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Common Rider
Common Rider
Common Rider
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Common Rider was an American ska punk band, formed in 1999 by Jesse Michaels (guitar, vocals), Mass Giorgini (bass) and Dan Lumley (drums). The band's name is taken from a Japanese TV show, Kamen Rider (Kamen Rider means "Masked Rider" in Japanese).

Key Information

History

[edit]

Michaels was formerly the lead vocalist for Operation Ivy, 1987 to 1989.[1]

The band released two full-length albums and one EP. Last Wave Rockers was released in 1999 on Lookout! Records. Thief In a Sleeping Town EP was also released on Lookout! Records in 2001 and featured Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (guitar/backing vocals). The band released This Is Unity Music on Hopeless Records in 2002. The band toured the US extensively the same year, including the 2002 Plea For Peace tour, sponsored by Asian Man Records. On the tour, Phillip Hill (from Teen Idols and also a major contributor on the album This is Unity Music) played guitar, along with Joe Mizzi. The band's last release was a split with Against All Authority in April 2005, containing outtakes from 2002's This Is Unity Music.

The band broke up in 2003. In 2005, bassist and producer Mass Giorgini went to Australia to record an album for Brisbane-based reggae/ska outfit Scarred Hope; he has also performed with Dan Lumley in the band Squirtgun. Michaels has continued to perform sporadically and to produce art. In late 2008, Michaels emerged with a new band named Classics of Love, after the Common Rider song.

Discography

[edit]

Albums and EPs

[edit]
Year Title Label Other information
1999 Last Wave Rockers Lookout! Records / Panic Button Debut Album
2001 Thief in a Sleeping Town EP Lookout! Records 7" vinyl with four songs, Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day played guitar
2002 This Is Unity Music Hopeless Phillip Hill, Matt Demeester, Kevin Sierzega, Jimmy Lucido, Ray Moses, Joe Mizzi, members of Alkaline Trio, and many more, contributed to this record.
2005 Common Rider/Against All Authority split Hopeless Split EP with punk band Against All Authority containing four songs from the This Is Unity Music sessions that did not make it onto the record.

Compilations

[edit]
Year Title Label Contributing Track(s)
2000 Might As Well ... Can't Dance Adeline Records "Thief In A Sleeping Town"
2000 Lookout! Freakout Lookout! / Panic Button "Carry On", "Signal Signal (Alternative Version)"
2001 Lookout! Freakout - Episode 2 Lookout! / Panic Button "Am I On My Own"
2002 Every Dog Will Have Its Day Adeline Records "Blackbirds vs Crows"
2002 Hopelessly Devoted To You - Volume 4 Hopeless "Small Pebble"
2001 1157 Wheeler Avenue: A Memorial For Amadou Diallo Failed Experiment "Longshot"
2002 Plea For Peace / Take Action Volume 2 Sub City "PSA" (Jesse Michaels only), "Longshot"
2003 Operation: Punk Rock Freedom Hopeless/Sub City "Firewall"
2004 Hopelessly Devoted To You - Volume 5 Hopeless "Where The Waves Are Highest"
2006 Hopelessly Devoted To You - Volume 6 Hopeless "Small Pebble"
2009 Hopeless Records: 15 Year Anniversary Hopeless "Small Pebble"

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Common Rider

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Common Rider was an American ska punk band active from 1999 to 2003, formed by Jesse Michaels—lead singer and guitarist of the influential ska punk group Operation Ivy—after a nearly decade-long absence from recording music. The lineup featured Michaels on guitar and vocals, alongside bassist Mass Giorgini (known for his work with Squirtgun and as a producer) and drummer Dan Lumley (also of Squirtgun and Screeching Weasel). The band released its debut album, Last Wave Rockers, in 1999 via Lookout! Records, followed by This Is Unity Music in 2002 on Hopeless Records, the latter incorporating guest appearances from punk and ska musicians. Common Rider conducted nationwide tours in the United States, blending fast-paced punk rhythms with ska elements, before disbanding in 2003 as Michaels pursued other projects. The group's work is noted for its raw energy and lyrical themes of resilience and social observation, cementing Michaels' legacy in the third-wave ska revival.

