With Cross Canadian Ragweed done, Cody Canada starting New Year with new band The Departed
Cody Canada & The Departed
A version of this story appears in Friday’s Weekend Look section of The Oklahoman.
Cody Canada & The Departed debuting to close 2010
Following this year’s split of Cross Canadian Ragweed, the singer/songwriter/guitarist and his new band are playing the Wormy Dog’s New Year’s Eve show tonight.
With his venerable red dirt band Cross Canadian Ragweed joining the ranks of the dearly departed back in May, Cody Canada is closing 2010 with the debut of his new Oklahoma-Texas band, The Departed.
“We’ve been bustin’ … and we’re ready to go, man,” said the singer/songwriter/guitarist in a phone interview last week from his home in New Braunfels, Texas, where he was getting ready for Christmas with his wife and two children. “I’m pretty high-strung. I gotta keep rolling, whether it’s going out and playing the two-man electric thing or practicing or recording or something. I don’t know, I was raised with the ‘rolling stone gathers no moss’ thing.”
Cody Canada & The Departed will play its second show tonight as part of the Wormy Dog Saloon’s New Year’s Eve celebration. The band was set to play its sold-out debut Wednesday at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels, and the quintet already has recorded its first album, “This Is Indian Land,” which fans can expect to hear in its entirety tonight.
“It’s like starting all over again. With our first record with Ragweed, we did the covers we knew and every song on the record,” he said. “We have Seth (James) songs and a couple of Ragweed songs we’re gonna do, but the main focus is getting people ready for this record.”
“When any band goes its separate ways, I think you need to not be ashamed — definitely not be ashamed — or run from anything you’ve done in the past, but definitely don’t overdo it,” he added. “When bands … do a set of nothing but what used to be, it kind of cheats.”
Besides, the new band will put its own stamp on the red dirt sound: Along with Canada, The Departed includes Ragweed bassist Jeremy Plato, Texas guitarist Seth James, Tulsa keyboardist Steve Littleton and Yukon drummer David Bowen.
“We’re attacking it different and we’re approaching it different and it’s gonna sound different. But it’s not like we’re getting away from our roots,” Canada said. “Speaking for Jeremy and I — just because I’ve known him for so long — these are tunes that we wanted people to hear since the get-go. These are the songs that taught us how to do it, and we finally got ‘em nailed down. Jeremy’s singing and I’m singing and “We’re sharing the dirt with people.”
Ragweed is done
Formed in 1994 in Yukon, Cross Canadian Ragweed put down its musical roots in the fertile red dirt soil of Stillwater. The band forged a following playing college crowds around Oklahoma State and built its fan base with frequent touring. performing more than 220 dates a year. After 15 years, Ragweed had become one of the most influential groups on the red dirt scene.
In May, the band announced an indefinite hiatus. Drummer Randy Ragsdale, who lives in Yukon, needed to spend more time with his family, particularly his son, JC, who has autism. Although Ragsdale gave his blessing to Ragweed carrying on with a replacement drummer, Canada said they couldn’t.
“That’s one thing we always swore that no matter what happens, if we split our ways, nobody’s gonna continue on as Ragweed because that’s just cheating. And we just had so much together,” Canada said. “When it started really sinking in is when we started canceling shows. … Really, the last three shows up in Illinois (in October), that’s when it really started sinking in, like, man, this is done.”
Still, he hated to call it a “breakup” because of the negative connotations.
“We didn’t just want to say, hey, we’re done because, you know, when you say that, people automatically think that there’s lawyers involved and people are fighting and all that crap,” he said.
“If it was going to fall apart because we were angry at each other, it would have happened in our late teens and early 20s when we were full of testosterone and just drunk and ready to rock. We’re still ready to rock, we’re just a little more mature about it now.”
The Departed debuts
After the phone call hashing out the indefinite hiatus announcement and figuring out which shows to scrap, Canada sought solace at Plato’s New Braunfels home.
“I was scared (expletive). I didn’t know what to do; this was the only thing I’ve known for years. I asked him, ‘Are we still doing it?’ And he goes, ‘Hell yeah, we’re doing it. What kind of question is that?’ It was like, all right, well, let’s get on the phone with other musicians we know and get this second band rolling,” he said. “I didn’t want the last gig to happen and then go, ‘Well, now what?’”
