Listen to RX Bandits faithful cover of Fugazi's "Cashout"

Ben Kaye

June 21, 2013 | 3:21pm ET

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.”

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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