So if you don’t know much about me and my life, you’re about to find out that my childhood music scene wasn’t as extensive as it is today (there you go, now you know).
With a mother who was a semi-professional dancer, including ballroom etc I was taught at a young age the basic dance routines like the waltz and the one I’ll never forget, walk, walk, side together side, back, side together (starting with your left foot). On the car rides to school, in the early years, our dad would control the radio station and we grew up listening to the golden oldies and my dad’s favorite artists like Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. And when I started taking my music seriously playing in orchestra’s and band’s I was introduced to classical and jazz.
As of a few years ago I never really listened to or appreciated much rock, punk or that kind of genre. But when I started living in Europe and meeting new people I was exposed to many different tastes of music and now I can listen to, and like at the same time, the majority of music out there. It wasn’t until I met Munday and Amy that my music world was turned on its head. Artists like Alkaline Trio (who I’m listening to now), Flogging Molly, Husker Du, Dinosaur Jr and Against Me! and many more are now up there in the list of favorite music thus bringing me to the subject of this blog, Chuck Ragan.
Click here to go listen to Chuck Ragan
For those who don’t know who Chuck Ragan is and have never heard of the group Hot Water Music will not know how amazing this man is and how awesome each song he sings or writes is. After listening and educating myself in the music of Chuck Ragan for some time, Munday one day was full of excitement as he had just discovered Chuck to be playing in Padova on the 5th of September and declared that we would go. Excited myself we set off to Padova with friends, our destination the Club “Unwound”. Upon arrival we lined up for our tickets, made our way past the merchandise stand to the bar, bought a beer, cheers-ed, then went outside for some fresh air. At this point Munday had already managed to meet Chuck Ragan for a second and give him an Inkaddiction shirt (Inkaddiction is the tattoo shop here in Verona where he works), gotten a beer and headed outside. So when I made it outside, Munday was already talking to some other Americans. When introducing themselves as the band members my excitement began to rise. They were all nice people drinking beers and having a good time.
We all went inside to get another beer and listen to the opening act, Digger Barnes (a musician from Germany whose music was also great and later played with Chuck). After a while of standing there with Munday, a little in-front of the other band members, Munday headed to the bathroom and Amy and Brandy were outside talking girly I assume. I was left alone not wanting to seem too eager to speak to the band members. Then another man arrived and started talking to the band. He seemed to be friends with them and then I thought, is that Chuck? I, (looking back now it seems a little bit silly), but I had gone to the concert not knowing what Chuck looked like. I sent a msg to Amy, “I’m not sure but I think I’m standing next to Chuck, come here now”. By the time I had sent it Munday returned and came and stood next to me. I whispered “Is that…” with Munday replying “yes” before I finished. We stood quietly watching the opening act. Camera-less I went outside to get the camera out of Brandy’s bag and when I said that Chuck was standing next to me the girls freaked and we all headed inside, subtly of course, but only to find that Chuck, the band and Munday were heading outside.
We followed and stood next to the group having our own conversation as Munday chatted away with the band. Both groups went silent as our conversations reached their ends and without warning Chuck turned and introduced himself to Amy, Brandy and myself. So cool. A musician, who I had only recently discovered existed thanks to my friends, and whose music I now love had just introduced himself to me. He wasn’t at all like the big-headed rock stars that populate MTV and the daily news who have too much money they don’t know what to do with, but a simple down to earth man with a wife and dog and owner of a construction business back home to make ends meet and earn money to support not only himself but his family. A fisherman at heart I was amazed as we carried out a normal conversation and discovered his love for my home town Perth Australia. After accepting to have his picture taken with us, he and the group headed back inside to get ready and we eagerly followed.
(From left): Me, Brandy, Chuck Ragan, Munday, Amy
I need not say how amazing the show was because this blog would never end but by far this was the best live show I have seen. A close and personal performance from an incredible man, enjoyed with great friends. What more could one ask for?
So there we go, the first chapter of Concert Time, and no better way to start than with Chuck Ragan.
The next concert on the list is Dinosaur Jr in Bologna on the 10th of September so another chapter is not too far away.
Amazing