He never imagined he would be in the position of starting over again with a new band.
“I was never looking into future going on, ‘One day I’m going to do this …’ Because there was just no doubt in four people’s minds in that band that this was gonna go on forever. When Randy came out and said, ‘I need to get home,’ I saw it building, but I still wasn’t ready for it. None of us were. I just thought that we would be playing with Ragweed ‘til the end of time. So I wasn’t planning on doing something, but the minute I hung that phone up, I was like ‘OK, now I gotta do something.’”
Rather, Canada plunged into the hectic business of playing two-man electric shows with James, rehearsing with their new band and figuring out their debut album. For “This Is Indian Land,” he turned back to his roots in Stillwater’s red dirt community. Ragweed had long discussed doing an Oklahoma songwriters tribute album, and that seemed an appropriate start for The Departed.
“We did 17 songs from all the Okie artists that we grew up listening to, the people that showed us how to be good people and good musicians and just the Oklahoma way of treating people and being people,” he said.
“This Is Indian Land” features songs by Kevin Welch, Bob Childers, Tom Skinner, J.J. Cale, Leon Russell, Medicine Show, Randy Crouch and more. It was recorded over the past two months at Yellow Dog Studios in Austin, Texas, and finished last week. He isn’t sure who will release the record — Ragweed had one album left on its deal with Universal South, but since he hasn’t heard from the label, he’s assuming no more band means no more deal — but he doesn’t mind going independent again as long as fans get to hear it.
Along with selling out its first show, the group has booked several dates through early March, including a Jan. 22 show at Cain’s Ballroom in Tulsa. With the fan support building, Canada is eagerly looking forward to tonight’s show, and to lunch with Ragsdale before it.
“We went to kindergarten through October together. It is family and it always will be,” he said.
“Who’s to say that 10 years from now, or less, or more, that we decide to do something for a couple of shows or whatever. But in a very nice way — nobody’s mad at each other — I’m proud of what we did, and it’s behind us now, and the sadness of Ragweed being over is behind me. And I’m ready to move on and do this next thing.”
In concert
Wormy Dog New Year’s Eve show
With: Randy Rogers Band and Cody Canada & The Departed
When: 9:30 tonight. Doors open at 6 p.m.
New Year’s Day Hangover Ball
Featuring: Cody Canada, Randy Rogers, Wade Bowen, Stoney LaRue, Charlie Robison, Seth James, Brandon Jenkins and Bruce Robison.
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan.
Information: 601-6276 or www.wormydog.com.
-BAM
Stoney LaRue, Cody Canada playing first “Red, White, Boots & Guitars” military benefit show
Stoney LaRue poses in combat boots for the Boot Campaign, which raises funds and awareness for military efforts. LaRue will play the inaugural "Red, White, Boots and Guitar" benefit show tonight at Oklahoma City's Wormy Dog Saloon.
From Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Inaugural “Red, White, Boots and Guitars” benefit to raise funds, awareness for military causes
Red dirt music stars Stoney LaRue and Cody Canada are strapping on their boots and guitars tonight for a special show benefiting active military and veterans.
“Red, White, Boots and Guitars,” featuring performances from LaRue, Canada and Jason Isbell, is set for 8:30 tonight at the Wormy Dog Saloon in Bricktown. Organized by the new nonprofit Women for Warriors Campaign, the inaugural show will raise funds for the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Hospital and Luttrell’s Lone Survivor Foundation.
“Our thought was that these guys do so much for us every day, and we want to do something to give back,” said Jazmine Farmer, Wormy Dog co-owner and president of Women for Warriors.
Along with the music, tonight’s event also will include a raffle for prizes, an appearance by the grassroots crusaders known as the Boot Girls and a talk by best-selling author and former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, the inspiration for the show.
In 2005, Luttrell was deployed to Afghanistan, and his SEAL team was sent to the remote mountains on a mission to kill or capture a Taliban leader. During Operation Redwing, his team was attacked and his three teammates were killed. When another team of eight Navy SEALs and eight Army Special Operations Nightstalkers were sent to rescue them by helicopter, they were shot down.
