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The Jayhawks are an American
alternative country Alternative country, or alternative country rock (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative), is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style ...
and
country rock Country rock is a genre of music which fuses rock and country. It was developed by rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal s ...
band that emerged from the
Twin Cities Twin cities are a special case of two neighboring cities or urban centres that grow into a single conurbation – or narrowly separated urban areas – over time. There are no formal criteria, but twin cities are generally comparable in statu ...
music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters
Gary Louris Gary Louris (born March 10, 1955) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the ...
and Mark Olson, their country rock sound was influential on many bands who played the Twin Cities circuit during the 1980s and 1990s, such as
Uncle Tupelo Uncle Tupelo was an alternative country music group from Belleville, Illinois, active between 1987 and 1994. Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, and Mike Heidorn formed the band after the lead singer of their previous band, The Primitives, left to attend c ...
, the
Gear Daddies The Gear Daddies are a rock band originally from Austin, Minnesota. Randy Broughten (electric and steel guitar), Nick Ciola ( bass), Billy Dankert (drums and vocals), and Martin Zellar (guitar, harmonica and vocals) played their first shows to ...
and the
Honeydogs The Honeydogs is a band from Saint Paul, Minnesota that opened at First Avenue in 1994. History The band's popularity grew after signing with record label Mercury Records, and their major label debut album '' Seen a Ghost'' in 1997.Horak, Ter ...
. They have released eleven studio albums, with and without Olson (who left the band for the first time in 1995), including five on the American Recordings label. After going on hiatus from 2005 to 2009, the 1995 lineup of the band reunited and released the album ''Mockingbird Time'' in September 2011; Olson left the band for the second time after the tour to promote the album. After another hiatus in 2013, the 1997 lineup led by Louris reunited to play shows in 2014 to support the reissue of three albums originally released between 1997 and 2003. Since then, the band has continued to tour and record, releasing the albums '' Live at The Belly Up'' in 2015; ''
Paging Mr. Proust ''Paging Mr. Proust'' is the ninth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released in 2016. Background The Jayhawks toured and recorded ''Mockingbird Time'' with founding member Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, who returned in 2011. ...
'', co-produced by
Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his car ...
, in 2016; ''
Back Roads and Abandoned Motels ''Back Roads and Abandoned Motels'' is the tenth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released on July 13, 2018. Background Along with two new songs written by Gary Louris, the album mainly features songs co-written by Louris for pre ...
'' in 2018; and '' XOXO'' in 2020.


History


Founding years and early success (1984–1995)

