Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, … Read Full Bio ↴Lagwagon is an American punk rock band originally from Goleta, California, just outside Santa Barbara. They formed in 1990, went on hiatus in 2000, and reunited several times over the years. Their name comes from the band's tour van, which can be seen on the back cover of their 1994 second album Trashed.

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.

The Chemist
Lagwagon Lyrics

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One more time, falling on new ground
Bracing a chase lounge, I'm a member
This one truth, I can be discrete
Words that escape me, I remember

Clarity watching eyes, I can't see I can't read
Passionless vacation, you're not telling anyone
The sum falls in a hole, it's chemistry chemical

Follow the pattern if you can
Stick around it will change again

One more line stable guess
Hollow, why did I feel sick?
Misunderstanding tempting tolerance
You're not telling anyone
I'm not telling anyone

This sounds atrocious, the miles horrific
They exercise those last words, I'll hang on to mine
One more line, I can stay focused
Words are atrocious, I'm a member

Lying out in the sun, keep it like a secret
And I may seem not full well, all dried up and

Here comes the chemist again,
This is everything I am.

Overall Meaning

In Lagwagon's "The Chemist," the singer seems to be navigating the aftermath of a relationship or personal dynamic that has gone awry. The opening lines, "One more time, falling on new ground / Bracing a chase lounge, I'm a member," suggest that the singer is trying to steady himself in the face of an uncertain situation. He knows that there are truths he needs to swallow and feelings to be suppressed in order to maintain peace. The line "This one truth, I can be discrete / Words that escape me, I remember" evokes the effort required to keep quiet about one's own desires or grievances in service of a greater goal. The singer is remembering what he has chosen not to say, giving weight to the things unsaid.

The refrain of "you're not telling anyone / I'm not telling anyone" repeats throughout the song, indicating a mutual agreement to keep secrets and maintain a facade. However, there is an undercurrent of frustration and weariness in lines like "Clarity watching eyes, I can't see I can't read / Passionless vacation." The singer may be questioning whether the sacrifice of authenticity is worth the stability it brings. This is reinforced by the bridge: "They exercise those last words, I'll hang on to mine." The singer is holding onto his own truth, and resisting the urge to give it up for the sake of peacekeeping.

Overall, "The Chemist" is a song about the delicate balance of self-preservation and self-sacrifice in relationships. It speaks to the emotional work required to maintain appearances, and the underlying tension that often goes unacknowledged.

Line by Line Meaning

One more time, falling on new ground
Starting anew and taking risks

Bracing a chase lounge, I'm a member
Relaxing in a comfortable spot as a member of a group

This one truth, I can be discrete
I can keep secrets

Words that escape me, I remember
I remember things I forgot to say

Clarity watching eyes, I can't see I can't read
I can't see beyond the surface

Passionless vacation, you're not telling anyone
You're hiding something during a dull time

The sum falls in a hole, it's chemistry chemical
The overall situation is problematic

Follow the pattern if you can
Try to understand the situation

Stick around it will change again
The situation will change again

One more line stable guess
I'll make one more guess based on what's stable

Hollow, why did I feel sick?
What I thought was solid turned out to be empty and made me feel ill