Jim Heath (solo, not acoustic), Revolution Mother

Just because Revolution Mother has been dormant since the end of their last tour in 2009 doesn't mean this hard charging Southern California rock outfit is done. Far from it, in fact.

"The plan was to take a short break, no one expected that to be as long as it's been, it just worked out that way," says frontman Mike Vallely, who spent his time away from the band maintaining his long standing status as one of professional skateboarding's most electrifying athletes, and fronting the legendary Black Flag. But as the saying goes, you can't keep a good band down, and Revolution Mother's time has come again. "The good news is that we're able to come back together now even more focused as a band and as people then we were previously."

The motivation for the band's resurgence is the undeniable lure that Vallely and his main Rev Mutha partner, guitarist Jason Hampton, feel at the prospect of getting back on the road.

"Our music definitely starts and thrives in a live in environment. The band is, always was, and always will be a live band…an experience. And so our songwriting, identity and sensibilities start there," explains Vallely. "It all comes out of a friendship and a creative relationship between Jason and I, that I greatly value. And of course, seeing people rock out to what we're laying down is always a joyous thing."

The band is fully recharged, returning with Colin Buis on bass and now featuring Blag Flag drummer Brandon Pertzborn, and is looking forward to a new year of touring and writing new material. Of course there's more than enough music from Revolution Mother's catalog—their debut EP Enjoy The Ride (2005), and the LPs Glory Bound (2007) and Rollin' With The Mutha (2009)—to fuel a full live set, but the same drive that's pushing them back on the road is also igniting the desire to write and record new music. It's all part of the band's renewed forward momentum.

"New material is the works, along the same track for sure, but evolved," assures Vallely. "We always strive to move forward in everything we do—get better at it. Revolution Mother was onto something when we went on a hiatus, and we've been sorely missed. From that perspective I see more doors opening to us than not. Actually, I think the time away has been beneficial to us. I feel like we have an audience that has finally caught up to, and values, what we're laying down."