OK, confession time. This writer only became hip to the glory that is Jason Ringenberg and his band, Jason & the Scorchers, because of the praise heaped upon Ringenberg by Ginger, frontman with British rock & rollers The Wildhearts.
The Wildies covered the Scorchers song "White Lies," and their own song "29 X the Pain" features the line: "I need something and I need it fast, I need Jason scorching past." So that was the introduction. As a massive fan of The Wildhearts, Ginger's endorsement meant the world. Of course, that only opened the door -- from there, it was all up to Jason, and the Scorchers. Gloriously, Ginger was right.
At the Redwood Bar & Grill in Downtown Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon, the country rocker was in fine form. Songs and stories intertwined as Ringenberg told us about seeing a confederate flag flying from a barn in Germany before ripping into "Rebel Flag in Germany."
He told us about the mistreatment of the Tuskegee Airmen despite their incredible wartime record, as an introduction to the song "Tuskegee Pride." And "Nashville Without Rhinestones" saw Ringenberg reminiscing about the old days in the country music capital.
Ringenberg played a few Scorchers songs, including the aforementioned "White Lies," ensuring that nobody went home disappointed. Even when he's alone onstage, Ringenberg has the charisma, the showmanship, and the dance moves to hold a crowd in his palm. The man is a force of nature.
Immediately before him, L.A. punk vet Pat Todd, formerly of the Lazy Cowgirls and now of Pat Todd & the Rankoutsiders, played a killer acoustic set that saw the local fave play a handful of cowpunk gems. Todd is a regular at the Redwood, and he never lets the crowd down.
As a warm-up for Ringenberg, he was perfect.
