Riot Fest 2017 - Sunday
Hot Water Music at Riot Fest 2017 (more by Aaron Peipert)

documentary on Hot Water Music's Chuck Ragan, 'Landsick,' out now (watch)

Hot Water Music co-frontman and prolific solo artist Chuck Ragan is subject of the documentary short Landsick, which “explores the tension between life on the road and the water” and documents Chuck’s balance between music, fishing, and family life. The film — made by filmmaker Matt Devlin and producer Peter Vandergrift — premiered last year and was just given a wide release via YouTube today. Here’s more info via press release:

“I believe that even though we made this film close to two years ago, the balance that this piece hinges on has always been apart of my life in one way or the other,” says Chuck about the documentary. Interspersed with musical blasts of his solo material as an Americana icon, the 12 minute documentary captures a moment in Chuck’s ever evolving life. “Becoming a dad, taking a leap of faith half way through my life and more or less starting a new career has been a bit of a struggle but the fact of the matter is, guiding and being on the water keeps my mind at peace as well as close to home to my family,” he continues. “Living a life of working non stop between the road and the water is tough on my family and I which is why it’s so important for me to continue the best I can trying to find that balance between two independent occupations that have very little security.”

“The film LANDSICK started as a simple conversation between three people in a drift-boat near Missoula, MT – [Producer] Peter Vandergrift, Chuck Ragan and I,” explains director Matt Devlin of PMD Productions. Noting Chuck’s tireless and genuine dedication, he notes, “Looking back on that day, it was a perfect harbinger of things to come; Chuck had played a gig in Canada, driven through the night, caught a few hours of sleep in the cab of his truck, met us on time to fish all day and then play another show that night! Filming LANDSICK alongside Chuck on his Spring tour taught me to live more fully, to squeeze nearly everything I can out of life, because to be human is such an unpredictable endeavor. Chuck as an artist, father, and angler walks what he talks, plain and simple. In the wake of filming and crafting this project, I am a friend richer.”

[…] “Sometimes I wonder if a consistent balance could even exist with these two lines of work along with being a present dad and husband,” muses Chuck. “I do know that just as concerts sometimes get derailed and somehow make it back on track or when an unpredictable day on the water with unfamiliar clients turn into an epic session with moments and memories of a lifetime, anything is possible. Nothing is easy and nothing is really free. Everything worthwhile and beautiful is worth struggling and sacrificing for and the days I have where I work myself to the bone and find my boy running up to my truck at the end of the day makes it all worth it.”

Watch the film below.

Meanwhile, Hot Water Music released the new EP Shake Up The Shadows on Epitaph this year and they’ve been busy with their 25th anniversary tour that sees them playing Caution and No Division in full. They’re also playing Riot Fest.

Chuck has one upcoming solo date: the 10/12 LA show of Against Me!‘s full albums tour.

Hot Water Music are also in the process of writing a new album, and Chuck is writing a new solo album too. Stay tuned.

Hot Water Music — 2019/2020 Tour Dates
Wed, July 24th Austin, TX PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL
Thu, July 25th Austin, TX PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Fri, July 26th Denver, CO PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Sat, July 27th Denver, CO PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL
Fri-Sun Sept. 13th-15th Chicago, IL Riot Fest
Sat, Sept. 14th St. Augustine, FL Sing Out Loud
Sat, Nov. 16th Manchester, United Kingdom PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Sun, Nov. 17th London, United Kingdom PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Mon, Nov. 18th London, United Kingdom PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL
Wed, Nov. 20th Köln, Germany PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL
Thu, Nov. 21st Berlin, Germany PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL
Fri, Nov. 22nd Berlin, Germany PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Sat, Nov. 23rd Köln, Germany PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Wed, Jan. 29th Montréal, Canada PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL
Thu, Jan. 30th Montréal, Canada PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Fri, Jan. 31st Toronto, Canada PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL
Sat, Feb. 1st Toronto, Canada PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Thu, Feb. 20th Richmond, VA PLAYING “CAUTION” IN FULL
Fri, Feb. 21st Richmond, VA PLAYING “NO DIVISION” IN FULL