The Ramrods Reunion
Mohawk Place, Buffalo, NY
June 25, 2005
by Kevin J. Hosey
My lord, if a band can play as good almost 20 years after its last official show as The Ramrods did, it’s no wonder I turned to Mercury Rev drummer Jimy Chambers after The Ramrods’ set and said, “why is it the best local shows I’ve seen in the last year have been reunions?” also alluding to the recent reunion show of The Moment, Chambers’ first serious band. I don’t want to live in the past or become a “things were always better in my time, you damned kids” curmudgeon, and indeed, I caught a bunch of real good sets at the recent Music Is Art, but in these cases, things were better, regardless when they occurred. Of course, seeing that the Ramrods were about age 16-18 when they started gaining popularity in Buffalo for their wild rock and roll, R&B and punk energy music (think MC5, Montrose, both whom they covered), all stewed in youthful and fun-laden approach, and you had the potential of a great band,
Bill Scott, Norm Schwagler and John Paa
Norm and Bill
and The Ramrods met and exceeded that potential. They often played on bills with the early, then punked-up and amphetamined Goo Goo Dolls (both were then managed by Artie Kwitchoff), with the Goo Goo Dolls frequently opening for the Ramrods. Anyone wanting to know more about the band then and now should read an excellent article by Mark Norris in Artvoice. After the breakup in the late 1980s, members joined several bands before going their separate ways for a while; indeed, the farthest length traveled back for the reunion was by bassist Norm Schwagler, who now teaches English in Thailand. The Ramrods are: Bill Scott, vocals, harmonica and tambourine; Pat Neal, lead guitar and backing vocals; John Paa, rhythm guitar and backing vocals; Norm Schwagler, bass and occasional backing vocals; Craig Voigt, drums.
But on to the show; Mohawk Place was very crowded, with the front concert section overflowing with people into the bar area; musicians, fans from years ago, writers, photographers and others made the confines rather cramped, but most of us knew each other. The band, except for Scott, climbed on stage and plugged in their instruments, shortly followed by Scott, already acting like the lithe, sexual cat with cares and inhibitions left behind, wearing a tight “I’m a Talas Believer” t-shirt (Talas was a “classic” 1970s-1980s Buffalo metal band with Billy Sheehan on bass) and tighter gray/black pants hung very low, showing off the top of his ass crack. But, unlike too many plumbers, Scott is still in great shape and the women started going wild as soon as they saw him. Armand John Petri, who produced the Ramrods as well as the Goo Goo Dolls for a while (and later gained fame working with Sixpence None the Richer) asked them if someone was introducing them; when they all shrugged and shook their heads, he leapt onstage and did so simply: “Oh, my God, look at the people out there. It’s like 16 years ago.”