The Jayhawks was formed in 1984 by Minneapolis musicians Mark Olson (guitar and vocals) and Caleb Palmiter (bass), with the duo adding Tommy Rey (drums) for its first shows. In 1985 the short-lived trio was relaunched as a four-piece band after Olson recruited Steve Retzler (guitar), Marc Perlman (bass), and Norm Rogers (drums). Later that year
Gary Louris Gary Louris (born March 10, 1955) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the ...
(guitar and vocals) replaced Retzler. Their first album, ''The Jayhawks'', was released by Bunkhouse Records, a small independent label, in 1986. Their music at the time, mostly written by Olson, showed a strong
roots A root is the part of a plant, generally underground, that anchors the plant body, and absorbs and stores water and nutrients. Root or roots may also refer to: Art, entertainment, and media * ''The Root'' (magazine), an online magazine focusing ...
/
country rock Country rock is a genre of music which fuses rock and country. It was developed by rock musicians who began to record country-flavored records in the late 1960s and early 1970s. These musicians recorded rock records using country themes, vocal s ...
influence. Rogers left and was replaced by Thad Spencer, and the band worked for the next years on demo tapes in search of a major
label A label (as distinct from signage) is a piece of paper, plastic film, cloth, metal, or other material affixed to a container or product, on which is written or printed information or symbols about the product or item. Information printed dir ...
recording contract A recording contract (commonly called a record contract or record deal) is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist (or group), where the artist makes a record (or series of records) for the label to sell and promote. Artists ...
. During this period, Louris left the band briefly (following a car accident) and Dan Gaarder replaced him. Louris returned, and the collected demos from 1986 to 1989 were brought together to create ''Blue Earth'', released on the Minneapolis label Twin Tone in 1989. On this album Louris shared more of the songwriting with Olson. After touring the U.S. in support of ''Blue Earth'', Spencer left the band and was replaced in 1988 by Ken Callahan, who stayed with the band until 1993. In 1991, Dave Ayers, the head of A&R for Twin Tone, was on a phone call with A&R representative
George Drakoulias George Drakoulias (born 1965) is a Greek-American music producer and a former A&R executive at the American Recordings label. He is often considered a protégé of Rick Rubin. Drakoulias grew up in Syosset, New York, and attended Syosset High Sch ...
of
Def American American Recordings (formerly Def American Recordings) is an American record label headed by producer Rick Rubin. The label has featured artists such as Slayer, the Black Crowes, ZZ Top, Danzig, Trouble, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, The Mother Hips ...
while ''Blue Earth'' played in the background. Drakoulias asked about the music and eventually met with and signed the band to the label later that year. In 1992 the Jayhawks had their major label release, ''
Hollywood Town Hall ''Hollywood Town Hall'' is the third studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Heatseekers chart and number 192 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The cover art for the album was shot in Hollywood Township ...
'', on
Def American American Recordings (formerly Def American Recordings) is an American record label headed by producer Rick Rubin. The label has featured artists such as Slayer, the Black Crowes, ZZ Top, Danzig, Trouble, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, The Mother Hips ...
. The album was produced by Drakoulias and recorded primarily in Los Angeles and at Pachyderm Recording Studio in Minnesota. Though Louris's fuzzy guitar was at the forefront, a clear folksy influence was also emerging in Olson and Louris's songwriting. The album was successful, powered by the single "Waiting for the Sun", and it brought the Jayhawks a wider fan base. Adding Karen Grotberg on keyboards and vocals, the band
toured ''Toured (A Live Album)'' was a live album by Huntington Beach pop punk band Big Drill Car. The concert was recorded live at New York's CBGB's on September 3, 1991, at the beginning of a nineteen-week tour known as ''The Batch World Tour'', in su ...
extensively. That year Olson, Louris and Perlman, along with Olson's longtime friend and future collaborator in the
Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers were an Americana group formed by songwriter Mark Olson and his wife, Victoria Williams, after Olson left his previous band, the Jayhawks. The group has also been called Rolling Creekdippers as well as jus ...
, Mike Russell, were recruited by
Joe Henry Joseph Lee Henry (born December 2, 1960) is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist, and producer. He has released 15 studio albums and produced multiple recordings for other artists, including three Grammy Award-winning albums. Early life H ...
as the backing band for his album ""Short Man's Room" and its 1993 followup, "Kindness of the World." In 1995 they went into the studio to produce ''
Tomorrow the Green Grass ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on February 14, 1995. It peaked at number 92 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Background ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' was the band's first album ...
'' on the renamed American Recordings label. The lead track, "Blue", was a
Top 40 In the music industry, the Top 40 is the current, 40 most-popular songs in a particular genre. It is the best-selling or most frequently broadcast popular music. Record charts have traditionally consisted of a total of 40 songs. "Top 40" or " con ...
hit in
Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
(peaking at No. 33), but the record's production had been very expensive and the album failed to sell as expected in the U.S. Among the album's songs is "Miss Williams' Guitar," a love song for Olson's then-girlfriend, singer-songwriter
Victoria Williams Victoria Williams (born December 23, 1958) is an American singer, songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. Diagnosed with multi ...
(the pair later married, but divorced in February 2006). Drummer, singer and songwriter Tim O'Reagan joined the band for the 1995 tour; session drummer Don Heffington had played on the album.


