Interview with Chuck Ragan - Podcast 32

Hey there, this is Chuck Regan, and you're listening to Sound Scene Revolution.

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Alright, thanks for tuning in to Sound Scene Revolution. Today, and I guess it's the middle of August, I suppose it is. I want to thank you guys so much for tuning in today. In light of all the news of baby murderers being discovered, we have decided to have a very special non-baby murdering show today with Chuck Regan, a man who, as far as I know, has never murdered a child. And his life, and that, I feel that's an accomplishment there in and of itself. So, before we go on, I would like to announce the winners of our last couple of shows. For the Akimbo Contest, we have Matt O. of Mill Creek, Washington, I believe. Or it's War Bash, whatever W-A is the abbreviation for. And for the World Inferno Friendship Society, we have Joe H., who never sent us an address, so we should be emailing him to get an address.

And Mr. Woe of Washington, New Jersey. Is there really a Washington, New Jersey? That's what he said his address was, huh? Sound Guy Nervin says that's what his address was. Sound Guy Nervin, on the other hand, may have killed the baby in his past. But, to sell its liver on the black market, that's really the only reason. But, you know, it's a living. Anyhow, so today we talked to Chuck Regan of Hot Water Music and Rumble Seat fame. He's a pretty cool guy, and from what I've been understanding, he is recording some solo stuff on his own, in lieu of taking a break from Hot Water Music, so you want to check that out. But before we do, we have a very special song that we're going to bring you from a live CD from when Chuck Regan opened for Greg Graffin at the Troubadour.

That was about a month or two ago. And he had that CD at the show, and he let us have it. And we're going to be giving a copy away at the end of the show. So if you want a copy of this CD, let us know, and we will make sure to try and hook you up with one. It's a good recording, pretty good live show, and it's a lot of fun. So from that CD, we're going to be playing The Boat, which is one of his new solo tracks. And as far as I know, you can check out a version on his MySpace, but this is the only version that is on CD form, which is pretty sweet. So check it out. It's Chuck Regan, and the song is The Boat. And enjoy the interview.

So thanks for tuning in to Sound Scene Revolution. We are in the kitchen area of the Swedish American Musical, I guess, with Chuck Regan. Hello. Hello. Thanks for having me. Thanks for taking the time. So I guess the first thing I want to ask is how did you get hooked up with Dustin from Thrice for this tour that you've been doing? Yeah, we've been long-time friends, and just fairly recently, he just made contact with me, heard us doing some just acoustic stuff, and had this going on and was kind enough to ask me out. So here I am. Excellent. Well, I'm really glad you've come here. I mean, I don't think, have you played a lot on the West Coast acoustic? No. Yeah. No, not really. I was going to say. Not really. It's fairly new.

Excellent. Well, I'm very glad that you're out here. Thank you. I guess the big thing, and I don't want to harp on it too much, a lot of people are going to want to know about hot water music. I don't know, is there just a general kind of statement about what has occurred? Well, I mean, there wasn't any dramatic, crazy breakup or anything like that, just to kind of set that record straight. It was more just kind of coming to terms with changes and where we're at.

It's just a transition, really. I mean, basically, that's what it is. Because I think a lot of people, you know, Jason and I posted these letters, you know, on our site, and it wasn't necessarily stating, hey, everybody, we're out of here. We're broken up. It was more just kind of like, we're not going to be the hardcore road warriors that everybody knows us to be, you know, for a lot of different reasons, you know. But, I mean, it's, honestly, it's all, I mean, it's, when it comes down to it, it's all positive. And it's just, you know, I mean, hot water music, to me, has just always been about searching and finding, you know, things that'll set you free one way or the other. You know, that's what it's always been.

