Pagan Rage reunites

by Elysia Conner
Wednesday, July 1, 2009 1:05 PM MDT

The band that won over loyal live music fans for more than a decade became a page in local music history. For five years, Pagan Rage remained a memory.

Less than a month ago, the five members held their first practice in years.

On July 5, they will play a reunion show headlining Hemlock, with Epitome and Notch.

"We started playing songs like we'd never put it down," Dan Fisher said.

The band started out in 1994 and played at venues like Club Dance West, the VFW posts, the Eagles Lodge, house parties and more. They also played in surrounding cities and states.

In 2001, Pagan Rage recorded their first and only album to date, "Birth."

Their songs received national airplay on several college radio stations and were featured on 107.9's "The Heavy Set" program.

Moves, work and raising families ended their days of playing regularly. Some of the members went on to play in other bands.

But fans never forgot about the band, and neither did they. People frequently told them that they should get back together.

Guitarist Brett Neilson, Rick Martini, also on guitar, bass player Dan Fisher, vocalist T.J. "Phade" Phegley and drummer Phil Pike make up the current band.

Original singer Chris Tolliver now is a member of Notch. Founding member Fisher began pushing for a reunion about six months ago.

Pike, the original drummer agreed, as did fellow band founder, Martini.

"He's the Pagan and we're the rage," Pike's band mates say about the origin of their name.

Though paganism isn't for all of them, Martini said, they do celebrate solstices and other holidays with him.

The best part about the band is that they always have been good friends, even while they weren't playing together.

That may be one reason they were able to jump back into it so quickly, they explained.

Their days in Pagan Rage were some of the best, but also hardest, they ever had, Martini said.

They recalled the high points, like their CD release party.

One of the lowest was the time a fight broke out at a show, resulting in negative publicity for the band.

Luckily, there were more good times than bad, and they left the band with many fond memories of shows, practice sessions and travels.

They even laugh about the mishaps, like the time a power cord they needed for an outdoor gig in Cheyenne was missing.

After driving back to Casper to get it, they were only halfway through their set when the sheriff's department told them that they had to stop playing.

They are excited about the growing number of places to perform in Casper, and the opportunity for more shows.

"As an artist, you have to perform or you'll go insane," Pike said.

"We never claimed to be the best musicians in the world," Phegley said, "but we definitely have presence on stage and people are electrified the minute we get up there."

While they practice in a small room, the tightness gives them a chance to watch each other more carefully.

They feel like they are reading each other’s minds, they said. It only takes one glance for the band members to know what one of them is about to do.

They share a connection and a camaraderie that make them able to play a show just weeks after getting back together.

Though only one member, Pike, has kept his hair long, the band still rocks as hard as they always did.

Facing one another in a room filled with music memorabilia, they shook the walls of the house.

Playing "Finger Paint" and other fan-favorite songs from their heyday, it was obvious that they love it as much as they always did.

"This is not the last you will hear from us," Fisher said.

If you go …

Devil’s Deal Productions presents Hemlock with Casper's Epitome, Notch and the reunion of Pagan Rage on July 5.

The concert begins at 6 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge at 306 N. Durbin. Cost is $5. Doors open at 5 p.m.

All ages are welcome, and a full bar is available with I.D. for those over 21.

Hemlock has toured the United States for the past nine years and recently toured Japan, Europe and Canada. The band also has toured with Slayer, Slipknot, Ministry, Meshuggah, Lamb of God, Machine Head and more.

For more about Hemlock, visit www.hemlockworld.com

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