Cross Canadian Ragweed

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cross Canadian Ragweed
OriginStillwater, Oklahoma, US
Genres
Years active
  • 1994–2010
  • 2024-present[1]
LabelsSmith Music Group,
Randy Ragsdale

Jeremy Plato
Past membersMatt Weidemann

Cross Canadian Ragweed are an American country and rock band formed in

Randy Ragsdale (drums), and Jeremy Plato (bass guitar). The group released five studio albums and three live albums from 1994 until 2010. The band was at the forefront of the rise of the red dirt music scene in Oklahoma and the Texas Music scene. After almost 15 years together, the group disbanded in 2010. In September 2024, the band announced their reunion after teasing it for weeks on their social media.[1]

History

Formation

Cross Canadian Ragweed started when Randy Ragsdale met Cody Canada, Matt Weidemann, and Grady Cross, who had also been playing together. The four had known each other since grade school and started playing together in Ragsdale's home seven nights a week under the tutelage of Ragsdale's father, Johnny, who had worked with musical artists in the area. After playing together, the band officially formed by combining a part of every band member's last name, coming up with the name Cross Canadian Ragweed. Matt Weidemann left the band, and Jeremy Plato joined the band, playing the bass guitar. After finishing high school, the band moved to the

College Town of Stillwater, Oklahoma, where acts like Mike McClure's The Great Divide and singer-songwriter Jimmy LaFave had established enough of a local scene to earn Stillwater the nickname North Austin.[2]

Carney and Live And Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon

The group had already received significant

airplay
before it released its first album, Carney in 1998 on their own independent label. Initially, selling the band in the market it was based in, was considered by music observers to be far-fetched; however, the fan base's passion and loyalty to the band allowed them to find success in releasing that first album. Carney was well received, then the band released Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon in 1999, which was also well received, especially in the local scene.

Highway 377

Ragweed released its second studio album Highway 377 in 2001, though it was recorded in 1999. It propelled them into wider audience and into Texas, where Canada was born and also where the band had been touring heavily. Though not a released single, the song "Long Way Home" was featured on several Dodge Truck Commercials in both Texas and Oklahoma which added to the popularity of the band. The band paid tribute to drummer Randy Ragsdale's father Johnny, who has passed away from cancer in 1997 with the track "Johnny's Song."

Live and Loud at Billy Bob's Texas

In 2002 Ragweed recorded the popular live album Live and Loud at Billy Bob's Texas in Fort Worth, Texas. The songs were mainly live versions of songs off Carney and Highway 377, with a handful of cover songs.

Cross Canadian Ragweed (Purple Album)

In 2002, the group then signed with Universal South Records and released a self-titled album also alternately known as 'The Purple Album'. It was a tribute to the band's "little sister" Mandi Ragsdale, the younger sister of the band's drummer Randy Ragsdale, who had died in an auto accident near College Station, Texas,[3] and whose favorite color was purple. The album produced charted singles "17" and the ballad "Constantly", and released a music video for the hard rock track "Don't Need You."

Soul Gravy

Ragweed's 2004 album, Soul Gravy, debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard charts. Lee Ann Womack provided background vocals on the popular single "Sick and Tired". The project also saw the re-release of the song "Alabama" (off of 2001's Highway 377) with a heavier electric sound, which appeared on the Billboard Charts as well.

Garage

In October 2005 the band released Garage, described by both the band and raters at

Darrell Abbott
, who had been killed months earlier during a concert, in addition to a heavier rock sound overall.

Back To Tulsa: Live And Loud At Cain's Ballroom

In late 2006, Ragweed released their third and final live album, Live and Loud At Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The band's 24 song project was well received and featured songs from their previous projects The Purple Album, Soul Gravy, and Garage. It also featured a handful of covers as well such as Neil Young's The Needle and the Damage Done and Robert Earl Keen's "Lonely Feeling."

Mission California

Cross Canadian Ragweed recorded

Chris Knight cover "Cry Lonely." Mission California
was released on October 2, 2007. AllMusic reviewed the Album and found that the project was "name appropriately, the band sounds much more a progressive West Coast sound in many of the tracks and less rural rock."

