Biography
Based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, Drag the River served as an outlet for several veterans of the punk scene. Frontman Chad Price joined forces in 1996 with Jon Snodgrass and Paul Rucker of Armchair Martian plus J.J. Nobody of the Nobodys, forming the group to explore a country-rock direction. Hobo's Demo's surfaced in the middle of 2000 and later saw a reissue from Suburban Home in late 2006; the recordings showcased the band's ragged rock & roll supporting introspective lyrics. By 2001 pedal steel guitarist Zach Boddicker had joined, and the lineup began preparing a second album while performing shows across the western states. The resulting Closed arrived on Upland in spring 2002, presenting a collection steeped in alcohol and recounting tales of heartbreak and isolation. Live at the Starlight, captured that July, came out by the end of the year on Mars Motors Records. Chicken Demos followed in May 2004, consisting largely of material left off Hobo's Demo's, and the Hey Buddies... EP appeared later that autumn. Boddicker soon departed to attend school; Chad Rex substituted on occasion until Hot Rod Circuit's Casey Prestwood assumed the steel-guitar role. Rucker left the drum chair in late 2005 and was succeeded by Dave Barker, formerly of Pinhead Circus. The band issued It's Crazy in June 2006 and contributed the track "Portland" to the Replacements tribute album We'll Inherit the Earth that October. It finished the year touring alongside Lucero and spent the opening months of 2007 supporting Rocky Votolato on the road. Midway through the latter run Snodgrass stepped away from the remaining dates, though not from the group itself, prompting fan speculation. Circumstances failed to improve, and in May the members announced an amicable split.