Middle years (1995–2004)

By the end of 1995, Olson unexpectedly left the band to spend more time with Williams (with whom he would later form the
Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers The Original Harmony Ridge Creekdippers were an Americana group formed by songwriter Mark Olson and his wife, Victoria Williams, after Olson left his previous band, the Jayhawks. The group has also been called Rolling Creekdippers as well as jus ...
). The band continued to record as the Jayhawks, adding Kraig Johnson on guitar. Johnson, another Minneapolis musical fixture, had played in the seminal SST band Run Westy Run, Iffy and
Golden Smog Golden Smog is an alternative country-rock supergroup of loosely connected musicians mostly from the Minneapolis area. At various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star h ...
. The Jayhawks released ''
Sound of Lies ''Sound of Lies'' is the fifth studio album by American rock music, rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 112 on the Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200. With the departure of Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, Gary Louris became the principal ...
'' in 1997, with Louris composing most of the songs and allowing all of his influences a share in the proceedings. The result mixed straight rock (the ironic "Big Star"), psychedelic, acoustic (the title track) and even some dub elements, taking the band far from its country-influenced origins. ''
Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses ...
'' (2000), produced by
Bob Ezrin Robert Alan Ezrin (born March 25, 1949) is a Canadian music producer and keyboardist, best known for his work with Lou Reed, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Andrea Bocelli and Phish. As of 2010, Ezrin' ...
, had more of a pop music feel (which utilized new sounds for the band, like drum loops and synthesizers), jarring some of the band's long-time fans. The ''
New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid d ...
'' positively reviewed the album, but in a nod to the band's lack of widespread recognition, titled the review "What If You Made a Classic and No One Cared?" Though still a member through the recording of the album, a pregnant Grotberg left the band before the ''Smile'' tour and was replaced by Jen Gunderman. The song "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" appeared in a
Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren, ( ; ; born October 14, 1939) is an American fashion designer, philanthropist, and billionaire businessman, best known for the Ralph Lauren Corporation, a global multibillion-dollar enterprise. He has become well known for his co ...
commercial, the second soundtrack released from Dawson's Creek ''Songs from Dawson's Creek Volume 2'', and the 2001 film ''
All Over the Guy ''All Over the Guy'' is a 2001 American gay-themed romantic comedy film directed by Julie Davis and written by Dan Bucatinsky. Plot The film is told mostly in flashback; with Eli (Dan Bucatinsky) recounting his side to Esther (Doris Roberts), ...
''. ''
Rainy Day Music ''Rainy Day Music'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on April 8, 2003. It debuted on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number 51, selling 19,000 copies that week. History At the time of the recording, The Jayhawks c ...
'' (2003), was stripped down, more acoustic, and generally seen as a return to their alt-country roots ("Tailspin," "Stumbling Through the Dark," "You Look So Young"). The band now consisted of founding members Louris and Perlman, along with drummer O'Reagan and touring band member ex- Long Ryder Stephen McCarthy, from Richmond, Virginia, who also played with
Johnny Hott Johnny Hott was the drummer for the House of Freaks, a musical duo with singer/guitarist Bryan Harvey. He was also one of three drummers for the band Cracker. He has also played drums for indie supergroup Gutterball and drums and keyboards fo ...
and the Piedmont Surprise. McCarthy added pedal steel, lap steel, banjo, guitar and backing vocals to the album and subsequent live shows. This lineup toured in 2003 and early 2004, including their first appearance on PBS's long-running series
Austin City Limits ''Austin City Limits'' is an American live music television program recorded and produced by Austin PBS. The show helped Austin become widely known in the United States as the "Live Music Capital of the World", and is the only television show t ...
. The band's final show was in
Valencia Valencia ( va, València) is the capital of the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Valencian Community, Valencia and the Municipalities of Spain, third-most populated municipality in Spain, with 791,413 inhabitants. It is ...
,
Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...
. In addition to their studio albums, the Jayhawks released ''Live from the Women's Club'', an all-acoustic live recording of Louris, Perlman and O'Reagan from 2002. It was sold only at concerts as an "Official Jayhawks Bootleg." It includes the demo of the original version of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me", called "Someone Will", and a cover of
David Wiffen David Wiffen (born 11 March 1942) is an English-Canadian folk singer-songwriter. Two of his songs, "Driving Wheel" and "More Often Than Not", have become cover standards. Early life Wiffen was born in Redhill, Surrey, England.
's "(Lost My) Driving Wheel", originally popularized by
Tom Rush Thomas Walker Rush (born February 8, 1941) is an American folk and blues singer, guitarist and songwriter who helped launch the careers of other singer-songwriters in the 1960s and has continued his own singing career for 60 years. Life and ...
. A follow-up, ''Live from the Women's Club 2'', contains the rest of the concert, including a cover of
Tim Hardin James Timothy Hardin (December 23, 1941 – December 29, 1980) was an American folk and blues musician and composer. As well as releasing his own material, several of his songs, including " If I Were a Carpenter" and "Reason to Believe", becam ...
's "
Reason to Believe "Reason to Believe" is a song written, composed, and first recorded by American folk singer Tim Hardin in 1965. It has since been recorded by artists including Bobby Darin in 1966, Karen Dalton also in 1966, Glen Campbell in 1968, the Nitty Gritty ...
" and a rendition of "Jennifer Save Me" from
Golden Smog Golden Smog is an alternative country-rock supergroup of loosely connected musicians mostly from the Minneapolis area. At various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star h ...
, the alt/country supergroup of which Louris was a founding member (and which Perlman later joined).


