Tom Gabel & Chuck Ragan @ The Annandale 9/5/09
June 3rd 2009 08:10
Against Me’s Tom Gabel and ex Hot Water Music’s Chuck Ragan teaming up to do a run of solo shows was sure to bring a decent crowd. Tonight, The Annandale was sold out. I missed a chance to talk to Tom Gabel before the show, and I am sure I’ll regret that. The opening slot went to A girl who sounded alot like Missy Higgins. I’m terrible sorry that I don’t remember your name or what band you were in, but your songs were nice and your girlfriend had some cool tattoos.
I’d never heard any of Chuck’s solo stuff. I saw a clip on you tube before the show and thought I could expect maybe a little City and Colour thing. I was wrong. I was blown away by the strength of his voice and the passion he played with. He absolutely thrashed away at that acoustic guitar. My initial description of his sound is a broad mix of Joe Cocker, old Neil Diamond and Social Distortion. The crowd loved it when he performed a couple of Hot Water Music songs and dedicated ‘Geraldine’ to all the mothers’ for mother’s day.
Tom came out 15 minutes early and opened with ‘Random Hearts’ from his debut solo EP. For the next hour the crowd sang along as he performed old Against Me tracks like ‘Joy’, ‘Sink Florida Sink’ and “‘Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong’. Even with broken guitar strings, he still screamed and rocked as hard as if he had the band behind him. My other potential regret for the night was having to leave the room to only come back in at the end of one my favorite songs “Anna Is A Stool Pigeon”. The set closed with Tom and Chuck doing a couple of covers, breaking more guitar strings and leaving after playing for 75 minutes with barely a pause.
I don’t think I’ve left an acoustic show feeling so drained and exhausted. And I'm pretty sure about 200 people felt the same way.
I’d never heard any of Chuck’s solo stuff. I saw a clip on you tube before the show and thought I could expect maybe a little City and Colour thing. I was wrong. I was blown away by the strength of his voice and the passion he played with. He absolutely thrashed away at that acoustic guitar. My initial description of his sound is a broad mix of Joe Cocker, old Neil Diamond and Social Distortion. The crowd loved it when he performed a couple of Hot Water Music songs and dedicated ‘Geraldine’ to all the mothers’ for mother’s day.
Tom came out 15 minutes early and opened with ‘Random Hearts’ from his debut solo EP. For the next hour the crowd sang along as he performed old Against Me tracks like ‘Joy’, ‘Sink Florida Sink’ and “‘Pints Of Guinness Make You Strong’. Even with broken guitar strings, he still screamed and rocked as hard as if he had the band behind him. My other potential regret for the night was having to leave the room to only come back in at the end of one my favorite songs “Anna Is A Stool Pigeon”. The set closed with Tom and Chuck doing a couple of covers, breaking more guitar strings and leaving after playing for 75 minutes with barely a pause.
I don’t think I’ve left an acoustic show feeling so drained and exhausted. And I'm pretty sure about 200 people felt the same way.
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