Cody Canada (Associated Press file photo)
Though badly wounded, Luttrell managed to escape a Taliban onslaught and was saved and protected by an Afghan village elder. The Texan became the lone survivor of Operation Redwing. He recounted the ordeal in the best-selling memoir “Lone Survivor” and in June launched the Lone Survivor Foundation to honor his fallen comrades and help returning combat veterans regain their lives.
Luttrell’s story inspired a group of Texas women to become the Boot Girls. Through their Boot Campaign, they raise funds and awareness for Luttrell’s foundation by selling combat boots and getting celebrities to pose for photos in the boots.
“The Boot Girls are kind of the ones who geared us up to do this,” Farmer said.
Along with posing for the Boot Campaign, LaRue played a summer benefit in Houston that featured the Boot Girls and Luttrell, along with actor/filmmaker Peter Berg (who is working to turn Luttrell’s story into a movie), Glenn Beck and Texas first lady Anita Perry. After the event, LaRue’s wife Kandace Phillips and Farmer formed Women for Warriors with a few friends and started organizing “Red, White, Boots & Guitars.”
“This is the crossroads of the America, and it’s also the Bible Belt … and we have military bases right here in Oklahoma not too far from my front door, so I think this will touch home with almost everyone,” said LaRue, who lives in Edmond. “Especially around the holiday season (people should) at least pray for them because when we’re eating turkey, who knows what they’re doing.”
With his busy tour schedule, LaRue meets a few dozen servicemen and women a week who are either getting ready to be deployed or just coming home.
“They’re just ready for whichever one they’re doing. The mindset there is just they’re prepared. It’s awe-inspiring. Sometimes you tear up, and you definitely give them a bear hug either way,” he said. “We have a lot of response from soliders that come to our shows. I mean, a lot of ‘em have said they’ve flown our flag; there’ll be the American flag, there’ll be their company flag, and then they’ll make a little red dirt flag with our name on it. Or they’ll play our music whenever they’re in battle or whatever. It’s pretty significant. … It’s something that really motivates us.”
His soulful anthem “Down in Flames” in particular seems to strike a chord with military men and women. The song is included on the red dirt compilation CD “When They Come Back,” which also features Cross Canadian Ragweed, Robert Earl Keen, and Randy Rogers Band. The album will be on sale at tonight’s event, along with the Boot Girls’ “give back” boots.
“I don’t know a lot about what goes on over there for these guys, but I know enough to realize that they need our support when they finally get to come home. My brother, Stoney, asked me to do this show and I will be there no matter I have going on,” said Canada, frontman for Cross Canadian Ragweed and Cody Canada & The Departed, in an e-mail.
Although the event will feature LaRue and Canada’s usual high-energy performances, the focus of the event will be raising funds and awareness and paying tribute to the troops. People who hear Luttrell’s story can’t help but be sobered and touched, LaRue said.
“He’s just the epitome of an American patriot,” he said.
Going on
“Red, White, Boots and Guitars”
When: 8:30 tonight. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan.
What: Performances by Stoney LaRue, Cody Canada and Jason Isbell; appearances by Marcus Luttrell and the Boot Girls; and raffle for prizes.
Benefiting: Lone Survivor Foundation and Oklahoma City VA Hospital.
Information: 601-6276, www.wormydog.com, www.lonesurvivorfoundation.org or www.bootcampaign.com.
-BAM
Cody Canada, Seth James and Charlie Robinson to play St. Jude benefit show Sunday
Cody Canada (Associated Press file photo)
MIDWEST CITY – September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, so red dirt stars Seth James, Charlie Robinson and Cody Canada of Cross Canadian Ragweed are playing a concert benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at 5 p.m. Sunday at the Midwest City Chili’s, 7141 SE 29.
The event is open to the community and all of the proceeds will be donated to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. To purchase tickets, go to www.wormydog.com or the MWC Chili’s
In addition, the Midwest City Chili’s will donate 100 percent of its profits from all lunch and dinner sales on Monday to St. Jude.
Each September, Chili’s Grill & Bar kicks off a nationwide fundraiser for St. Jude, its longtime charitable partner. Chili’s restaurants across the country are working to raise $50 million in 10 years to support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children.
