Chuck Ragan

by Corey Apar
With his emotional and gravel-coated bellow, vocalist/guitarist Chuck Ragan made a name for himself as one-fourth of the much loved Gainesville post-hardcore outfit Hot Water Music before releasing his first solo album in 2007. Alongside friends Chris Wollard, Jason Black, and George Rebelo, Ragan formed Hot Water Music in the early '90s. Through a slew of well-received albums for labels like No Idea, Doghouse, and Epitaph -- and an incessant grassroots touring regime -- the passionate crew turned itself into a highly respected and influential act on the underground scene. Outside of his main gig, Ragan also recorded two side albums with some friends, including the stripped-down rock of Rumbleseat and the punk-oriented Cro(w)s. In the spring of 2005, Hot Water Music went on an indefinite hiatus, largely spurred by Ragan's desire to spend time outside of the band with his growing family. The group's other members went on playing music together (soon forming the Draft), while Ragan concentrated on his home life and, eventually, writing some acoustic-based material.
Hot Water Music officially closed up shop in May 2006, and Ragan began playing various shows solo, logging time by the year's end alongside acts like Dustin Kensrue, Flogging Molly, the Lawrence Arms, Rob Huddleston, and Tim Barry. Ragan (who was a carpenter by day) signed with California indie SideOneDummy Records in early 2007 for the May release of his intimate debut, Los Feliz. Recorded live on February 19, 2007, at Tangiers in Los Feliz, CA, the album features Ragan armed with just an acoustic guitar and harmonica, and occasionally joined on-stage by Ted Hutt and Jon Gaunt. Ragan also set up a "singles club" with his buddies at No Idea Records, sending subscribers a new 7" (six total) every month or so from September 2006 to June 2007.