Rx Bandits is a six-member band based in Seal Beach, California. Their musical style is an eclectic mix of ska, punk, rock, and reggae to a more progressive rock fusion.
Rx Bandits | |
|---|---|
| File:RxBandits.gif Top: Chris Tsagakis, Steven Borth, Steve Choi Bottom: Matt Embree, Joe Troy, Chris Sheets | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Seal Beach, California, USA |
| Years active | 1997–present |
History
The band was originally called The Pharmaceutical Bandits amid other popular southern California ska-influenced acts such as Reel Big Fish and No Doubt. After their initial release, Those Damn Bandits, pop/punk label Drive-Thru Records signed the band to their label. While at Drive-Thru the band shortened their named to Rx Bandits and released three albums. In 2006 the band and the label parted ways after which their latest album was released. Of the original line-up, only singer/songwriter Matt Embree and drummer Chris Tsagakis remain.
They have toured with such bands as former label mates New Found Glory and Finch, as well as with The Bloodhound Gang, Reel Big Fish, The Format, DESA, Catch 22, Big D and the Kids Table, The Exit, Slow Gherkin, and Keziah Jones. They have also appeared on the Vans Warped Tour.
Their live shows are known for being highly energetic, with pre-rehearsed jams in between songs. They perform extended versions of many songs and have been known to bring out multiple drummers to play on numbers such as Decrescendo and Only For The Night. Still, they fall somewhat short of being a full fledged "jam band," however it is fair to say that they exhibit musicianship live that is not captured by their recordings. They are known to interpolate songs by other artists, as well as their own, during their jams.
They are also noted for their strong political views.
Those Damn Bandits
In 1997, the band released Those Damn Bandits, their first full-length album. Those Damn Bandits was essentially a re-recording of their demo, but excluded Sleepy Tyme and High Skool and added four news songs as well as a secret track. Originally released through Antedote Records, it was this album that caught the attention of the ska scene and allowed the Bandits to headline their own local shows. Striking while the iron was hot, up-and-coming pop/punk label Drive Thru Records immediately signed the band (in turn buying the rights to Those Damn Bandits and releasing it under their label) and geared them up for production of their first major label album.
Halfway Between Here and There
Bigger production budgets and the backing of a bigger label saw the band explore new styles with Halfway Between Here and There, but the band held on to their ska roots while exploring a larger element of distorted punk rock. While not nearly as experimental as their later works, the album did work to branch out past the third wave ska sound on tracks such as "Gun In Your Hand" and "Cornered", allusions to what kind of elements, experimentation and thoughts that would be found on their later albums.
The album's success opened doors for the band, which allowed them to tour with well-known act such as The Bloodhound Gang, New Found Glory and Reel Big Fish.
Halfway sold out rather quickly after it's initial 1998 release. In 1999, the album was re-released with a new track list, 2 remastered songs and new artwork. The '99 release was also released under their newer and simpler name: Rx Bandits.
In the time between Halfway Between Here and There and their next release, Progress, Worth and Gaffney quit the band. Worth was replaced by James Salomone, formerly of My Superhero. Gaffney's position was left open.
Progress
With 2001's Progress, the band took a huge step forward musically, moving beyond third wave ska. Progress involved elements of punk, reggae, and hardcore punk. Indeed, the band itself notes influences ranging from Fugazi and Bad Brains, to Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Toots and the Maytals. The album spawned their only music video, for the song "Analog Boy". The band at this point consisted of Embree, Tsagaskis, Balling, Salomone, and the album included a number of guest performers, including former Bandit Noah Gaffney, who contributed on the song "Anyone But You."
Shortly after the release of the album, Chris Sheets joined the band on trombone as well as Steve Choi (formerly of The Chinkees) on guitar and keyboards. Choi had played keyboards on the demos for Progress, but when it came time to record, they decided instead to have Rich Zahniser of The Hippos, who was touring with the band, play on the album. Former Jeffries Fan Club trombonist Chris Colonnier also played with the band at times, in the same role as Zahniser. While they had just gained the two new members James Salomone and Rich Balling left the band. They had many temporary replacements for Salomone, most notably Johnny Tsagakis, Chris' younger brother, but eventually Joe Troy, a longtime friend of Embree, who helped to write the song "What if?" on Halfway Between Here and There, eventually joined the band as their bass player. Balling was replaced by saxophonist Steve Borth, who had played formerly in the popular East Bay ska-punk band Link 80. Their line-up of Embree, Tsagakis, Sheets, Choi, Troy and Borth would go on to spawn two critically acclaimed albums, The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun.
The Resignation
2003 saw the release of The Resignation, a CD/DVD combination. The production of the album was uniquely approached; Guitars, bass, drums, and some keyboards were all recorded live and vocals, horns, percussion and additional keyboard parts were then overdubbed. The band allowed themselves a limited number of takes for each parts, and once a take was recorded it was left as it was, with no punch-ins. Embree also shared songwriting duties with Steve Choi, whereas he had previously been responsible for all of the band's material.