Throughout the Create-A-Pepper to Fight Childhood Cancer campaign, guests at locations nationwide can donate in restaurants, online, or via text message. For more information about the campaign, to create a digital pepper, purchase a Create-A-Pepper T-shirt or make an online donation, go to www.createapepper.com.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for June 25-27, 2010
OKC Improv will bring back the favorite "Villain: The Musical" Saturday at Ghostlight Theatre Club in the Paseo Arts District.
Here is a list of events taking place around the state this weekend (June 25-27). For more entertainment options, go to www.wimgo.com.
- Watch all-girl improv troupe The MiDolls perform at 8 p.m. Saturday during OKC Improv at Ghostlight Theatre Club, 3110 N Walker. Also, catch a performance of the improvised “Villain: The Musical” at 10 p.m. Saturday. Information: 343-1570 or www.okcimprov.com.
- Listen to The Pretty Black Chains perform for the first time in months at 11 tonight at the reopened Blue Note Lounge, 2408 N Robinson Ave. The show is free. Information: www.okclive.com/bluenotelounge.
- Sample fare from more than 25 local restaurants at LibertyFest’s A Taste of Edmond from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the Festival Market Place in downtown Edmond. Information: 340-2527 or www.libertyfest.org.
- NORMAN – Take advantage of free admission Saturday to the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History, 2401 Chautauqua Ave. The museum is teaming with local libraries to offer “Library Day” at the museum. From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum will offer free admission to anyone with a library card. For those without library cards, representatives from the Pioneer and Metro Library systems will be present to accept library card applications on the spot. Information: www.snomnh.ou.edu.
Chris Davis, right, and Mitch Moreland of the Oklahoma City RedHawks celebrate after Davis hit a two-run home run in the first inning of a minor league baseball game against the New Orleans Zephyrs June 17 at the AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. (Photo by Bryan Terry, The Oklahoman Archives)
- See the Oklahoma RedHawks take on the Omaha Royals at 7:05 p.m. Saturday and 4:05 p.m. Sunday at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark. The homestand continues at 7:05 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Information: www.oklahomaredhawks.com.
- Celebrate the release of Oklahoma City singer Shane Henry’s new album “Beauty in the Struggle” at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Blue Door, 2805 N McKinley Ave. Information: 524-0738 or www.bluedoorokc.com.
- THACKERVILLE — Hear Oklahoma-Texas country-rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed play at 9 tonight at WinStar World Casino, Interstate 35, Exit 1. It will be the red dirt band’s last Oklahoma show before taking a break from touring. Information: (800) 622-6317 or www.winstarworldcasino.com.
- Taste several Oklahoma wines inside Stockyards City starting at 2 p.m. at Wines of the West. A block party concert by the Rodeo Opry will begin at 7 p.m. Information: 235-7267 or www.stockyardscity.org.
- Hear The Bad Plus, Suzanna Choffel and more at Jazz in June today and Saturday at Brookhaven Village, NW 36 and Robinson, and Andrews Park, Webster and Daws. Admission: Free. Information: www.jazzinjune.org.
Oklahoma City's Al Hunt catches a pass in front of Spokane's Travis Williams during their arena football game May 16 at the Cox Convention Center. (By John Clanton, The Oklahoman Archives)
- Take in the arena football action when the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz face the Dallas Vigilantes inside the Cox Convention Center at 7:05 p.m. Saturday. Information: 228-3294 or www.okcyarddawgz.com.
- NORMAN – Hear The Temptations at 8 tonight at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: www.riverwind.com.
- Catch the opening performances of Carpenter Square Theatre’s production of the outlandish “Reefer Madness – The Musical” at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at the Civic Center’s Freede Little Theatre, 201 N Walker. Carpenter Square usually stages its productions at Stage Center, but “Reefer Madness” has been moved because of damage Stage Center sustained during the recent flash flooding. Information: www.carpentersquare.com.
- TULSA – Listen to the Bleu Edmondson Band with 2 Steps Back at 7 p.m. Sunday Bob’s, the second stage at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main. Information: www.cainsballroom.com.
-BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on June 25, 2010
Today’s featured event:
THACKERVILLE – Hear Oklahoma-Texas country-rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed at 9 tonight at WinStar World Casino. The band is getting ready to go off the road indefinitely, and this is their last Oklahoma show scheduled at this time.
For more information, go to www.winstarworldcasino.com.
For more events, go to www.wimgo.com.
-BAM
Weekend Warmup for May 28-31
ZZ Top
Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start of summer, has arrived. Here is a list of entertainment options happening around the state over the four-day holiday weekend (May 28-31). For more events, go to www.wimgo.com:
- PRYOR – Hear ZZ Top, Godsmack, Three Days Grace, Chevelle, Saliva, Sevendust, Fuel, Buckcherry, Theory of a Deadman, Saving Abel, Cinderella, Tesla and more at the revamped Rocklahoma today-Sunday at the Catch the Fever Festival Grounds, 1421 W 450 Road. Gates will open at 2:30 p.m. today and 12:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. To read The Oklahoman Entertainment Editor Gene Triplett’s interview with ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, click here. Information: www.rocklahoma.com.
- TULSA — Catch soon-to-split country music duo Brooks & Dunn, which includes former Tulsan Ronnie Dunn, when their “Last Rodeo Tour” stops at 7:30 tonight at the BOK Center, 200 S Denver. Doors open at 6 p.m., and Jason Aldean will open the show. Information: (866) 726-5287 or www.bokcenter.com.
- EDMOND — Listen to AJ Johnson and Why Not, The Chris Hicks Band, Edgar Cruz and more during the Edmond Jazz and Blues Festival at Stephenson Park, Boulevard and Fifth. Festival hours are 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday. Information: 341-3321 or www.edmondjazzandblues.org.
Wanda Jackson (Photo by Jaconna Aguirre/The Oklahoman Archives)
- Hear Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma student bands play for free at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. today and 3 p.m. Saturday during the Big 12 Baseball Tournament street party on Mickey Mantle Drive in Bricktown. Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and Oklahoma legend Wanda Jackson will close the party with a free show at 6 p.m. Saturday. Information: www.acm-uco.com.
- Taste outdoor cooking, participate in children’s activities and take in Western entertainment at the annual Chuck Wagon Gathering and Children’s Cowboy Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63. Information: 478-2250 or www.nationalcowboymuseum.org.
- NORMAN — Sample tasty desserts, explore the galleries, including the new “Chocolate: The Exhibition,” and hear live music from 7 to 10 tonight at a free chocolate-covered celebration of the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History’s 10th anniversary in its current facility, 2401 Chautauqua Ave. Information: 325-4712 or www.snomnh.ou.edu.
Randy Rogers Band
- EUFAULA – Relish the red dirt sound at Cross Canadian Ragweed’s Fourth Annual Music and Mayhem Concert, featuring Ragweed, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen and Mike McClure Band, at 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Eufaula Cove Amphitheater, 399 Lakeshore Drive. Information: (866) 977-6849 or www.protixonline.com.
- TULSA & NORMAN – Celebrate the release of Shawnee singer-songwriter Samantha Crain’s new CD “You (Understood)” at 8 tonight at Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N Main, Tulsa. The show also will feature Turnpike Troubadours, Ali Harter and Zeb Dewar & the Fed. Information: (918) 584-2306 or www.cainsballroom.com. Or, hear Crain, Zeb Dewar & the Fed, Student Film and Brine Webb at a CD release concert at 9 p.m. Saturday at The Opolis, 113 N Crawford, Norman. Information: www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html.
- SHAWNEE – Catch Collective Soul in concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Firelake Grand Casino, 777 Grand Casino Blvd. Doors open at 6 p.m. Information: 964-7263 or www.firelakegrand.com.
REO Speedwagon
- NORMAN & THACKERVILLE – “Keep on rolling” with REO Speedwagon, who will play at 8 tonight at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9, Norman. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com. The rockers also will play at 8 p.m. Sunday at WinStar World Casino, Thackerville. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
- NORMAN – Listen to Darius Rucker at 8 p.m. Sunday at Riverwind Casino, 1544 W State Highway 9. Information: 322-6464 or www.riverwind.com.
