| ROCK VOX! Jason Ringenberg: All Over Creation with that Reckless Country Soul |
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No act has ever blended punk rock intensity with a country swagger better than Jason Ringenberg and his bandmates the Scorchers the band and Ringenberg are the closest things Nashville has to rock'n'roll legends. Meet Jason Ringenberg, former (and yet to be again?) frontman for the band Jason and the Scorchers. Hes been nicknamed "a hayseed Iggy Pop," "Jerry Lee Rotten," and- not to be outdone- this writer has coined his own: the down-home Joey Ramone. The music was called "Merle Haggard meets the Ramones," cow-punk, and Americana, among other things. Today the Scorchers are referred to as the pioneers of alternative country. Jason Ringenberg reveals on his website bio that he "wanted to create a music built upon folk, traditional country, and rockabilly but driven by modem punk rock energy." In a 1996 Mammoth records promo piece, Jason gives us a history lesson: "In those earliest days, people either really loved it or hated it. People were fanatical about it. They'd either want to kill us or take us home and feed us. It was a wild existence." Jason further elaborated on the Scorchers phenomenon: "It's not considered a radical thing anymore to have punk rock and rock 'n' roll and American roots music fused together but, I can tell you, in 1981 it was absolutely radical. We faced violence in some places because of what we were doing." A live Scorchers show was said to be, by eyewitnesses and band members alike, a mow-down at the Hoe down. Listen to Warner Hodges (co-founding Scorcher axe-man) describe early shows: "I've been knocked out, and I've knocked Jason out, Jason and I have collided and knocked each other cold before. I'd be throwing my guitar, flipping it over my shoulder, and the thing would could around while we were going in the wrong direction and boom! We've always been a three-ring circus onstage." In 1995, Don McLeese reviewed a Scorchers show, then he argued in the Austin American Statesman that "for 90 minutes or so, the Scorchers showed that any band that can simultaneously remind one of the best of Lefty Frizzell and the best of the Ramones should never have been allowed to disappear." That kind of fusion created such a unique sound that the band will never disappear and it has inspired those that follow. All those who come after stand on the shoulders of this daredevil pioneer frontman. Thankfully, the Scorchers havent disappeared yet. What is their official status? Well, listen again to Jason, taken from an interview with Tom Conway: We haven't officially broken up, but then again, we are not actively together either. We do shows every now and then. Jason has released critically acclaimed solo work since his Scorchers era trailblazing. I contacted Jason to discuss this solo career back on April 1st. I explained to him in my email that I was infected by the Scorchers sound way back in the 80s during my rural Kentucky teenage years. White Lies was a cruising tune for me and my buddies (and it also described some of the flakey girlfriends, too). I received a quick reply to my interview request- it came the following morning. What knocked me flat was the humility that seemed to flow out of this genuine country boy. He thanked me (the lowly hack writer) for thinking about him as a subject to interview (him, being the one dubbed alt-country's elder statesman," by writer John Aizlewood, in the British daily newspaper called THE GUARDIAN). Three days later I get an email update from the elder statesman that read: tommy hey brother unfortunately I just dislocated my shoulder and one hand typing is excluciatingly slow. would you mind resending me this in 3 weeks? i'll be 2 handed by then- i hope... Jason I didnt edit that. Thats what I found in my inbox. I returned to the website on April 10th to see if I could get an update, and posted right there was the reason for Jasons pain: April 2, 2004 In a freak carpentry accident Jason falls through a floor and dislocates his shoulder. Jason: I hated the morphine but loved getting to zoom around the rush hour traffic in the ambulance." No shows will be cancelled. So this former Illinois farm boy has been knocked cold on stage, faced violent critics in his early years, and now has overcome a freak carpentry accident. Seems like you cannot keep a good country boy down, especially if that country boy is a tried and true Rock-N- Roll pioneer and reigning King of the Cow-punks. How is your shoulder? Well frankly I am not doing any jumping jacks these days. Fortunately I didn't have to cancel any shows. What do you think about being knighted as "alt-country's elder statesman" in the British daily THE GUARDIAN? It is always nice to get accolades like that, although I wish they would replace "elder" with "very young looking"... You collaborated with Steve Earle on the Scorchers "Thunder and Fire" record. It was a tune called "Bible and a Gun (go here to listen: http://www.jasonandthescorchers.com/diesel_cafe/diesel_cafe_mp3.html )." 2002's solo effort, called "All Over Creation" is full of guests. Talk about your collaborations with Steve and other folks. I knew Steve when he was just a songwriter knocking around Nashville. It has been fascinating to watch him become "the conscience of our generation." Its always exciting to work with him- he is full of ideas and opinions and lets you know them!! Tell us about your early musical influences; what makes up Jason's sound? I would reckon my music is somewhat like a chicken truck getting hit by a corvette. Rock History lesson: tell us about how the Scorcher's came about. I would rather you get that from a bio or stories written about us. Thats too damn long to type up on a dial up computer in the middle of Iowa... What is the status of "Jason and the Scorchers" in 2004? Have they disappeared altogether on the "Lost Highway?" The band is semi-retired. We do shows occassionallly but it is a rare thing. Since Perry left frankly my heart is no longer in the band. *Interviewer sadly sighs and wipes tear away.... Speaking as a long-time fan of the Scorchers, I don't think some folks "got it." I think you "got it" if you had any Georgia Satellites records, owned Steve Earle's "Copperhead Road," or stashed away Lone Justice's music in your pickup truck. I think you "got" the Scorchers if you were familiar with dusty dirt roads, rolling hills, porch swings, and that little country store built in the late 1940's (you know, the one with those rusting Coca Cola signs that were weathered from age). EMI didn't "get it." You had to "get it." It was a Southern-soul Dixie twang-thang.. Am I on the mark? Seems like people get it now with Alt-country. Oh I have no complaints about EMI or any of the companies we worked with. The band was and is very uncommercial. With the last question in mind: why did Europe "get it?" Certain regions of Europe, the UK, Norway, Holland, Ireland do understand and are part of the foundation of American roots music heritage. It is in their blood as much as it is in ours. Tell us about your solo work past and present- plug the new and review the old! My newest release is called A DAY AT THE FARM WITH FARMER JASON and as you can guess it is a kids record- and it seems the kids do love it! Talk about tour/live shows, your label, and the website.... These days I tour alone and perform solo. Its a very spontaneous show. I never have a plan. They all are different. My label Courageous Chicken Music is actually more of a production company. I produce the cd and artwork then license it out around the world. www.jasonringenberg.com is my website and merchandise outlet. What's next? A new solo effort? My next solo cd comes out September 7. It is called Empire Builders. Your opinion of modern country? modern Rock? Frankly I don't listen to either format. What should a newly tempted listener look into getting first? Probably ALL OVER CREATION is a good place to start. Usual Rock Vox closer: Jason's advice for wanna-be rockers and songwriters? Get rolling luggage. Add on final question: just how good a carpenter are you anyway? Ha-Ha! Will we ever know the true circumstances of the mighty fall?! I can build a barn but I am too impatient for finish work... I wish I could say my accident was caused by something very dramatic like the floor caved in or a wall fell. In fact I walked right into an open hole in the floor. ---- Thank you, Jason- Prayers for a complete recovery, Bro! Sites: http://www.jasonandthescorchers.com Again, Jasons site: www.jasonringenberg.com Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites          Add your comment
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