The assumption that Cross Canadian Ragweed was from Canada reached its height when the band played the national anthem on opening day for a Texas Rangers baseball game.

“We’re not from Canada,” said Gray Cross, guitarist for Cross Canadian Ragweed, who is playing at the Newport Music Hall tonight. “We’re from Oklahoma. Our buddy sitting in the stands told us that he overheard a guy say ‘that’s a bunch of s—, a bunch of Canuks singing our national anthem.'”

Cross and bandmates Cody Canada, Randy Ragsdale and Jeremy Plato grew up together in Yukon, Okla., where Canada and Cross met in sixth grade and quickly bacame friends. Their name -Cross Canadian Ragweed- is a mix of the band members last names.

“Cody had a guitar when we met and I bought one in ninth grade,” Cross said.

Ragsdale – the youngest – was in 10th-grade when he started performing with the band. The other three members had just graduated when the band played its first show.

“We knew 10 to 12 songs at that time,” Cross said. “We played for four hours and played the same songs over and over again.”

Ten years later the bands repertoire has expanded, but the shows have not lost any passion from the first gig.

“Each show isn’t the same,” Cross said. “We try to change it up each date. It’s not your basic 12 songs. We’re trying to give people their money’s worth.”

Ragweed is known by it’s fans for relentless touring.

“There is nothing better than seeing people sing your songs back to you in the crowd,” Cross said. “Sometimes (shows) get pretty crazy with stage diving and crowd surfing.”

The band is currently on the road with Dierks Bentley, a young-country musician, who the band considers a good friend.

Ragweed’s latest album, “Soul Gravy,” debuted at number five on the country album chart in March. The band is far from a typical country act, however.

“We’re basically a country influenced rock ‘n’ roll band,” Cross said.

With influences from various genres of music, Ragweed takes what it likes and mixes it together.

Canada writes the lyrics and basic musical structure of the band’s songs. He then brings his ideas to the rest of the band who give input and discuss what they want to add.

“We have to be honest and real with each other,” Cross said. “(Songwriting) wouldn’t work otherwise.”

Last summer the band invited their fans to join them on a special Carnival cruise. The band played for two nights and Canada performed a couple of additional solo acoustic sets.

“We got to hang out with our fans,” Cross said of the cruise. “We didn’t have to talk business, we just got to relax.”

The cruise was promoter John Dixon’s idea and the band is planning on a return voyage this summer.

The band benefited when Canada’s wife, Shannon, began managing the band about five years ago.

“When (Shannon) came along we got more organized,” Cross said. “Before we would say ‘all right we’ll play this gig, and sure, give us a case of beer.'”

Since Shannon’s arrival, the band makes sure to sign contracts and keep a schedule – things they had forgotten before.

The band’s new video for “Alabama” makes its world premiere tomorrow on Country Music Television.