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.
Max Says
Lagwagon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Max says he'll never leave his home
Max says that heaven's another place
It's there his grandparents have gone
Max has ten years on this birthday
A year ago this world had made him cry
Eyes to learn Hope to glow in the dark
And he will aim toward the sky
Deep blue
The silver lined white clouds divide
Max says everybody's nasty
Says they start too many fights
Max wrote a letter to god today
His god could never tell lies
Max says he's always been faithful
He prays for them
Max bets they all will be saved
And he will aim toward the sky
Deep blue
The silver lined white clouds so divine
But Max won't get what he asked for
Not here
Not now
In the end we will leave him a pile
Mountains of anguish assured for his climb
And Max inherits his birthright
Inbred
Inborn
The song Max Says by Lagwagon delves into the thoughts and perspectives of a 10-year-old boy named Max. Max sees the world as an angry and nasty place, and he takes solace in the idea of heaven, where his grandparents have gone. Max is a faithful believer in God, and he prays for others to be saved. He believes that everyone will eventually be saved, and he aims toward the sky with hope in his heart. However, Max's faith is met with disappointment as he realizes that he won't get what he asks for, at least not in this world. The song ends on a somber note, as Max is left to inherit his birthright of anguish.
The lyrics of Max Says are poignant and thought-provoking, as they explore the world through the eyes of a child. The song is a commentary on the complexities of life, and the struggle to maintain hope and faith in a world that can be cruel and unfair. Max's innocence and optimism are at odds with the harsh realities of life, and the song highlights the struggle to reconcile these opposing forces.
Line by Line Meaning
Max says everybody's angry
According to Max, everyone is furious about something
Max says he'll never leave his home
Max intends to stay in his current residence forever
Max says that heaven's another place
Max believes that deceased loved ones go to a different location than Earth
It's there his grandparents have gone
The place where Max's deceased grandparents reside is what he is referencing
Max has ten years on this birthday
Max is celebrating his 10th birthday
A year ago this world had made him cry
Something caused Max to shed tears precisely one year prior
Max sees his world through the brightness
Max perceives the world in a positive light
Eyes to learn Hope to glow in the dark
Max is optimistic and eager to learn about the world around him
And he will aim toward the sky
Max has aspirations and goals that he wants to achieve
Deep blue
The color Max is referencing
The silver lined white clouds divide
Max is describing the clouds in the sky
Max says everybody's nasty
Max claims that people are unkind and act aggressively
Says they start too many fights
Max believes that people cause too many conflicts
Max wrote a letter to god today
Max recently wrote a letter to a higher being
His god could never tell lies
Max thinks that the entity he addressed would always be truthful
Max says he's always been faithful
Max has always been loyal to his religious beliefs
He prays for them
Max is offering prayers for other people
Max bets they all will be saved
Max is confident that everyone will be rescued from danger
But Max won't get what he asked for
Max's prayers and wishes won't come true
Not here
Not in his present location
Not now
Not at this moment
In the end we will leave him a pile
At the conclusion of his existence, Max will be given some form of physical representation, such as a grave or belongings
Mountains of anguish assured for his climb
Max will face significant obstacles and difficulties throughout his life
And Max inherits his birthright
Max has received specific qualities or possessions as a result of being born into his family
Inbred
Max has inherited traits or possessions due to his lineage
Inborn
Max has inherent abilities, qualities, or traits due to his genetics
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ovidio
on Never Stops
twin towers coming down