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Hot Water Music

From Alfawiki
Hot Water Music
Company typeBand
IndustryMusic
FoundedOctober 1994; 32 years ago (1994-10)
Headquarters
Gainesville, Florida
,
United States
ProductsPunk rock music, albums, EPs, singles

Hot Water Music is a punk rock group from the United States, established in October 1994 and originating in Gainesville, Florida.[1][2] The band consists of Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard, who both handle lead vocals and guitar duties, alongside bassist Jason Black and drummer George Rebelo.[1] Since 2017, guitarist and vocalist Chris Cresswell has also been a member. The band initially disbanded in August 1998 but reunited by October of the same year.[3][4] After another split in 2006, they resumed activity starting in 2008.

Early history (1994–1998)

Ragan, Black, and Rebelo first connected while residing in Sarasota, where Black and Rebelo had previously collaborated in school jazz ensembles. Ragan and Rebelo developed a friendship working at nearby restaurants, which became a gathering point for local musicians. Wollard, hailing from Bradenton, joined after meeting the others at a communal rehearsal facility. Seeking to expand their musical horizons, Black—who was attending the University of Florida—invited the group to Gainesville, recognized for its dynamic music environment.

Following involvement with several local bands, the quartet officially formed Hot Water Music in October 1994.[1][2] Their band name was drawn from a collection of short stories by Charles Bukowski.[1] Their first live appearance took place that autumn at the Ringling School of Art in Sarasota.[1] After releasing multiple singles and EPs, they issued two full-length albums in 1997: Fuel for the Hate Game and Forever and Counting. Due to legal issues raised by their label Doghouse Records regarding a similarly titled album by another artist that year, the latter was briefly credited as The Hot Water Music Band.[5]

Exhausting touring schedules caused strain among members and led to interpersonal conflicts.[6] These tensions culminated during a European tour, resulting in a breakup aimed at preserving their friendships.[6] After fulfilling their remaining tour commitments and taking a three-month break, they regrouped for rehearsals and performed a farewell concert on August 28, 1998, in Gainesville.[7] By this point, previous disputes had been settled.[6] At this event, Ragan assured fans that despite rumors to the contrary, the band planned to continue.[8] This show was recorded and later released as the live album Live at the Hardback.[9]

Initial Reunion (1998–2006)

On October 26, 1998, Hot Water Music revealed their reformation, with their first comeback performance taking place on December 5, 1998, at the Hardback Cafe. To support their forthcoming album No Division (Some Records, September 1999), they embarked on a U.S. tour from May to June 1999 alongside Discount, Elliott, and Leatherface. A European and UK tour was originally scheduled with fellow Gainesville group As Friends Rust, but disagreements over headlining status led both bands to tour independently, resulting in the cancellation of a planned split 7-inch vinyl release. For their European shows, Hot Water Music invited Discount to open. They closed out 1999 with a North American tour as opening acts for Sick of It All, AFI, and Indecision.

The band later signed with Epitaph Records, producing three albums: 2001’s A Flight and a Crash, the breakthrough Caution in 2002, and their final studio effort The New What Next before disbanding in 2005. To promote The New What Next, they undertook a six-week North American tour from October to November 2004 with Florida post-hardcore act Moments in Grace, supported by Alexisonfire, Don't Look Down, Planes Mistaken for Stars, and Silverstein. This extensive tour covered the U.S. West Coast, Southern and Eastern regions, included two Canadian dates, and concluded in the Midwest. Their itinerary featured a performance at The Fest 3 in Gainesville, Florida.

In late 2005, Hot Water Music announced an indefinite hiatus following Chuck Ragan’s decision to step away for "family" reasons. What was initially intended as a temporary break became permanent by 2006. The remaining members formed The Draft, releasing In a Million Pieces in September 2006. Meanwhile, Chuck Ragan launched a solo acoustic career with his debut album Feast or Famine in 2007.

Second Reunion (2008–Present)

Less than two years after entering hiatus, the band reunited in 2008 to perform shows promoting their B-sides collection Till The Wheels Fall Off. Since then, they have maintained a semi-active status, performing and touring sporadically.

In 2011, Hot Water Music signed with Rise Records and released the LP Exister in 2012, followed by a European tour supporting Make Do and Mend.

After releasing their 2017 album Light It Up, Wollard paused live performances to prioritize his health. The band completed scheduled shows with substitutes including Chris Cresswell of The Flatliners and Chris DeMakes from Less Than Jake. Cresswell also joined them for their 25th anniversary tour in 2019. Although Wollard stepped back from touring, he contributed to the 2019 EP Shake Up The Shadows, which featured backing vocals from Cresswell.

In 2021, Hot Water Music partnered with Equal Vision Records for their ninth studio album Feel The Void, marking Chris Cresswell’s first full contribution as an official member; he provided lead vocals on the track "Turn the Dial." Their tenth album, VOWS, was released in May 2024 through Equal Vision Records.

