This time out, Scorchers look for quality, not fame

By Randy Arnold, The Chattanooga Times
The Chattanooga Times
March 16, 1995, Thursday

Copyright 1995 Times Printing Company

Jason Ringenberg remembers when bass player Jeff Johnson called him a couple
of years ago with an idea -- a reunion of Jason and the Scorchers. Ringenberg
had an immediate answer. "I said absolutely not," Ringenberg recalled. "I had given up and had psychologically gotten rid of the past. I accepted that the Scorchers were dead, but Jeff was persistent."

The persistence led to a reunion of Jason and the Scorchers, who will be at
the Market Street Performance Hall tonight. At one time in the '80s, they seemed
to be on the verge of stardom, but could never seem to hit the next level. While
gaining a big regional following around their North Carolina base and making
some national and international tours, the Scorchers didn't catch the big break.
That, bad business deals and some serious indulgences in the rock lifestyle, led
to a breakup in '89.

Ringenberg thought he had seen his 15 minutes of fame come and go. "It was almost like it never happened," he said. "Suddenly, you are dealing with day-to-day living and having to work a regular job. I was out landscaping or mowing yards or delivering pizzas and occasionally someone would look at me like "Didn't you use to be Jason?' Basically, I was trying to keep from going
insane."

While the rock life may have led to a form of insanity, the Scorchers are now
finding some satisfaction in returning to the spotlight. The reunion show
sparked interest in getting into the studio. The outcome was A Blazing Grace, a
well-received mixture of ballads and the Scorchers' trademark style of country
thrash, highlighted by covers of Country Road and Why Baby Why.

"When we started to record, our idea was to make records like our early
records," Ringenberg said. "This time when we went in, we had a different
priority. I know it may sound hokey, but we don't really care about sales. What
we wanted to do is make and record the best songs we can."

Being older and wiser also led to some personal songs for the Scorchers.
During the hiatus, Ringenberg had other upheavals in his life including a
divorce. That turmoil helped him for his return to music.

"The fact is that this late in a career, with everything you experience in
life, you become a better songwriter," Ringenberg said. "Almost every song I
wrote for this album, Somewhere Within, Shadow of Night, Where Bridges Never
Burn, have a personal meaning in my life and that's what makes this album so
special."

Jason and the Scorchers are making a second try at success. They hit the road
last week for their first extended tour in more than five years and they go out
a smarter and wiser group than the one that got wild in the '80s. Now, they just
plan to get wild on stage.

"We aren't really going out this time looking to become stars," Ringenberg
said. "What we want to do is put out some quality music, hope the people who
come out have a good time and see what follows after that. If everything works
out, then good things will follow."

Jason and the Scorchers will be at the Market Street Performance Hall
tonight. Admission is $7. 267-2498.

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