Rx bandits discography biography

American band

Rx Bandits
The Rx Bandits performing on Amble 11, 2007 in Buffalo, Newfound York.
Also known as	The Pharmaceutical Bandits
Origin	Seal Beach, California, United States
Genres	Ska worthless, progressive rock, post-hardcore, reggae, vote rock
Years active	1995-present
Labels	Antedote, Drive Thru, Outrun Down Babylon, Sargent House
Members
Past members	Joseph Troy Steve Borth Chris Sheets Johnny Tsagakis James Salomone Rich Zahniser Franz J. Worth Noah Gaffney Neil Burdick Rich Balling

Rx Bandits are a assemblage based in Seal Beach, Calif., United States. The band sit in judgment in 1995 in Orange Department, California. They have appeared stash the Vans Warped Tour, make certain the Bonnaroo Music and Bailiwick Festival, Coachella Valley Music shaft Arts Festival, and The Con.

In the UK they own acquire appeared at Reading/Leeds Festival & Slam Dunk Festival.

History

Early period (1995-1999)

Originally known as The Slip someone a mickey finn Bandits, the band began their career by participating in high-mindedness third wave ska revival robust the 1990s. In 1996, they released their first studio wedding album, the self-produced Demo(nstration).

In 1997, they released Those Damn Bandits, which featured guest appearances next to Jimmy the Robot of interpretation Aquabats and Chris Colonnier hillock Jeffries Fan Club and Illustriousness Forces of Evil. Noting interpretation Bandits' potential, a Los Angeles Times review of the baby book said "Now comes a juvenile, talented ska band, the Antidepressant Bandits.

It would be Delightful with me if the Grinch spared them but swiped their ska records and left trig shelf of Who, Clash, Oscillate Marley, Elvis Costello and Neil Young."^[1] Matt Embree attended Los Alamitos High School, which was an incubator for other tertiary wave ska bands such orangutan Reel Big Fish, Save Ferris, and The Scholars.

Drive-Thru adulthood (1999-2006)

In 1998, the band unbound Halfway Between Here and There. On this album, the pin began to branch out at a distance the third wave ska durable.

The album's success allowed them to tour with well-known realization such as The Bloodhound Band, Goldfinger, and Reel Big Probe, and later to headline shows with up-and-comers such as In mint condition Found Glory and Freakdaddy generally opening for them.

In 1999, the album was re-released brains a new track list, 2 remastered songs, and new decrease. The '99 release was loose under the band's new name—Rx Bandits.

In the time in the middle of Halfway Between Here and There and their next release, Progress, bassist Franz Worth and player Noah Gaffney left the must.

Worth was replaced by Felon Salomone, formerly of My Godlike. Gaffney's position was left biological. In June 2000, the strip toured the US with Edna's Goldfish and the Gadjits.^[2]

With 2001's Progress, the band continued come into contact with expand their sound. The single contained the song "Analog Boy", which was made into subject of their three music videos.

At this point, the knot consisted of Embree, Tsagakis, Balling, and Salomone. The album limited a number of guest shipwreck throw off, including former member Noah Gaffney.

Shortly after the release put the album, Chris Sheets united the band on trombone likewise well as Steve Choi multiplication guitar and keyboards.

Choi locked away played keyboards on the demos for Progress, but when make a full recovery came time to record, they decided instead to have Well provided for Zahniser of The Hippos, who was touring with the snap, play on the album. Chris Colonnier also played with grandeur band at times, filling honourableness same role as Zahniser.

In the near future after they gained the novel members, James Salomone and Affluent Balling left the band. They had many temporary replacements rep Salomone, most notably Johnny Tsagakis, Chris' younger brother, but at the end of the day Joe Troy, a longtime newspaper columnist of Embree, who helped compute write the song "What If?" on Halfway Between Here mount There, joined the band sort their bass player.

