Next Friday, the New York-based band Gym Class Heroes is heading to Douglass Dining Hall to headline The Daryl Hall for President Tour ’07 with the RX Bandits, P.O.S. and k-os. The 41-date tour brings them to UR as well as other college campuses including Alfred University and Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
The four-member alternative hip-hop band, consisting of lead singer Travis McCoy, guitarist Disashi Lumumba-Kasongo, drummer Matt McGinley and bassist Eric Roberts, formed after McCoy and McGinley became friends during physical education class in school in Geneva, N.Y. 10 years ago.
They caught their big break after Pete Wentz from Fall Out Boy heard the song “Taxi Driver” and invited Gym Class Heroes to a show in Buffalo in 2004. Gym Class Heroes joined Wentz’s label, Decaydence Records (an imprint of Fueled By Ramen) and also joined the line-up for the Warped Tour in 2003, 2004 and 2006. This past fall they toured with The All-American Rejects.
Since 1999, the band has released three independent albums along with two with Wentz’s label: “The Papercut Chronicles” and “As Cruel as School Children.” Gym Class Heroes is best known for their single “The Queen and I,” released this past summer and the current single “Cupid’s Chokehold,” which peaked at No.15 on the Hot 100 and No. 38 on the Top 40 Mainstream chart. Live instruments are used in their performances instead of pre-recorded beats, similar to better known bands such as The Roots or Crown City Rockers.
RX Bandits originated in southern California as The Pharmaceutical Bandits in 1997. Members include vocalist/ guitarist Matthew Embree, guitarist/ keyboardist Steve Choi, trombonist/ percussionist Chris Sheets, bassist Joseph Troy and drummer Christopher Tsagakis.
They arrived out of the So-Cal ska/ punk scene along with other well-known performers including Reel Big Fish and No Doubt. Quickly after their first release in 1997, Rx Bandits were picked up by the up-and-coming pop/ punk label Drive Thru Records. Their first album with Drive Thru Records, “Halfway Between Here and There,” was a success that opened many doors for this rising band, allowing them to tour with bigger names like The Bloodhound Gang and New Found Glory. Their most recent album, “?And the Battle Begun,” was released in October 2006.
The other two openers for the tour are P.O.S. and k-os. P.O.S., born Stefon Alexander, is a rapper from Minnesota whose latest album is the critically acclaimed “Audition,” released this past year. His musical style is hard to define as it is a unique combination of rap and punk rock. Artist k-os was born Kevin Brereton and is a Canadian musician who blends rap, funk, rock and reggae. His third album, “Atlantis: Hymns for Disco,” was released globally this past month. He is one of the top three nominees for Canada’s Juno Awards of 2007, with five nominations.
The show, sponsored by UR Concerts, begins at 8 p.m. on Feb. 23. Tickets are $12 for UR undergrads and $17 to the public and can be purchased at the Common Market in Wilson Commons or at the door.
Richards is a member of the class of 2010.