- THACKERVILLE – Hear blues singer/guitarists Buddy Guy and Robert Cray at 9 tonight at WinStar World Casino. Information: www.winstarworldcasino.com.
The Lynda Tarpley Tappers perform at the 2009 Paseo Arts Festival. The tap dance troupe are annual favorites at the festival and will perform at 11 a.m. Saturday. (Photo by Paul Hellstern/The Oklahoman Archives)
- Take in the works of more than 75 visual artists, live music and entertainment, two children’s areas and more at the 34th annual Paseo Arts Festival Saturday-Monday in the Paseo Arts District, between NW 28 and Walker to NW 30 and Dewey. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, with music until 10 p.m., and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, with music until 7 p.m. Information: 525-2688 or www.thepaseo.com.
- Pay respect to the troops at the 45th Infantry Division Museum’s Memorial Day Ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday at the museum, 2145 NE 36. The ceremony will coincide with the reopening of the museum. Information: 424-5313 or www.45thdivisionmuseum.com.
- ADA – Check out the rodeo action at the Cord McCoy Invitational at 7:30 p.m. today and Saturday at the Pontotoc County Agri-Plex Center. Information: www.cordpbr.com.
Red City Radio
- Listen to Red City Radio with Nothington, John Moreland and Spanish Gamble at 9 tonight at VZD’s, 4203 N Western. Doors open at 8 p.m. Information: www.vzds.com
- TULSA – Hear Broncho with La Panther Happens and Lizard Police at 10 tonight at Soundpony, 409 N Main. Information: www.myspace.com/soundponylounge.
- MUSKOGEE – Take in jesters, jugglers, musicians and other medieval-style performers, festive food and shopping for handcrafted items at the Oklahoma Renaissance Festival from10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday at the Castle of Muskogee. Information: (918) 687-3625 or www.okcastle.com.
Ghostlight Theatre Club’s [title of show]
- Catch the musical [title of show] at 8 p.m. today and Saturday at Ghostlight Theatre Club, 3110 N Walker. Information: www.ghostlighttheatreclub.com.
- Watch Reduxion Theatre’s staging of Shakespeare’s bloody revenge drama “Titus Andronicus” at 8 tonight and Saturday at City Arts Center Theater at State Fair Park. This is the final weekend for the show. Information: 651-3191 or www.reduxiontheatre.com.
- See the Oklahoma City Theatre Company’s production of “Top Girls” at 8 tonight and Saturday at the Civic Center’s CitySpace Theatre, 201 N Walker. Information: www.okctheatrecompany.org.
- BAM
Cross Canadian Ragweed cancels Oklahoma City Family Jam, still playing Sunday’s Music and Mayhem in Eufaula
A version of this story also appears in Friday’s The Oklahoman.
Al-country group opts to cancel zoo concert
Oklahoma-Texas red dirt rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed have cancelled their seventh annual Family Jam, scheduled for Aug. 28 at Oklahoma City’s Zoo Amphitheatre.
The alt-country quartet announced last week plans to take a rare break from its busy touring schedule to give the band members more time with their families. In particular, drummer Randy Ragsdale, who lives in Yukon, expressed a need to stay home with his son, JC, who has autism.
The foursome of Grady Cross, Cody Canada, Jeremy Plato and Ragsdale has established a reputation as musical road warriors, playing played more than 220 dates annually for 13 of the last 15 years.
“For many years my band has been my top priority. Being in a touring band you have to give it your all, give it 100 percent. Right now, I need to be at home for my family, particularly my son JC, who has autism. He’s 10 years old now and still struggling in his development. I feel the only way I can help him is to be more hands-on and close to home,” Ragsdale said in the statement.
The band’s publicist this week released a revised list of tour dates, noting that the group cancelled fewer than half its planned 2010 shows. Among the dates the band will keep are Sunday’s fourth annual Music and Mayhem Concert, also featuring Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen and Mike McClure Band, at Eufaula Cove Amphitheater in Eufaula.
Ragweed also will play June 25 at WinStar World Casino in Thackerville.
In addition, the band still plans to perform next month on an Armed Forces Entertainment tour in Japan and at the prestigious Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tenn.
But the country-rockers scrapped several shows, including the Family Jam and Red Dirt Round Up in Fort Worth, Texas, two big events for which they serve as key organizers as well as headliners.