Balling was replaced by saxophonist Steve Borth, who had played formerly fake the popular East Bay ska punk band Link 80. Their line-up of Embree, Tsagakis, Shilly-shally, Choi, Troy and Borth would go on to create righteousness next two albums, The Resignation and ...And the Battle Begun.

2003 saw the release see The Resignation, a CD/DVD set.

Guitars, bass, drums, and tedious keyboards were all recorded accommodation in studio, and vocals, horns, percussion and additional keyboard genius were then overdubbed. The have to allowed themselves a limited hand out of takes for each declare, and once a take was recorded it was left type it was - no punch-ins were allowed. Embree shared songwriting duties with Steve Choi, unwell Embree had previously been accountable for all of the band's material.

The Resignation became loftiness first album to debut depiction Billboard 200. It was representation No. 5 on the Top Heatseekers chart.

Musically, the album elongated to branch out beyond Progress into new musical territory, containing experimentation with unconventional time signatures.

The Resignation featured overtly public lyrics as the band evolved even further from their ska-punk days as the Pharmaceutical Bandits, a subject that drummer Chris Tsagakis commented on in public housing interview conducted by former partaker Rich Balling for Skratch Magazine:

A closed-minded person will assuredly see a band with horns and think ska or ska-punk.

I don't really stress range it, because I know what we are doing transcends genres. We make music, and miracle are a band that has horns. I would never school group this band under any honour. We make music, and surprise have horns and keys illustrious everything else.^[3]

The album cover discover The Resignation is an latest composition called "Predictable" by Ballplayer Nagel, a Bay Area organizer and member of both Make your way 80 and DESA.

In 2004, the band released a DVD of live performances that were filmed during their many preserve shows. It was one lady the first released on Embree's Mash Down Babylon Record title (aka MDB Records). It contains two Easter Eggs: a radio show of the song "Up highlight No Good", the only aerate recorded during the sessions recognize the value of The Resignation that was keen included on the album similarly well as studio footage type the band working on honesty album.

During the DVD's glide show, the background music survey performed by Apotheke, a conservation project run by several components of the band.

MDB/Sargent House

...And the Battle Begun was firstly released online on June 24, 2006, and was made share out for purchase during the band's 2006 US Tour. The album's title refers to the poem of Lord Byron, in which the phrase appears repeatedly.

The album was originally slated lay aside be released in 2005 brushoff Drive-Thru Records (with one stamp album left on their contract), on the contrary for unspecified reasons, the necessitate and label chose to excellence ways, causing lengthy delays be thankful for the release date. Finally competent of any legal setbacks, illustriousness CD was made available at near online order from MDB Annals and on specified tour dates.

Officially it debuted in bazaar stores in October 2006, back which the band performed unmixed Northeastern CD release tour face up to promote the album.

On June 28, 2006, the band declared via their MySpace page rove saxophone player and backup soloist Steve Borth had left nobleness Rx Bandits to pursue circlet own band, Satori.

This statement came in the midst run through their 2006 US Summer Voyage to the surprise of numerous fans. Borth played his last show with the Rx Bandits on Tuesday, June 27, 2006, at the Bowery Ballroom rejoinder New York City.

In union with Refused TV, the Bandits recorded a music video purpose the title track off ...And the Battle Begun.

It even-handed only their second music cut since the making of unembellished video for "Analog Boy" unsavory 2001, and their first for one`s part produced video for the aerate "I Will Live" on illustriousness Those Damn Bandits album. Honourableness "I Will Live" video was never officially released, although remorseless bootleg copies still exist.

They released their live set let alone the Bonnaroo Music and Study Festival 2007 exclusively on rendering iTunes Store. Live from Bonnaroo 2007 is currently only at one's disposal for download from the U.S. iTunes Store.

During the summertime of 2008 the band exact a headlining tour with keep up from Portugal. The Man, Elevations & Atlases, Kay Kay paramount His Weathered Underground and Meet New York.

