REMEDY FOR RENEWAL

In the realms of contemporary rock music, few bands have shown the ability to transition from one genre to another as successfully as Rx Bandits. The band laid its foundation in the midst of the third-wave ska explosion of the ’90s, when in 1995, it began its career as the Pharmaceutical Bandits. As time went on the band shortened its name, and its sound began to evolve. In the years since, the Rx Bandits’ music has continued to grow and change, and the band has developed a large, devoted fan base, interested in exploring all of the new sounds and ideas the band has to offer. Most recently, the band finished a tour celebrating the 10-year anniversary of The Resignation, released a cover EP which had the Bandits taking on tunes from some of its favorite bands, and announced plans to record a new full length record—its first in nearly five years. CULTURE had the chance to catch up with Steve Choi and hear all about the band’s recent tours, recordings and future ambitions.

The band released an EP of cover songs for the tour—which is pretty great; what inspired that?

It was just kind of an idea to serve our fans and do something fun. Basically, we’re very known for being very serious about our music, you know? We want to be well-rounded, we want to be multi-faceted and show our range as humans as well as musicians. We wanted to do something for our fans that would be fun, something for us that would be fun, and kind of something to get back in the swing of things that wasn’t too difficult and that was the perfect way to do it; to pay homage to some of our favorite bands.

What drew you to the particular songs you decided to take on?

It was such a ridiculously tough process whittling down all of the music we love and would love to play into, like, four or five songs that would fit onto an EP on vinyl. Some of those bands are some of our biggest influences and most favorite. So, kind of just by chance, you know? I mean, there were tons of songs we left out that we’d have loved to play . . . There’s a very good chance there will be another one.

Being out on the road as much as you all are, seeing as much of the different regions of society as you do, how does the band feel about the growing medical cannabis culture?

Yeah, I mean, we all support 1,000 percent. I support it 1,000 percent. I, personally, dislike a lot of marijuana culture, however, I use it and I fully support people who responsibly and intelligently go about trying to advocate it, to get it in the right place for political, financial and social reasons.

Is it surprising to you, your band having started out as the Pharmaceutical Bandits, that cannabis is slowly being considered as more of a pharmaceutical medicine over the last bit?

It’s awesome! I mean, my 17-year-old self is just trippin’ out. I never thought I’d see the day when I could walk into a dispensary, get a bang bar, get some wax, get some bud, or whatever I wanted, you know? So, I think it’s a really [good] thing . . . I just have a very strong opinion on it because it’s something that’s important to my daily life.

The Bandits have announced it’ll be recording a new record soon. At this point, can you tell me anything about it?

Unfortunately, at this point I can’t tell you any further about it. All of the details are not quite there yet.

Outside of the new record do the Rx Bandits have any other big ambitions for 2014?

Just the same ambitions as always, which is to try and make music we feel good about, to play it to people we enjoy having as our audience, and making a living and feeding our families and ourselves in the process.