MxPx () is an American
pop punk
Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...
band from
Bremerton, Washington
Bremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington. The population was 37,729 at the 2010 census and an estimated 41,405 in 2019, making it the largest city on the Kitsap Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerto ...
, founded in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include
Mike Herrera
Michael Arthur Herrera is an American singer, songwriter and musician best known as the lead vocalist, bassist and songwriter for the punk rock band MxPx. He is also the frontman of Tumbledown and the bassist of Goldfinger.
Early life
Herrer ...
on lead vocals and bass guitar, Yuri Ruley on drums and percussion, Tom Wisniewski on lead guitar and backing vocals and Chris Adkins on rhythm guitar and backing vocals.
The band's discography includes twelve studio albums, four EPs, four
compilation album
A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one or several Performing arts#Performers, performers. If by one artist, then generally the tr ...
s, a live album, a
VHS tape, a
DVD
The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kin ...
and 20 singles. A number of the group's releases have charted on ''
Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'', including the
''Billboard'' 200 and No. 1 on
''Billboard'' Christian Albums.
History
Early start (1992)
MxPx was formed in Bremerton, Washington in July 1992 by
Mike Herrera
Michael Arthur Herrera is an American singer, songwriter and musician best known as the lead vocalist, bassist and songwriter for the punk rock band MxPx. He is also the frontman of Tumbledown and the bassist of Goldfinger.
Early life
Herrer ...
, Yuri Ruley, and Andy Husted, who were 15 years old at the time, playing their first show in Herrera's parents' backyard. Herrera and Ruley were classmates at
Central Kitsap High School
Central Kitsap High School is a secondary school located in Silverdale, Washington, United States. It is one of seven secondary schools in the Central Kitsap School District. CKHS teaches grades 09-12. CKHS was for the first time ranked in the ...
in
Silverdale, Washington
Silverdale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kitsap County, Washington, in the United States. The population was 19,204 at the 2010 census. Despite many attempts at incorporation, Silverdale remains an unincorporated community.
Silverdale ra ...
, and Husted attended
South Kitsap High School
South Kitsap High School is a public high school in the South Kitsap School District and is located at 425 Mitchell Ave Port Orchard, Washington. In 2018, the school had the largest student population in the state.
History and facilities
South K ...
in Port Orchard, Washington.
The group were originally called Magnified Plaid, which was a tribute to Husted's fascination with
plaid
Plaid () may refer to:
Fabric
* Full plaid, a cloth made with a tartan pattern, wrapped around the waist, cast over the shoulder and fastened at the front
* A synonym for tartan in North America
* A plaid shirt, typically of flannel and worn du ...
shirts, but did not fit on the band's posters. Consequently, the name was
abbreviated
An abbreviation (from Latin ''brevis'', meaning ''short'') is a shortened form of a word or phrase, by any method. It may consist of a group of letters or words taken from the full version of the word or phrase; for example, the word ''abbrevia ...
to M.P. on show posters. Yuri Ruley, who used Xs in place of periods, made the
posters
A poster is a large sheet that is placed either on a public space to promote something or on a wall as decoration. Typically, posters include both textual and graphic elements, although a poster may be either wholly graphical or wholly text. ...
for the band, resulting in the four-letter
moniker
A nickname is a substitute for the proper name of a familiar person, place or thing. Commonly used to express affection, a form of endearment, and sometimes amusement, it can also be used to express defamation of character. As a concept, it is ...
.
Tooth & Nail years (1993–1997)
![Mike Herrera](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6d/Mike_Herrera.jpg)
MxPx recorded a four-song 7-inch record with
Aaron Sprinkle
Aaron Sprinkle (born March 20, 1974) is an American singer, songwriter and record producer from Seattle, Washington.
Career
His career in music began in high school with a group called BellBangVilla. BellBangVilla became Poor Old Lu and the ...
in Seattle, who played it for
Brandon Ebel
Brandon Ebel is the founder, president and CEO of Tooth & Nail Records. He founded the label in 1993 in California, United States. The label has since grown to include sub-labels BEC Recordings, Solid State Records and Uprok Records. Ebel has c ...
of
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a Christian rock record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington where it is situated today. It is home to many well-known musical acts, including Underoat ...