Cathy Pellow call upon Sargent House announced via class Rx Bandits fan site structuring for a live DVD featuring their live performance at nobility Glasshouse in Pomona, CA lure August 22, 2008, as all right as interviews and footage munch through the writing and recording optimism the next album. That chirography and rehearsing process saw greatness departure of Chris Sheets, desertion the band a four-piece gain without horns for the lid time in its history.

Mandala (2009-2011)

Mandala was released as unmixed digital download on July 14, 2009, and the CD was released on July 21, 2009, on Sargent House.^[4] They afterward headed out on a co-headlining tour with Dredg with gyratory support from Good Old Contest, Zechs Marquise and As Highpitched As Lions.

This album dim No. 117 on the Billboard Cardinal.

On January 4, 2010, dignity band announced some U.S. peregrination dates starting in March live support from Zechs Marquise take The Builders And The Butchers. This tour featured a 3-night stand at The Gramercy Theatreintheround in New York City, site they performed (in their entirety) The Resignation, ...And The Wrangle with Begun, and Mandala on persist respective night (an album adequate show).

They recruited some fast friends to play horns convey these shows. In September 2010, they had a similar nudge of shows at The Troubador in Los Angeles. The filled album shows from The Troubador were recorded live and ethics audio was released by glory band via flashdrive.

Last Summertime Tour (2011)

On April 12, 2011, the band announced that their forthcoming summer U.S.

tour would be their last.^[5] A petty statement was given by interpretation band:

We would like show express our love and conception for all that you've clapped out for us and how disproportionate a part of our returns you have been. We own all mutually decided that that summer will be our resolve tour.

We love each molest and love you all celebrated hope to see you dear the shows.

The tour was firmly of 36 shows spanning differ May 4, 2011, to Venerable 7, 2011.

Fans first deemed the announcement to mean drift the band was breaking setting when, in fact, they hold simply stopping their summer excursion.

Steve Choi has confirmed that in a Playmaker interview:^[6]

To give explanation, we’re not breaking up. We’re just doing our last structure. What we’re gonna do occupy the future, we’re not utterly sure. That’s a big number because it involves what we’re going to do collectively presentday what we’re going to slacken individually.

Despite popular belief, surprise don’t live together, sleep manufacture or eat together. Those era have passed. We all receive our own lives to highlight to. When we’re not all-inclusive time touring or playing shows, we gotta handle business…

Brazilian Trip (2012)

On May 30, 2012, Rx Bandits announced that they would be performing a series pattern dates in Brazil during ethics summer, effectively ending their year-long hiatus.^[7]

The Resignation Tenth Anniversary Progress and New EP (2013)

Rx Bandits toured the United States textile the summer of 2013 be acquainted with mark the tenth anniversary eradicate the release of The Resignation.

The band released an Coloring featuring covers of The The long arm of the law, Blonde Redhead, Weezer, Fugazi, perch King Crimson.

Gemini, Her Majesty (2014)

During their special acoustic action in their hometown of Splurge Beach, California on December 14, 2013, Embree stated that a- new album is halfway impossible to get into and Rx Bandits will enter together again.

The band unattached a demo recording on Jan 26, 2014, through PledgeMusic.^[8] Leadership track is tentatively titled, "Ready Eddie" . The official admit defeat of the track has in that been released, and is hollered "Stargazer", the first track verifiable for the new album.

On June 6, 2014, the stripe announced via Twitter that their new album will be titled Gemini, Her Majesty, and clever was released on July 22, 2014.^[9]

In December 2014 the company played two nights at Greatness Glasshouse in Pomona, CA.

Primacy first night was dedicated pick out playing through Gemini, Her Public in its entirety, followed moisten a six-song encore set brains horn players. The second shades of night was a fan-made setlist featuring the horn section again, as well as many older fan favorites take from The Resignation.

In 2015, representation band toured with Circa Clearthinking for their "Juturna" 10-year saint's day tour.

Drummer Chris Tsagakis was unable to tour during that time, and his role was filled by Javier Torres. Class band played as a one piece on this tour, arm no horn players were impinge on.

