At the LIbrary: Riding the Line with Jason Ringenberg
Carol Reinhardt
Over the past few years hundreds, if not thousands, of our Greater Gaston youth and adults have enjoyed rockin' library concerts by the talented children's musician Farmer Jason. In fact, Farmer Jason is probably the most-requested kids' performer at Gaston County Public Library locations. Now Farmer Jason's alter ego, the incomparable Jason Ringenberg, has agreed to bring his new show, "Riding the Line," to the main library auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday, 1555 E. Garrison Blvd., Gastonia.
The free concert will explore Ringenberg's personal story, from Illinois hog farm to international alt country rock stardom, through his original songs and interpretive Americana works. Ringenberg was born and raised on an Illinois hog farm bordering the Rock Island Line Railroad. Even as youngsters, he and his brother worked hard on the farm. As award-winning recording artist and author Tommy Womack wrote in a revealing profile of Ringenberg, something changed for young Jason one morning when he heard George Jones and Tammy Wynette's Golden Ring coming from the barn radio. Jason fell in love with music right then and became determined to be a musician. After school, when the chores were done, Jason would take off walking down the middle of the railroad track, playing his harmonica and guitar and singing the way young singers belt it out when no one can hear him.
To this day, there's something of the Rock Island Line in Jason's music. In 1981, he left the farm for Nashville to pursue his dream of "making a band that could kick American roots music into the modern age." Little did he know just how far that kick would travel. He immediately formed Jason and the Scorchers and never looked back.
Throughout the 1980s and '90s, Jason and the Scorchers tore up venues across the planet and became known as one of the most exciting live bands in music. On classic albums like "Fervor" and "Lost and Found," they "singlehandedly rewrote the history of rock 'n' roll in the South" (Rolling Stone). Their instinctive ability to combine traditional country music with high-energy punk rock has not been surpassed to this day.
But the hard-working Ringenberg's story doesn't end there. In 1999, he decided to go solo. Since then, he has released five solo recordings and, as Farmer Jason, Ringenberg has garnered awards for both his music and video performances. His 2012 Nature Jams includes guest performances by music stars Tom Petersson (Cheap Trick), Iris Dement, Todd Snider, Tommy Ramone, Suzy Boggus, Norwegian author/musician Jo Nesbo and REM's Mike Mills.
Audiences at his shows don't expect to see a sensitive singer-songwriter sitting on a stool. With his acoustic guitar and fearless charisma, Jason Ringenberg still rocks the house. For more information about this and other Gaston County Public Library events, please call 704-868-2164/Dial 4 or visit our website at www.gastonlibrary.org.