review and photos by Matt Kelchner
Last Friday night Rx Bandits brought their 10 year anniversary tour for their landmark album The Resignation to the Electric Factory. Sharing the night with them were openers Northern Faces. It was a hot and humid night in the middle of a horrible heat wave that lingered around for a few days too long. The temperature inside the venue matched the muggy, swamp like conditions outside but it wasn’t just from the weather. Rx Bandits ripped through their phenomenal album and added a few extra treats in; the result was a night filled with hugs, singalongs and a giant sweaty crowd having one unforgettable night.
Kicking things off at 8:30, Northern Faces looked very comfortable on stage, especially for being such a young band. The four piece group from the great state of New York played a number of songs off their recently released EP, Southern Places, as well as a new song or two. Despite playing to a room that was around half full, they played an impressive set that included tunes like their first single “Under My Skin” and a personal band favorite “Finding Hope”. Northern Faces showcased their blend of classic rock and roll, psych and pop melodies together in a very dynamic way. As the last song finished with solos and the crowd singing along, Northern Faces thanked Rx Bandits for bringing them along on tour.
After a quick stage setup, Rx Bandits arrived to a roaring crowd at 9:50. With big smiles all around, the So-Cal vets quickly got into the album everyone was there to hear. No hellos, no background stories or anything. The band didn’t say a single word until singer/guitarist Matt Embree began singing the words to “Sell You Beautiful”. The entire set for the night consisted of just The Resignation. No extras or other tunes, just all 14 songs, in order, from start to finish. From the beginning to end, each member of the band seemed like they were having the time of their life. That same feeling and emotion was shared with the fans. They shared vocals with Embree on every song as the set went on and the Electric Factory’s humidity got worse and worse. That didn’t slow the band or the crowd down one bit.
For a band being on hiatus, they didn’t seem like it. They were just as lively and energetic as they were a few years ago. They were just as sharp on the intricate parts as they were on their more improvised parts; in solos and jamming. Rx Bandits were a band known for their diverse style and incredible live shows. Both came out on Friday Night.
As they played the last notes to “Decrescendo” the band waved goodbye, still not saying a word. There were no goodbyes on the album so why should there be any when they play it live? After a short, silent 70’s B-list movie played on the backdrop, the band came back out for an encore filled with fan favorites. Before playing anymore, Embree said hi to the crowd and explained that their tour manager, Roger, was taking pictures to help the band remember the night. Embree made the night even more memorable by then saying “I’d rather die on stage than anywhere else”.
The encore consisted of a few other fan favorites from other albums including “Infection”, “In Her Drawer” and “…And The Battle Begun”. The night came to a final close with an incredible rendition of “Only For The Night”. It was a performance where everything was put on the line like there was no tomorrow. For a band with no concrete plans once the tour is over, Rx Bandits made the crowd forget that notion until they walked off stage. But when a band is still as tight and energetic as they were AND they were having as much fun as they were, it leaves a taste that feels like it will coming back for more.
