Benjamin // Vocals and guitar
Joshua // Drums
Zachary // Bass guitar
Russell // Guitar
Influences
Anything still pressed into vinyl. Microbrews, open water, lovers, all things created and appreciable, hope, discord, and countless other pretentious vagueries.
“We in the Ragadors have a vision for an unrelenting lifestyle of sustainable rock n’ roll.”
The Milwaukee based quartet create a raucous brand of straight-ahead, blistering rock-and-roll, grounded in a an obvious love for the blues.
What began as a casual song swap between drummer, Joshua Harper and lead singer Benjamin Hall has grown through two years of touring and recording into a band of friends who play with undeniable guts.
With wildly diverse musical backgrounds, from touring through the deep south in a gospel rock band, to studying jazz percussion, to making the jump from fingerstyle guitar to bass, these four gentlemen combine to create foot-stomping tunes and frenetic live performances.
In 2009, the Ragadors debut, self-titled EP was pressed from a live studio session with J. Christopher Hughes at Posthistoric in Milwaukee, WI.
After more than a year of touring, backed by unwavering support from their listeners, the group began sessions on their first full-length record in spring 2010.
Blackinkywells, a subversive affirmation of the possibilities that flow between the down beat and silence, is a recorded interaction between The Ragadors: Joshua Harper, Russell Leary, Benjamin Hall, Zachary Hoeppner and a cavernous room on Milwaukee’s south side.
Benjamin Hall’s desperate, pleading lyrics, in stark contrast to a satisfyingly confident delivery, unearth stories soaked in the complication of humanity.
The Ragadors pay homage to the mother’s and father’s of the blues with a sound nurtured in the wood-paneled basements of the midwest. With songs that harken the honest spirit of the blues, this record attempts to realize life’s perennial struggle between dissonance and harmony. This is roots music through and through.
Today, their debut full-length album, blackinkyswells, is expecting release in September 2010.
Having carved out a significant place for themselves in their hometown, The Ragadors venture forth to new territory, look for them in your city in the fall of 2010 touring in support of their new record, blackinkyswells.
Press
"In the spirit of true musicianship, Milwaukee's The Ragadors are a refreshing kick in the ass... This hard hitting quartet pounds out jams that reverberate from the floor right into your soul."
Lane Klozier -Maximum Ink
"With their bluesy approach and ragged tones... The Ragadors are not to be missed!"
WMSE 91.7FM // WMSE.org
"Bluesy rock in the vein of the Black keys, White Stripes and Kings of Leon, excellent stuff!"
Jack Devoss -Columbus Underground
haha thanks ben.. I've written some new stuff, just havent gotten it up there. hey! I heard your band on the radio the other night with nicki! it was sooo good! she said you guys where havin an all ages show soon, I would definately go no joke!
i like how you guys are sounding these days.. i remember we were trying to get something going a while back but it never happened.
would you guys like to plan something for december or january?? not at cactus or mad planet. im thinking somewhere different this time around. what are your thoughts??
Ben! we all need to hang out soon! we miss you and nicole, gota chill sometime, and Nicki said somethin bout you guys having an all age show? tell me about that I'd really try to make it to that one :)
i heard one of your songs when i was driving home on 88.9 friday, i think you were performing live in the studio, it was pretty kick ass and a very good song.
