Description

MxPx were a spunky trio of Pacific Northwest teenagers with discreetly Christian lyrics and a crisp, tight attack when they were signed to Tooth & Nail Records in 1994. They released three albums for the label and then defected to A&M Records, where bigger budgets afforded them grander production and a busy touring schedule. Being exposed to enthusiastic crowds during the late-'90s heyday of pop/punk paid off, and by 2005, the band had built up such a loyal following that they decided to leave A&M and record independently, pursuing a leaner punk sound. MxPx also helped pave the way for a bundle of emotionally driven pop/punk acts with lyrics that, while not expressly religious, dealt openly with matters of faith.

Biography

This Bremerton, Washington, USA-based alternative rock band, comprising Mike Herrera (b. 6 November 1976; vocals/bass), Tom Wisniewski (b. 20 October 1976; guitar) and Yuri Ruley (b. 3 June 1976; drums), made their name with two zestful yet catchy albums for Seattle label Tooth & Nail Records. Their third collection, 1997's Life In General, boasted a more layered and polished sound. It was picked up for distribution and marketing by A&M Records, who subsequently offered the band a full contract (not least because of the success of the attendant single, "Chick Magnet'). The first product following this move was 1998"s Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo, its contents typified by the charming, self-deprecating single, "I'm OK, You're OK". The sound was a throwback to the band's earlier incarnation, as Herrera acknowledged: "Life In General was a pretty clean, straightforward pop album, and we were happy with that, but this time around we dirtied things up a little." Greg Hetson made a guest appearance on one track, "The Downfall Of Western Civilization", and the band set out on a major support tour with his band Bad Religion during 1998. The album was consumed eagerly by the band's fanatical fanbase, MxPx boasting a mailing list of over 10,000 names.
DISCOGRAPHY: Pokinatcha (Tooth & Nail 1994)***, Teenage Politics (Tooth & Nail 1995)***, Life In General (Tooth & Nail/A&M 1997)****, Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo (Tooth & Nail/A&M 1998)***, At The Show (Tooth & Nail 1999)***, The Ever Passing Moment (A&M 2000)****, The Renaissance EP mini-album (Fat Wreck Chords 2001)***, Before Everything And After (A&M 2003)***.
COMPILATIONS: Let It Happen (Tooth & Nail 1998)***, Ten Years And Running (Tooth & Nail 2002)****.
VIDEOGRAPHY: It Came From Bremerton (PolyGram Music Video 2000).

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