. The band then played a showcase for the
label
A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed dir ...
in 1993 in Herrera's parents' garage. The band's first major album, ''
Pokinatcha
Pokinatcha is the debut studio album by punk rock band MxPx released on October 4, 1994, through Tooth & Nail Records. The album reflects influence from skate/surf punk, and underground punk generally. The album's name came from a Snicker's cand ...
'' (1994), was released while the band members were still in high school. The album, though classified as
Christian punk
Christian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock which contain Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies a ...
, incorporated the quick styles of
hardcore punk
Hardcore punk (also known as simply hardcore) is a punk rock music genre and subculture that originated in the late 1970s. It is generally faster, harder, and more aggressive than other forms of punk rock. Its roots can be traced to earlier punk ...
,
and is composed of influence from
skate punk
Skate punk (also known as skatecore and skate rock) is a skater subculture and punk rock subgenre that developed in the 1980s. Originally a form of hardcore punk that had been closely associated with skate culture, skate punk evolved into a mo ...
and punk underground. Their debut album is characterized by their raw punk sound, catchy rhythm, and classic punk three-chord guitar style.
Guitarist Andy Husted soon left the band and was replaced by a friend, Tom Wisniewski. Despite only knowing power chords on guitar, Wisniewski was willing to be in the band. MxPx released two further albums with Tooth & Nail: ''
Teenage Politics
This is a comprehensive listing of official releases by MxPx, a three-piece American punk rock band, formed in 1992 in Bremerton, Washington. The band has released twelve studio albums, twenty singles, two cover albums, two live albums, an acoust ...
'' in 1995, and ''
Life in General'' in 1996,
which features the single "
Chick Magnet" and artwork by the artist
Coop
Coop, COOP, Co-op, or ''variation'', most often refers to:
* A chicken coop or other enclosure
* Cooperative or co-operative ("co-op"), an association of persons who cooperate for their mutual social, economic, and cultural benefit
** Housing co ...
.
A&M years (1997–2004)
In 1997, MxPx inked a deal with
A&M Records
A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...
. This record deal saw the re-release of 1996's ''Life in General''. MxPx then released two more studio albums, the first, ''
Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo
''Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo'' is the fourth studio album released by American punk rock band MxPx in 1998. The album title was taken from a letter that a fan had written to the band, complaining that the band was changing and was "slowly ...
'' was released in 1998. The album peaked at No. 99 on the
''Billboard'' 200 and was certified gold on January 27, 2000, by the
RIAA
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a trade organization that represents the music recording industry in the United States. Its members consist of record labels and distributors that the RIAA says "create, manufacture, and/o ...
.
The band first appeared on
Kevin Lyman
Kevin Lyman is the founder and operator of thKevin Lyman Group formerly known as 4Fini, Inc., a live event production company and brand strategy firm. His most notable live production is the live music festival series Vans Warped Tour, which attrac ...
’s
Vans Warped Tour
The Warped Tour was a traveling rock tour that toured the United States plus three or four stops in Canada annually each summer from 1995 until 2019. It was the largest traveling music festival in the United States and the longest-running touring ...
in 1997 alongside
Blink-182
Blink-182 (stylized as blink-182) is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Poway, California in 1992. Their current lineup consists of bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. Though their ...
,
The Descendents
The Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a si ...
and more, and went on the full tour in 1998 alongside
Bad Religion
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilitie ...
,
Rancid,
NOFX
NOFX () is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Vocalist/bassist Fat Mike, guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin are original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...
, and many others.
In 1999, they released ''
At the Show
''At the Show'' is a live album recorded by MxPx live at the 930 Club, Washington, DC on August 24, 1998 and the TLA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 25, 1998, released in 1999. At the time of the recording, the band was touring in support o ...
'', their first
live album
An album is a collection of audio recordings issued on compact disc (CD), Phonograph record, vinyl, audio tape, or another medium such as Digital distribution#Music, digital distribution. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early ...
that they recorded on August 24, 1998, at the 930 Club in Washington, DC and on August 25, 1998, at TLA in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At the time of the recording, the band was touring in support of ''Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo'' as well as the
B-sides
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record company ...
collection ''
Let it Happen'', also released in 1998.