History

Formation and Early Influences

Common Rider was formed in 1999 as a collaborative recording project initiated by , the former frontman of the band , which had disbanded a decade earlier. Michaels, seeking an outlet for a collection of new compositions, recruited bassist Mass Giorgini—known for his work with punk acts like and as a producer—and drummer Dan Lumley, also tied to the punk scene through bands such as Squirtgun. The trio convened to record material that would become the band's debut album, Last Wave Rockers, initially released in 2000 on after early sessions on , the label affiliated with . The band's name originated from Michaels' reference to a Japanese television series titled Common Ridah, a term he interpreted as denoting "space rangers," evoking the tokusatsu hero aesthetics of shows like . This formation marked a shift for from his post-Operation Ivy endeavors, including the short-lived hardcore outfit Big Rig, toward a more groove-oriented punk sound developed in the studio rather than through extensive live performance. Early activity remained limited to recording, with the group functioning primarily as a vehicle for Michaels' songwriting before expanding to include additional guitarists like Phillip Hill and Joe Needy for later support. Musically, Common Rider's early influences blended aggression with Jamaican genres, particularly , which imparted a slower tempo and "washed-out flavor" compared to the high-energy of . Michaels drew inspiration from and artists such as and , integrating these elements into 'n' roll structures to create a sound emphasizing passion and rhythmic drive. Broader punk and hip-hop touchstones from Michaels' background, including , , and figures like , informed the lyrical intensity and social themes, though the band's initial output prioritized melodic hooks over rapid tempos.

Debut Album and Activity (1999–2000)

Common Rider released their debut album, Last Wave Rockers, in May 1999 through . The record, comprising 15 tracks written primarily by vocalist and guitarist , featured bassist Mass Giorgini and drummer Dan Lumley, and blended elements of , , dub, and rock. Key songs included "Classics of Love," "Carry On," and "True Rulers," with production emphasizing a raw, energetic sound influenced by Michaels' prior work in . The album marked the band's emergence following decade-long hiatus from music after Operation Ivy's 1989 disbandment. In a November 1999 , described the songs as accumulating over years, reflecting personal themes of resilience and realism rather than forced optimism, and noted the trio's intent to expand live performances by adding a for fuller arrangements. Live activity in 1999–2000 was limited but indicative of building momentum. The band planned a fall 1999 U.S. tour to promote the album, focusing on new material and punk circuits. Documented performances were sparse, with one confirmed show on March 23, 2000, at in , alongside The Tank. This period represented Common Rider's initial push into the scene, leveraging Michaels' reputation while establishing an independent identity amid the late-1990s punk revival.

Disbandment and Aftermath

Common Rider disbanded in 2003 after four years of activity, with frontman citing a sense of creative completion as a primary factor, stating, "it just felt like we had accomplished all we could." Logistical challenges also played a significant role, as the band struggled with inconsistent lineup stability due to members living in different locations, which complicated planning and execution: "we never developed a solid line up that all lived in the same place." Michaels noted that while the experience was enjoyable, some external hostility from critics influenced the decision only minimally. The band's final recordings, four tracks contributed to a split EP with Against All Authority, were completed prior to the breakup but released posthumously in 2005 by Honest Don's Records, produced by bassist Mass Giorgini. These songs represented Common Rider's last musical output, capturing their style amid the dissolution. In the immediate aftermath, Michaels stepped away from music to focus on outside the industry. Giorgini and Dan Lumley, both affiliated with Squirtgun and Screeching Weasel, continued their involvement in the punk scene through production and performance roles. Michaels eventually returned to music, forming Classics of Love in 2009 and releasing material through 2012, before collaborating with former bandmate on a new project announced in 2023.

