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Interview with Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music conducted by Robert Carillo. Thanks to Maria at Blue Ghost Publicity, Jason Black for setting up the interview and Chuck Ragan of Hot Water Music for taking the time to answer some questions.
| Robert Carrillo: So this current tour
you’re on with Bad Religion and Less Than Jake is so huge, how has it
been so far? Chuck Ragan: It’s been really incredible for us. There’s a lot of reasons, we’ve known Less Than Jake for years, it’s cool to be out on the road with them, they’re old friends, |
 |
we’re all from the same town.
And Bad Religion, we’ve all admired their music and just been in to what they’re
about and their songs and just their music for years and years. To be on the
road with them is just an honor, it’s a pleasure and I mean it’s fun. It’s
incredible how many people are on this tour. Everybody is getting along; it’s
really a lot of fun. Everybody’s laid back, everybody’s out here to do what
they do and to have a good time doing it. It’s just been really neat, like
when you have a band that you look up to or musicians that you look up to
and you meet them and they turn out to be everything that you want them to
be and more. That’s really special. It doesn’t happen like that too often.
RC: What about playing big arenas like this compared to clubs?
Chuck: Well, I can’t stand playing places like this (Cox Arena) but we’ve only done a couple shows where the place was like this. On this tour we’ve had the opportunity to play some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, ever been in. Some old theaters and some really gorgeous places, I mean it’s great. Also, another reason for being on this tour, which is one of the most important things to us, is we had the opportunity to play our music and share what we’re about in front of huge audiences that have no idea who we are. Which is cool because it takes a lot of the pressure off, we just go out there. It’s different when we’re doing our own tour because you almost have to carry different responsibilities, as far playing songs that people want to here and that people are familiar with. If you play a brand new song that nobody knows then the energy level just drops. So you tend to keep playing all these old songs. We have like 20 new songs that nobody has ever heard and that we want to play. We have this new record that we’re gonna be having and this tour is the perfect opportunity to belt out all this new stuff, cause hey, nobody knows the difference. Nobody knows who we are.
RC: So with the new split EP with Alkaline Trio you just put out, who’s idea was it to do covers of each other’s songs?
Chuck: It actually was gonna be something a little more intense then it turned out. Like originally me and Jason we’re sitting around talking and we had this idea of actually getting together with Alkaline Trio. Like, fuck Hot Water Music, fuck Alkaline Trio. The 7 of us get together and start a whole other band. I mean do a split like that, call it something completely different, it would be Hot Water Music and Alkaline Trio, but as like a whole other band where people play different instruments, do different things, who knows. I would still love to do that someday, but it ended up where we really didn’t have time to do that or whatever. We all got together and agreed on us covering a couple of their songs, and them doing one of ours.
RC: What made you pick Radio and Bleeder?
Chuck: Those are beautiful songs man.
RC: So what have you guys been listening to lately? Any particular bands?
Chuck: If you went into the van right now and looked through our CD’s you would find, well you name it and you would find it. There isn’t much that we don’t listen to. Me personally, I’ve been listening to a lot of Calexico. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them, they’re a beautiful band. I’ve also been listening to a lot of the Faint. They are actually playing here tomorrow night.
RC: Ya, they’re one of those bands that I’ve heard kind of a buzz about but haven’t checked out yet.
Chuck: They’re real kind techno-dance music. Which is odd for me cause I don’t listen to anything like, ANYTHING like that at all. But I like it, it’s really dark. I don’t know, I enjoy it. Everything though, you name it man.
RC: This is I believe your fourth time here in about a year’s time, what keeps you guys on the road? It just seems you’re constantly touring.
Chuck: We’re still having fun, it’s all about fun. I mean why not?
RC: You guys have received some unfair backlash from fans after signing to Epitaph. People always complain but how do you feel about that?