''
The Ever Passing Moment
''The Ever Passing Moment'' is the fifth studio album by punk rock band MxPx, released on May 16, 2000.
MxPx gained critical recognition for this album and landed a slot supporting for The Offspring and Cypress Hill on the ''Conspiracy of One'' ...
'' was released in May 2000 via
A&M Records
A&M Records was an American record label founded as an independent company by Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss in 1962. Due to the success of the discography A&M released, the label garnered interest and was acquired by PolyGram in 1989 and began distr ...
. The band gained critical recognition for this album and landed a slot supporting
the Offspring
The Offspring is an American rock band from Garden Grove, California, formed in 1984. Originally formed under the name Manic Subsidal, the band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Bryan "Dexter" Holland, lead guita ...
and
Cypress Hill
Cypress Hill is an American hip hop group from South Gate, California. They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide and have multi-platinum and platinum albums. They are considered to be among the main progenitors of West Coast and 1990 ...
on the ''
Conspiracy of One'' tour.
"
Responsibility" proved to be a radio hit, peaking at #24 on the Billboard Modern Rock chart. The video, directed by
The Malloys
The Malloys is the working name of music video and film directors and brothers Emmett Malloy and Brendan Malloy. They have been with Superprime Films since 2010.
Videography
*"Holiday" by Vampire Weekend (2010)
*" Love Dealer" by Esmée Dente ...
, features the band messing around and causing mayhem while caddying at a golf course, and also includes an appearance by ''
Cheers
''Cheers'' is an American sitcom television series that ran on NBC from September 30, 1982, to May 20, 1993, with a total of 275 half-hour episodes across 11 seasons. The show was produced by Charles/Burrows/Charles Productions in association w ...
'' star
George Wendt
George Robert Wendt Jr. (born October 17, 1948) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Norm Peterson on the television sitcom ''Cheers'' (1982–1993), which earned him six consecutive nominations for the Primetime Emmy ...
. The song was featured in the
Daria
''Daria'' is an American adult animation, adult animated sitcom created by Glenn Eichler and Susie Lewis, Susie Lewis Lynn. The series ran from March 3, 1997, to January 21, 2002, on MTV. It focuses on the title character, Daria Morgendorffer, ...
Television Movie ''
Is It Fall Yet?
''Is It Fall Yet?'' is a 2000 American animated comedy-drama television film written by Glenn Eichler and Peggy Nicoll, and directed by Karen Disher and Guy Moore. First broadcast on August 27, 2000, it was the first of two film-length installme ...
''.
The band once again joined the cross-country Vans Warped Tour in 2002 alongside Bad Religion, NOFX,
Reel Big Fish
Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Orange County, California. The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s during the third wave of ska with the release of the gold-certified album ''Turn the Radio Off''. Soon af ...
, and more.
The band's version of the song "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?" is in the soundtrack of the 2002 movie ''
Scooby-Doo
''Scooby-Doo'' is an American animation, animated media franchise based on an animated television series launched in 1969 and continued through several derivative List of Scooby-Doo media, media. Writers Joe Ruby and Ken Spears created the orig ...
''.
MxPx toured alongside
New Found Glory
New Found Glory (formerly A New Found Glory) is an American rock band from Coral Springs, Florida, formed in 1997. The band currently consists of Jordan Pundik (lead vocals), Ian Grushka (bass guitar), Chad Gilbert (lead guitar, backing vocal ...
and
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 2005, the band's lineup has consisted of twin brothers Joel Madden (lead vocals) and Benji Madden (guitar and vocals), Paul Thomas (bass), Billy Martin (g ...
on the annual
Honda Civic Tour
The Honda Civic Tour was an annual concert tour, sponsored by American Honda Motor Company and produced by Marketing Factory.
2001
First half
*Headliner: Blink-182
*Supporting: No Motiv, Sum 41, The Ataris, and Bodyjar
Second half
*Headliner: ...
in May and June 2003. The group's studio album ''
Before Everything & After
''Before Everything & After'' is the sixth studio album by punk rock band MxPx, released on A&M Records. The album achieved the band's highest chart position on the ''Billboard'' 200, peaking at number 51.
In May and June 2003, the group suppo ...
,'' was released by A&M in 2003.
The album achieved the band's highest ever chart position on the
''Billboard'' 200, peaking at No. 51.