In 2016, the band embarked on a 10-year anniversary excursion of "And the Battle Begun", which featured Matt Embree come to rest Steve Choi, but with Javier Torres on drums and Completely Fazzi on bass.

Long-time bassist Joe Troy was absent breakout the tour. Chris Tsagakis claimed that he was no mortal touring with the band on every side focus on being a daddy. Andrew Bornstein also played trombone on this tour, as spasm as Dennis Passley on sax. Since this tour, the bracket together has remained inactive and beside seem to be no vanguard plans to tour.

Since consequently, Matt Embree has filled walk heavily on tours for numerous bands, and is currently touring nervousness the band Dispatch. He further recorded/engineered the latest Dan Possessor and the Bricks' album.

In 2019, the band announced they would be performing at position House of Blues in Metropolis, California on January 24, 2020, with support from Anthony Grassy and VIS.^[10]

In 2022, the troupe toured with Nova Charisma.^[11]

On Nov 10, 2023, Steve Choi, policy the 'Football, Beer & Mug Rock Podcast', confirmed the cluster are working on a another album and are back upset Sargent House.^[12]

On November 15, 2023, the band announced via 'X' (formerly Twitter) that they would be performing a series chastisement 8 shows across the U.S.

in March 2024 for interpretation 20-year anniversary of The Resignation.^[13]

Over the years, several members exist time for side projects.

Embree and Chris Tsagakis can as well be found in The Dependable of Animals Fighting as “Walrus” and “Lynx,” respectively. The task force was founded by former Rx Bandits trombonist Rich Balling.

Joe Troy, Chris Sheets, and Steve Choi have performed live reliable the band, which also includes Anthony Green (Saosin, Circa Survive) and Craig Owens (Chiodos vocalist) as well as members pleasant Finch and Days Away.

Steve Borth played with the Blue California skacore band, Link 80, signed to Asian Man Documents. He later started the reggae/rocksteady band Satori which has likewise featured Embree on bass, people of The Exit, and Chris Murray.

Steve Choi collaborated board Asian Man Records founder Microphone Park in both The Chinkees and The Bruce Lee Pin. The Rx Bandits were featured as Park's Bruce Lee Cast during the recording of ethics Beautiful World EP. Choi run through also a member of decency band Machines, in which let go plays the drums.

September 9, 2008 saw the release observe Matt Embree's acoustic side activity, entitled Love You Moon.

Loftiness album consists solely of Outright on the acoustic guitar confident the exception of 3 wheelmarks make tracks where Chris Tsagakis assists come close to drums. This album was presold at the Rx Bandits' at the same time tour. He also released plug up EP of covers entitled "Maracay" during the last Rx silhouette.

The album was recorded mid a trip to Venezuela become more intense all proceeds went to Doctors Without Borders.

Embree and Tsagakis have also played guitar gleam drums, respectively, with Lauren Coleman in her project, Pebaluna. Position three met when she was recording in the Elizabethan anxiety late 2005.

Matt Embree gawk at also be heard on vex projects such as those outline the hip-hop group Seekret Socyetee, 2 Drunk'n Poets, and V.I.T.A.L.

Emcee's solo album, "The Hidden of the Invisible Man", drifter of which have been unconfined on Embree's MDB Records.

Tsagakis is recording and performing material under the name C-Gak. He also released an notebook under the moniker of Field.

Embree also started a additional group with Lisa Papineau baptized ME & LP.

They unfastened their first EP Chez Raymond on August 9, 2011, abstruse toured the West Coast.

Choi is currently producing bands, latterly working with Silver Snakes, Tilling Not Architecture and The Soft Teen.

Embree and Tsagakis insecure an album as Biceratops hit down November 2012.

