Lagwagon

Lagwagon are an American punk rock band from Goleta, California, active since 1990. The group plays punk, punk rock and skate punk, and forms part of the 1990s California punk scene alongside bands such as Rancid, Green Day and The Offspring.

History

The band forms in 1990 and takes its name from a tour van. Another account of the name links it to Joey Cape’s family station wagon, which his brother calls the “lagwagon” because his mother is often late picking him and his brother up from school. Lagwagon goes on hiatus in 2000 and returns in 2002, with several further breaks and reunions over the years.

Lagwagon signs to Fat Wreck Chords and releases 11 records on the label: eight studio albums, one EP, one live album, and a collection of B-sides, compilation tracks and demos. Its first Fat Wreck album is Duh in 1992, recorded and mixed in four days. The second album, Trashed in 1994, becomes a major release for the band and leads to a video for “Island of Shame”; the album’s back cover features the band’s van. Hoss follows in 1995, after which guitarist Shawn Dewey and drummer Derrick Plourde leave the group. Ken Stringfellow of The Posies fills in on guitar temporarily, while Dave Raun of RKL becomes the permanent drummer.

Two more albums, Double Plaidinum and Let’s Talk About Feelings, follow before the band enters indefinite hiatus in 2000 because members are working on side projects. Lagwagon returns in 2002 and releases Blaze the next year. Joey Cape later releases a split acoustic album with No Use for a Name vocalist Tony Sly in 2004, featuring songs by both bands.

Later releases and personnel

Resolve appears in 2005 as a tribute to Derrick Plourde, the band’s original drummer, who also plays in Bad Astronaut. In 2008 Lagwagon releases the EP I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon. Cape also pursues a solo career with Bridge in 2008 and Doesn’t Play Well with Others in 2010. In 2010 Jesse Buglione leaves the band after being with it since its formation. Joe Raposo later joins on bass permanently after some uncertainty around the role.

The band reissues expanded editions of its first five albums in 2011, available separately and as the box set Putting Music In Its Place. Lagwagon records Hang with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room in Fort Collins, Colorado; the album debuts at number 95 on the Billboard 200. In 2019 the band releases its ninth studio album, Railer.

Notable songs and recognition

Lagwagon’s song “May 16” appears in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2. Despite limited mainstream success, the band develops a strong underground following in North America, Europe and Asia. Its line-up includes Joey Cape, Chris Flippin, David Raun, Joe Raposo and Shawn Dewey, with Derrick Plourde among the band’s original members.