Bio
Chucky Waggs is a multi-instrumentalist, singer/songwriter and recording artist based out of the hills of Eureka Springs, AR. Chucky Waggs plays a mix of acoustic and electric guitar, 5 string and tenor banjo, dobro, resophonic guitar, harmonica, musical saw and kazoo, while using his feet to stomp out the back beat on a thrown together drum kit during live performances. Drawing influences from early American roots music, as well as early punk and rock and roll, he's often joined on stage by numerous accompanying musicians during live performances to add to the energy and dynamic of his original material. This group is commonly refered to as the "Company of Raggs". The result ranges from intimate, often humorous, folk ballads, to all out rowdy stomp alongs.
Chucky Waggs (Charles Adam Wagner) got his musical start playing in basement punk rock bands. Drawn in by the D.I.Y. approach to the performances, as well as the energy and simplicity behind the music, he eventually found an appreciation for early American blues, and jugband songs, as well as early country, folk and bluegrass for what he sees as a similar energy and simple natured approach.
Over the past 20 years, Chucky Waggs has traveled the country playing music based in these forms of Americana in acts such as The Broke Strang Band and Mountain Sprout, all the while writing and recording his own original material. His debut album "company of raggs" is a compilation of D.I.Y. recordings featuring accompaniment by, "Anyone who was around and wanted to record some songs." 'Company of Raggs' is a simple showcase of Chucky Waggs' songwriting ability as well as his variation in style.
His second full length stdio album 'Low Road Ramble' has a more cohesive approach to songwriting with an emphasis on performance. It maintains the intimacy, and the sense of humor of his first release, 'company of raggs' while including more of the style and the energy of a live show.
"Chucky Waggs's third full length studio album "Junkyard Charlie" continues where his first two releases left off. Keeping with the usual DIY approach, Chucky Waggs composed, arranged, performed and recorded the vast majority of the instrumental parts on this album with accompaniment by two members of the musical community which has come to make up the "Company of Raggs" band. The musical style on "Junkyard Charlie" is more rooted in early 20th century stringband/jugband music than it is modern folk or country. With songwriting and story telling that is at once as sincere as it is tongue and cheek and as modern as it is timeless, "Junkyard Charlie" stands to resonate with long time fans and offer something to new comers which is rooted in the familiar yet approached in a way unique to Chucky Waggs' style
The forth ‘Chucky Waggs and the Company of Raggs’ album ‘Be mindful of Bears’ expands the scope of songwriting, style and instrumentation established by previous releases. This 17 song release spans from intimate acoustic, singer/songwriter folk tales to full production arrangements blending styles of bluegrass, ragtime, blues, counry, punk and vaudeville, featuring more members of his live band 'the company of raggs" than any previous record.
The range of style and feel on “Be Mindful of Bears” is the culmination of a decades long immersion in bluegrass Pickin parties, rowdy dive bar performances, Folk songwriter circles, seedy Honky tonks, punk shows and psychedelic music festivals...the result finds a way to somehow blend all of the above.
Chucky Waggs draws from simple forms of music, with a timeless approach which stays unique to his own voice and style. He is a working musician who has been, and will continue to, write, record, travel and perform for anyone who wishes to listen.