Band Members and Contributions

Core Lineup

The core lineup of Common Rider featured as lead vocalist and guitarist, Mass Giorgini on bass, and Dan Lumley on drums. This trio formed the band in 1999 in , and remained consistent throughout its active period, recording both studio albums Last Wave Rockers (1999) and This Is Unity Music (2002). Michaels, drawing from his prior experience as the vocalist and songwriter for the influential band (1987–1989), provided the band's primary creative direction through lyrics and melodies that blended punk energy with ska rhythms. Giorgini and Lumley, both affiliated with the punk label and bands like Screeching Weasel and Squirtgun, contributed the rhythmic foundation, with Giorgini also handling production duties for the band's releases. Their collaboration emphasized tight instrumentation suited to live performances and recordings, supporting the band's short-lived but focused output before disbanding in 2003.

Key Roles and Changes

The core lineup of Common Rider consisted of Jesse Michaels on lead vocals and guitar, Mass Giorgini on bass, and Dan Lumley on drums, forming a stable power trio throughout the band's active period. Michaels, the band's founder and former frontman of Operation Ivy, handled primary songwriting, infusing tracks with his signature energetic punk delivery adapted to ska rhythms. Giorgini, a veteran of Lookout! Records-affiliated groups like Screeching Weasel and Squirtgun, provided rhythmic backbone on bass and assisted in engineering aspects of recordings. Lumley, also from Squirtgun, anchored the percussion, supporting the upbeat tempos central to the band's ska-punk style. No lineup changes occurred during Common Rider's run from its 1999 formation to its 2003 disbandment, maintaining the original trio configuration across releases including the debut album Last Wave Rockers (1999) and This Is Unity Music (2003). This consistency allowed the members to focus on refining their blend of punk aggression and ska elements without personnel disruptions, though the band ceased activity abruptly after the second album's release.

Musical Style and Themes

Genre Characteristics and Influences

Common Rider's music exemplifies , a fusion of punk rock's raw energy, rapid tempos, and distorted guitars with 's signature offbeat rhythms and syncopated guitar skanks, often delivered without traditional horn sections in their trio format of guitar, bass, and . This approach emphasized melodic bass lines and driving percussion, creating a lean, guitar-centric sound that prioritized propulsion over orchestral elements. Their tracks frequently alternated between punk-infused verses and choruses, as heard in songs like "Castaways" from their 1999 debut Last Wave Rockers, where punk aggression yields to upbeat, rocksteady-tinged hooks. The band's style evolved across releases, with This Is Unity Music (2002) leaning more heavily into punk rock's directness and mid-tempo grooves while retaining 's rhythmic bounce and reggae-inflected melodies, distinguishing it from horn-heavy third-wave ska contemporaries. , the band's vocalist and guitarist, characterized their sound as "hard 'n' roll with a influence," reflecting a deliberate shift from the frenetic ska-punk hybrid of his prior band toward more mature, groove-oriented structures influenced by and R&B undercurrents. Key influences included second-wave ska and two-tone pioneers like The Specials and Desmond Dekker, whose rude boy anthems and upbeat reggae shaped Common Rider's melodic sensibility and social urgency, alongside punk forebears such as The Clash for their politically charged fusion of styles. Later inspirations encompassed garage rock revival acts like The International Noise Conspiracy, contributing to the band's blue-eyed soul edges and iconoclastic energy, as well as roots reggae figures like Toots and the Maytals, evident in the laid-back skanks and vocal harmonies. These elements combined to produce a progressive yet rootsy aesthetic, bridging 1970s punk realism with Jamaican rhythms without succumbing to the pop polish of mainstream ska revivalism.

