The band has 11 releases through Fat Wreck Chords: eight studio albums, one EP, one live album and a collection of B-sides, compilation tracks and demos. Lagwagon has never had, nor have they seemed to pursue, strong mainstream success, but they do have a devoted underground following in North America, Europe and Asia. Their moderate success reflected a growing interest in punk rock during the 1990s, along with fellow California bands Rancid, Green Day and The Offspring. Their song 'May 16' was also featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2.
The story about the name Lagwagon is that Joey’s mom was often late picking him and his brother up from school. She drove a station wagon, which his brother dubbed the "lagwagon". After signing to Fat Mike's label Fat Wreck Chords, Lagwagon released their debut album for the label, Duh, in 1992. Frontman Joey Cape commented on how the album was made, "Back then, we were inexperienced in the studio. It was less about the recording process and more about rehearsing. We recorded and mixed Duh in 4 days. There's something to be said for a budget. You have to have your shit together before you go into the studio and the end result is a record that better reflects the band's sound at the time." Two years later, Lagwagon released Trashed, their second record on Fat, which turned out to be highly successful, leading to the eventual production of a video for "Island of Shame." During this time, a number of punk bands, such as Green Day, The Offspring and Rancid, had hit the mainstream and Lagwagon turned down offers to join several major labels. Hoss, the third Lagwagon album, was released on November 21, 1995. After the release of that album and an extensive tour in Europe, Australia, and Japan, both guitarist Shawn Dewey and drummer Derrick Plourde would leave the band and be replaced temporarily by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) on guitar, and permanently by Dave Raun (RKL) on drums. Shawn Dewey, already in the side project band Buck Wild on Lobster Records would go on to release two full-length LPs Beat Me Silly and Full Metal Overdrive and do two European tours with Good Riddance and Ten Foot Pole.
After two more albums, Double Plaidinum and Let's Talk About Feelings, the band went on indefinite hiatus in 2000, due to all members working on side projects. Lagwagon resurfaced in 2002, and released their sixth album Blaze the following year. In 2004, frontman Joey Cape released a split album with No Use for a Name vocalist Tony Sly featuring acoustic versions of songs by both bands. On November 1, 2005, Lagwagon released Resolve, which is a homage to the life of Derrick Plourde, original drummer for Lagwagon and Bad Astronaut.
In 2008, Lagwagon released an EP titled I Think My Older Brother Used to Listen to Lagwagon. Despite earlier reports that the band would begin recording their next full-length studio album by 2009, Lagwagon had gone on hiatus from touring and writing again, due to Cape launching a solo career, releasing Bridge in 2008 and Doesn't Play Well with Others in 2010.
In January 2010, Joey Cape announced during an interview with Canada's Exclaim! magazine[4] that Jesse Buglione had left Lagwagon, having been with the band since its foundation in 1990. However, Cape dismissed rumors of Lagwagon breaking up. While he was not sure if Lagwagon would record a new album or embark on another full-scale tour, he said that he was open to playing shows and possibly recording and releasing new Lagwagon songs sporadically. Jesse Buglione confirmed his departure on Lagwagon's official message board himself, as reported by sputnikmusic.com and punknews.org. Lagwagon toured with No Use for a Name that summer. In an interview with fasterlouder.com.au Joey Cape, revealed former RKL bassist Joe Raposo is Lagwagon's new bassist. In a June 2011 interview with ExploreMusic however, Joey Cape said that things didn't work out with Raposo, and the band is testing a new bassist. After first announcing Patrick Solem as the new bass player in August 2011, the band decided that Raposo would remain in the band permanently.
On September 22, 2011, Fat Wreck announced they would be re-issuing expanded editions of the first 5 albums on CD, vinyl, and digital download. The albums were available both separately and in a box set titled Putting Music In Its Place. The reissues were released November 22, 2011, with a short line-up of concerts in the USA played in December and January, and a European tour following in April 2012. As of October 2012, Lagwagon is headlining a full U.S. tour titled The Fat Tour 2012, with Dead To Me, The Flatliners, and Useless ID as support.
