About this interview
In this 2009 interview with Ryan Minic of Ryan’s Rock Show, Matt Embree, Steve Choi, Christopher Tsagakis, and Joe Troy of RX Bandits dive into their early days of DIY touring, the unpredictability of life on the road, and their passion for raw, organic music. They recall how their first tour meant sleeping on fans’ floors every night, sometimes landing in mansion-like dream homes, other times in sketchy situations—including one night where a fan’s older brother beat him up for bringing the band home.
They discuss how, over the years, they transitioned from crashing on floors to staying in hotels, but how their early experiences shaped them as musicians and reinforced the sense of community in independent music. Despite the challenges, they still appreciate the human connection and generosity they experienced along the way.
The conversation shifts to recording philosophy, where the band expresses their dislike for overproduced, heavily edited music. They take pride in recording their albums live, playing together in the same room rather than tracking instruments separately. They believe this approach captures the true energy of a band and criticize modern music production for making records sound too robotic and sterile due to excessive digital editing.
They also discuss Warped Tour and the evolving industry, explaining why they saw Warped as more of a corporate punk-rock mall than a music festival. They reflect on how younger bands today have a different mindset, focusing on sponsorships and branding rather than growing organically through small DIY tours.
Despite the grind of being a hard-touring band for years, RX Bandits remain grateful for the journey, seeing it as both humbling and rewarding. They acknowledge that while success in the music industry is unpredictable, their commitment to authenticity and passion for music remains unchanged.