Chuck Ragan

So, I need to do more post on this blog as it has been neglected for about a year.

For my second post I'm going to write about a road trip a friend and me took last June to see one of my most favourite artist. Many will know Chuck Ragan from his work in Hot Water Music. They started in 1993 and broke up in 1998, within those years they built quit the following. There have been some reunions starting in 2006 and now there is rumor of a new album (Hopefully this year it will be released). Chuck started a solo career after the break up of Hot Water Music and this is what I always wanted to see.

Living on the east coast bands usually never come past Quebec and so when I heard Chuck was playing in Quebec City and Montreal, I jumped at the opportunity to see him. I bought the tickets, call my friend and planned everything within a few days.

We left on a Thursday and drove 12 straight hours to Quebec city in my little Yaris (which thank god is very fuel efficient). The show in Quebec City was something I will never soon forget. We were at the venue early and of course Chuck Ragan and Dave Hause were walking around around and after a few moments I finally built up the confidence and asked for a photo with the two of them.


Dave Hause is from the band The Loved Ones, and also has a killer solo album. He opened for Chuck and if you ever have the chance to see this guy
play, he's wicked. He plays with alot of passion that is so infectious.

Next up was Chuck, my friend Krystle and I managed to get front row, on the side of the stage. Chuck opened with Between the Lines and right away I was on cloud nine. He's amazing live and just like Dave Hause plays with such passion that you cannot help but appreciate everything he does.

Now for the funny part, about three songs in on Chuck's set these two drunk guys bump their way to the front of the crowd and right beside me. Annoyed at them I tried to ignore them but one of the guys was very persistent and kept trying to talk to me...in french which I don't understand. Frustrated I finally told him I don't speak french...which is the only phrase in french I know. Then the guy replies "Oh! Well I'm Scottish so you probably had no idea what I was saying in french" I smiled and shrugged my shoulders as I wanted to pay attention to show. The guy just wouldn't stop talking, he asked me where I was from and I replied "Nova Scotia" which shocked him. He said "So you came all this way for Chuck" I smiled and nodded my head yes. The next thing I know he is yelling at me to do a shot with him. I politely declined the offer and kept watching Chuck. So the french guy leaves, and after about ten minutes comes back with two shots. He hands one to me and I shake my head no but then he yells "What is your favourite song?" I said "Bleeder" and the next thing I know he starts yelling at Chuck who is between songs and tuning his guitar. Chuck looks at us and the french guy yelled for him to come over to us. Embarrassed and holding a shot I didn't want Chuck to think i was with these guys. Once chuck was close to us, the french guy lifts the second shot to Chuck and yells "Sing Bleeder to her, she came a long way just for you!!"

So Chuck takes the shot looks at me, says okay and cheers, I cheers him back at the two of us take the shot...which turned out to be whiskey (which burned haha). I put the empty glass on the stage with the rest of the empty glasses and as I look up again Chuck's playing the first cords of Bleeder. My mouth dropped open and the next thing i know the drunk french guys are pushing me to the center front of the stage. Other people in the crowd who saw all of this also moved so I could be front. Chuck sang Bleeder and at the end asked me how it was. I kept saying thank you, and then moved back to my spot next to my friend. Once i was standing next to her she leaned in and whispered "How does that even happen to you?! Lucky!"
After the show, Chuck gave me the set list, signed it and chatted with my friend and me for awhile. We said our good nights to the french Scottish guys and back to our hotel room we went to back for Montreal.

The next morning we left for Montreal, but not knowing this at the time I purchased the tickets this was also the Grand Prix weekend in Montreal. We weren't able to get a hotel room in the city so we were about a hour outside. We made our way to the venue and managed to make it through traffic and find a parking spot immediately outside of the venue. This venue was pretty intense, I'm sure someone must have been murdered in there (if not there in the bathroom at least). We also met up with some friends of mine that I met at a Rise Against show in Ottawa (HI Matt and Mike if you're reading this)This show was awesome, the sound was much better this night than the first. We basically went to the show, watched it and then went back to the hotel and went to bed.

The next day we left for home really early but only made it to Fredericton and stayed at a friends house (Thanks Breagh!) we wouldn't have made it home as we were beyond exhausted.

So that was my Chuck Ragan/Dave Hause road trip, below is a video of Chuck playing with Tom Gabel...enjoy!

Danie`s World of Music Part One

Hello!
So my other Blog Danie`s World was becoming very random with all my post about Hockey, Life, Music and whatever else was running through my mind. As such, I have decided to organize some of my thoughts into different Blogs. That way those of you who know nothing about hockey and who keep asking me what a Chara or a Leaf is, will be able to avoid those post of mass confusion. Don`t get me wrong, my thoughts if  you meet me on the street will still be scattered but at least on the interweb I will try to have some order.


Keep checking back for new post, I`ll be writing about my concert experiences, reviews and general thoughts. Also please feel free to leave any comments or questions.


- D

Me with Cancer Bats, 2010