Lyrical Content and Messages

The lyrics of Common Rider, primarily penned by frontman , emphasize introspective personal growth and the redemptive power of music, often viewed through a lens of matured hindsight on youthful struggles. In tracks like "Classics of Love" from the 1999 album Last Wave Rockers, Michaels celebrates music's transcendent role, name-checking influences such as , , and to evoke its unifying and inspirational force across generations. Similarly, "True Rulers" reflects on adolescent rebellion at Berkeley High School, critiquing the illusion of youthful defiance while acknowledging its limitations from an adult perspective. Across both albums, Last Wave Rockers (1999) and This Is Unity Music (2002), recurring motifs include reevaluating past sadness through maturity, as ' words explore how time alters perceptions of emotional hardship and fosters resilience. This marks a departure from the raw urgency of his era, incorporating metaphor-laden straightforwardness—evident in titles like "Blackbirds Vs Crows" and "One Ton"—to convey themes of conflict, endurance, and subtle spirituality. Social undercurrents persist, with addressing unfairness and societal pressures, derived from emotional origins rather than abstract , urging perseverance amid systemic inequities. Critics note a spiritual undertone in this body of work, blending toasting styles with punk's frantic energy to promote unity and self-awareness over confrontation. Songs like "" exemplify an optimistic message of forward momentum despite urban alienation, reinforcing music's role as a counter to isolation. Overall, the band's messages prioritize emotional authenticity and quiet defiance, influencing listeners toward reflective optimism rather than overt .

Discography

Studio Albums

Common Rider released two studio albums during its existence, both showcasing the band's sound led by vocalist and guitarist . The debut album, Last Wave Rockers, was issued in 1999 by . Recorded in February 1999, it comprises 15 tracks blending punk energy with ska rhythms, including standout songs such as "Classics of Love," "," and "True Rulers." The album's production emphasized raw, uptempo instrumentation, reflecting the band's formation as a side project amid members' commitments to other groups. The follow-up, This Is Unity Music, appeared on September 3, 2002, via and served as the band's sole subsequent full-length release before its 2003 disbandment. Featuring 15 tracks with a slightly more polished production involving additional contributors, it includes numbers like "Small Pebble," "Firewall," and "Long After Lights Out," maintaining the core while incorporating elements. The album's runtime totals approximately 32 minutes, underscoring concise song structures typical of the genre.

Compilations and Reissues

Common Rider's debut Last Wave Rockers (1999) was reissued by on December 27, 2023, with remastering by Mass Giorgini, updated cover art, and availability in two random colored vinyl presses limited to 1,000 copies each. The digital version followed on on February 5, 2024. The band's second album This Is Unity Music (2002) received its first vinyl reissue in 23 years on April 25, 2025, via Le Noise Music in partnership with Hopeless Records, pressed on 180-gram blue and white smash vinyl in a limited edition of 500 copies. Common Rider contributed tracks to multiple Hopeless Records compilations, including "Classics of Love" on Operation: Punk Rock Freedom (2003) and selections on Hopelessly Devoted to You, Vol. 5 (2004) and Vol. 6 (2006). A split EP with Against All Authority, featuring Common Rider's "Thief in a Sleeping Town," was released by Hopeless in 2005 and reissued alongside the This Is Unity Music vinyl in 2025.