Band members

Current Members

• Matt Embree – vocals, guitar, stingy, keyboards (1995–present)
• Steve Choi – bass, keyboards, vocals, percussion (2001–present)
• Christopher Tsagakis – drums (1995–present)

Former members

• Joseph Metropolis – bass, vocals (2001–2022)
• Christopher Forebears – trombone, vocals, percussion aver The Resignation and ...And Integrity Battle Begun (2001–2008)
• Steven Borth II – saxophone, vocals, keyboard, niggardly on The Resignation and ...And The Battle Begun (2002–2006)
• John Tsagakis – bass (2001)
• James Salomone – bass on Progress (2000–2001)
• Franz Record.

  Worth – bass on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Among Here and There (1995–2000)

• Noah Gaffney – saxophone, vocals on Those Damn Bandits and Halfway Amidst Here and There (1995–2000)
• Neil Burdick – alto saxophone, vocals state Demo and Those Damn Bandits (1997)
• Rich Balling – trombone, vocals on Those Damn Bandits, Halfway Between Here and There direct Progress (1995–2001)

Touring members

• Matthew Fazzi – bass, vocals (2016–present)
• Andrew Borstein – trombone, vocals, keyboards (2006–present)
• Dennis Passley – saxophone (2013–present)
• Javier Torres – drums (occasionally between 2015–2021)

• Rich Zahniser – keyboards, trombone, vocals (2001)
• Chris Colonnier – keyboards, trombone, vocals (1997, 2001–2002)
• Nat Love – sax (2010-2011)

Timeline

Discography

Albums

Title	Release date	Label
Demo(nstration)	1996	Self-produced
Those Damn Bandits	1997	Antedote Records; Drive-Thru Records
Halfway Between On every side 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 Conflict Begun	October 10, 2006	MDB Records/Sargent House
Live from Bonnaroo 2007 (iTunes Release)	December 5, 2007	MDB Records/Sargent House
Mandala	July 21, 2009	MDB Records/Sargent House
Live at Park Ave	April 12, 2010	Verve
Covers EP	June 24, 2013	Uppercut/Primary Wave
Gemini, Disown Majesty	July 22, 2014	MDB Annals

Compilations

Title	Release date	Label	Songs contributed
Hooked on Ska-nics	1998	Johnny Bravo Records	"S.A.M."
Double Exposure	1998	Go Kart Records	"Wrong adequate Me"
Punk Vs. Ska Hoop-shaped 2	February 10, 1998	Skratch Bamboozle Records	"Saw Red"
Ska Sucks	May 1998	Liberation Records	"Teen Idol"
Hey Brother...Can You Spare Irksome Ska	January 19, 1999[14]	Vegas Records	"Teen Idol (Remix)"
You'll Never Very great Fast Food Again	November 9, 1999[15]	Drive-Thru	"What If", "Wrong with Me", "All The Time (acoustic)"
Fatty's Favorites	2000	We The People Chronicles	"High Skool"
Punk Goes Metal	August 1, 2000[16]	Fearless Records	"Holy Wars"
For the Kids	December 22, 2000	Together	"What If"
Welcome disruption the Family	November 20, 2001	Drive-Thru	"Analog Boy", "Mastering the List"
Go Kart MP300 Raceway	October 28, 2003	Go-Kart Records	"Overcome (the Recapitulation)", "Sell You Beautiful"
Rock Against Bush, Vol. 1	April 20, 2004[17]	Fat Wreck Chords	"Overcome (the Recapitulation)"
Drive Thru / Speed More Records sampler	2005	Drive-Thru/Rushmore	"Decrescendo"
Dead Bands Party: Dialect trig Tribute to Oingo Boingo	May 10, 2005[18]	Indianola Records	"Grey Matter"
Listen To Bob Dylan - Precise Tribute	August 16, 2005[19]	Drive-Thru	"The Friendless Death of Hattie Carroll"
Body of War: Songs That Enthusiastic an Iraq War Veteran	March 18, 2008[20]	Sire/Wea	"Overcome (the Recapitulation)"

DVD

• RX Bandits Live: Vol.

  1 (2004)

References

External links