On August 20, 2004, MxPx joined
My Chemical Romance
My Chemical Romance (commonly abbreviated to MCR or My Chem) is an American rock band from Newark, New Jersey. The band's current lineup consists of lead vocalist Gerard Way, lead guitarist Ray Toro, rhythm guitarist Frank Iero, and bassist Mi ...
,
Pennywise, and “many bands from previous tours” to perform at the Vans Warped Tour 10-year celebration show in Foxborough, Massachusetts at the
Gillette Stadium
Gillette Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium located in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts, which is southwest of downtown Boston. It serves as the home stadium and administrative offices for both the New England Patriots of the National Footb ...
near Boston.
The group provided the song "The Empire" for ''
The Passion of the Christ: Songs'', which won the
Gospel Music Association
The Gospel Music Association (GMA) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1964 for the purpose of supporting and promoting the development of all forms of gospel music. As of 2011, there are about 4,000 members worldwide. The GMA's membership co ...
2005 Dove Award for Special Event Album of the Year.
SideOneDummy years (2005–2006)
![MxPx Keys to city](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/MxPx_Keys_to_city.jpg)
In 2005 MxPx was dropped by A&M, signed with
SideOneDummy Records
SideOneDummy Records is an independent record label based in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1995 by Bill Armstrong and Joe Sib. The label began as a way for them to release music for their friends' bands. Thereafter SideOneDummy launched the care ...
and then released their seventh full-length album
''Panic'' in June.
''Panic'' turned out to be a breakthrough moment for the band when their single "Heard That Sound" proved a radio hit. It also featured the
Blink-182
Blink-182 (stylized as blink-182) is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Poway, California in 1992. Their current lineup consists of bassist/vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist/vocalist Tom DeLonge, and drummer Travis Barker. Though their ...
/
+44 singer-bassist
Mark Hoppus
Mark Allan Hoppus (born March 15, 1972) is an American musician, songwriter and record producer best known as the bassist and co-lead vocalist for the rock band Blink-182, being the only constant member and the only one to appear on every album. ...
on "Wrecking Hotel Rooms." ''Panic'' heightened the return of the band's skate punk/punk-rock roots sound. In support of Panic, MxPx joined the 2005 Vans Warped Tour alongside supergroup
Transplants
Transplant or Transplantation may refer to:
Sciences
*Transplanting a plant from one location to another
*Organ transplantation, moving an organ from one body to another
*Transplant thought experiment, an experiment similar to Trolley problem
*Tra ...
,
Fall Out Boy
Fall Out Boy is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Wilmette, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, in 2001. The band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Patrick Stump, bassist Pete Wentz, lead guitarist Joe Trohman, and drummer A ...
, The Offspring, and more.
In September 2006, MxPx and the City of Bremerton started a marketing effort revolving around the band's song "
Move to Bremerton
This is a comprehensive listing of official releases by MxPx, a three-piece American punk rock band, formed in 1992 in Bremerton, Washington. The band has released twelve studio albums, twenty singles, two cover albums, two live albums, an acoust ...
". The band was given keys to the city by Mayor Cary Bozeman in recognition of the group's contributions to the city.
MxPx spent the majority of 2005 and 2006 touring in support of the band's 7th album ''
Panic
Panic is a sudden sensation of fear, which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reactio ...
''. On November 21, 2006,
Tooth & Nail Records
Tooth & Nail Records is a Christian rock record label founded by Brandon Ebel in California in November 1993. The label later moved to Seattle, Washington where it is situated today. It is home to many well-known musical acts, including Underoat ...
re-released ''Let It Happen'', an earlier rarities compilation, in a "Deluxe Edition" which included a bonus DVD featuring 12
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
s, new artwork, and two new songs. ''
Let's Rock
''Let's Rock'' (known as ''Keep It Cool'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1958 rock and roll film starring Julius LaRosa as a crooner attempting to fight off the rival music rock and roll, Phyllis Newman as his songwriting girlfriend who convinces ...
'', MxPx's second rarities album, was released on Side One Dummy Records on October 24, 2006. The album consists of many previously unreleased songs, re-recorded
B-side
The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph records and cassettes; these terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side usually features a recording that its artist, producer, or record compan ...
s and acoustic demos.
