Episode 3: Jason Black – Hot Water Music
Hot Water Music. Image: Jesse Korman.
Listen to the Trusty Chords podcast via your preferred platform of choice here.
If you’re a fan of punk rock, then I think you would do very well to listen to Hot Water Music. Ever since they formed back in 1994, they’ve spent much of that time writing amazing songs, touring relentlessly, and carving out their own unique niche which has equally seen them considered an enduring pillar of American punk, incredibly influential, and – in the very same breath – wholly underrated.
Hot Water Music – which comprises both Chuck Ragan and Chris Wollard on on guitars and vocals; Jason Black on bass; George Rebelo on drums; and (since 2017) The Flatliners’ Chris Cresswell on guitar and vocals – was first formed in Florida almost 30 years ago, and quickly began churning out numerous songs, singles, and EPs before releasing their first album, Fuel For The Hate Game, in 1997. Such was their momentum that they released Forever And Counting eight months later, before playing their final show in August 1998.
Two months later, they were back in the game, and released a further four albums – including No Division, A Flight And A Crash, Caution, and The New What Next – before once again breaking up in 2006.
Two years later, they were back in the game again, and have released a further four albums – Exister, Light It Up, Feel The Void, and now Vows – since then.
That last one, Vows, is out on May 10th, and is undeniably one of the strongest releases in their already-impressive career, and arguably the most ambitious release since their most recent reformation. As powerful as ever, it captures that incendiary Hot Water Music spirit, and filters it through an overarching theme of evolution and growth. It’s also pretty stacked full of guests, too, and includes appearances from the likes of Thrice, Dallas Green from Alexisonfire and City And Colour, Michael ‘Popeye’ Vogelslang of Farside and Calling Hours, and Daniel Fang and Brendan Yates of Turnstile – a band named themselves after a Hot Water Music song.
Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised there’s so many guests on the album. After all, Hot Water Music are pretty influential across the board, with its members also having played in groups like The Bouncing Souls, Against Me!, Senses Fail, The Draft, and so much more.
This week, I was lucky enough to be joined by Hot Water Music’s founding bassist, Jason Black. I have to be entirely honest with you, this was a chat that totally came out of left field, and one I hadn’t expected to happen at all. Why do I sound so incredulous? Well, the very title of this podcast is taken from Hot Water Music’s song of the same name, from their 2002 album, Caution.
Heck, even the opening theme of this podcast came around when I was messing around with the chords in that song. So for me to be chatting with someone who helped write that very song, well, it certainly wasn’t what I had expected. As you can hear at the start, I need some reassurance from Jason that I wasn’t about to be hit with a cease and desist.
Of course, Hot Water Music might be powerful on stage and in the studio, but as you can hear, they’re incredibly laidback when having a chat. With that in mind, I hope you enjoy the chat with Jason, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.
Jason Black’s Trusty Chords
Jason’s One Influential Artist
Jaco Pistorius
Jason’s Three Impactful Albums
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Mother's Milk (1989)
The Cure – Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me (1987)
7 Seconds – Soulforce Revolution (1989)
Jason’s Five Trusty Songs
Red Hot Chili Peppers – ‘Knock Me Down’ (1989)
Fishbone – ‘Sunless Saturday’ (1991)
The Cure – ‘Why Can’t I Be You?’ (1987)
John Coltrane – ‘Giant Steps’ (1960)
Bob Marley & The Wailers – ‘Exodus’ (1977)