Chuck: We could care less. I mean whatever you know, if people enjoy talking like that. Creating a backlash as you put it, if it makes you feel better man then let them do it. If it makes them happy then cool, let them do it all they want. It doesn’t bother me, I mean most of those people, the one’s that talk like that don’t know us. They’re not our friends.
RC: Exactly
RC: You guys have worked with a lot of different labels, so how has it been on Epitaph?
Chuck: Man it’s really been great. I mean it’s just so phenomenal how huge and massive of a label they are yet they still hold onto their really unique grip of taking care of their bands. They just have this aura about them, this energy about them that just really makes us feel comfortable, really makes us feel at home. They are like a massive hometown label.
RC: Do you think that has a lot do with the fact that it was founded by somebody that is in a band himself?
Chuck: Ya, exactly. Cause I mean before we even signed we went out there and met every single person that worked there before we made a decision. I mean everybody was great. Everybody that works there had either been in a band or were in a band or had something to do with it, had their hands into it and they cared about it man. They want their bands to do good, they want their bands to be livelong and prosper. They work hard at doing that. To them it’s not just out to make a buck or make the new flavor of the month you know? The bands that they believe in and the bands that they’re into, I mean that’s just the feeling I get from this label. I mean they care and they work hard.
RC: So you guys are doing the Warped Tour, and you’ve done it before right?
Chuck: Ya, we did it the year before last.
RC: What made you guys back on for another trip this year?
Chuck: They asked us. So I mean why not, it’s fun. We’re all together and it’s a good time.
RC: Wow, what I get from talking to you is that you’re still really excited about everything your band does. That’s great to hear.
Chuck: Well man, it’s this simple. We were all friends before this band ever started and we never had any idea that anything like this would happen. With us getting together and just writing songs on our porch. Like we had no idea, I mean we’ve accomplished more than we’ve ever dreamed. I actually told that to a guy last night and he actually came back and said “Well it sounds to me like you need some more dreams.” Which is kind of cool because I never thought about that. It’s like where do we go from here. We’ve done more than we ever dreamed so like everything else that has come has just been a complete blessing. We don’t take it for granted and we’re just having fun with what we have. Enjoying this time together, enjoying this time out on the road with these amazing bands. Like we all grew up listening to, we all grew up admiring and idolizing and now getting to know them as people aside from that amazing band that you put up on a pedestal throughout your childhood it’s absolutely unreal. But we also know that all of this could be gone, it could all change tomorrow. For now we’re just living day to day and having a good time doing it. I mean life’s too short to take it too seriously.
RC: Now with you and Less Than Jake both coming from Gainesville, FL. Although they have been around a while longer, do you know them from the scene back home?
Chuck: Ya, ya totally.
RC: So has that been a lot of fun getting back together with them. Have you toured together before?
Chuck: No, not really I mean we had done a few shows with them back in Florida, which was awesome but it was the only time really. It’s crazy to go out and see them now. Like when I moved to Gainesville, I’d go see them at the Hardback, there would be like 15, 20 people there and they’re like throwing stuffed animals, shooting silly string. It was fun, but I was like these guys are goofy as hell. Funny, funny guys. Bu it’s amazing to see how far that band has come. Again, that is one hard working band. They have not stopped.
RC: Sounds a lot like you guys. I mean you’re on tour, working on a new album, you just put out the split. When do you find free time? Do you want free time?
Chuck: Not enough sometimes. I mean I do want free time. Like I’d love to someday, I would really like to get out and go explore all the places that we pass by looking out a van window. I mean get out and really explore those places. I mean that’s the worst thing about tour. You see the interstate going in, you see the club, maybe see a bar, maybe a restaurant, a gas station and you’re gone. Then maybe you turn around and go wow, we were just in Rome ya know?
RC: I had seen something about you guys playing shows down in Brazil and then weren’t able to do it but you still really wanted to get down there. Why Brazil?
Chuck: Why not?
RC: Well I mean why Brazil over say Chile or Argentina or other places like that you haven’t been to. Is there something special about Brazil?