Tooth & Nail and Rock City (2007–2017)
MxPx released the full-length album ''
Secret Weapon'' in 2007, the band's first release on its original label Tooth & Nail since 1996's ''
Life in General''. The album debuted at No. 76 on the
Billboard 200
The ''Billboard'' 200 is a record chart ranking the 200 most popular music albums and EPs in the United States. It is published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine and is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of art ...
. The album's sound was a shift back to the group's original punk-rock stylings.
In 2009, the band released a six-song EP entitled ''
Left Coast Punk EP
This is a comprehensive listing of official releases by MxPx, a three-piece American punk rock band, formed in 1992 in Bremerton, Washington. The band has released twelve studio albums, twenty singles, two cover albums, two live albums, an acoust ...
'',
which was the first record released by Rock City Recording Company, MxPx's own record label. Also in 2009, the group released a Christmas album, titled ''
Punk Rawk Christmas
''Punk Rawk Christmas'' is the eleventh studio album by American rock band MxPx released on December 1, 2009. The album contains 10 tracks originally recorded and released each year from 1998 to 2008 and sent to MxPx's fan club members as CD sing ...
''.
In late 2009, Mike Herrera teamed up with frontman of
The Ataris
The Ataris are an American punk rock band from Anderson, Indiana. Formed in 1996, they released five studio albums between 1997 and 2007. Their best-selling album is ''So Long, Astoria'' (2003), which was certified gold. Their high-charting si ...
,
Kris Roe
The Ataris are an American punk rock band from Anderson, Indiana. Formed in 1996, they released five studio albums between 1997 and 2007. Their best-selling album is ''So Long, Astoria'' (2003), which was certified gold. Their high-charting s ...
, the drummer of
The Summer Obsession
The Summer Obsession is an American pop duo formed in 2004, known for mixing electronica, punk, hip hop, reggae, and many other genres.
History
The band was originally formed in 2004 by Fin Leavell & Luke Walker. The band has toured with Cart ...
, and Chris Wilson (formerly of
Good Charlotte
Good Charlotte is an American rock band from Waldorf, Maryland that formed in 1996. Since 2005, the band's lineup has consisted of twin brothers Joel Madden (lead vocals) and Benji Madden (guitar and vocals), Paul Thomas (bass), Billy Martin (g ...
) for the MxPx All Stars tour in Japan and Malaysia.
The band released a documentary entitled ''Both Ends Burning'' on December 1, 2011.
In addition, Mike, Tom, and Yuri were working on their ninth studio album. On December 19, 2011, the band announced that the album would be called ''
Plans Within Plans
''Plans Within Plans'' is the twelfth studio album by American punk rock band MxPx, which was released on April 3, 2012. It is their first original album since 2007's '' Secret Weapon''. The album was released on MxPx's own label, Rock City Rec ...
''. It was released on April 3, 2012.
In 2012, drummer Yuri Ruley and guitarist Tom Wisniewski announced their retirement from touring. After a brief hiatus, they both returned as full-time members in 2015 and continue to tour with the band today.
In honor of the 20th anniversary ''Life in General'', the band released a re-recorded version free of charge for a limited time on September 18, 2016. It can now be found as ''Life in General 2.0'' on music streaming platforms. In 2017 it was added to the ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' "50 Greatest Pop-Punk Albums of All Time" article, landing the esteemed record at No. 27.
Self-titled album, ''Southbound to San Antonio'', and future (2018–present)
After MxPx fulfilled their contractual obligations with former labels, the band moved to return to their DIY roots, taking back control of their music and lengthy catalog of music.
On March 29, 2018, the band announced a
Kickstarter
Kickstarter is an American public benefit corporation based in Brooklyn, New York, that maintains a global crowdfunding platform focused on creativity. The company's stated mission is to "help bring creative projects to life". As of July 2021, ...
campaign to fund their tenth full-length studio album. The self-titled album, ''
MxPx
MxPx () is an American pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington, founded in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera on lead vocals and bass guitar, Yuri Ruley on drums and percussion, Tom Wisniewski on lead gui ...
'', was released July 25, 2018. Before the release of the album, a music video for "Let's Ride" came out at the end of June 2018. The album was performed live on Facebook on the release date.