But, and when it comes down to it, it's just another transition, and it's another change. I mean, we all have always, I mean, we're family, we're brothers, you know, and we have too much fun to not play again. So, I mean, it'll, you know. Yeah. Just don't look out for it anytime in the immediate future. I mean, yeah. I mean, it's, you know, so. Yeah. That's cool. God willing, I mean, it would most definitely, you know, I love those guys more than anything. You know, and, you know, I would, I would love to be standing on a stage, you know, 60 years old, trying to do what we once did, you know. Yeah. You know, so, I mean, it's, it's kind of one of those things where, you know, we're, we're all, we're family, and it's, it's a, it's just a, it's a transition right now.

That's cool. So. Fair enough. Yeah. Um, one of the other things that comes up is now that you've been doing some solo work, you've been playing, I guess you're, are you recording for a solo album? I've, I mean, I, I've recorded quite a bit of stuff and, uh, you know, it's, uh, I'm not necessarily, I, I'm definitely gonna, gonna put stuff out, uh, actually really soon, you know, doing, doing a bunch of stuff, probably just start with seven inches and whatnot, you know, just for, just, it's just fun, you know, I mean, it's, I don't know, I have songs, so that's what I do. You might as well record a song. You know, if I have a song, I want to record a song, and if I record it, I might as well put it out, so.

Very true. You know, I mean, it, it, yeah, it's just, uh, I don't have any fine line agenda right now, you know, I mean, I'm, I'm actually, my, my main focus right now is actually getting my contractor's license. Oh, wow. That's kind of, that's like what I'm, what I'm kind of, you know, goals that I'm shooting for right now, but, I mean, absolutely, there's definitely gonna be stuff coming out. So, any talk with record labels, or right now, are you just gonna be doing it on your own? I mean, like, I'm gonna do stuff with Bar, I have no idea, you know, he's, he's just, you know, a long time old friend, and, I mean, I'll, I'll always work with him, you know, if, you know, as long as he doesn't get tired of me.

I don't think so, you seem pretty easy to work with, I would imagine. Yeah, he's, he's pretty mellow. Right on. Um, so the other thing that, uh, I've actually been asked to ask you about this, so if, it's not my question, but Rumble Seat, a lot of people have been wondering, well, now that Hot Water Music, the other guys are doing the draft, and you've been doing kind of your own thing, is there any chance for maybe more stuff from Rumble Seat, or even just going on, because you played one track tonight, right? California Burritos, right? Yeah. Uh, any chance of doing just a whole tour of that music, or no? No. No? Yeah. Fair enough. No, that's, it's just, it's just, you know, the past, and it's, you know, it's done as just a, a, a separate thing entirely, so, moving on.

That's cool. Understandable. Now, playing from, from a band where you got a whole bunch of different guys, other guitar players, bass players, drummer, is it more intimidating to be up on stage by yourself where there's nobody else to be up there with, where like all eyes are kind of on you? Yeah, absolutely, I mean, sometimes absolutely, you know, it's just kind of, uh, um, it's, it's definitely intimidating, and, you know, sometimes get quite a bit shaky, you know, but I mean, that's, to me, that's, that's a, a big part of it, that's like, that's the big rush of it, you know, and like the, a good feeling to get up there and be scared, and be just frightened to basically stand in front of people and bleed yourself, you know, and, and then, and then doing it, and then the feeling afterwards is like, awesome, you know, I just climbed a mountain, so, I mean, that's just kind of, that's kind of what it is to me, you know, so, yeah, I mean, it, it scares the devil out of me all the time, so, I mean, it's, I don't think, I hope that never goes away, because that's kind of a, definitely a part that, you know, like I love to feel comfortable, I love to feel confident, and I do, but I don't want to get too, I don't want to, I don't want to be too comfortable, and I don't want to be too confident, I want to be nervous, I want to be scared.