Zoo Amphitheatre Manager Howard Pollack said the Cross Canadian Ragweed Family Jam has sold out the past five years and become an anticipated annual event for the venue’s season. Tickets had not yet gone on sale for this year’s concert.
“I’m upset about the loss of finance, but I’m not upset with the band because I can’t begrudge anyone for what they need to do. … They’re friends of mine as well,” he said. “These guys have basically toured straight for the last, what, 15 years. It could burn anybody out.”
He hopes to fill the Aug. 28 date with a rock show and is working to schedule a daylong red dirt show for fall. The latter will likely follow the Family Jam format, offering a lineup of favorites on the red dirt/Texas music scene along with other bands. Last year’s event featured red dirt standouts Mike McClure, Stoney LaRue and Brandon Jenkins as well as rockers Tesla and Toadies.
“It will be very similar to that, other than the fact that it won’t have Cross Canadian,” Pollack said. “The vibe will be the same.”
The venue will keep the door open if Ragweed wants to host the Family Jam again in the future, he said.
“The Family Jam will be there, and they’ll always be welcome to host it,” Pollack said. “The Family Jam was a mutual concept. … That was our baby collectively, but the Zoo Amphitheatre is going to keep doing what we do. And one of the things we do is the Family Jam.”
Fans holding tickets to Ragweed’s cancelled concerts are encouraged to contact the venue for refunds. The band’s final show of the year is set for Oct. 24 in Chicago.
After, the members will halt touring with no timetable for returning, their publicist said.
The foursome established Ragweed as teenagers in 1994 and eventually moved to Stillwater, where they built a following playing for the college crowds around Oklahoma State University. Half the band members now make their homes in Oklahoma, while the others live in Texas.
The band celebrated its 15th anniversary last fall, and over the years, the members have watched each other grow up, get married and start families. Bassist Plato said in last week’s statement that all four would benefit from getting off the road.
“We’ve been at this for a long time, we’ve all had to spend time away from home missing birthdays, holidays … it’ll be good for us to have a breather,” he said.
Ragsdale said in last week’s statement that he would have supported his bandmates if they wanted to “get another drummer and press on” after he told them he needed to take time off for his family. “But that’s not what they wanted to do. I was blown away by their decision and their support.”
Frontman Canada said in the statement, “We’ve always said from the start, we’re Ragweed as the four of us, or not Ragweed at all.”
Guitarist Cross indicated in last week’s statement that the band will eventually hit the road again.
“These guys, they’re my brothers, I love playing with them,” Cross said. “I’m sure we’ll be back on the road soon.”
In concert
Cross Canadian Ragweed Fourth Annual Music and Mayhem Concert
With: Ragweed, Randy Rogers Band, Wade Bowen and Mike McClure Band.
When: 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Doors open at 4 p.m.
Where: Eufaula Cove Amphitheater, 399 Lakeshore Drive, Eufaula.
Information: (866) 977-6849 or www.protixonline.com.
Cross Canadian Ragweed
When: 9 p.m. June 25.
Where: WinStar World Casino, Thackerville.
Information: (800) 622-6317 or www.winstarworldcasino.com.
-BAM
Cross Canadian Ragweed plans to take a break from touring
Oklahoma-Texas red dirt rockers Cross Canadian Ragweed announced today their decision to take a rare break from their extremely busy touring schedule.
The decision will allow band member Randy Ragsdale, who lives in Yukon, to spend more time with his son, JC, who has autism.
The band’s publicist said it is not yet known whether some already scheduled dates will be affected by today’s announcement.
The alt-country quartet of Grady Cross, Cody Canada, Jeremy Plato and Ragsdale has established a reputation as musical road warriors, playing more than 220 dates a year for 13 of the last 15 years.
The members made the decision together to take a break from the road, according to a statement released by the band’s publicist.
The foursome established Ragweed as teenagers in 1994 and eventually moved to Stillwater, where they built a following playing for the college crowds around Oklahoma State University. Half the band members now make their homes in Oklahoma, while the others live in Texas.
The band celebrated its 15th anniversary last fall, and over the years, the members have watched each other grow up, get married and start families.