Happiness and All the Other Things

The band's tenth and final album, Happiness and All the Other Things was released on August 31, 2009, commemorating the band's 15th Anniversary. It featured 12 new studio tracks and three live tracks. Recorded in California, this album includes a track entitled "51 Pieces", which Canada penned with Micky Braun. The song was based on an incident where Ohio State police ransacked the band's bus after a stop in Cleveland at the House of Blues. It also featured "Blue Bonnets" which is dedicated to Cody's oldest son Dierks. Happiness and All the Other Things was officially dedicated to the late Randall Locke (Willie Nelson's long-time stage manager) who suddenly died on May 6, 2009. Other popular tracks were "To Find My Love", "Burn Like The Sun", and "Kick In The Head."

Hiatus and band break-up

In May 2010, Cross Canadian Ragweed announced a hiatus from touring. In a band press release, Ragsdale explained, "Right now, I need to be at home for my family, particularly my son JC, who has autism. He's 10 years old now and still struggling in his development. I feel the only way I can help him is to be more hands on and close to home." Despite Ragsdale wanting to "get another drummer and press on," Canada stated "We’ve always said from the start, we’re Ragweed as the four of us, or not Ragweed at all."[4] In September 2010, Canada officially announced the band was calling it quits by announcing their "Last Call Show" in October 2010 at Joe's Bar in Chicago, IL, stating "as far as that’s concerned, Oct 24 is the last one, the last gig."[5]

Post break-up

Since Cross Canadian Ragweed, Canada and Plato formed

The Departed with fellow Yukon-native Dave Bowen (drums), Seth James (guitar), and Steve Littleton (keyboards), releasing their debut album "This Is Indian Land" in June 2011.[6]
Ragsdale and Cross both returned to Yukon. Ragsdale played with Stoney LaRue until 2013 and now works in the oil and natural gas industry, while Cross purchased and operates the bar that was the very first venue Cross Canadian Ragweed performed in 1994.[7][8]

In 2019 Grady Cross and Randy Ragsdale joined singer-songwriter Jason Young to form the band Cross Rags and Young.

Reunion

The band announced their reunion in September 2024, announcing a show alongside Jason Boland & The Stragglers, Turnpike Troubadours, Stoney LaRue, and The Great Divide. The show was originally scheduled to take place on April 12, 2025, at Boone Pickens Stadium.[1] Due to pre-sale ticket demand a second show was added for April 11, 2025.[9] After the two shows sold out on Monday, October 7, 2024, two more shows were added later that day for the Thursday before and the Sunday after. After tickets sold out on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, a grand total of 180,764 tickets were reported sold for the weekend of April 10–13, 2025.[10]

The band played a surprise set at Mile 0 Music Fest in Key West, Florida in January 2025. This was the band's first live performance in over 15 years.[11]

Influences and sound

The band was influenced by

Marshall Tucker Band, and Lynyrd Skynyrd
, among others. Due to their unique sound, the band often had a hard time getting radio airplay on either mainstream rock or country stations.

Notable appearances

The band frequently played with other stars of the

Micky & The Motorcars, Reckless Kelly, (Canada's brother-in-law) Wade Bowen, No Justice, Johnny Cooper, Seth James, and Brandon Rhyder
.

The band played with country music star Dierks Bentley numerous times. Bentley referenced the band in his song "Free and Easy (Down the Road I Go)", singing that "Ragweed's rockin' on the radio".

Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Doumit comes to bat to their song "Alabama".

"Cry Lonely" is a playable track in

Rock Band Country Track Pack
.

The song "Boys from Oklahoma" plays as the credits roll in the movie Leaves of Grass starring Edward Norton and Susan Sarandon.[12] The film is a Stoner Comedy set in Oklahoma.

"Anywhere But Here" is played during the Season 2 Episode 6 of the NBC television series Grimm.