Chuck: It was just the most accessible. We had a guy down there contact us so I mean it seemed like more of a reality. We are going to do it, we just haven’t nailed it yet, haven’t quite figured it out. There’s so many places we still want to go. We haven’t been to Hawaii yet. We haven’t been to Australia, New Zealand, um Alaska. Mexico, I for sure want to go there.
RC: Well that’s about it, thanks a lot.
Chuck: Sure, no problem. Thank you.
http://hwm.indiepress.com/
http://www.epitaph.com/
http://www.jadetree.com/
RC: What about playing big arenas like this compared to clubs?
Chuck: Well, I can’t stand playing places like this (Cox Arena) but we’ve only done a couple shows where the place was like this. On this tour we’ve had the opportunity to play some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen, ever been in. Some old theaters and some really gorgeous places, I mean it’s great. Also, another reason for being on this tour, which is one of the most important things to us, is we had the opportunity to play our music and share what we’re about in front of huge audiences that have no idea who we are. Which is cool because it takes a lot of the pressure off, we just go out there. It’s different when we’re doing our own tour because you almost have to carry different responsibilities, as far playing songs that people want to here and that people are familiar with. If you play a brand new song that nobody knows then the energy level just drops. So you tend to keep playing all these old songs. We have like 20 new songs that nobody has ever heard and that we want to play. We have this new record that we’re gonna be having and this tour is the perfect opportunity to belt out all this new stuff, cause hey, nobody knows the difference. Nobody knows who we are.
RC: So with the new split EP with Alkaline Trio you just put out, who’s idea was it to do covers of each other’s songs?
Chuck: It actually was gonna be something a little more intense then it turned out. Like originally me and Jason we’re sitting around talking and we had this idea of actually getting together with Alkaline Trio. Like, fuck Hot Water Music, fuck Alkaline Trio. The 7 of us get together and start a whole other band. I mean do a split like that, call it something completely different, it would be Hot Water Music and Alkaline Trio, but as like a whole other band where people play different instruments, do different things, who knows. I would still love to do that someday, but it ended up where we really didn’t have time to do that or whatever. We all got together and agreed on us covering a couple of their songs, and them doing one of ours.
RC: What made you pick Radio and Bleeder?
Chuck: Those are beautiful songs man.
RC: So what have you guys been listening to lately? Any particular bands?
Chuck: If you went into the van right now and looked through our CD’s you would find, well you name it and you would find it. There isn’t much that we don’t listen to. Me personally, I’ve been listening to a lot of Calexico. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them, they’re a beautiful band. I’ve also been listening to a lot of the Faint. They are actually playing here tomorrow night.
RC: Ya, they’re one of those bands that I’ve heard kind of a buzz about but haven’t checked out yet.
Chuck: They’re real kind techno-dance music. Which is odd for me cause I don’t listen to anything like, ANYTHING like that at all. But I like it, it’s really dark. I don’t know, I enjoy it. Everything though, you name it man.
RC: This is I believe your fourth time here in about a year’s time, what keeps you guys on the road? It just seems you’re constantly touring.
Chuck: We’re still having fun, it’s all about fun. I mean why not?
RC: You guys have received some unfair backlash from fans after signing to Epitaph. People always complain but how do you feel about that?
Chuck: We could care less. I mean whatever you know, if people enjoy talking like that. Creating a backlash as you put it, if it makes you feel better man then let them do it. If it makes them happy then cool, let them do it all they want. It doesn’t bother me, I mean most of those people, the one’s that talk like that don’t know us. They’re not our friends.
RC: Exactly
RC: You guys have worked with a lot of different labels, so how has it been on Epitaph?
Chuck: Man it’s really been great. I mean it’s just so phenomenal how huge and massive of a label they are yet they still hold onto their really unique grip of taking care of their bands. They just have this aura about them, this energy about them that just really makes us feel comfortable, really makes us feel at home. They are like a massive hometown label.
