Formed in 1994 in Yukon, Oklahoma, Cross Canadian Ragweed helped usher in the rise of red dirt country music. In 2010, they called it quits after five studio albums and multiple chart appearances. After 14 long years, fans rejoiced when the quartet announced a string of reunion shows set for this April in Stillwater, Oklahoma. However, the red dirt legends jumped the gun with a recent appearance in Florida. While some fans were thrilled to see their favorite band share a stage again, others were not thrilled that CCR didn’t wait for their planned April set. Frontman Cody Canada had something to say to those fans.
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“Hell Froze Over:” Cross Canadian Ragweed Plays Six-Song Set
After a 15-year drought, Cross Canadian Ragweed officially ended their hiatus late Thursday (Jan. 23)—much to the surprise of those attending the Mile 0 Fest in Key West. “I guess it’s cold in Key West because hell froze over,” frontman Cody Canada told the crowd.
Sharing a stage for the first time since Oct. 24, 2010, Cross Canadian Ragweed played six songs, including “Number” and “Boys From Oklahoma.” Canada, 48, advised the attendees to “stay tuned” as the band exited the stage.
The impromptu appearance followed a 14-song Ragweed tribute set. And while fans flooded social media with declarations of joy and excitement, others were less enthused. “Why did they do this! For those of us who waited on hold boo,” one TikTok user wrote.
Cody Canada: “It Was Six Songs, That’s It”
Addressing fans’ ire in a social media video Friday (Jan. 24), Cody Canada emphasized the the band played six songs,” not “a two-hour show.” And even that six-song set almost didn’t happen.
“We weren’t going to play at all, but everyone got up and played our songs last night… How can I not?” the “Alabama” singer said.
He continued, “We sold 183,000 tickets for 183,000 people that want to see us play music. Last night, we stood on the side of the stage as our friends played our songs, and it got to us to the point where we said, ‘You know what? F— this. We want to get up and give people what they want to hear.’”
“So that’s what it was,” Canada concluded, “and if you’re upset about, man, I don’t know what to tell you. But I will tell you this: I still love you no matter what you think. So, just be nice to people and quit pissing on. It was six songs, six songs, that’s it. Six songs of love.”
Featured image by Larry Marano/Shutterstock
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