The Riffs are a rock and roll

Rock and roll

Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...

 and punk band from Portland, Oregon

Portland, Oregon

Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...

. They have released three full-length albums, all on indie labels, namely Pelado Records, Vendetta Records, and TKO Records.

Influences

The Riffs are heavily influenced by early punk bands, most notably the Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols

The Sex Pistols were an English punk rock band that formed in London in 1975. They were responsible for initiating the punk movement in the United Kingdom and inspiring many later punk and alternative rock musicians...

, whose influence can be heard most prominently in the guitars, Sham 69

Sham 69

Sham 69 is an English punk band that formed in Hersham in 1976.Although not as commercially successful as many of their contemporaries, albeit with a greater number of chart entries, Sham 69 has been a huge musical and lyrical influence on the Oi! and streetpunk genres. The band allegedly derived...

 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

Protopunk

Protopunk is a term used retrospectively to describe a number of musicians who were important precursors of punk rock in the late 1960s to mid-1970s, or who have been cited by early punk musicians as influential...

 like Eddie and the Hot Rods and The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited...

, as displayed by their cover of "Waiting for the Man" on "Underground Kicks".

Song Content

Throughout the first two LPs, Underground Kicks and Dead End Dream, the songs and lyrics (written by all members of the band) told 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.

Members

• Tony Mengis - Vocals
• Amphetamine Blue - Guitars, backup vocals
• Saigon Shakes - Guitar, then Bass
• Dogs Body - Guitars and vocals
• Karl - most recent drumner
• Toni Transmission - first drummer

Albums

• Underground Kicks (released 1999 by Pelado Records, re-released December 17, 2002 by TKO Records)
• Dead End Dream (March 19, 2002)
• Death or Glory (May 20, 2003)

EPs

• The Lucky Ones are Dead B/W Johnny Won't Get to Heaven 7" on Pelado Records
• White Line Kids B/W Kick Time Suicide 7" released in 2000 on Tombstone Records
• A Million Scars B/W Outta my Mind and I Won't 7" on Vendetta Records
• Such a Bore B/W Coming Back 7" on TKO Records
• Poison Boys B/W Lesson Number Nine 7" released in 2003 on TKO Records