Band members

Timeline

Discography

Studio albums

Title Album details Peak chart
positions
US Country
[13] 		US
[14]
Carney
  • Release date: January 1, 1998
  • Label: Smith Entertainment
  • Formats: CD
 — —
Highway 377
  • Release date: 2001
  • Label: Underground Sound, Smith Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, music download
 - -
Cross Canadian Ragweed 70 —
Soul Gravy
  • Release date: March 9, 2004
  • Label: Universal South Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 5 51
Garage
  • Release date: October 4, 2005
  • Label: Universal South Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 6 37
Mission California
  • Release date: October 2, 2007
  • Label: Universal South Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 6 30
Happiness and All the Other Things
  • Release date: August 31, 2009
  • Label: Universal South Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 10 33
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US Country
[13] 		US
[14] 		US
Indie
[15]
Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon
  • Release date: October 29, 1999
  • Label: Broken Records
  • Formats: CD, cassette
 — — —
Live and Loud at Billy Bob's Texas
  • Release date: July 9, 2002
  • Label: Smith Music Group
  • Formats: CD
 — — 43
Back to Tulsa - Live and Loud at Cain's Ballroom
  • Release date: October 31, 2006
  • Label: Universal South Records
  • Formats: CD, music download
 27 120 —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Singles

Year Single Peak positions Album
US Country
[16]
2002 "17" 57 Cross Canadian Ragweed
2003 "Don't Need You"[17] —
"Anywhere But Here"[18] —
"Constantly" 57
2004 "Sick and Tired" 46 Soul Gravy
"Alabama" 46
2005 "Fightin' For" 39 Garage
2006 "This Time Around" 43
"Late Last Night" —
2007 "I Believe You" — Mission California
2008 "Cry Lonely" 59
2009 "Kick in the Head" — Happiness and All the Other Things
"To Find My Love" —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Music videos

Year Video Director
2001 "Look at Me" Darren Cameron
2002 "Don't Need You" Roger Pistole
"17"
2003 "Constantly"
2004 "Sick and Tired" (with Lee Ann Womack) Eric Welch
"Alabama" Stephen Shepherd
2005 "Fightin' For" Trey Fanjoy
2006 "Late Last Night" Rob Dennis
2008 "I Believe You"

References

  1. ^ a b c "Cross Canadian Ragweed to Reunite, Play Show in Oklahoma - Saving Country Music". September 30, 2024.
  2. ^ "Barry Popik". Barrypopik.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  3. ^ "Yukon girl, 9, dies in Texas collision".
  4. ^ "Cross Canadian Ragweed cancels Oklahoma City Family Jam". Archived from the original on July 1, 2012.
  5. ^ "Cross Canadian Ragweed frontman's career evolves". Caller.com. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  6. ^ "Cody Canada & The Departed digging into red dirt roots with debut album, "This Is Indian Land"". Archived from the original on July 7, 2012.
  7. ^ "Local musician puts family first with new business". Archived from the original on March 17, 2012.
  8. ^ "Fomer [sic] Cross Canadian Ragweed rocker returns to his roots with opening of Yukon pub". Oklahoman.com. July 7, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2024.
  9. ^ "Second show added for Cross Canadian Ragweed's concert in Stillwater". October 3, 2024.
  10. ^ McDonnell, Brandy. "Cross Canadian Ragweed sells out all 4 spring reunion shows at OSU's Boone Pickens Stadium". The Oklahoman. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "Cross Canadian Ragweed: Number (Mile 0 2025(". YouTube.
  12. ^ "Leaves of Grass (2009)". IMDb. Retrieved April 24, 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Cross Canadian Ragweed Album & Song Chart History – Country Albums". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  14. ^ a b "Cross Canadian Ragweed Album & Song Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  15. ^ "Cross Canadian Ragweed : Allmusic : Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  16. ^ "Cross Canadian Ragweed Album & Song Chart History – Country Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 18, 2011.
  17. ^ "R&R Going for Adds – Triple A" (PDF). Radio & Records. January 31, 2003.
  18. ^ "R&R Going for Adds – Triple A" (PDF). Radio & Records. June 20, 2003.
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