< BACK

Farmer Jason / Jason Ringenberg (of Jason and the Scorchers) by Jason Keil Mar 13, 2004 www.buzzcommunicationsmusic.com Things were looking pretty bleak for Jason Ringenberg before he released his third solo album All Over Creation in 2002. The leader of Jason and the Scorchers, who throughout the eighties and nineties put the “alt” in alt-country, kept thinking that this 12-track collection of duets with such acclaimed artists as Steve Earle and Tommy Womack would be his last. He figured that after a few months of touring in support of the album that the status of his solo career would eventually match the status of his old band: “semi-retired.” Ringenberg has yet to reach that lowly status. The respect and critical acclaim he received after the release of his third solo album turned those few months of touring into 18 months of playing shows all over the world. “It was an exciting record to make,” he recalls. “I enjoyed being the ringleader. It was fun getting together with all those great artists and seeing what would happen.” With all the touring for the album he was doing, Ringenberg didn’t get to see much of his new family, especially his daughters Kelsey, Camille, and Addie. He thought about how cool it would be if his daughters had something to listen to while he wasn’t around. Soon thereafter, Ringenberg’s alter ego Farmer Jason was born and his first foray into children’s music, appropriately titled A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason, was created. While creating an album that deals with life on the farm (something he knows about since he lives on a farm outside of Nashville), Ringenberg identified several objectives to set his album apart from the lousy children’s music that Raffi and Barney had been churning out for years. “We didn’t want to have the songs talk down to kids, but we didn’t want it to be boring for adults either,” he says. With this in mind, Ringenberg created 11 songs, with the assistance of multi-instrumentalist Fats Kaplan and producer/musician George Bradfute and vocals from Tahra Dergee (from the children’s show Tahra Time), about a guitar pickin’ chicken, a dancing doggie, a tractor named John Deere, and some corny corn. The tunes retain all the rollickin’ and yelping that Ringenberg was known for with the Scorchers, but with lyrics that kids can enjoy. “It’s a really easy going record,” he says. “It is definitely catchier than my other work. It was also a little easier to write since there aren’t any deep concepts to roll around.” Ringenberg’s new alter ego has been welcomed with open arms by kids and adults alike while on tour. A Day at the Farm with Farmer Jason was named one of the “Top 5 CDs of 2003” by Family Fun Magazine. For those who think that the alt-country music pioneer is worried about losing some of his Nashville cred, you are sorely mistaken. Ringenberg welcomes it with open arms. “I just wanted to make some music for my kids to listen to,” he explains. “I didn’t anticipate things developing the way they have. The character is really taking off, and Farmer Jason may surpass my own solo career.” Fans of Ringenberg’s adult targeted fare can look forward to a new album in September. The new project, titled Empire Builders, along with another worldwide tour to promote it should put the rumors of “semi-retirement” to rest. The songwriter has accomplished much in the more than twenty years he has been performing. He carries few regrets and has much to be proud of. “Had we handled things better, (Jason and the Scorchers) could have been as big as Los Lobos and Steve Earle. [My accomplishments] are cumulative. I’m forty-five and support a family playing music. I’m still growing and changing and evolving as an artist.”