Chuck Ragan and the Comaraderie in Texas
In 2000 a young and youthfully-ignorant 14 year old accidentally stumbled upon a little band called Hot Water Music at the legendary Houston, Texas venue, Fitzgeralds. That 14 year old was this writer, my jaw dropped and body paralyzed with shock and admiration. What transpired was a seemingly effortless display of everything that is the epitomy of a high-energy punk rock show. Beyond the typical chaos that ensues as a good punk band roars into their set, the positivity, passion and all around belief in what they were doing up on that tiny little stage is nearly unparalleled by bands of any genre.
On May 3rd, 14 years later, that same passion and positivity were once again easily put forth by Chuck Ragan and The Camaraderie at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas as they tour behind their latest effort Till Midnight which released March 25 of this year on SideOneDummy records. The crowd was treated to the legendary guitarist from Social Distortion’s Jonny Two Bags as he tours in support of his own critically acclaimed debut album, Salvation Town, which was released this past April. His sound is similar to Social D in many aspects, but it differs in pacing. It’s definitely toned down a notch or two, but don’t think it doesn’t rock! The music is undoubtedly rooted in punk with strong undertones of rockabilly, pop, and country. Not exactly mosh pit material, but catchy tunes filled with good instrumentation and positive vibes. Even if you’re not a fan of Social Distortion, it’s never a bad thing to catch a punk rock legend. Chuck also made an appearance during a portion of Jonny’s set donning his harmonica he also used during his set to harmonize with his violin player.
Jonny Two Bags was followed by the quick-spreading, underground sensation The White Buffalo. Though not necessarily a household name, you may have heard Jake Smith’s tunes while sitting on your couch not even realizing it. The ambitious singer’s music has appeared on popular TV shows such as Son’s of Anarchy and Californication. The White Buffalo seemlessly blends elements of country, blues, rockabilly, folk, and classic rock. It is severely acoustic-based as that is Smith’s axe of choice, but don’t let this fool you… This band rocks their small, but dedicated and enthusiastic audience to the core. Smith has said himself that he was and still is strongly influenced by bands like The Descendents and The Circle Jerks also mentioning Bad Religion because of their story telling attributes. The White Buffalo‘s genre-blending, Americana brand of tunes give them the ability to fit inwhether they’re touring alongside a country band or good ol’ fashioned punk rock outfit.
Last, but certainly not least, the hero of the evening, Mr. Chuck Ragan took the stage! He was greeted with thunderous applause which was surprising since he had already an appearance in every band’s set throughout the duration of this already amazing show. On top of that, he was graciously conversing with fans for a very respectable amount of time prior to the show. Ragan’s accomplices; The Camaraderie, which consists of Jon Gaunt on violin and Joe Ginsberg on bass were absolutely phenomenal as if they were meticulously plucked to match Ragan’s intensity. The trio additionally performed with the musicians who accompanied The White Buffalo and were sporadically joined by others including vocals from Jonny Two Bags who once again enjoyed a warm encore from the endearing audience. Early into the performance Ginsberg (bass) began having technical difficulties and very professionally switched straight back to the trusty stand up, literally barely missing a beat. After an attempt to fix the problem by the tech (who also doubled as a very gentle bouncer) failed, Ginsberg played the remainder of the show on the stand up as the crowd cheered him on. Chuck, in his humble nature, repeatedly announced the names of his partners in crime with great excitement and admiration while also consistently proclaiming, “How happy he was to be at home”. Ragan and his roots with Hot Water Music are almost synonymous with the Florida scene, however it turns out he was born right here in Pasadena Texas.
The audience was as eclectic as the music. There were songs that had people pumping their fists in the air, throwing up the universal gesture for rock n’ roll, and boisterously yelling along in true punk rock fashion. On the other hand, parts of the set made this writer wish he had his fiance’ to slow dance with, people holding up lighters, and even the most bearded, burly, manly-men singing together in brotherly embrace. The band roared through a very dynamic set that left fans chanting for an encore. After a couple minutes of, “Chuck! Chuck! Chuck!” the band returned to the stage to deliver their final blow which featured a cover by the popular pop-punk outfit, Alkaline Trio.
Overall The Midnight Tour was a captivating showcase of music comprised of so many different sub-genres. Although it had a very country-western feel at times, it certainly embodied everything that is punk-rock! Chuck Ragan’s solo material which began around 2005 under the moniker The Revival Tour was described as an acoustic collaborative. He has indeed collaborated with such rock heavy weights as Against Me!, Lucero, The Gaslight Anthem, Rise Against, and Alkaline Trio just to name a few. Complete with Jonny Two Bags, Chuck Ragan and The Camaraderie and other supporting acts provided one hell of a fun experience that By the Barricade recommends to any self-proclaimed punk rocker.
