MXPX

At the age of 20, the members of Bremerton, Washington's MxPx are already punk rock veterans. Heck, they've shared a stage with the Sex Pistols (at Seattle's 1996 Bumbershoot festival) - what more proof do you need that these guys are the real deal?

They started proving it at an exceedingly young age. Four years ago, three 15 year-old kids calling themselves Magnified Plaid started pounding out music inspired by and similar to the Descendants and other Southern California pop-punk bands. They didn't really love their band name, however, which was a tribute to the original guitarist's penchant for wearing one particularly loud plaid shirt. Consequently, the name was abbreviated to M.P., but in Yuri's handwriting, periods become "X"'s and since he made up the show posters for the band, the four-letter moniker stuck.

Tom was added two years ago ( replacing the aesthetically offensive former guitarist) to solidify the line-up that would take the band into their post-teen years. Maybe his background as a drummer made up for his relative inexperience playing guitar (he had only played for a year at the time). He and Yuri lock into backbreakingly fast rhythms that rank with vintage Minor Threat for speed and percussive attack. Mike then adds to the mix his signature sing-along melodies that call to mind SoCal punk bands from the early '80s. Listen to "My Mom Still Cleans My Room" from the new album for a perfect example of this infectious juxtaposition.

Bremerton had been a town most famous for its naval shipyards until MxPx caught the attention of Tooth & Nail records when they played a "showcase" for the label in 1993 in Herrera's parents' garage. Since then, Tooth & Nail has released the band's debut, "Pokinatcha" and the follow up, "Teenage Politics" (which sold one-third of its 60,000 copies in Southern California, their musical Mecca).

November, 1996 Tooth & Nail released MxPx's highly anticipated "Life In General" which, incidentally, includes a tribute to the band's hometown: "Move To Bremerton," a standout track on an album already chock full of exciting and fresh updates of traditional pop-punk stylings. Check out "Andrea," "Today Is In My Way," or "Your Problem, My Emergency," and if you're not at least tapping your feet and humming along - let alone moshing uncontrollably and screaming the words at the top of your lungs - then check your pulse, buddy.

Though there is a heaping helping of songs about everyday young male concerns on the record (unrequited love, quitting jobs, giving girls rides home on your Vespa), don't be surprised when you confront mature lyrics dealing with issues like leading a moral life in an increasingly disillusioning world, defending your personal integrity, or railing against the unfeeling capitalist motives of people trying to manipulate you.

Whatever you do, don't discount the collective experience of these three deceptively young punk rockers. Turn up "Life In General" and kick back; you may even learn something.

A follow up to "Life in general" album are, "Slowly Moving the way Of The Buffalo" With the single "i'm Ok your Ok". Also last 2000 MxPx releasd an audio/multimedia CD album called "The EverPassing Moment" which was Produced By Famed Blink 182 album producer Jerry Finn. Tracks that are Bionically fast to listen and extensively melodic in this album are, "My Life Story", "The Next Big Thing" which is about how predictable the upcoming sound trends in the music biz is, and the single "Responsibility" That only proves that Shreds of adolescence stays with us when we grow old. Truly Herrera and the rest of the band Are still The "Good Guys Of PUnk". Fast And Riffy but never makes you feel negative about life.