In a quote that is a music PR agent’s dream—and appropriately sprawled all across his printed bio and website—England’s esteemed Mojo magazine once dubbed Jason Ringenberg “The Godfather of Americana.”
So, in true Mafia terms, if the man himself could “whack” anyone in the music biz today, who would it be?
“I would start with all the Bro Country people!” he laughs. “That’s all business!”
Jason Ringenberg has been mashing up country, rock and other genres into one big pot since the very early 1980s. That’s when he moved from his family’s hog farm in Southern Illinois to Nashville to start Jason & the Scorchers.
That band sat at the forefront of the “cowpunk” movement and included bands like the Blasters, Supersuckers, Lone Justice, the Bottle Rockets, and Rank and File. Cowpunk then led to the No Depression/Alt Country monikers.
Their original run ended in 1990, but they’ve reunited on and off for years while Ringenberg and other members simultaneously pursued solo careers and other projects. And in 2008 the unit received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association.
When the Houston Press last spoke with Ringenberg, he had just released his last (to date) solo record, 2021’s Rhinestoned. On its key track “Nashville Without Rhinestones,” he bemoans the demise of the original sounds of the genre.
The clarion call of “that’s not real country music” has been applied to the prevailing sound of the ‘60s (Countrypolitan), ‘70s (Outlaw), ‘80s and ‘90s (Hat Acts) up today’s “Bro Country” or incorporation of Southern Rock and even hip hop sounds. So, it’s not really a new argument.
“That’s a good point, Bob!” Ringenberg says, laughing. “There’s always that tension between people pushing the boundaries and those who aren’t. I say the conflict now is really against commercial country music and those of us trying to keep it more traditional. It’s huge.”
Shortly after the release of Rhinestoned, Ringenberg fulfilled a four-decade dream of performing at the Grand Ole Opry. He notes that the venerable, tradition-bound country music institution has actually been making strides in recent years to (ironically) expand the definition of the music.
“We had always tried to get either me or me with the Scorchers on the show, but it all finally just coalesced with that record,” he says. “And the Opry is doing some really interesting bookings these days. They had the Beach Boys on there awhile back. And they made Steve Earle a member! That’s huge for our crowd.”
His latest studio record was 2023’s More Than Words Can Tell. It found him partnering with singer Victoria Liedtke for duet album of songs originally performed by Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton. Ringenberg says that he was contacted by Liedtke’s UK-based husband/manager (she is an American expat) out of the blue.
“They were gonna handle all the stuff and the whole project. All I had to do was show up for a few days to record, and I did!” he laughs. As for slipping into Wagoner’s rhinestone-studded outfit, he says there were a lot of similarities outside of the sartorial.
“Porter wasn’t one of the most talented guys, but he worked. Nobody outworked him. And I like to say that about myself!”
Ringenberg says he has always felt a special place in his heart for Houston, since the city embraced him and the Scorchers early on at shows in places like Rockefeller’s and Fitzgerald’s, even more so than Austin. He’s currently working on a memoir and says Houston will be noted in it.
Of the four Texas shows that will bring Ringenberg to Houston, two are as himself and two are as children’s music icon “Farmer Jason.” He created the alternate persona in 2002 with a slate of original songs for wee audiences that promote and celebrate farm life and nature.
He calls Farmer Jason a “godsend” without which the 66-year-old says he might not still be active in the music business. And the streaming numbers for Farmer Jason are “as high or better” than they’ve ever been. He’s also been doing it long enough now that his original kiddies are coming to the shows with their own progeny.
For the Texas shows, both types are solo efforts with just Ringenberg and his acoustic guitar—though for his Houston gig he says he won’t be “sitting on a stool and being all sensitive” and promises a “high energy” performance with stops across his entire discography.
So, the question must be posed: Other than the star of the show, what is the one thing that a Jason Ringenberg show and a Farmer Jason show have in common?
“Well, they’re both spontaneous experiences where I can do anything I want since I’m solo,” he offers. “But in a roomful of drunk Texas adults and a roomful of Texas children…their behavior is very similar!”
Jason Ringenberg plays 6:30 pm on Friday, June 27, at Shoeshine Charley’s Big Top Lounge, 3714 Main. For more information, call 713-529-9899 or visit ContinentalClub.com. $15-$25.
For more on Jason Ringenberg, visit JasonRingenberg.com