Well, that's good, so. Well, I mean, to each their own, I don't know if I could do that every night, if I could go up and just be like, I don't know, but. Yeah, you could. Nah. Yeah, you could. I was in a band, I cried after every show, it was horrible, but, it's, she's laughing, because it's true, but, so, the other thing I kind of want to touch on, I'm kind of bouncing around from subject to subject, because it's all just rattling about, but, you recent, I don't know if it was recently, but you now live in the L.A. area, is that correct? Yeah. Yeah, how long ago was that move? Four years ago, maybe a little, four years. I've got to start stalking you better, and I would know this. Please don't. No, no, no.

But, what motivated that? Jill, who's now my wife, we were married, actually married, October 10th will be two years, our two year anniversary. We took off to Costa Rica a couple years ago. Oh, wow. And, we had a big wedding planned in Baja, at the time, actually. We were getting ready to send out a ton of invitations, and, I don't know, it just all made sense to just drop it all, call the families, and buy tickets to Costa Rica. Oh, wow. So, that's what we did. Was anyone, like, upset about that? Well, you know, I mean, it's family, but, I mean, kind of when it came down to it, I think a lot of people were a little more relieved, because we had, I mean, it was a crazy ordeal just to get everybody to Mexico, as it was, and kind of put that together.

So, it just kind of made all the sense in the world. So, why originally Baja, if I can ask? That's where we really fell in love. We took a trip down there, and we'd done a couple other trips beforehand, went snowboarding, and, like, that was one of our first, just kind of where we really, you know, hit it off, and, you know, did a couple other trips here and there, but we did, like, just a, I can't remember, I think, like, maybe 10 or 12 days or so, where we went down to Baja, and that was it, stayed at a little place called La Fonda down there, and just, you know, I was done. I was just, you know, knew, knew, knew it, you know, this is the person that I will be with for the rest of my life, you know, so.

That's awesome. And it was amazing. So, I mean, that's kind of what, you know, and since then, we go there all the time. I mean, that's kind of our little, little spot. It's not too bad to go from, like, the L.A. area. It's not too bad to go. Oh, it's, like, three hours. It's great, and it's great food, and great people, and waves, and talking about La Fonda. So, another little spot. Now, there's going to be people waiting there to, like, find you, like, sure there's photographs. I don't know. I don't think that many people listen to us that it's going to be an issue, so you're probably safe. But, um, how is life in L.A.? Like, is it different from growing up in, like, the Florida area? Oh, absolutely. Yeah.

I mean, you know, it's, it's, it's really cool. There's, there's, you know, great things, especially in our, our neighborhood. We live in, uh, Silver Lake, and it's kind of, uh, I mean, it's, it's 50-50. There, there's, there's a lot of rough stuff that happens, you know, and, and, uh, you know, a lot, and then at the same time, a lot of great people and families and, and everything, so, you know, I mean, right now, work is great for us, and, uh, you know, music's a lot of fun. We love it. We love the culture around there, and tons of great food, and, and, uh. That's cool. Mind if I ask what you do for a day job? I'm just, I'm a carpenter. Oh, you're a carpenter. Oh, okay. Well, I know you said you were working on getting your contract.

Yeah. So I didn't know if you were just going to take the tests. Yeah. I cut big sticks and a little sticks. That's a unique way to look at it. Yeah. That's the profession of Jesus. It's a little, you know, could be a little more complicated. I would like to, I would like to believe the next time I hire somebody to do, like, carpentry work, it'll be a little more than just cutting big sticks and little sticks. Yeah. But when it comes down to it, that's what it is. See, you can say that, but I can't because I would cut my finger off. So I have to believe it's more complicated. Yeah. Yeah. It can be. So while Chuck Reagan goes and gets himself some water and takes a little break from the interview, he was really actually trying to get away, but we found him later.

He was like, oh, I just stopped to get some water and load the van and start the van. And, oh, yeah, we'll finish the interview. But, uh, we ended up getting the rest of it. Before we do that, we're going to play, uh, the Chuck Reagan solo version of a Rumble Seat classic, California Burritos. And, uh, again, if you want a copy of the CD, it's him live at the Troubadour opening for Greg Graffin. Uh, we got some copies that we will give away. It was hand-burned by Chuck Reagan, written on by his lovely wife, Jill, who is super helpful in helping set up this interview, even though she does not know us. And we could be baby rapers or murderers. And she was really cool about setting it up, even though she didn't know us.

