on songwriting, different instrumentation, and creating significant melodies and harmonies.
The experience of recording Miss Your Face and being on tour has solidified The Transit War’s current line up, brought its members close together, and has also formed an appreciation for the bigger picture. “I’d say we’ve grown into a family - a family with a ton of branches. We’ve spent so much time on the road together living in our box that it was inevitable really,” Solis remarks. “But it’s the kind of environment we thrive in, to the point where family means our families at home, all of our fans and friends, even the people we work with business-wise. Everyone’s related at this point.”
The Transit War’s valiant efforts, upright attitude, and dedication to their music have earned them many accolades and industry nods which have been beneficial to exposing the band to new fans. One of their more notable honors was winning MTVu’s The Freshman contest for their video “Kerosene.” They’ve also been nominated in the Best Rock category for the San Diego Music Awards, and have been Spin.com’s Artist of the Day.
The band is currently out on the road with Self Against City, doing a stretch of dates throughout the West Coast. Select dates also feature Quietdrive and The Fold. For The Transit War, bringing their songs from the studio to the stage is what they live for. “We enjoy dynamics in music and try to build a set the same way. If you’re coming to a show you can expect a lot of energy, not so much shtick, and some quality harassment from the four of us to check out the new lamp at our merch table.”
This is a band with a positive reception to what’s been thrown at them, the state of flux and transit they’ve endured, and a general respect for the situation they are in.
An additional great quick story is from Rollin Stone online:
http://www.spin.com/articles/transit-war-avoid-tornado-write-track
Hey! Is For Horses
The Transit War Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something better gives you chills
This one's for all within range
Single motives start to thrill
We're here to ransack your brain
Ransack your brain
Will come and go, they'll never be the same
And all the things they've said before
Just cross them out, they never want to change
Never want to change
And this dead little city is keeping me cold
And this dead little city has swallowed me
Watch the lights come up for good
God help you, keep it alive
'Cause once the room begins to move
You're on the floor, just keeping time
Just keeping time
And this dead little city is keeping me cold
And this dead little city has swallowed me whole
And this dead little city is keeping me cold
And this dead little city has swallowed me
Make lives into simple verse
We'll take the lives and we'll make them worse
I see the kids that you emulate
It doesn't matter if it sounds the same
And all the dreams that you pushed aside
Reconsider that 9 to 5
When all the music in the city burns
We get a laugh as the tables turn
You're just the same as the first
Yeah, you're just the same as the first one
You're just the same as the first
Yeah, you're just the same as the next one
And this dead little city is keeping me cold
And this dead little city has swallowed me whole
And this dead little city (you're just the same as the first one) is keeping me cold (you're
Just the same as the next one)
And this dead little city (you're just the same as the last one) has swallowed me
Yeah
The Transit War's song Hey! Is For Horses is about the struggles of living in a “dead little city” that is holding the singer down. The song opens with the lines, “Something better gives you chills/ This one's for all within range” suggesting that the singer is seeking a way out of their current situation. The lyrics convey a sense of restlessness and unease, as the singer feels trapped and disregarded in their city. They talk about wanting to “ransack your brain,” hinting that they are desperate for a way to break out of this monotony.
The second verse of the song talks about the power of music to change things, and how the singer wishes the city could be more musically active. They urge listeners to reconsider their jobs and dreams, suggesting that there is a better way to live than the daily grind. The line “When all the music in the city burns/ We get a laugh as the tables turn” suggests that the singer sees music as a way to subvert the status quo and create something new and fresh.
Overall, the song is a wistful commentary on the difficulties of living in a city where dreams don't seem to come true. However, it is also a call to action, urging listeners to take control of their lives and seek out something new and different. The Transit War's Hey! Is For Horses is a powerful anthem of hope for those who feel trapped in unfulfilling lives.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey
Attention grabber, initiating conversation
Something better gives you chills
Higher quality experiences evoke strong excitement
This one's for all within range
Song is dedicated to anyone who can hear it
Single motives start to thrill
Pursuing one objective can be exhilarating
We're here to ransack your brain
Our intention is to stimulate and captivate you intellectually
And all the things you've heard before
Will come and go, they'll never be the same
Familiar ideas will lose their original impact and become unremarkable
Just cross them out, they never want to change
Ignore those who refuse to evolve or improve
And this dead little city is keeping me cold
The mundane and uninspiring environment is affecting my emotional state
Watch the lights come up for good
Observe a positive and exciting event to lift your spirits
God help you, keep it alive
A plea for divine intervention to maintain this positive change
You're on the floor, just keeping time
Dancing mindlessly and conforming to the music's rhythm
Make lives into simple verse
Simplify complex lives to make them more relatable
We'll take the lives and we'll make them worse
Exposing unpleasant realities and flaws to create honest art
It doesn't matter if it sounds the same
Originality and individuality are not important for success
Reconsider that 9 to 5
Rethink conventional work lifestyles and pursue passions instead
When all the music in the city burns
When inspiration is lacking or destroyed
We get a laugh as the tables turn
Deriving humor from unpredictable turn of events
You're just the same as the first one
You are unremarkable and common like everyone else
And this dead little city has swallowed me whole
A depressing and stifling environment has consumed my identity
Contributed by Christopher K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.