Great American Music Hall
Show Info
The Jayhawks

The Jayhawks
Special Acoustic Show
The Cash Brothers

Date: April 16, 2002
Doors: 8:00 PM
Show: 9:00 PM
Tickets: On Sale Now
$18 Gen Admission
Age Restrictions: 6 and over.
Kitchen: Limited
Seating: Limited
 
Artist Links
 
 
As the most prominent of the alternative country bands that emerged in the mid-1990s, the Jayhawks successfully blended country, folk and rock together into a seamless package.
The Jayhawks were formed in 1985 in Minneapolis, by vocalist/guitarist Mark Olsen, who had been playing stand-up bass in a rockabilly band called Stagger Lee. Olsen met Marc Perlman, the guitarist for the Neglectors, and convinced him to play bass. After recruiting drummer Norm Rogers, the Jayhawks played their first show in front of less than a dozen people. As fate would have it, one of those in the crowd was Safety Last guitarist Gary Louris. Known locally for his innovative, pedal steel-like sound, Louris and Olsen hit it off and Louris joined the band.

The Jayhawks gained their chops in the clubs of the Twin Cities before releasing their eponymous debut in 1986 on Bunkhouse Records. Only a few thousand records were pressed, but word of mouth about the Jayhawks grew. The band returned to the club circuit, and Olsen and Louris started to work more as a songwriting team, further incorporating influences like Gram Parsons, Nashville Skyline-era Dylan, Tim Hardin, and the Louvin Brothers into their music. In 1988 Rogers left to join the Cows, and was replaced by Thad Spencer, then Louris was forced to leave the band due to his injuries following a nearly fatal automobile accident. The band went on hiatus.
In the mean time, executives at Twin/Tone Records showed interest in releasing the stockpile of demos that the band had recorded. After some overdubs and re-mixing, Blue Earth was released in 1989. The album was an enormous critical success and breathed new life into the band. Spencer was replaced by Ken Callahan, and Louris rejoined the band. A national tour ensued. In a true rock 'n' roll moment, the band was signed to American Records after A&R rep and record producer George Drakoulias heard Blue Earth playing in the background during a phone conversation with a Twin/Tone exec.

Their latest album (and fourth for American), "Smile," was released in 2000.

Joe Hauler, Rolling Stone

 

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