So, uh, it's California Burritos right here. And then we'll get the second half of the interview, so check it out.

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is the music from, I mean, even hot water music stuff over the years has varied a great deal, and what you're doing now is incredibly different from that. Like, is it just one of those things that's kind of progressed over the years, or is it kind of one of those things you've always wanted to do, like the music that you make solo? Is it? Well, um, it's, it's not really, when I think about it, when it, I mean, at least thinking of the, you know, what it's driven from and the energy of it to me and like kind of where it's coming from, honestly, it's, it's not really any different other than it's, it's just acoustic, you know, so, I mean, it's kind of, to me, it's kind of one in the same, you know, quieter, you know?

I don't know, after seeing you play tonight, it wasn't that much quieter. It was pretty loud. I was impressed. Really? Yeah. Well, I mean, yeah, it's, yeah, I honestly, it's kind of, it's, it's kind of the same energy, you know, for me. And, uh, same concepts and everything, so. It's very, it's pretty close because, uh, my friend Joanna, uh, she was sitting next to us, I think you met her, uh, shook her hand, she's a big hot water music fan. And like, after you played, she was like, it was just like, she said it felt just like a hot water music show. Oh, wow. Good. I mean, that's, it's huge. She said it was just amazing. Yeah. I mean, yeah. I mean, I, I, I mean, I gotta say, I, I, I miss playing with the guys.

Yeah. I love them to death, but I mean, it, it is, it's extremely, um, liberating, you know, to going back to the same thing we were talking about before, just, just being scared and, and getting up and just kind of busting through that. And, you know, I mean, it is what it is. It's not, you know, it's simple stuff, you know, really simple, just simple songs. And, you know, I don't think I'll ever be a very technical player, you know, or, or, you know, play anything that, that fancy, you know? So, I mean, it's just kind of just porch songs to me, you know, so. But some of the best music, I mean, can be porch songs. Okay. But, um, so, what are you listening to right now, if you don't mind me asking, like, music-wise?

Hmm. Um, all, all kinds of stuff, uh, yeah. I've been listening to, well, like, I mean, it, it, it, it changes. Yeah. It's changed a lot since, since the days of the iPod, you know? Yeah. You know, like, we put it on shuffle quite a bit. Yeah, and just kind of listen to whatever comes up. Yeah, it, it, it moves around quite a bit, but. Yeah, that's cool. I don't know, um, I mean, I'm, I've been listening to, uh, you know, I still love kind of a lot of, uh, Latin jazz. Really? Yeah, and, uh, um, love Afro-Cuban all-stars and Buena Vista Social Club and different stuff like that. I know. Ruben Gonzalez, Ibrahim Fodera. Oh, wow. You know, people like that. I mean, like, I, I wish I could play like that. Like, I wish I could do stuff like that, but right now it's just, you know.

That's one of those far-off kind of, like, one-day type dreams. Yeah, or, or just one of those dreams. Yeah, or just one of those, it's okay to let it live as a dream. But I don't know, we listen to all kinds of, what kind of, what do we listen to lately? Lately. Yeah. It's more of a mix.

Yeah, well, we all, yeah, listen to Ray Charlesville. Right on. I don't, yeah. That's cool now. Good music. Good, good stuff. Now, for the tour, are you guys, like, all in one van for this? Yeah. Oh, wow. Yeah. Now, who decides how the music goes? Is it, like, who's ever driving, or is it kind of, like, anarchy? Yeah, usually it's kind of whoever's driving. Yeah. That's cool. Yeah. Very cool. Yeah. That's usually the road rule. Yeah. Let's see. Yeah, it's like, if you're driving, you pick. You get to decide. Yeah. I like that rule. Yeah. I would totally drive more if that was the rule. There you go. Well. Now, one of the things that stood out when I was watching you play is you covered Bleeder by Alkaline Trio, right? Uh-huh.