Musically, the album continued the genre mixing of Progress and experimented with unconventional time signatures. It again featured overtly political lyrics, evident most obviously in songs such as "Overcome (The Recapitulation)," and "Mastering the List."
The album cover is an original composition by Aaron Nagel, a Bay Area artist and member of both Link 80 and DESA.
After the success of The Resignation, the band found time for side projects (see below).
Rx Bandits Live: Vol. 1
In 2004 the band released a DVD of live performances that were filmed during their many live shows. It was one of the first released on Embree's Mash Down Babylon Record label (MDB Records). It contains two easter eggs, one being a performance of the song Up to No Good, which is the only song recorded during the sessions for The Resignation that was not included on the album. The other is studio footage of the band working on the album.
...And the Battle Begun
Their latest album, ...And the Battle Begun was released to their fans through online purchase on June 24, 2006 and was made available for purchase during the band's 2006 US Tour. Their new song "Only for the Night" was one of the first to be leaked onto the internet. The Rx Bandits have posted the songs "Crushing Destroyer" and "In Her Drawer",on their Purevolume page, as well as their own website Rx Bandits.com. As with The Resignation the album art was produced by Nagel, who completed his work in-studio while the band was recording their album.
This record will be released on Embree's MDB Records. Originally the album was supposed to be released in 2005 through Drive-Thru Records (contractually they had one more album due from the band), but for unspecified reasons, the band and label chose to part ways, causing lengthy delays in the release date. Finally free of any legal setbacks, the CD was made available. Officially it is set to debut in retail stores in October 2006.
Musically, the album moves farther away from a reggae/ska sound and into a more progressive rock feel. The band again incorporated more complex time signatures and what has become their standard array of instruments. Notably, Embree used a Fender Stratocaster guitar, where he had previously used a Gibson Les Paul; the tone differences between the two instruments adds another layer of complexity to the band's sound. Lyrically the album continues many of the same themes as before. Their songs touch on the use of prescription drugs, empowerment of women, and anti-violence. The song "A Mouth Full of Hollow Threats" even contains a lyrical interpolation of Bob Dylan's "Masters of War."
On June 28, 2006, the band announced via their MySpace page that saxophone player and backup vocalist Steve Borth had left the band to pursue his own musical interests. Borth had been a member of the Rx Bandits since the departure of trombonist Rich Balling, and had contributed his talents to both The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun. This announcement came in the midst of their 2006 US Summer Tour to the surprise of many fans. Borth played his final show with the Rx Bandits on Tuesday, June 27, 2006 (incidentally lead singer/guitarist Matt Embree's birthday) at the Bowery Ballroom in New York City. Sometime after Borth's departure, Andrew Borstein from touring mates Monty Are I joined the band on stage playing trombone and providing backup vocals.
Band members
Current Members
- Matthew Embree – vocals, guitar
- Steve Choi – guitar, keyboards
- Chris Sheets – trombone, backing vocals, percussion
- Joseph Troy – bass
- Christopher Tsagakis – drums
Former Members
- Steve Borth (Saxophone on The Resignation and ...And The Battle Begun)
- Joe Troy (Bass)
- Johnny Tsagakis (Bass)
- James Salomone (Bass on Progress)
- Zahniser (Keyboards)
- Franz J. Worth (Bass on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Between Here and There)
- Noah Gaffney (Saxophone on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Between Here and There)
- Rich Balling (Trombone on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Between Here and There and Progress)
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Those Damn Bandits | 1998 | |
| Halfway Between Here and There | October 26, 1999 | Drive-Thru Records |
| Progress | July 17, 2001 | Drive-Thru Records |
| The Resignation | July 15, 2003 | Drive-Thru Records |
| ...And the Battle Begun | October 10, 2006 | MDB Records |
DVD
- Rx Bandits Live: Vol. 1 (2004)
Side Projects
After the release of The Resignation, several members found time for side projects.
Embree is currently involved with his own independent label, MDB Records. He also performs in the hip hop group Seekret Socyetee, garage/punk group Coke vs. Bills with Joe Troy, and free form Jam band Apotheke with other members of the Rx Bandits.
Embree and Tsagakis can also be found in The Sound of Animals Fighting as “Walrus” and “Lynx” respectively, with Anthony Green (ex-Saosin, more recently of Circa Survive vocalist), among others.
Steve Borth started the reggae/rocksteady band Satori and features Embree on bass and members of The Exit.
Steve Choi collaborated with Asian Man Records founder Mike Park in both The Chinkees and The Bruce Lee Band.
External links
- Rx Bandits.com – Official Website
- MySpace Profile
- Purevolume Profile
- Rx-Bandits.com - Fan Website
- Mash Down Babylon Records – Official Label Website