Missouri, meet your new friend Zox

The Rhode Island band completed its tour and wowed fans.

By Andrea Kszystyniak

Published Sept. 11, 2009

Zox is not a name you hear dropped very often in Missouri. Like coffee milk, the word “wicked" and many other great things from Rhode Island, this rapidly popularizing band is relatively ignored. As this band begins to burgeon into success, completing a tour of Europe and the United States, it is time the Show-Me State and Rhode Island music become better acquainted.

Let me preface this with something: I am absolutely and completely obsessed with Zox.

I have autographed John Zox drumsticks, countless autographed portraits, set lists, guitar picks and the whole shebang. I’ve seen them more times than I can count. I remember the exact course of every conversation the band and I have ever had.

Every time I see them I get disturbingly excited. By no stretch of the imagination am I a screaming, crying fan girl. I do not deem it appropriate to chuck my underpants at lead singer Eli Miller’s face, but I will belt out every word to every song, dancing like an octopus on ecstasy, skanking and jumping along with their violin-driven rock. Generally, I can’t walk straight for a day or two after a Zox concert, my legs aching with overuse. I actually passed out completely sober at their last show. As the song “When the Rain Comes Down Again” reached it’s tremendous climax, I hit the floor.

Their performances are awe-inspiring. The band puts all they have into every set. Drummer John Zox looks crazier than Animal ever did, pounding away on his drums as if determined to turn them into dust. Baby-faced lead singer Eli Miller constructs lyrics that mirror the life experience of every adolescent. Tattoo-covered, conservatory trained violinist Spencer Swain, the band's resident badass, is a walking oxymoron, finely constructing punk rock — like rhythms with his electric violin, strung into a guitar amp.

The band has seriously progressed since its debut album, Take Me Home, released in 2003. Transformed from unsure and awkward adolescents into bold and calculated musicians, Zox has worked to defy the beaten path and continue in an entirely different musical direction than most musical groups. Make no Yellowcard comparisons. This band members takes themselves seriously. They’re not afraid to mess around with melodicas or allow the violinist to take the mic every once in a while. It’s funky punky jam out dance music that you can occasionally cry to.

Missouri, it’s imperative that you and Zox finally get acquainted. My recommendation: Start off with their sophomore album, The Wait. Tracks such as “Carolyn”, “Anything But Fine” and “Spades” demonstrate their musicianship in a poppy and easy to digest format. Next head to Line in the Sand and spend some time with the title track as well as “Goodnight,” “Towards Los Angeles” and “Lucky Sometimes.” A visit to Take Me Home is imperative, if only for their positively stunning cover of “Canon” and fan favorite, “The Squid.” Visit their Myspace for easy accessibility to some of these tracks.

Although the recordings do not translate the beauty of their live shows (because honestly, their live shows are heaven), they are still some of my absolute favorites.

No matter the events in my life, Zox has been there to serve as the soundtrack. I put Zox on the mixtape that made my first serious relationship happen. I listened to Zox as I pulled out of my Rhode Island driveway on the way to come to MU. I’ve listened to “The Wait (Part II)” almost every time I’ve ever cried. The band is eclectic and talented, and as a result, has established a cult-like, New England following. I must admit I drink freely from that bowl of Kool-Aid.

Join the club. We have cool T-shirts.