In October 2012, Joey Cape stated that there will be a new Lagwagon album, which will be their first since 2005's Resolve. While details and release dates are not yet known, the band announced on its Twitter feed that songs are being written for a new album. The September 22 Tweet reads, "Writing, writing, writing. New album... It's gonna happen!"
The band recorded their eighth album, Hang, with Bill Stevenson and Jason Livermore at The Blasting Room, Ft Collins, CO. The album was released on October 28, 2014, and debuted at #95 on the Billboard 200.
On October 4, 2019, the band released their ninth studio album Railer.
Alien 8
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If it was you against the world
If you were an alien
If it were conspiracy?
And would it hurt to live in comfort
If you found someone to trust
If you knew that you were with us
If we shared a common goal?
But you will isolate, alienate
No one can appreciate
The poor miss understood
Can you see that I don't care anymore?
Do you ever stop to listen?
Are you a martyr for your pride?
Does it make you feel much better
When you are an alien?
Cause you will isolate, alienate
No one can appreciate
The poor miss understood
Can you see that I don't care, I don't care, I don't care anymore?
The lyrics in Lagwagon's song "Alien 8" address the feeling of alienation and isolation. The lyrics pose a question, "Would it make you feel much better if you were an alien?" suggesting that the feeling of being misunderstood and alone is universal. The song asks if finding someone to trust and sharing a common goal with others would alleviate these feelings. However, the song continues to question whether these relationships are even possible, as the individual who feels alienated may isolate themselves from others.
The chorus of the song repeats the theme that the isolated individual will "isolate, alienate, no one can appreciate" their experience. The song asks whether the person who feels misunderstood is a martyr for their pride, suggesting that their isolation may be a result of their own behavior. The final lines of the song convey a sense of resignation, as if the singer has given up trying to reach out to the person who feels alienated.
Overall, Lagwagon's lyrics in "Alien 8" address the themes of isolation, loneliness, and the difficulty of connecting with others. The song suggests that these feelings are common, but are difficult to overcome. The lyrics also emphasize the importance of communication and trust in building relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Would it make you feel much better
Asking if feeling superior to others would bring happiness
If it was you against the world
Imagining oneself as the lone hero fighting against all odds
If you were an alien
Considering oneself as different, unique and misunderstood
If it were conspiracy?
Wondering if everything was a secret plot against oneself
And would it hurt to live in comfort
Questioning the cost of letting go of paranoia and anxiety
If you found someone to trust
Suggesting that trust can break feelings of isolation
If you knew that you were with us
Assuming that there exists an us that the singer identifies with
If we shared a common goal?
Contemplating if shared purpose unites people
But you will isolate, alienate
Predicting that paranoia and suspicion will lead to disconnection
No one can appreciate
Believing that others will never understand
The poor miss understood
Referring to oneself as a victim of misunderstanding
Can you see that I don't care anymore?
Declaring that the singer has lost sympathy for the paranoid mentality
Do you ever stop to listen?
Challenging the listener to reflect on their behavior
Are you a martyr for your pride?
Implying that pride is the source of suffering
Does it make you feel much better
Again asking if feeling superior brings happiness
When you are an alien?
Reiterating the idea of being an outsider
Can you see that I don't care, I don't care, I don't care anymore?
Reaffirming the lack of empathy and patience for the listener's mindset
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lopetterock
I’m still skating on that song
@hellboy6669
Me too
@davisbest
This is probably one of the most relevant song in history, not just now but ever. Pretty much explains 45% of humanity.
@TolietWater
This album is criminally underrated it shows how strong the Caper is as a songwriter, out of all of those weird experimental albums big skate punk bands sometimes made (Heavy Petting Zoo or For Monkeys for example) this is easily the best one
@Max-ks2to
Those albums were experimental?
@garrdavies
Freaking love this track. My copy of Double Pladinum was stolen from my local skatepark within weeks of being released. Over 25 years later I still wonder who stole it, but I hope they enjoyed it as much as I did :)
@vincentmichaelleguesse6021
Classic!
@Thatsright561
My favorite Lagwagon album
@bm8584
Mine too
@dennisblackman6102
Nice song dude