After its release, "Let's Ride" was added to the relaunched 2020 edition of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1+ 2 Remastered. According to ScreenRant, MxPx's "Let's Ride" joined new and returning artists for the famous soundtrack that made tracks such as Goldfinger's "Superman" a mainstay.
MxPx went back on tour in 2019 and early 2020, selling out self-booked and promoted tours nationwide. An audio recording at their San Antonio show in early 2020 was captured for a future live album release.
Due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, the band has been unable to perform live for much of 2020 and 2021. On April 1, 2020, Mike Herrera announced the Life in Quarantine live streams every Friday on the group's official Facebook page throughout April and May. The streams included live performances, Herrera answering fan questions, and more. After concluding the Life in Quarantine series on May 29, 2020, the group took songs from the live recordings and released Life in Quarantine-The Collection on July 3, 2020. The group followed up the collection with a brand new single, "Fever Dream", which was released on July 16, 2020.
On October 6, 2020, the group announced they would be starting a new live performance experience separated into various rounds. The first round of the series titled ''Between This World and the Next'' premiered on October 16, 2020, in which the band performed a full livestream concert. The group hosted several rounds of ''Between This World and the Next'' which featured new tracks, custom set lists, and fan questions.
On March 11, 2021, the band announced the release of their exclusive MxPx Box Collection featuring 10 full-length albums, original album artwork, bonus inserts and album commentary, zoetropic slipmat, hardcover book, and durable outer case. The box set was made available for pre-order on March 19, 2021, and immediately sold out units on the same day. To thank fans for instantly selling out the exclusive box set, the group organized and announced the release of their new single "Can't Keep Waiting" and a free live show hosted on April 16, 2021.
Of "Can't Keep Waiting", Herrera told SPIN Magazine in an interview, "
Can't Keep Waiting’morphed a little bit as we played it on the livestreams, and people kept asking when it was coming out, so we finally were like, ‘OK, we should probably record this thing.’"
In July 2021, MxPx teamed up with Kalie Wolfe of rising band RIVALS to release an upbeat track titled, "Say Yes", which was placed on
Five Guys
Five Guys Enterprises LLC (doing business as both Five Guys Burgers and Fries, and simply Five Guys) is an American fast food restaurant chain focused on hamburgers, hot dogs, and french fries, and headquartered in Lorton, Virginia, part of Fa ...
’ streaming station and later featured on
Fortnite
''Fortnite'' is an online video game developed by Epic Games and released in 2017. It is available in three distinct game mode versions that otherwise share the same general gameplay and game engine: ''Fortnite Battle Royale'', a free-to-p ...
Radio.
On November 12, 2021, MxPx surprise dropped their new live album ''Southbound to San Antonio''.
The album features 23 of the band's live performances from their last in-person show before the pandemic on February 29, 2020. Following the release of Southbound to San Antonio, the group announced that they would be returning to the stage for two special performances on April 1, 2022, in Anaheim, California at House of Blues and the following night on April 2, 2022, in Phoenix, Arizona at the Marquee Theatre.
During a live streaming concert on December 23, 2022, Mike announced that a new album will be out in 2023.
Arthur
Arthur is a
side project
In popular music, a side project is a project undertaken by one or more people already known for their involvement in another band. It can also be an artist or a band temporarily switching to a different style.
Usually these projects emphasize a ...
of MxPx featuring all three members of MxPx and their former tech assistant Neil Hundt, who now techs for
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. The band's lineup consists of founding members Jeff Ament (bass guitar), Stone Gossard (rhythm guitar), Mike McCready (lead guitar), and Eddie Vedder (lead vocals, guita ...
. The group released an
EP called ''
Loneliness Is Bliss
''Loneliness Is Bliss'' is an EP by Arthur, a side project of MxPx. It was released on November 30, 1999 on Rock City Recording Company, a label owned and operated by MxPx.
Track listing
All songs written by Mike Herrera and arranged by Arthur. ...
'' in 1999. The band members went by their middle names: Arthur (where the band name came from), Edmund, Zane, and Alexander (
Mike Herrera
Michael Arthur Herrera is an American singer, songwriter and musician best known as the lead vocalist, bassist and songwriter for the punk rock band MxPx. He is also the frontman of Tumbledown and the bassist of Goldfinger.