Yeah. Yeah, that's, that was kind of out of left field for me. I was really not expecting that. Oh, really? Yeah. How do you choose, is it just songs that you like that you've always kind of wanted to play live? Well, we, we actually, we actually did that song and it was on a split with Alkaline Trio. Oh, that's the one that I've ever, see, that's the one that I haven't gotten yet. Oh, okay. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, like, for one, I know it. Yeah. That always helps. Kinda. Yeah. I mean, like, I don't know. I think I'd, I kind of butcher it sometimes. No. Like. You did much better than I thought, so. Oh, well, thanks. Thanks a lot.

I, I think, I think Matt Skeep is one of the most, you know, it, just in my days and just knowing him. And I, I mean, maybe I'm a little biased cause I know him. Yeah. You know, as a, as a person, I love him to death as a friend, but, um, you know, I think he's just an absolutely phenomenal writer, songwriter and lyricist and, and, uh, he writes beautiful stuff and I, I don't know. It's kind of one of those songs that we chose and kind of did on a whim and, and did it acoustic totally just to do it a little bit different. And, uh, me and Jason Black recorded it. Jason played it, uh, with a standup bass and played a bow on it. Oh, wow. Like, it sounds neat. It's, we loved it. Yeah. So. Well, you did very well with it.

I mean. Well, thanks. See, now I got to go by the split. Yeah. Definitely. It's one of those ones everyone like, they're like, you should get that. And I'm like, I don't like splits for the most part. Yeah. Now I kind of have to, I feel. We'll see. Um, anyhow, before I embarrass myself further, um, do you got any future, like, touring plans set up? I know you're going to play a fest, right? That's all I know. Yeah, actually. But, I mean, we live in Silver Lake, so. Mm-hmm. I mean, honestly, right now, like, this is about the extent of any touring that I can handle right now. Yeah. Between work and everything. Yeah, with the work, the jobs that I, I mean, I have jobs going on right now. Oh, wow. And I'm kind of, just kind of had to, just kind of put my foot down and say, all right, I'm, I'm out.

Yeah. Like, I'm leaving, I'll be back on this day, but, and just try and stay off the phone as much as possible, you know, but, um, yeah, I mean, with the work that I have going on and, and with, with school and, and just everything else, this is about the extent of it. Yeah. Like, I mean, I'm, I'm totally game for, for just doing shows and, and traveling around a bit, but, but, I mean, I don't want to, I, I don't want to get out and do any long term. Yeah. I mean, that's kind of what, you know, what, what kind of drove me, you know, away from, from hot water. Yeah. Just like that, that life, I just, you know, I, I just was feeling a little trapped, you know, just kind of burnt, burnt on it and like, you know.

I mean, there's sometimes. The whole point is feeling free, right? Yeah. So, I mean, that's, that's it. That's it. I need to keep that, hang on to it. Awesome. Now, uh, does anyone at your work, like, does anyone at your work know of your music or do they just know you as the carpenter? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, like some of my guys come out, you know, like come out to shows and it, and it's pretty cool. And I've had a couple of clients, you know, come out to shows. Oh, wow. And it's, it's just neat. You know, it's different because I, to me, it's just, it's just something else that I do, you know, but to them, it totally comes out of left field, as you put it, where they're just like, what? Yeah. They just work by you eight hours a day.

You like actually play an instrument or what do you do? You know, it's like, you know, when I say, oh yeah, I'm going to have to, you know, we're going to have to, you know, finish this project up when I get back on the ninth because I'm going out to play shows, they're like, play show, a show, or like, what are you, are you dancing? Are you, you know, like, I, are they like amazed that people like pay money to come see you or anything? Yeah, totally. I mean, they're like, what? Like, where are you, you know, where are you from? That's crazy. It's like, well, it's a whole nother life, huh? Yeah, it is. It is. So. That's awesome. I'm blessed. Yeah. Very cool. Well, I think we're going to wrap this up and I'm going to let you get on with your evening.

