The Riffs

In the early 2000s, there were at least three bands calling themselves the Riffs. One was a British ska band, another was a New Jersey band that had a retro '70s outlook and cited <a href="spotify:artist:0qEcf3SFlpRcb3lK3f2GZI">Grand Funk Railroad</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:4MVyzYMgTwdP7Z49wAZHx0">Lynyrd Skynyrd</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:2y8Jo9CKhJvtfeKOsYzRdT">Rod Stewart</a> as primary influences. The focus of this bio, however, is a punk band from Portland, OR. Influenced by both American and British bands, Portland's Riffs are a snarling, in-your-face outfit that recalls the classic punk bands of the late '70s and early '80s. The Portland, OR-based residents are totally unaffected by the emocore bands that were all over alternative rock radio in the '90s and early 2000s and their music is a passionate, unapologetic throwback to the old school punk of <a href="spotify:artist:1u7kkVrr14iBvrpYnZILJR">the Sex Pistols</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS">the Clash</a>, the <a href="spotify:artist:4RjtLUZNqLtMpRKIOaVokc">Dead Boys</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:29XJ6qIJAQdRSw64f47aJe">Sham 69</a>. The Riffs' sound isn't entirely American or entirely British, although pioneering British punks like <a href="spotify:artist:1u7kkVrr14iBvrpYnZILJR">the Sex Pistols</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:29XJ6qIJAQdRSw64f47aJe">Sham 69</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:3RGLhK1IP9jnYFH4BRFJBS">the Clash</a> have greatly influenced the band and their sound has also been affected by American bands such as the <a href="spotify:artist:4RjtLUZNqLtMpRKIOaVokc">Dead Boys</a>. The Riffs, which formed in the '90s, have also claimed some pre-punk bands as influences, most notably <a href="spotify:artist:3dBVyJ7JuOMt4GE9607Qin">T. Rex</a> (as in "Bang a Gong"). The Riffs' lineup consists of lead singer Tony Mengis, Dogsbody, Amphetamine Blue, Saigon Shakes, and drummer Carl. Before the Riffs, these artists belonged to other Portland punk bands: The Riffs includes former members of the Champions, Deathcharge, <a href="spotify:artist:7odhY0070v12CsG7duP9q3">Defiance</a>, and Resist. The Riffs' first full-length album, Underground Kicks, was released on the Pelado label in 1999. In 2001, the Riffs signed with TKO, a Richmond, VA-based indie that has specialized in hardcore punk. In March 2002, TKO released their second album, Dead End Dream, on both CD and LP. ~ Alex Henderson, Rovi