Early life
Herrer ...
, Tom Wisniewski, Yuri Ruley, and Neil Hundt, respectively). After over ten years since the inception of ''Loneliness Is Bliss'', the band released a full-length album called ''Watch the Years Crawl By'' on December 7, 2010.
[Kraus, Brian (2013)]
Arthur (feat. members of MxPx) break up
, ''Alternative Press'', March 2, 2013. Retrieved November 29, 2015 In 2013 those involved in the project announced that they would be discontinuing the project.
Musical style and influences
MxPx is usually described as a
pop punk
Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...
band,
but has also been labeled as
skate punk
Skate punk (also known as skatecore and skate rock) is a skater subculture and punk rock subgenre that developed in the 1980s. Originally a form of hardcore punk that had been closely associated with skate culture, skate punk evolved into a mo ...
and
punk rock.
Originally a punk rock band, by the rise of popularity of
pop punk
Pop punk (or punk pop) is a rock music genre that combines elements of punk rock with power pop or pop. It is defined for its emphasis on classic pop songcraft, as well as adolescent and anti-suburbia themes, and is distinguished from other pu ...
in the late 1990s and early 2000s the group leaned more towards a more pop punk sound.
[ Albums like '']The Ever Passing Moment
''The Ever Passing Moment'' is the fifth studio album by punk rock band MxPx, released on May 16, 2000.
MxPx gained critical recognition for this album and landed a slot supporting for The Offspring and Cypress Hill on the ''Conspiracy of One'' ...
'' and ''Before Everything and After
''Before Everything & After'' is the sixth studio album by punk rock band MxPx, released on A&M Records. The album achieved the band's highest chart position on the ''Billboard'' 200, peaking at number 51.
In May and June 2003, the group suppo ...
'' were criticized by some fans for its pop punk style. MxPx's influences include Descendents
The Descendents are an American punk rock band formed in 1977 in Manhattan Beach, California, by guitarist Frank Navetta, bassist Tony Lombardo and drummer Bill Stevenson. In 1979, they enlisted Stevenson's school friend Milo Aukerman as a s ...
, NOFX
NOFX () is an American punk rock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1983. Vocalist/bassist Fat Mike, guitarist Eric Melvin and drummer Erik Sandin are original founding and longest-serving members of the band, who have appeared on every ...
, Bad Religion
Bad Religion is an American punk rock band that formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1980. The band's lyrics cover topics related to religion, politics, society, the media and science. Musically, they are noted for their melodic sensibilitie ...
, Rancid, Social Distortion
Social Distortion is an American punk rock band formed in 1978 in Fullerton, California. The band currently consists of Mike Ness (lead vocals, lead guitar), Jonny Wickersham (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Brent Harding (bass, backing voca ...
, All
All or ALL may refer to:
Language
* All, an indefinite pronoun in English
* All, one of the English determiners
* Allar language (ISO 639-3 code)
* Allative case (abbreviated ALL)
Music
* All (band), an American punk rock band
* ''All'' (All al ...
, the Clash
The Clash were an English rock band formed in London in 1976 who were key players in the original wave of British punk rock. Billed as "The Only Band That Matters", they also contributed to the and new wave movements that emerged in the wa ...
, the Dead Milkmen
The Dead Milkmen is an American punk rock band formed in 1983 in Philadelphia. Their original lineup consisted of vocalist and keyboardist Rodney Linderman ("Rodney Anonymous"), guitarist and vocalist Joe Genaro ("Joe Jack Talcum"), bassist Da ...
, The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...
, Sex Pistols
The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band formed in London in 1975. Although their initial career lasted just two and a half years, they were one of the most groundbreaking acts in the history of popular music. They were responsible for ...
, Black Flag, and the Ramones
The Ramones were an American punk rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first true punk rock group. Despite achieving a limited commercial appeal in the United ...
.
Many of the band's early releases touch on Christian themes and placed them in the front of the Christian punk
Christian punk is a form of Christian music and a subgenre of punk rock which contain Christian lyrical content. Much disagreement persists about the boundaries of the subgenre, and the extent that their lyrics are explicitly Christian varies a ...
scene. However, by 2012, "Christian punk" was a genre classification that the band was trying to distance themselves from. As of 2015, MxPx singer Mike Herrera
Michael Arthur Herrera is an American singer, songwriter and musician best known as the lead vocalist, bassist and songwriter for the punk rock band MxPx. He is also the frontman of Tumbledown and the bassist of Goldfinger.
