RX Bandits is, without a doubt, my favourite band. I play them to death in my car, while I’m at work, and when I’m at home. In fact, I’m listening to them right now. I never thought I’d get a chance to see my favourite band, and in SA I probably never would have. Their budget is quite small, and doesn’t extend to touring anywhere other than the States and Europe very often.
But I’m in London as I write this, and only a few days ago I had one of the greatest experiences of my life. In a venue no larger than The Purple Turtle I got to watch my heroes kick so much ass there wasn’t a single living donkey in the United Kingdom after that night.
The support acts were mediocre, and of very different genres, so most of the extremely eccentric Camden crowd milled around, doing their best to look disaffected. Skinny jeans and haircuts you could never wear to work abounded. But RX Bandits is not an emo band – not by a long shot. Their style combines elements of progressive rock, reggae, ska, jazz, blues and funk, and has evolved hugely over a career spanning the most recent decade.
If you want to know what they’re like live, someone posted a video from the night – check it out:
As soon as they started I made my way to the front as fast as I could. I knew I might never get another chance. Unfortunately, I was blocked by some 19 year old pierced parrot who’d been in my way at Alkaline Trio the night before. I fought tooth and nail, but eventually moved to a spot just one behind the front row, and waited for my opening. It came, and I was right there in the front.
I was two feet from Steve Choi, one of the most dynamic and exciting guitarists I’ve ever heard. There are still fat bruises across my legs where I was shoved relentlessly into the stage. My throat is raw from screaming every lyric to every song. I elbowed a girl in the forehead and stood on someone’s dropped iPhone – but it was a hundred percent worth it to get so close. Fortunately, I had my camera, and I managed to get off one or two decent shots. Here’s what I saw:
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Legen …DARY!