RHYTHM PIGS

Rising out of the dust of El Paso, TX, in 1983, the Rhythm Pigs ground through a whole crop of shows across the U.S. and Europe in the mid-'80s, which helped build on the regional notoriety that they had gained for being one of the only hardcore bands from El Paso. Later, the band moved to San Francisco and turned their word-of-mouth success into a deal with Mordam Records, who released their first two albums, Rhythm Pigs in 1985 and Choke on This in 1987. Lead singer Ed Ivey kept the band's accessible melodic style going through heavy touring in the late '80s, leading C/Z Records to re-release their albums on a single-volume CD and cassette, Rhythm Pigs/Choke on This, in 1992.