On Thursday, January twenty third in Key West, Florida, Cross Canadian Ragweed formally reunited on stage and performed their first songs for folks in 15 years. The efficiency was fully unannounced. It simply occurred to be that every one the Cross Canadian Ragweed members have been on Key West Island on the similar time since Cody Canada and The Departed have been enjoying Mile 0 Fest, as was the up-and-coming band The Smokin’ Oaks, which occurs to be the band of Grady Cross’s son Slaid Cross.
Mile 0 Fest deliberate a tribute to Cross Canadian Ragweed to toast their impending reunification because the pageant is thought to do for legendary Texas/Pink Dust bands and artists. Ragweed first introduced the reunification of their most legendary lineup on on September thirtieth, 2024. Cody Canada (lead guitar/vocals), Randy Ragsdale (drums), and Grady Cross (guitar), and Jeremy Plato (bass) introduced a reunion present in Stillwater, Oklahoma at T Boone Pickens Stadium for April twelfth, 2025.
Demand for that first present was so insane, it ended up getting expanded to 4 exhibits, with of us feverishly shopping for up tickets to expertise what they believed could be the primary alternative to see Cross Canadian Ragweed collectively since 2010. 183,000 tickets have been ultimately offered.
Now that the band appeared collectively at Mile 0 Fest first, some followers really feel misled, or in any other case disillusioned that they didn’t get the chance to see them first. However as somebody who personally witnessed the second at Mile 0 Fest—and has witnessed related band reunifications on stage earlier than—I can attest that your disappointment must be minimal at most, or non-existent.
Is it comprehensible if you happen to did all the pieces you can to safe tickets and lodging for the reunification present in Stillwater (particularly for the primary day) that you just really feel barely disillusioned? After all it’s. However what occurred in Key West didn’t really feel like “the second.” Not to remove something from it, as a result of it did really feel like “a second” as everybody there’ll attest. But when something, it felt a bit impromptu, if not anti-climactic. It was the gown rehearsal.
First, Ragweed solely performed six songs, and having seen the set checklist, their authentic intention was to solely play 4. The best way the Key West Police have been barking at patrons making an attempt to shuffle everybody out after the final music, they went properly over their time.
There was no “large second” after they all walked out on stage collectively. Because it got here on the finish of a tribute live performance, there have been of us shifting on and off the stage. Then hastily you simply realized that every one Ragweed members have been there on stage collectively earlier than Mile 0 Fest proprietor Kyle Carter launched them.
Their first music was “Quantity,” which perhaps is symbolically necessary as the primary music on their album Soul Gravy, however isn’t precisely considered one of their hits, or considered one of their most recognizable songs. Once more, there isn’t any purpose to take something away from the second at Mile 0 Fest, but it surely additionally felt like a second that shouldn’t take away from what of us will expertise in Stillwater.
On the subject of this case, there’s virtually a close to good comparable involving one other legendary Oklahoma band, and one who shall be taking part within the official Cross Canadian Ragweed “Boys In Oklahoma” reunification exhibits in Stillwater. We’re in fact speaking concerning the Turnpike Troubadours.
Just like Ragweed, the Turnpike Troubadours reunification was leaked out earlier than the band was alleged to reveal it formally in a Rolling Stone “unique.” All people knew it was coming. Equally, Turnpike first introduced a present at Pink Rocks earlier than including a number of Pink Rocks nights resulting from sudden demand. Then the Turnpike Troubadours ultimately introduced a couple of heat up exhibits simply to verify that they had their toes beneath them earlier than the large Pink Rocks reveal.
Turnpike ultimately performed exhibits at Cain’s Ballroom, at Billy Bob’s Texas, and Floore’s Nation Retailer earlier than these Pink Rocks exhibits. Granted, there have been by no means any arduous guarantees that Pink Rocks could be the primary alternatives to see them. However even with the nice and cozy up exhibits, Pink Rocks nonetheless felt like their large reunification debut.
When the Turnpike Troubadours performed their first official present again at Cain’s Ballroom, they did all stroll out on stage without delay. They opened with “Each Lady,” which is considered one of their most iconic songs. Having witnessed it personally, it may be essentially the most singular, most emotional second I’ve ever skilled in music. Cross Canadian Ragweed didn’t even get collectively after the Mile 0 Fest set to take a bow at middle stage. They only waved individually and walked off.
In reality, if you happen to’re a ticket holder for a kind of Stillwater exhibits, try to be glad Cross Canadian Ragweed bought their gown rehearsal in. You need to know they’ve labored out all of the hiccups earlier than they step out on stage to a packed stadium to play their first full, two-hour set since 2010, and the butterflies begin flying round of their stomachs. Let’s not overlook it didn’t finish properly for this band. You need to be certain that this airplane can fly.
Positive, it’s simple for somebody who noticed Cross Canadian Ragweed in Key West to say this. However lots of these followers tried to get tickets to Stillwater, and didn’t. In the event you’re a kind of Stillwater ticket holders, you’re nonetheless sitting within the cat chook’s seat.
Cody Canada addressed a few of the naysayers in a video, saying partly,
“Final night time, we performed six songs. Six songs. We had 4 songs on the setlist. We weren’t going to play in any respect, however everybody bought up and performed our songs final night time. Guys, Adam Hood did ‘Anyplace However Right here.’
How can I not? How can I sit on the facet of the stage and listen to Adam Hood doing that music, Jason Eady doing ‘Jenny,’ Courtney doing ‘Alabama.’ Oh, cling on, Jamie Lin Wilson taking trip of her trip yr to return right here for eighteen hours to sing ’17’ in entrance of individuals.
That’s a love fest. And I’m in love with my mates very a lot. I used to be going to get on right here and be very mad about issues; individuals are saying there may very well be lawsuits, individuals are saying blah blah blah, that is bullsh*t. However guess what? It’s not bullsh*t.
We offered 183,000 tickets for 183,000 those that need to see us play music. Final night time, we stood on the facet of the stage as our mates performed our songs, and it bought to us to the purpose the place we mentioned, ‘ what? F**ok this. We need to rise up and provides folks what they need to hear. We need to play songs for folks.’ And we did six songs. It’s not like we did a two-hour present.“
Once more, is being barely disillusioned comprehensible? Positive. However so is knowing how the second unfolded in Key West. And don’t fear, if you happen to’re one of many 183,000 souls with tickets to Stillwater in April (contemplating some might need a number of day tickets), you’re going to get the complete, unfiltered, un-truncated Cross Canadian Ragweed expertise yourselves. And there’ll most likely be some extra exhibits afterwards for people who can’t be in Stillwater both.
These are the moments true music followers stay for. And there are many them to go round.
