MxPx is:
Mike Herrera - Vocals, Bass
Tom Wisniewski - Guitar, Vocals
Yuri Ruley - Drums
MxPx began in the early 1990’s playing around their hometown of Bremerton, WA. In the beginning, they had a guitarist named Andy. The band was then referred to as Magnified Plaid, but, ever slowly, their name was shortened to MxPx. Andy had a shirt reading "M.P.", with little x’s in place of the periods, hence the MxPx thing.
Somehow an MxPx demo tape ended up at Tooth And Nail Records, who liked what they heard and signed the trio. The boys headed into the studio, coming out with their debut, "Pokinatcha". It was thought of very highly around the West Coast scene. Soon after, Andy left the group and Tom from Evolution of Man became MxPx’s full time guitarist.
Next up was the release of "Teenage Politics". Touring helped this album become big all over the country and beyond. MxPx had developed a distinct sound, and were a force on the underground scene. They then released "On The Cover", an EP consisting of covers from A-HA ("Take On Me") and The Cootees (MxPx’s side band).
The band’s third full-length, "Life In General", quickly became Tooth And Nail’s highest selling product ever. Their songwriting ability, mixed with their ability to go from a hardcore song to a pop-punk song effortlessly gained them much respect. The new album featured soon-to-be classics like "Today Is In My Way" and "Middlename".
After "Life", MxPx released "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo" in 1998. The album sealed the band’s reputation as truly one of the best. It includes "Tomorrow Is Another Day", "Cold And All Alone" and "The Downfall of Western Civilization", to name a few.
The band’s latest release is "The Ever-Passing Moment", released in 2000. Although it is somewhat of a change from their old stuff, MxPx remains an amazing songwriting band on songs like "My Life Story", "Next Big Thing", and my personal favorite, "Responsibility".
Once upon a time, three guys from a small town called Bremerton started a band. Even though the band had no intent of ever being punk legends, in a matter of years they rose to the status of the best pop-punk Christian band in the world. Ok… possibly one of the ONLY pop-punk Christian bands in the world. But it’s still not bad for a band from Bremerton.
1994 - Pokinatcha
--- MxPx’s first release. They wasted no time establishing themselves as a diverse band with a completely new sound. Features "Want Ad" and hard-hitting songs like "PxPx" and "Walking Bye".
1995 - Teenage Politics
--- Yet another brilliant offering from the Left Coast Punkers. Features the title track, as well as fan favorites "Punk Rawk Show" and "Delores".
1997 - Life In General
--- MxPx’s maturity came glaring through on their third full-length, which remains Tooth And Nail Record’s highest seller of all time. It’s popularity was boosted by songs like "Middlename", "My Mom Still Cleans My Room", and "Move To Bremerton".
1998 - Let It Happen
--- This one is a mix of greatest hits and unreleased gems. Includes "Sick Boy", "GSF", "Lifetime Enlightenment", and rare demos of "Southbound", "Life In General", and "Do Your Feet Hurt".
1998 - Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo
--- Released shortly after "Let It Happen", "Buffalo" became wildly popular with fans, who came in the thousands to see MxPx’s electrifying live performances. Check out "Under Lock And Key", "Im OK, You’re OK", and "Party, My House, Be There".
2000 - The Ever Passing Moment
--- MxPx took a bit of a lighter approach when recording their newest album, but the lyrical magic of Mike Herrera is apparent on songs like "Responsibility" and "Misplaced Memories".
2000 - At The Show
--- The band’s first live album, features songs from "Slowly Going The Way Of The Buffalo", including "Tomorrow’s Another Day", "Cold And All Alone", and "The Downfall Of Western Civilization", as well as "Chick Magnet", "GSF", and the closer "Punk Rawk Show".
2001 - The Renaissance (EP)
--- Released on Fat Wreck Chords, MxPx's new EP brought the promise of "MxPx returning to their roots". However, this collection of 9 songs is still too light to be compared to the band's past work. Still, "Letting Go" and "Party II" make it worth a listen.
In 1995, MxPx released the 8 song "On The Cover" EP, which includes covers of A-Ha’s "Take On Me", Joy Electric’s "Drum Machine Joy", and Richard Marx’s "Summer of ‘69". The 10" vinyl version includes 5 more songs, including Social Distortion’s "Sick Boy".
The band released a "Life In General Pre-Release Teaser" a few months before the full album’s release. The teaser included demos of "Life In General", "Do Your Feet Hurt", and "Sorry So Sorry".
In 1997, MxPx did a 7" split with The McCrackins called "North America Loud Punk Series Vol. 4". MxPx contributed "Elvis Is Dead’ and "Begin To Start" to the split.
In 1998, A&M Records released an MxPx Free Music Sampler, which included "I’m Ok, You’re OK", "The Final Slowdance", and "The Downfall of Western Civilization".
A few months before the release of their latest album, "The Ever Passing Moment", MxPx put out a demo to support the album. The demo features "Two Whole Years" and "It’s Undeniable".
MxPx has amassed a large collection of singles over the years, and these are the most notable of the bunch:
The trio has three side projects to their name: The Cootees (Mike and Tom), Arthur (Mike, Tom, and Yuri), and Element, whose album "Future Plans Undecided" was produced by Mike Herrera.