Quick recap: RX Bandits took a touring hiatus some two years ago. In May of this year, they announced their return to the road in celebration of the tenth anniversary of their landmark 2003 album The Resignation. They followed that news by revealing plans for their first studio material in four years in the form of a five-track covers EP. So far, we’ve heard covers of Weezer’s “Surf Wax America”, The Police’s “Can’t Stand Losing You”, and Blonde Redhead’s “Falling Man”.



All caught up? Now, the Cali ska-punks have revealed the fourth cut off the EP: Fugazi’s “Cashout”. Speaking about the song choice and the faithful cover, Bandits guitarist Steve Choi said, “Fugazi is one of our biggest influences musically and ethically. We could easily do a whole album of Fugazi covers, but after going back and forth we settled on a later tune, this one being from the band’s last full length album The Argument.”

Choi continues, “For musicians like us, it is important to remind ourselves to have fun playing music and to do things that are self-gratifying free of any pretense. Our cover of this song will be similar to ‘Surf Wax America’ in that it does not deviate from the original very much, and I believe we didn’t think to sauce ’em up more because we just had so much fun playing them. Do you remember the first time you got together with your buddies and played your favorite band’s songs together? Pure joy. Improving or changing the songs is not where your mind is at; the critical mind which might objectify/improve on a song takes a back seat at those times.”

This is the last track from the covers EP the band will release online, with the final track – a cover of King Crimson’s “21st Century Schizoid Man” – only available on CD. Where can you snag said CD? Try any of the The Resignation Anniversary Tour dates ahead. Each concert will feature a full performance of the album followed by a second set of other tunes. Northern Faces will appear in support.

Rx Bandits Covers EP Tracklist:

01. The Police  Cant Stand Losing You

02. Blonde Redhead  Fallng Man

03. Weezer  Surf Wax America

04. Fugazi  Cashout

05. King Crimson  21st Century Man (Exclusive to CD)

Rx Bandits 2013 Tour Dates:

07/05  San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom

07/06  Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre

07/07  San Diego, CA @ House of Blues

07/09  Mesa, AZ @ Nile Theater

07/11  Dallas, TX @ The Door

07/12  Austin, TX @ Emos East

07/14  Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room

07/15  Orlando, FL @ Beacham Theatre

07/17  Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage

07/18  Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

07/19  Philadelphia, PA @ The Electric Factory

07/20  New York, NY @ Best Buy Theatre

07/23  Pontiac, MI The Crofoot Ballroom

07/24  Chicago, IL @ Metro

07/25  Lawrence, KS @ The Granada Theatre

07/26  Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall

07/27  Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue

07/29  Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre

07/31  Santa Cruz, CA @ Rio Theatre

08/01  Pomona, CA @ The Glass House

08/22  London, UK @ Barfly, Camden

08/23  Reading, UK @ Reading Festival

08/29  Milwaukee, WI @ Harley Davidson 110 Anniversary

Photo by Raymond Camero