While they love their time on the road, each has yearned to spend more time with their families at home, according to the statement. Ragsdale, the band’s drummer, let the others know a few days ago that he needed to be at home with his family, especially JC.
“For many years my band has been my top priority. Being in a touring band you have to give it your all, give it 100 percent. Right now, I need to be at home for my family, particularly my son JC, who has autism. He’s 10 years old now and still struggling in his development. I feel the only way I can help him is to be more hands on and close to home,” Ragsdale said in the statement.
“I would understand and support the band’s decision to get another drummer and press on. But that’s not what they wanted to do. I was blown away by their decision and their support.”
Frontman Canada said in the statement, “We’ve always said from the start, we’re Ragweed as the four of us, or not Ragweed at all.”
Guitarist Cross and bassist Plato echoed those sentiments in the announcement.
“These guys, they’re my brothers, I love playing with them,“ said Cross in the statement. “I’m sure we’ll be back on the road soon.”
Plato added, “We’ve been at this for a long time, we’ve all had to spend time away from home missing birthdays, holidays … it’ll be good for us to have a breather.”’
One of the most influential groups on the Texas/red dirt music scene, Ragweed has sold more than 1 million albums, released its last four albums on major label Universal South Records and sold out venues from New York to California. The group has played major festivals like Stagecoach, ACL Fest and Summer Fest. The band also has headlined their own festivals, drawing more than 60,000 fans each year to their Red Dirt Round Up in Fort Worth, Texas, and Family Jam in Oklahoma City.
The Family Jam raises funds for Mandi’s Ministries, a charity named for Ragsdale’s sister, who died in a 2001 car accident. She was 9 years old.
The nonprofit raises money for children’s causes. For the past few years, funds from the concert have gone to a special needs T-ball field the group helped build in Yukon. Ragsdale and wife Ashley started the Yukon Spirit League so JC and other special-needs children could play ball.
“It’s going strong, and we plan on still trying to fund that and make it better,” Ragsdale told me in a 2009 interview. “We’ve got kids driving down like from almost Kansas, like from Ponca City and stuff like that, to play in this thing. So, it’s a really cool deal.”
Along with the seventh annual Family Jam, set for Aug. 28 at the Zoo Amphitheatre, Ragweed is currently scheduled to headline its Music & Mayhem festival May 30 at Eufaula Cove Amphitheatre on Lake Eufaula.
- BAM
What to do in Oklahoma on May 15, 2010
Cody Canada (Associated Press file photo)
Today’s featured event:
Hear Reckless Kelly, No Justice, Mama Sweet and an acoustic performance by Cody Canada, Charlie Robison and Chris Knight at the sixth annual Wormy Dog Spring Jam at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan.
The Spring Jam normally is an outdoor show, but because of the probabilityof inclement weather, this year’s event has been moved inside the Wormy Dog, according to WormyDog.com.
All tickets previously purchased will be honored. But since the Wormy Dog is a 21 and older venue, underage ticketholders will need to get a refund at the saloon. Doors will open Saturday at 4 p.m.
Doors open at 3 p.m.
For tickets, call (866) 977-6849 or go to www.protix.com.
For more information on the show changes, call 601-6276 or go to www.wormydog.com.
-BAM
Saturday’s Wormy Dog Spring Jam moved inside due to expected inclement weather
No Justice
Because of the probability of inclement weather, Saturday’s sixth annual Wormy Dog Spring Jam has been moved inside, according to WormyDog.com.
The concert typically takes place at the parking lot west of Walnut Street Bridge in Bricktown. But because of the predicted rainy weather, this year’s jam will be inside the Wormy Dog Saloon, 311 E Sheridan.
All tickets previously purchased will be honored. But since the Wormy Dog is a 21 and older venue, underage ticketholders will need to get a refund at the saloon.
Doors will open Saturday at 4 p.m. The music is set to start at 4:30 p.m. The lineup includes Reckless Kelly, No Justice, Mama Sweet and an acoustic performance by Cody Canada, Charlie Robison and Chris Knight.
For tickets, call (866) 977-6849 or go to www.protix.com.
For more information on the show changes, call 601-6276 or go to www.wormydog.com.
-BAM
