Bad Copy

Rx Bandits are nearing the end of their summer tour with Catbite along for the second half of the ride. It has been an exciting one for me, seeing them celebrating the 20th anniversary of …and the Battle Begun and playing through the amazing album in its entirety. Not only was I excited to see them again so soon, but my closest friend Brandon was joining me as well.

where we will have now seen them at least 7 times together. Trying to think back, this may be our 20th year anniversary of seeing them for the first time in Detroit. It’s getting harder to think back that far though.

We got to Saint Andrew’s Hall just in time for Catbite to kick things off. I was first introduced to them a few years back at Riot Fest. They played a unique set alongside Laura Jane Grace, teaming up specifically to cover Operation Ivy. It was an awesome time being a part of all that, but I was really excited to finally hear them play their own live set of jams. The Ska scene in that crowd was alive and well, and really got everyone dancing and ready for the following final act.

RX Bandits were up next to close the night out. I still love to play through this album from front to back. I’m a sucker for bands that kick their albums off with heavy hitting intros, and I feel like …And the Battle Begun helped set that bar pretty high 20 years ago when first listening to it.

It almost feels like the calm before the storm with the way “Untitled” starts. Slowly starting with this echoey and atmospheric delivery of lyrics, before building up and transitioning into the next song (“…And the Battle Begun”) and pretty much beginning the fast-paced evening of rock, horns, and absolutely insane guitar riffs and drumming.

RX Bandits are up there for one of the bands I’ve seen the most for many reasons. I personally feel they are heavily underrated as a band and do not get the recognition they deserve, but regardless am so happy to see them every chance I get. Just something special about this talent, and going all the way back to first hearing Progress when I was in high school.

Trying to describe it in a way, where how they just keep getting insanely better every tour. However, saying that feels wrong because I have never seen a bad performance from them after all this time. They refine so much more with every tour, and it just makes me even more excited for the next one. Like this band just feels extremely tight when playing together, almost as if they were telepathically connected, and never missing a step. Every big and small venue I’ve seen them throughout metro Detroit over the past 20 or so years has given me such a high, and appreciation for how talented they are.

To close off such an amazing night they came out and played a handful of other songs, and even brought Catbite out to cover “Gangsters,” from The Specials. It was also really cool to hear Matt Embree share his appreciation to the venue as well, as he pointed out how he played the Shelter (aka Saint Andrew’s Hall’s basement/lower venue) over 30 years ago early into one of his first tours.

Overall if you made it this far and couldn’t tell by now, I had an amazing time seeing one of my favorite bands. It was even more meaningful being able to photograph it and capture those moments as well!

Check out some of the photos below: