We Wore Masks Recap & Videos: RX Bandits Tour Houston Show - 7.1.11
RX Bandits have been a long time staple in my musical progression through the ages. I can’t say this about many bands, but they’re one of very few; an elite list of bands that have survived the 2000s on to the 2010s. I first came to love this band during the Progress days of 2001, and have continued to follow and appreciate their progression through the years, the albums, the record label woes and the lineup changes.
When word of the ‘farewell’ tour came around, I was a bit bummed to say the least. One of the most consistent and impressive rock bands calling their live aspect quits isn’t exactly the best foundation for a tour, but alas – there was no way I’d miss this tour.
The RX Bandits brought along three great acts to open their tour. San Jose’s Happy Body Slow Brain brought the driving piano-infused rock and roll, while El Paso’s Zechs Marquise (we interviewed them on their previous tour with RXB!) provided the Houston crowd with a furious brand of instrumental and progressive rock music. And while Maps and Atlases rounded out the openers with a fantastic, crowd-favored set that consisted of plenty of jorts, good times and guitar noodling, the real focus of the night remains on the band of the hour.
It seems like every time I see RX Bandits, they have less and less members, which is a true testment to the loyal core-four we saw standing on the Fitzgeralds. Matthew Embree, Steve Choi, Chris Tsagakis and Joseph Troy (the latter two of which we had the chance of speaking with back in July of 2009) are all experts at their particular instruments. Even more so with each other, at that. While the ska-leanings of years’ past were missing as far as saxophones and trombones go, the four members played their songs to the fullest capabilities.
After the first two songs (Progress’ “VCG3″ and “Consequential Apathy”) I was sitting there in the most childish of hopes that the band was starting off with the entire album, but that was a little overzealous. Turns out, a typically show-closing “Infection” was to follow and shut down that theory immediately. Later on in the set, they moved on to highlight some of The Resignation’s best tracks, including “Descrescendo,” and my personal favorite, “Dinna-Dawg.” The band seemed to have been having a great time on stage, enjoying each other’s stage presence for their last tour.
While there wasn’t much banter between songs, ringleader Matt Embree didn’t hesitate to thank the dedicated and loud Houston crowd go un-thanked for showing up and being a part of something truly special. Each one of the RX Bandits’ last four albums were highlighted and attributed properly, cherry-picking what seemed like fan-favorites from each album and putting them to the test of jam-band antics and lack of shoes. While all members of the band is are talented at what they do, the drumming of Chris Tsagakis in a live setting is something worth mentioning more than twenty times.
Why stop there? RXB was the gift that kept giving, fitting 16 songs into their 90 minute setlist. When it came time to call it an evening, Embree thanked the crowd for all the good years and flew straight into a 10+ minute rendition of “Only For The Night,” which was beefed up by playing the entirety of “To Our Unborn Daughters” in the bridge, before coming back to the aforementioned track and closing out the evening with a loud drum circle and a completely bittersweet curtain call. Thanks for the good times and the even better albums, fellas.
[SETLIST]
VCG3
Consequential Apathy
Infection
Never Slept So Soundly
Dinna-Dawg
Decrescendo
…And the Battle Begun
In Her Drawer
Overcome (The Recaptilation)
My Lonesome Only Friend
It’s Only Another Parsec…
Bring Our Children Home, Or Everything is Nothing
Encore:
All The Time
Only for the Night
To Our Unborn Daughters
Only for the Night (Reprise)
Story by Grizzly / Photos by We Wore Masks
