Ace and the Ragers live up to name
Originally printed in "The Clarion Ledger" before February 28th, 1999
What's in a name? The audience gave them their name, and singer and rhythm guitarist Ace Borkowski says they try to live up to it.
"People say our rock 'n' roll shows are intense and that we really rage at the end of a show," Borkowski, who is also the group's founder, said in a telephone interview.
Ace and the Ragers has been compared to musicians like Eddie Caochran, Bill Haley and Gene Vincent. Their music is a cross between Rockabilly and Swing. "We fall more into a Rock and Roll category," said bassist Bryan McCleery.
The band will showcase tunes from Ace and the Ragers' 14-track debut album, Light This Sucker Up!, released earlier this month under its lable, Pin-Up Records. Slumber Party, a rhythm and blues dance song about a co-ed sleepover with junk food, games of truth-or-dare, and ghost stories, is contrasted by Girl Crazy, an up-tempo number about a crush on a "cute little bunny with big blue eyes and long black hair," McCleery said.
"We try not to write songs that are too deep or too philosophical," said Borkowski. "Most are about fun things like parties, girls, and dancing. All of our songs are written from first-hand experiece."
A couple of instrumental tunes will lure swing lovers to the dance floor. Listen for sax players Flanigan Nelson and Joe "The Butcher" Ryan.
Bachelors rule the band; none of the guys are married. The band, formed in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, five years ago, originally included Borkowski, McCleery and Nelson. Ryan came within a month or two. Drummer Craig Ramsey and lead guitar Junior Molnar came a year later.
According to the Ragers' website, "When one thinks of the way Rock and Roll was born, it was a combination of styles, influenced by R&B, old Country music, and greasy teen-aged angst. That's what created the Ragers, and that's what keeps the Ragers going. Rock and Roll hasn't died yet, like it was so boldly predicted to have forty years ago, and as far as the Ragers are concerned, it's stronger than ever."
--Lynne Wilbanks Jeter
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