Reception and Legacy

Critical and Commercial Response

Common Rider achieved limited commercial success, remaining an underground act within the scene despite releasing two studio albums on independent labels such as and . Their debut album Last Wave Rockers (1999) and follow-up This Is Unity Music (2002) did not chart on mainstream lists, reflecting the band's niche appeal amid the late-1990s third-wave ska revival, which saw broader success for acts like but little for more punk-oriented groups. As of recent metrics, the band maintains modest streaming presence with approximately 92,000 monthly listeners, underscoring a dedicated but non-mainstream fanbase rather than widespread sales or radio play. Critically, Last Wave Rockers received strong praise from punk and ska-focused outlets for its energetic blend of ska rhythms and punk aggression, often drawing favorable comparisons to Jesse Michaels' prior work with Operation Ivy. Punknews.org awarded it a perfect 10/10 score, lauding its catchy punk tunes and overall excellence. Reviewers highlighted the album's inspirational lyrics and entertaining hooks, with Rate Your Music users averaging a 3.4/5 rating across 194 assessments, emphasizing Michaels' songwriting as a standout element. A 2011 reissue by Asian Man Records further affirmed its enduring appeal, earning a 9/10 from Punknews.org for its impeccable remastering and updated packaging. This Is Unity Music garnered more mixed responses, with some critics appreciating its tighter production and punk-leaning sound while others found it less distinctive. Punknews.org rated it 8/10, noting improved cohesion over the debut but acknowledging it fell short of the first 's raw brilliance in fan comments. gave it a 6.8/10 aggregate, praising tracks like "Cool This Madness Down" for their Clash-inspired pep but critiquing the overall stylistic grasp as solid yet unremarkable. AntiMUSIC hailed it as one of the year's best listens for its punk edge, while deemed it disappointing for lacking the personality promised by its themes. The band's EPs and splits, such as the 10/10-rated Thief in a Sleeping Town 7-inch, reinforced their reputation for concise, high-quality output among punk enthusiasts.

Influence on Punk and Ska Scenes

Common Rider's approach to ska-punk emphasized a return to traditional Jamaican and rhythms, diverging from the horn-driven, high-energy third-wave style prevalent in the late . Their 2002 album This Is Unity Music incorporated sparse, minimalist arrangements influenced by artists such as , , and , which reviewers noted as turning the ska-punk formula "on its head" by prioritizing urgency, intelligence, and spiritual lyricism over stereotypical breakdowns and humor. This refinement highlighted ' role in infusing authentic elements into punk frameworks, building on his prior work with while avoiding the frenetic punk-ska fusion that defined much of the era's scene. The band's output, including collaborations like the 2002 split EP with Against All Authority on , contributed to ongoing discourse in punk circles about evolving beyond commercial ska revival tropes toward roots- introspection. By demonstrating maturity in songcraft—blending punk aggression with pacing—Common Rider influenced perceptions of genre boundaries among punk audiences, fostering appreciation for less brass-centric expressions of within hardcore-adjacent communities. However, their disbandment in 2003 curtailed potential for broader dissemination, confining their impact largely to cult followings and retrospective discussions rather than spawning direct imitators or shifting mainstream punk- trajectories.

Recent Reappraisals and Availability

In 2024, Common Rider's debut album Last Wave Rockers received a vinyl reissue after being out of print for over two decades, remastered by Mass Giorgini and featuring new cover artwork painted by vocalist . Issued by in limited-edition colored vinyl, the release prompted renewed interest in the band's ska-punk sound, with preorders announced in December 2023 and digital availability following on platforms like . The reissue garnered positive critical reappraisal, with Punknews.org awarding it a 9/10 rating and describing it as delivering "happy songs" from "," emphasizing its uplifting themes amid the band's raw energy. This perspective highlighted ' lyrical craftsmanship, positioning the album as a bridge between Operation Ivy's intensity and more melodic punk expressions, distinct from contemporaneous revival acts. Fan discussions on platforms like in mid-2025 echoed this, labeling Common Rider an "underrated" project and praising its blend of influences from ' prior work. Beyond the reissue, Common Rider's catalog remains accessible via streaming services such as , where ad-free playback of albums like Last Wave Rockers and This Is Unity Music is available, alongside channels hosting official topic playlists. Physical formats, including original CDs and vinyl variants, circulate through secondary markets like , though comprehensive reissues of later material such as This Is a Stolen Car (2003) have not materialized recently. Retrospective coverage, including interviews in early 2025, has framed Common Rider as a pivotal but underrecognized in his oeuvre, underscoring its role in sustaining punk's DIY ethos post-Operation Ivy.

