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The Riffs | |
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| Origin | Portland, Oregon, United States |
| Genres | Punk rock, rock and roll |
| Labels | Pelado, Vendetta, TKO |
| Past members | Toni Transmission |
The Riffs are a rock and roll and punk band from Portland, Oregon, United States. They have released three full-length albums, all on indie labels, namely Pelado Records, Vendetta Records, and TKO Records.
The Riffs are heavily influenced by early punk bands, most notably the Sex Pistols, whose influence can be heard most prominently in the guitars, Sham 69 and the Dead Boys (they paid tribute to the Dead Boys on the cover of "Dead End Dream"). Like other bands that played the first wave of punk music, they were also fans of Protopunk like Eddie and the Hot Rods and The Velvet Underground, as displayed by their cover of "Waiting for My Man" on Underground Kicks.
Throughout the first two LPs, Underground Kicks and Dead End Dream, the songs and lyrics (written by all members of the band) tell a bleak story of growing up in the Portland punk scene, presumably in poverty, afflicted with drug addiction, the repercussions of drug abuse, regret about past violent criminal activity, and a "No Way Out" feeling when it came to creating a fulfilling (if any) future.
The band matured for their latest release, Death or Glory, as evident by lead singer Mengis' improved vocal abilities; also, he achieved a greater vocal range, such as in "Death or Glory," smoother production, and implementation of experimental instruments (such as the keyboard in "Poison Boys"). The lyrical content also took a turn for the positive in many ways; Death or Glory had considerably more romantic songs than ever before.
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Poison Idea was an American punk rock band formed in Portland, Oregon, in 1980.
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The Ducky Boys are a street punk band from Boston. Since forming in 1995 in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, the band has released six full-length albums and over 80 songs. The band's name is derived from the name of an Irish street gang in the 1979 movie, The Wanderers.
Poisoned Electrick Head (PEH) is an English psychedelic indie rock/punk band formed in 1986 in St Helens, Merseyside, England. The band is best known for the 1994 independent chart hit "Out of Order" and for its fantasy-costumed stage act. Poisoned Electrick Head split up in 1998 and formally reformed in 2009. The band's name is taken from the final words sung by Vivian Stanshall in the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band track, "My Pink Half of the Drainpipe".
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The Ignerents were formed in 1977 in Whitstable, Kent, by brothers Chris and Steve Harris, joined by neighbour Mark Leighton on guitar, vocalist Kevin Holmes, and drummer Stan 'Gretsch' Littlejohn. The band were an important part of the local Kent punk scene in the late 1970s in Kent alongside bands like Wild Billy Childish's Pop Rivets, The Names, Naughty Thoughts, and The Rivals.
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TKO Records is an independent punk rock record label in Portland, Oregon. The label is primarily known for its role in the late 1990s American street punk scene and has continued its notability as a source of new releases, reissues, and archival recordings. The OC Weekly newspaper recognized the label as "best record label" in Orange County in 2011 and its record store of the same name as "best punk-rock record store" in Orange County, 2008.
Samuel William Henry born legally blind, was an American drummer, best known for his work with the punk rock group Wipers. He was inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame in 2011.
Kelly Michael Halliburton is an American bassist and drummer. He has been involved in bands including Pierced Arrows, Dead Moon, Detestation, Defiance, and Jenny Don't and the Spurs.
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