RC: Do you think that has a lot do with the fact that it was founded by somebody that is in a band himself?
Chuck: Ya, exactly. Cause I mean before we even signed we went out there and met every single person that worked there before we made a decision. I mean everybody was great. Everybody that works there had either been in a band or were in a band or had something to do with it, had their hands into it and they cared about it man. They want their bands to do good, they want their bands to be livelong and prosper. They work hard at doing that. To them it’s not just out to make a buck or make the new flavor of the month you know? The bands that they believe in and the bands that they’re into, I mean that’s just the feeling I get from this label. I mean they care and they work hard.
RC: So you guys are doing the Warped Tour, and you’ve done it before right?
Chuck: Ya, we did it the year before last.
RC: What made you guys back on for another trip this year?
Chuck: They asked us. So I mean why not, it’s fun. We’re all together and it’s a good time.
RC: Wow, what I get from talking to you is that you’re still really excited about everything your band does. That’s great to hear.
Chuck: Well man, it’s this simple. We were all friends before this band ever started and we never had any idea that anything like this would happen. With us getting together and just writing songs on our porch. Like we had no idea, I mean we’ve accomplished more than we’ve ever dreamed. I actually told that to a guy last night and he actually came back and said “Well it sounds to me like you need some more dreams.” Which is kind of cool because I never thought about that. It’s like where do we go from here. We’ve done more than we ever dreamed so like everything else that has come has just been a complete blessing. We don’t take it for granted and we’re just having fun with what we have. Enjoying this time together, enjoying this time out on the road with these amazing bands. Like we all grew up listening to, we all grew up admiring and idolizing and now getting to know them as people aside from that amazing band that you put up on a pedestal throughout your childhood it’s absolutely unreal. But we also know that all of this could be gone, it could all change tomorrow. For now we’re just living day to day and having a good time doing it. I mean life’s too short to take it too seriously.
RC: Now with you and Less Than Jake both coming from Gainesville, FL. Although they have been around a while longer, do you know them from the scene back home?
Chuck: Ya, ya totally.
RC: So has that been a lot of fun getting back together with them. Have you toured together before?
Chuck: No, not really I mean we had done a few shows with them back in Florida, which was awesome but it was the only time really. It’s crazy to go out and see them now. Like when I moved to Gainesville, I’d go see them at the Hardback, there would be like 15, 20 people there and they’re like throwing stuffed animals, shooting silly string. It was fun, but I was like these guys are goofy as hell. Funny, funny guys. Bu it’s amazing to see how far that band has come. Again, that is one hard working band. They have not stopped.
RC: Sounds a lot like you guys. I mean you’re on tour, working on a new album, you just put out the split. When do you find free time? Do you want free time?
Chuck: Not enough sometimes. I mean I do want free time. Like I’d love to someday, I would really like to get out and go explore all the places that we pass by looking out a van window. I mean get out and really explore those places. I mean that’s the worst thing about tour. You see the interstate going in, you see the club, maybe see a bar, maybe a restaurant, a gas station and you’re gone. Then maybe you turn around and go wow, we were just in Rome ya know?
RC: I had seen something about you guys playing shows down in Brazil and then weren’t able to do it but you still really wanted to get down there. Why Brazil?
Chuck: Why not?
RC: Well I mean why Brazil over say Chile or Argentina or other places like that you haven’t been to. Is there something special about Brazil?
Chuck: It was just the most accessible. We had a guy down there contact us so I mean it seemed like more of a reality. We are going to do it, we just haven’t nailed it yet, haven’t quite figured it out. There’s so many places we still want to go. We haven’t been to Hawaii yet. We haven’t been to Australia, New Zealand, um Alaska. Mexico, I for sure want to go there.
RC: Well that’s about it, thanks a lot.
Chuck: Sure, no problem. Thank you.
http://hwm.indiepress.com/
http://www.epitaph.com/
http://www.jadetree.com/
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