Courtesy Cross Canadian Ragweed will treat Texas fans to a CD release.

In between playing upwards of 250 live shows per year, Cross Canadian Ragweed has managed to release nine albums, including its latest — Mission California — on Oct. 2. CCR is playing album-release parties at five locations throughout the South, including a date at Floore's Country Store on Wednesday, Oct. 3. Before the show, CCR bassist Jeremy Plato talked about the new album, his thoughts on playing Austin City Limits Music Festival and why he adores thrash metal legends Slayer.

You guys play 200-250 shows per year. Don't you get tired?
It's something we've always tried to do, go out and play gigs. We like to think of ourselves as an old-fashioned band that goes out there and, instead of relying on record sales and radio play, go out there and get it done, night after night, show after show. It never really gets that bad. We always go to bed at night thinking, “You know, it sure beats wrenching on a truck or somewhere digging ditches.” Not that there's anything wrong with that, but that's part of the whole deal — the realization that, man, we do this for a living.

Did you ever think you'd make a living playing music?
It was always in the back of my mind. When I got with the band, I was a truck driver trying to make ends meet. All of a sudden, we're out there playing 200 shows a year. That's when it finally sunk in, that this is awesome, the best job ever.

You slowed down the recording process for Mission California, compared to your previous albums. What was that like?
We walked into the deal with the mind-set that we were going to spend some time on this record and see what happened. It was the most time we'd ever spent on a record. We did Highway 377 in three days, and this record was quite a departure from that. It took almost a month.

For many artists, that's still a relatively short recording time.
I think it's all relative. It seems like a lot of bands spend time on whatever mood they're in. With us, it's just getting it done and getting it done right. That was the main focus.

What are some of the band's influences right now?
Whenever I started playing, I was hip deep in metal, always listening to metal. I listen to the newest metal records all the time, and I take something from it stylistically.

What are some of your favorite metal acts?
I'm really high on Trivium and Slayer. I've listened to Slayer since I was in the sixth grade, and I love them.

Are you also into country music?
My roots are there, but I grew up listening to everything. In high school, my grandmother wouldn't let me go out with the boys all the time because she knew what we were doing, so I'd hang out with her at the house, drink a case of beer and listen to Merle Haggard and Charley Pride. I learned a lot from that.

Your grandmother sounds cooler than most.
You'd have to meet my grandmother. She's a real trip. It was just me and her when I was in high school, and I felt like, I'll just hang out with granny. It's cool. Some of my friends would ever come over and hang out with granny and listen to country all night.
 
CLINT HALE | 210SA