The Blue Rags

The Blue Rags came together in Statesville, North Carolina, during 1990, when local art students Scott Sharpe and Jake Hollifield—handling vocals and guitar, and vocals and piano, respectively—merged their shared interest in everything from ragtime and bluegrass to swing, then laced the mixture with punk energy. Bill Reynolds joined on stand-up bass the following year and recommended bringing in drummer Mike Rhodes; the 1996 arrival of guitarist Aaron “Woody” Wood locked the lineup into place. The resulting boogie-woogie punk sound built a devoted regional audience across the South through constant road work and opening slots alongside kindred spirits Southern Culture on the Skids and Squirrel Nut Zippers. After inking a deal with Sub Pop, the group issued its first album, Rag N Roll, in 1997, with Eat at Joe’s appearing two years afterward.