Other endeavors

Prior to forming Hot Water Music, the band members were active in various groups such as Yellow Section (Ragan), Burial (Rebelo), Kelly Green (Black and Rebelo), Thread (Black and Wollard), and Fossil (Ragan and Rebelo). From 1996 through 1998, Wollard and Rebelo established The Blacktop Cadence, which released the album Chemistry for Changing Times in 1997. Between 1998 and 1999, Ragan and Wollard collaborated with Samantha Jones on the acoustic side project Rumbleseat, issuing several singles and a compilation album in 2005.

Following Hot Water Music's break in 2005, Chuck Ragan embarked on a solo path, producing multiple albums and engaging in collaborative ventures such as The Revival Tour—an acoustic journey merging punk rock, bluegrass, and alt-country styles designed to connect with grassroots audiences. Meanwhile, Black, Rebelo, and Wollard created The Draft (band), releasing one full-length album and two EPs before disbanding; they reunited for a tour in 2013. In 2009, Wollard unveiled his solo record Chris Wollard and the Ship Thieves. Jason Black became part of Senses Fail in 2008, contributing to the albums Life Is Not A Waiting Room and The Fire before departing in 2012. Rebelo joined Against Me! in 2009 for their White Crosses (album) but exited within the same year; since 2013, he has been a member of The Bouncing Souls, playing on their 2016 release Simplicity. Additionally, Chris Cresswell has fronted the Canadian punk outfit The Flatliners since 2002.

Current lineup

  • Chuck Ragan – guitar, vocals (1994–1998, 1998–2006, 2008–present)
  • Chris Wollard – guitar, vocals (1994–1998, 1998–2006, 2008–present)
  • Jason Black – bass guitar (1994–1998, 1998–2006, 2008–present)
  • George Rebelo – drums (1994–1998, 1998–2006, 2008–present)
  • Chris Cresswell – guitar, vocals (2017–present)

Studio albums

Compilations

Live albums

EPs and Splits

  • Push for Coin (Initially self-issued on cassette in 1995; CD version released via Happy Days Records the same year)
  • Eating the Filler 7-inch (Toybox Records, Kung Fu Zombie, 1995)
  • Split with Swivel Stick 7-inch (Tuesday Morning Records, 1995)
  • Split with Tomorrow 11" (No Idea Records, 1997)
  • You Can Take the Boy Out of Bradenton (Schematics Records, 1996)
  • Alachua 7-inch – Allied Recordings (Self-released in 1997; reissued by No Idea Records in 1999)
  • Split with Clairmel 8.5" / CD (No Idea Records, 1998)
  • F State Revisited 7-inch (Split release with Screaming Fat Rat) (Snuffy Smile, 1998)
  • Split with Six Going On Seven 7-inch (Some Records, 1998)
  • Split with Rydell 7-inch (Scene Police / Ignition, 1998)
  • Compilation: 403 Chaos Comp: Florida Fucking Hardcore (1998)
  • Releases Moments Pass, Where We Belong, and Moonpies for Misfits, all through No Idea Records in 1999
  • BYO Split Series, Vol. 1 LP/CD (Split with Leatherface) (Better Youth Organization, 1999)
  • Read Army Faction 7-inch (Split featuring Avail, Discount, and The Weakerthans) (No Idea Records / AK Press, 2000)
  • Split with Alkaline Trio CD/Picture Disc (Jade Tree Records / No Idea Records, 2002)
  • Colors, Words, And Dreams 7-inch (Split with The Casket Lottery) (Second Nature Recordings, 2002)
  • Split with Muff Potter 7-inch (Green Hell Label, 2003)
  • A series of limited-edition Live in Chicago No. vinyl records issued by No Idea Records between 2010 and 2011, each capped at a run of 1000 copies
  • Split with The Bouncing Souls 7-inch (Chunksaah Records, 2011)
  • Releases including The Fire, The Steel, The Tread/Adds Up to Nothing, Drag My Body, and Shake Up The Shadows, spanning from 2011 to 2019
  • Anticipated Split with Quicksand, available on LP and digital formats via Equal Vision Records in 2025

Music Videos

  • "Paper Thin" (2001)
  • "Remedy" (2002)
  • "State of Grace" (2012)
  • "Drag My Body" (2013)
  • "Never Going Back" (2017)
  • "Vultures" (2017)
  • "Killing Time" (2022)
  • "Collect Your Things and Run" (2022)
  • "Keepers of the Faith" [cover of Terror] (2022)
  • "Habitual" (2022)
  • "Turn the Dial" (2022)
  • "Drawn" (2023)
  • "Menace" (2024)
  • "Remnants" (2024)
  • "After the Impossible" (2024)
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gainesvillehardest
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :0
  3. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gainesvillehardest2
  4. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gainesvillehardest22
  5. ↑ Grubbs, Eric. Post, 2008.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :02
  7. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named gainesvillehardest23
  8. ↑ Vice Media, 2017.
  9. ↑ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named :1
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