Is there anything else you want to plug, websites, anything you got for sale, anything like that? Well, I mean, right now, it's, I mean, just tonight, just kind of selling for gas money and stuff, just some, some little t-shirts that Jill and I made up and a live CD that we recorded, had recorded at the Troubadour. Oh, wow. Just a little while ago. Simple, you know. Sure. Just simple stuff like that. But, I mean, yeah, not really much. But she set up a MySpace account. I guess that's kind of new. I've never was involved in that and I'm, I'm just dumbfounded. I'm so amazed at the response, you know, that has come from it. People just like wanting to be a part of it. I can't believe it. I can't, I cannot believe it, you know.

And it's just, I think it's such a cool thing for musicians and, and, I mean, I don't, you know, I'm so new to it and just kind of young to it. So, I mean, I don't, you know, it could be a mess. I don't know. But right now it just seems really cool. She set it up and put four songs on it that you can listen to it. I know. And it's just, I don't know, something, something new that I've never been involved in. So, it's. Well, I've checked it out and so far it doesn't look like anything's too messed up. It looks good. Oh, and well. It's got a photo of you fishing, so. Yeah. You got like a head and glasses. I'm, I'm all about it. Avid fisherman. Oh, man. Don't even get me started on that. That's a whole nother interview.

That's a, that's a whole nother chapter, a whole nother book. But, yeah, the carpenter, the musician, the fisherman. Yeah. That's cool. Jack of all trades. Jack of all trades, master of some. Yeah. Or none. You've done a lot better. You seem to have done a lot better at a couple of them than most people. I saw the, what is it, shark on your picture? Yeah. That's a good size shark, man. They make great tacos. Really? Absolutely. I did not know that. Yeah. Huh. Absolutely. I've always just been afraid of them. I was kind of aware they were all so delicious. No, that one you saw was about an hour. An hour and a half away from the barbecue grill. So, I like that. He's no longer with us. Shark of tacos. Yeah. Very cool. All right.

Well, I want to thank you. Rest its soul. It went to good use. It did. It did. It was not wasted. Excellent. Well, I want to thank you so much for taking the time to coming out. Thanks for having me. All the best for everything that you do in the future. I appreciate it. Absolutely. Awesome. Thank you, guys. So, that wraps up the end of our interview with Chuck Reagan. I hope you guys enjoyed it. We talked about sharks and tacos and all sorts of craziness. He's a good guy. You should check him out. He's going to be doing a couple of shows coming up here, opening for Sam I Am on the West Coast. So, you guys should keep an eye out for that. And anytime you're going to see him, take advantage. Because, like he said, he's a carpenter most of the time.

He doesn't have a whole lot of time to do shows. So, if you get the chance, check him out. And, like I said, we are going to be giving away copies. I don't know. We may make another copy. We may make another few copies. So, if you want a live copy of Chuck Reagan live at the Troubadour opening for Greg Graffin, if you want a copy of that set, write us and let us know. Put Chuck Reagan as the title, the subject line. And then in the body, just include your name and your address, phone number, and why you think Chuck Reagan is the most awesomest man on the face of the planet. He may not be, but you have to tell me why you think that. And we'll make sure we get you a CD on the way. Alright, so that wraps up the show.

Before we close up, we're going to play one last track off of that set. It's going to be a song, new Chuck Reagan solo song, called Broken Ears. I hope you enjoy it. I hope you come back next week. And I hope we find out who really killed JonBenet Ramsey ten years ago. Because I totally thought it was the parents. And apparently it is not. So, stay tuned. Right here on Sound Scene Revolution. Thanks again for listening, folks. I really, really do appreciate it. More than you know.

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