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.
Bombs Away
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You think you'll show us all your handicap is great
You've got a think about being lost
You think with our concern you'll find yourself
And you'll never be forgotten
Your family never wanted this one with all of her flaws
She's trailing far behind she's feeling incomplete
And you punish me as though I punish you
Dumb, before it's done I am saint, will you tell me now
I never could relate to how you've been forgotten
Your family never wanted this one with all of her flaws
But I want to know was this deprivation of money or of love
This is the last time you will be denied girl
You want that world that they took away
Go pick up the pieces find inner strength 'cause I can't save you
Find the life you left in a box the world, you said has cut you off
[Chorus]
Bombs await you, bombs away
Now let them all fall down
You carry the burden, it fills you with regret, you never finished
That feeling incomplete, you carry their baggage, the guilt that holds you down
This is the last time you will be denied girl
You want that world that they took away
Go pick up the pieces find inner strength 'cause I can't save you
Find the life you left in a box the world, you said has cut you off
[Chorus]
Bombs away now 'cause life's been so hard and so long
That's why I'm writing you this song
The lyrics to “Bombs Away” by Lagwagon tackles the theme of insecurity and feelings of not belonging. The song seems to be directed towards a person who feels lost and out of place. In the first verse, the lyrics suggest that the person thinks that being lame might make them stand out or accepted, and they hope that the concern of others would help them find themselves. The lyrics continue to refer to this person’s feeling of incompleteness and inadequacy. The second verse tilts slightly and references a girl who has been forgotten or left behind by her family. The lyrics suggest that she feels like a burden and has been denied the world she wanted. However, the song ends on a positive note, as it urges her to find her inner strength to pick up the pieces of her life and move on.
The chorus of the song, “Bombs await you, bombs away, now let them all fall down” suggests that it is time to let go of the past – the emotional baggage of feeling incomplete, being burdened, and neglected - and allow yourself to move on and start fresh.
The song “Bombs Away” is the first single from Lagwagon’s 2003 album Blaze. It was written by Joey Cape, the band’s lead vocalist.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got a think about being lame
You are constantly worried about being perceived as inadequate or unimpressive.
You think you'll show us all your handicap is great
You believe that by drawing attention to your shortcomings, others will become impressed with your ability to persevere despite them.
You've got a think about being lost
You feel a sense of aimlessness and confusion in life.
You think with our concern you'll find yourself
You have an idea that by receiving support and care from others, you will be able to discover your true identity.
And you'll never be forgotten
You fear being left behind and left to obscurity.
Your family never wanted this one with all of her flaws
Your family may have put pressure on you to be perfect, and you are feeling the weight of their expectations.
She's trailing far behind she's feeling incomplete
You feel like you are not keeping up with others, and you have a sense of not being whole or fulfilled.
She has no will to win, listening, I live inside your room
You sometimes feel like giving up, and the singer is trying to empathize with you despite not physically being there.
And you punish me as though I punish you
You may lash out at others for your own personal shortcomings or pain.
Dumb, before it's done I am saint, will you tell me now
The singer is calling you out for being hypocritical and expecting others to treat you with kindness and forgiveness while you mistreat them.
I never could relate to how you've been forgotten
The singer understands that feeling forgotten is hard, but they cannot fully relate to your specific experiences and emotions.
Your family never wanted this one with all of her flaws
Your family may have rejected or criticized you for your imperfections, and you are struggling to accept yourself.
But I want to know was this deprivation of money or of love
The singer is questioning whether your issues stem from financial struggles or emotional neglect.
This is the last time you will be denied girl
The singer is encouraging you to stop feeling denied or rejected for who you are.
You want that world that they took away
You desire and long for a more fulfilling life or greater opportunities that you feel have been taken from you.
Go pick up the pieces find inner strength 'cause I can't save you
The singer is offering support and pointing you towards the inner strength you have within yourself, as they cannot do the work for you.
Find the life you left in a box the world, you said has cut you off
The singer believes that you have lost touch with the essence of who you are or what makes you happy, and urges you to rediscover it.
Bombs await you, bombs away
Your problems and struggles are like bombs, and it's time to face them or let them go.
You carry the burden, it fills you with regret, you never finished
You are deeply burdened by something that you regret, and you feel incomplete or like you cannot move forward.
That feeling incomplete, you carry their baggage, the guilt that holds you down
Your sense of not being whole or fulfilled is exacerbated by carrying the weight of other people's problems or guilt.
Bombs away now 'cause life's been so hard and so long
It's time to face your struggles head-on, as they have been taking a toll on you for a long time.
That's why I'm writing you this song
The singer is expressing their support and empathy through the song, and hoping to help you in some way.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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on Never Stops
twin towers coming down