References

  1. https://www.allmusic.com/artist/common-rider-mn0000777212
  2. https://www.discogs.com/artist/293216-Common-Rider
  3. https://open.spotify.com/artist/69T2QHCVGz2Y4hbkkVqbqi
  4. https://www.facebook.com/thisisskaradio/posts/last-wave-rocker-the-debut-album-by-common-rider-jesse-michaels-band-with-member/1807796973322206/
  5. https://rateyourmusic.com/artist/common_rider
  6. https://verbicidemagazine.com/interview-jesse-michaels-of-common-rider/
  7. https://www.punknews.org/article/4642/interviews-jesse-michaels-common-rider-operation-ivy
  8. http://margotiffen.com/jesse-michaels
  9. https://www.discogs.com/master/148801-Common-Rider-Last-Wave-Rockers
  10. https://www.last.fm/music/Common%2BRider/Last%2BWave%2BRockers
  11. https://ink19.com/1999/11/magazine/interviews/kcm3re-common-rider
  12. https://www.concertarchives.org/bands/common-rider
  13. https://www.punknews.org/article/5548/interviews-jesse-michaels-common-rider-operation-ivy
  14. https://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/against-all-authority-common-rider-6341252/
  15. https://newnoisemagazine.com/interviews/interview-jesse-michaels-talks-new-classics-of-love-and-more/
  16. https://www.discogs.com/release/1333213-Common-Rider-Last-Wave-Rockers
  17. https://www.popmatters.com/commonrider-this-2495858347.html
  18. https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/7555/Common-Rider-Last-Wave-Rockers/
  19. https://www.punknews.org/review/1214/common-rider-this-is-unity-music
  20. https://www.antimusic.com/reviews/cd/2002/oct/cr.shtml
  21. https://genius.com/Common-rider-classics-of-love-lyrics
  22. https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/109967/
  23. https://songmeanings.com/artist/view/songs/7237/
  24. https://verbicidemagazine.com/jesse-michaels-classics-of-love-operation-ivy-common-rider-interview/
  25. https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/126660/
  26. https://www.allmusic.com/album/last-wave-rockers-mw0000241022
  27. https://www.discogs.com/master/148802-Common-Rider-This-Is-Unity-Music
  28. https://www.allmusic.com/album/this-is-unity-music-mw0000228395
  29. https://www.discogs.com/release/1345119-Common-Rider-This-Is-Unity-Music
  30. https://www.punknews.org/article/81731/asian-man-records-re-releases-first-common-rider-album
  31. https://asianmanrecords.com/products/common-rider-last-wave-rockers-12-vinyl
  32. https://commonrider.bandcamp.com/album/last-wave-rockers
  33. https://dyingscene.com/ds-record-radar-this-week-in-punk-vinyl-common-rider-the-ataris-frenzal-rhomb-fake-news-amp-more/
  34. https://hopelessrecords.myshopify.com/collections/common-rider
  35. https://www.musicmetricsvault.com/genres/ska-punk/806
  36. https://www.punknews.org/review/63/common-rider-last-wave-rockers
  37. https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/common-rider/last-wave-rockers/reviews/1/
  38. https://www.punknews.org/review/17985/common-rider-last-wave-rockers-reissue
  39. https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/63562/Common-Rider-This-is-Unity-Music/
  40. https://www.punknews.org/review/8020/common-rider-thief-in-a-sleeping-town-7-inch
  41. https://www.thepunksite.com/reviews/against-all-authority-common-rider-split/
  42. https://asianmanrecords.limitedrun.com/products/758387-common-rider-last-wave-rockers-12-vinyl
  43. https://www.instagram.com/p/C1TqdqkCZ6f/
  44. https://www.reddit.com/r/Ska/comments/1lviutr/anyone_know_about_common_rider/
  45. https://www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B000RGD1VW/common-rider
  46. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQEV-T31kjv2MXtG8OYKasg
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