Hot Water Music

Hot Water Music are an American post-hardcore band from Gainesville, United States, active from 1994 to the present. Their sound is rooted in punk rock and related styles including emo, emocore, melodic hardcore and alternative rock. The group is known for the rough-edged shared vocals of Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard, and for early guitar work often described as closely tied to Jawbreaker-style punk rock.

Formation and name

The band forms in the early 1990s in Gainesville. Its name comes from a Charles Bukowski book, and fans often shorten it to HWM. The group’s early releases include Finding the Rhythms, issued on No Idea and Toybox Records, along with the demo tape Push for Coin and Eating the Filler on Toybox Records.

Releases and label history

Hot Water Music release material on several punk and independent labels, including Doghouse Records, End Hits Records, Toybox Records, No Idea, Jade Tree, Second Nature Recordings and Epitaph Records. They record a split album with Leatherface for the first volume of the BYO split series, and later record a split LP with Alkaline Trio on Jade Tree. In 2001 they sign to Epitaph and release A Flight and a Crash, followed by Caution and The New What Next on the same label.

The band also issues split and EP releases such as Hot Water Music vs. Discount and Colors, Words, and Dreams, the latter a split with The Casket Lottery. In 2012 they release Exister, and in 2017 they release Light It Up. They also issue the Shake Up the Shadows EP in 2019.

Line-up and side projects

The group’s members include Jason Black, Chuck Ragan, George Rebelo, Chris Wollard and Chris Cresswell. During a hiatus in 2005, Ragan focuses on family life and pursues a solo-acoustic project on No Idea, releasing vinyl and live recordings. Other related projects include The Draft, formed by the rest of the band, and side projects such as Rumbleseat and Blacktop Cadence. Crows is also listed among associated projects.

Hiatus, reunion and later activity

Hot Water Music take a break in 2005. They return with a reunion tour beginning with a secret show in Gainesville in January 2008, then play dates in Orlando, Sayreville and Chicago before appearing at Groezrock in Meerhout, Belgium. In 2009 they perform further concerts in the United States and a short German tour. Since 2010 they continue touring, writing and recording.

In November 2017 Chris Wollard steps back from the band to focus on his health. Chris Cresswell and, at some shows, Chris DeMakes fill in on guitar and vocals. Cresswell also plays guitar and backing vocals on the 2019 Shake Up the Shadows EP.