Early life
Herrer ...
has said he is no longer Christian. When asked about the topic he stated "...do I believe in god? I'm not sure. Do I believe in this exact religion? No I don't."
Band members
Current members
* Mike Herrera
Michael Arthur Herrera is an American singer, songwriter and musician best known as the lead vocalist, bassist and songwriter for the punk rock band MxPx. He is also the frontman of Tumbledown and the bassist of Goldfinger.
Early life
Herrer ...
– lead vocals, bass guitar (1992–present)
* Yuri Ruley – drums, percussion (1992–2012, 2015–present)
* Tom Wisniewski – lead guitar, backing vocals (1995–2012, 2015 – present)
* Chris Adkins - rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Former members
* Andy Husted – lead guitar (1992–1995)
Discography
* ''Pokinatcha
Pokinatcha is the debut studio album by punk rock band MxPx released on October 4, 1994, through Tooth & Nail Records. The album reflects influence from skate/surf punk, and underground punk generally. The album's name came from a Snicker's cand ...
'' (1994)
* ''Teenage Politics
This is a comprehensive listing of official releases by MxPx, a three-piece American punk rock band, formed in 1992 in Bremerton, Washington. The band has released twelve studio albums, twenty singles, two cover albums, two live albums, an acoust ...
'' (1995)
* '' Life in General'' (1996)
* ''Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo
''Slowly Going the Way of the Buffalo'' is the fourth studio album released by American punk rock band MxPx in 1998. The album title was taken from a letter that a fan had written to the band, complaining that the band was changing and was "slowly ...
'' (1998)
* ''The Ever Passing Moment
''The Ever Passing Moment'' is the fifth studio album by punk rock band MxPx, released on May 16, 2000.
MxPx gained critical recognition for this album and landed a slot supporting for The Offspring and Cypress Hill on the ''Conspiracy of One'' ...
'' (2000)
* ''Before Everything & After
''Before Everything & After'' is the sixth studio album by punk rock band MxPx, released on A&M Records. The album achieved the band's highest chart position on the ''Billboard'' 200, peaking at number 51.
In May and June 2003, the group suppo ...
'' (2003)
* ''Panic
Panic is a sudden sensation of fear, which is so strong as to dominate or prevent reason and logical thinking, replacing it with overwhelming feelings of anxiety and frantic agitation consistent with an animalistic fight-or-flight reactio ...
'' (2005)
* '' Secret Weapon'' (2007)
* ''On the Cover II
''On the Cover II'' is the ninth studio album by American punk rock band MxPx.
Songs
The album is a sequel to the ''On the Cover'' (1995) EP and features covers of various 1980s songs. Craig Owens of Chiodos features on the cover of Poison's "Fa ...
'' (2009)
* ''Punk Rawk Christmas
''Punk Rawk Christmas'' is the eleventh studio album by American rock band MxPx released on December 1, 2009. The album contains 10 tracks originally recorded and released each year from 1998 to 2008 and sent to MxPx's fan club members as CD sing ...
'' (2009)
* ''Plans Within Plans
''Plans Within Plans'' is the twelfth studio album by American punk rock band MxPx, which was released on April 3, 2012. It is their first original album since 2007's '' Secret Weapon''. The album was released on MxPx's own label, Rock City Rec ...
'' (2012)
* ''MxPx
MxPx () is an American pop punk band from Bremerton, Washington, founded in 1992 as Magnified Plaid. As of 2016, current members include Mike Herrera on lead vocals and bass guitar, Yuri Ruley on drums and percussion, Tom Wisniewski on lead gui ...
'' (2018)
References
External links
*
{{Authority control
Skate punk groups
Pop punk groups from Washington (state)
Christian punk groups
Christian rock groups from Washington (state)
Punk rock groups from Washington (state)
Fat Wreck Chords artists
A&M Records artists
Tooth & Nail Records artists
1992 establishments in Washington (state)
Musical groups established in 1992
American musical trios
SideOneDummy Records artists
American punk rock groups