Cody Canada Drops The Departed Name (But There’s No Drama)
You can’t blame Texas/Red Dirt fans for being a little jumpy these days. After the announcement from the Turnpike Troubadours earlier this year about their indefinite hiatus, and a similar announcement from The Black Lillies just recently, some fans are worried what other bands 2019 might claim before the end of the year. But according to Cody Canada, everything is cool. He’s just decided to simplify things.
Some fans, well … many fans freaked out on Friday, December 27th when they saw that the official social media pages for Cody Canada and The Departed drop ‘The Departed’ part. Despite Cody warning people earlier in the day that they may see some changes and that they were “nothing major,” the fear was that the two piece band behind the former Cross Canadian Ragweed frontman—meaning bass player Jeremy Plato and drummer Eric “Waldo” Hansen—had been let go. But that isn’t the case at all.
“We dropped the name ‘Departed’ from social media, and everybody’s freaking out. But it’s not a big deal,” Cody Canada clarified later in the day in a video post. “To be real honest about you with the name ‘Departed,’ I didn’t name the band. And the person that did is no longer in the band. We’re going to be The Departed still. And I talked it over with Waldo, and I talked it over with Plato. I talked it over with everybody else, and nobody seems to care. In the words of Jeremy and the words of Waldo, as long as we’re together, playing music, and having a good time, it doesn’t matter what it’s called. And I agree with that.”
After Cross Canadian Ragweed dissolved in 2010, Cody Canada formed Cody Canada and the Departed with Ragweed bass player Jeremy Plato, drummer Dave Bowen, Steve Littleton on keyboards, and singer and guitar player Seth James. Early incarnations saw Seth James sing lead on numerous songs, and The Departed was sort of a dual frontman operation. Then Seth James left in September of 2013, and long time Red Dirt drummer Eric “Waldo” Hansen eventually joined the band, and The Departed began touring as a three piece, releasing an album entitled 3 in 2018.
“We’ve kicked around other ideas for band names. I don’t know if we’re gonna do it. I’m not in that big of a hurry to do anything,” Cody Canada continued. “But the music stays the same, the projection stays the same. It’s just going to be a different name eventually. Not right now. But have no fear, The Departed is still here. It’s just not on the social media page … same three dudes making awesome music, just changing some things up.”
Cody Canada is getting ready to be paid tribute by his fellow Texas and Red Dirt musicians at The Music Fest in Steamboat Springs, Colorado come the second week of January. Some rumors were swirling about a Cross Canadian Ragweed reunion of sorts at the festival, but unfortunately for Ragweed fans, that won’t be the case. However there will be plenty of Cody Canada, and other artists singing Ragweed songs.
One of the most legendary bands of Red Dirt, Cross Canadian Ragweed charted four Top 10 records for Universal South before disbanding. They’ve been enjoying a bit of a resurgence of interest lately, including from an new song from Koe Wetzel called “Ragweed” that has received over 4 millions streams on Spotify alone.
Cody Canada will also be at the Hangover’s Ball at Cain’s in Tulsa, Oklahoma on New Years Day, and will also be appearing at Mile 0 Fest in late January in Key West, Florida.
December 30, 2019 @ 10:07 am
Marketing and branding wise it’s a good move since Cody Canada as an artist has the most name recognition in the widest circles. God bless Cody and the boys they are still putting out great music.
December 30, 2019 @ 10:10 am
Adventus from Cody and Seth James is by far the best Album Cody has had since CCR. No contest, unfortunately that band configuration only lasted for This is Indian Land and Adventus .
December 30, 2019 @ 11:47 am
On facebook it is essentially his personal page with actual updates and promotion of his son’s band and school of rock. I would say it’s more accurate that it doesn’t say “the departed”.
The Seth James years of the Departed are still odd to listen to. It feels like you are listening to two separate bands, and for my taste I only liked the Seth James cuts. Most of Cody’s song were a little too punk rock or just angry and bitter for me.
December 30, 2019 @ 1:52 pm
Seth was the star of that era. Damn glad I got to see Ragweed and that version of The Departed. Both were something special .
December 30, 2019 @ 2:43 pm
The thing about that era of the Departed was Cody and Jeremy were leaving Ragweed and I think felt like they needed to do something a little different. Both of those albums were clearly much more in Seth’s wheelhouse than Cody’s in my opinion and I think it went that way, because Cody was trying to be so inclusive, considering he was the biggest star going into that compilation. As far as Ragweed goes, Cody and Jeremy were the creative forces that drove that band, from songwriting, vocals and lead guitar, so Cody could have easily continued that sound if he had wanted to and I think has started to try and lean back in that direction a little more now. I think if the band got back together tomorrow, the only thing different would be that there setlist would go back to playing all the old Ragweed songs, there sound is created by Cody and Jeremy. there is also the possibility that that sound cannot be duplicated again, it happens with every band. As bands get older the sound that made them so popular gets harder and harder to find for them and that is the case for almost every band. Most times those songs they wrote when coming up and grinding are their best songs.
December 30, 2019 @ 3:09 pm
I agree with pretty much all you said. I was stunned when Ragweed split. I remember Cody saying Seth didn’t join to be Ragweed 2 & that was good with him. I do think the Fanbase didn’t like those changes and Cody wanted to go back to his comfort zone. Seth’s Album at that time with The Leaves of September was a great Album and still is.I felt he was too good to leave his solo stuff behind. Anyways, I just can’t get into what they’ve done lately.
I love Cody and Plato but the parade of Band Members & the quality of writing has just made me lose interest. I’d have liked to see one more Album with Seth. That being said, if they were within 2 hours of me I’d still go see them ????????♂️!
January 4, 2020 @ 10:11 am
Have you heard Seths news album? Not Adventist’s style but more his bluesy self.
December 30, 2019 @ 12:23 pm
i miss Ragweed.
December 30, 2019 @ 3:17 pm
I would not hold your breath for a Ragweed reunion. Like, ever. Now that Randy Ragsdale and Grady Cross have formed a band again, and are recording an album, I’d guess there will be more fireworks if anything.
https://www.crossragsandyoung.com/
The logo even looks like the old Ragweed logo. I hope they can all “just get along, man” again, I wouldn’t expect it.
Cody & Jeremy have been super cool to me and my family. We usually see them and hang out when they are in town. The sound now is more like Ragweed than anything since about 2005. Most nights he plays “boys from Oklahoma” and smiles and laughs a lot. Cody is happy, the band is tight. Honestly, I think when the band broke up Cody was pissed off. He might admit even (can’t say for sure) that he didn’t deal with it that best. He probably scared some people off. And I think most of the fans left and should make their way back again. The shows are legit good. They’re fun again.
December 31, 2019 @ 8:00 am
Seth released another record a few months back entitled “The Good Life.” Like most everything he’s done it’s as solid as a rock. Met him a few years back at one of those early Departed gigs. Super nice cat. Blackberry Smoke opened up and tore the place up for 45 minutes. Charlie Starr came back out and played Cody’s beat-up PRS for the encore while Cods just handled vocals. My how times change.