Hiatus (2004–2009)

Both old and new Jayhawks members progressed to solo efforts and side projects, and the band as a whole was generally considered to be broken up and not expected to produce new material soon. However, the band members appeared to have kept in touch, tour together in their other projects, and reunited on occasion. Olson and Louris toured together in the winter of 2005 and spring of 2006, billed as "From the Jayhawks: An Evening with Mark Olson &
Gary Louris Gary Louris (born March 10, 1955) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the ...
, Together Again." In September 2008, the 1995 lineup of Louris, Olson, O'Reagan, Grotberg and Perlman reunited briefly for the Azkena Rock Festival in
Vitoria-Gasteiz es, vitoriano, vitoriana, , population_density_km2 = auto , blank_name_sec1 = Official language(s) , blank_info_sec1 = Spanish, Basque , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...
, Spain. In January 2009, Olson and Louris released an acoustic album, ''Ready for the Flood''.


Aftermath (2009–present)

In April 2009, ''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'' reported that the Jayhawks had reunited. The band's mid-1990s lineup played two shows that summer, one at
Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...
's
Primavera Sound Festival Primavera Sound (commonly referred to as simply Primavera) is an annual music festival held in Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona, Spain that takes place between the end of May and beginning of June. The first edition took place in 2001 in Poble Espany ...
on May 30 and one at Minneapolis's Basilica Block Party on July 10. Band co-leader Louris told ''Billboard'' that the reunion would be a part-time thing: "I think the plan is that we're going to play festivals. Next year, we're hoping to play Bonnaroo and things like that. We'll see if it grows from there." In July 2009, Sony Legacy and American Recordings released ''Music from the North Country, The Jayhawks Anthology'', a project supervised by Louris. The standard CD features highlights from the band's studio albums, while a deluxe version adds rarities, B-sides, and unreleased material, as well as a DVD of the band's music videos. On May 18, 2010, the initial release ''The Jayhawks'' was digitally remastered from reel-to-reel and reissued on Lost Highway Records. The re-release features an eleven-page booklet designed by Olson. In fall 2010, the Jayhawks returned to the recording studio, planning to have a new album out by spring or early summer 2011. In January 2011,
Legacy Recordings Legacy Recordings is an American record label that is a division of Sony Music. Formed in 1990 after Sony's acquisition of CBS Records, Legacy originally handled the archives of Sony Music-owned labels Columbia Records and Epic Records. In 20 ...
reissued collector's editions of both ''
Hollywood Town Hall ''Hollywood Town Hall'' is the third studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Heatseekers chart and number 192 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The cover art for the album was shot in Hollywood Township ...
'' and ''
Tomorrow the Green Grass ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on February 14, 1995. It peaked at number 92 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Background ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' was the band's first album ...
,'' each featuring outtakes and B-sides. ''
Tomorrow the Green Grass ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on February 14, 1995. It peaked at number 92 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Background ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' was the band's first album ...
'' features a second disc, entitled ''The Mystery Demos,'' featuring tracks from two recording sessions with Olson and Louris in 1992. Prior to the release of ''The Mystery Demos'', several of the featured tracks had been re-recorded and released on various Jayhawks related albums, such as Olson's solo release, ''
The Salvation Blues ''The Salvation Blues'' is the debut solo album by singer/songwriter Mark Olson, released in 2007. Olson's 10-year marriage to Victoria Williams had ended in divorce and he subsequently suffered from depression. He wrote the songs for the album ...
'' and the Olson–Louris collaboration ''
Ready for the Flood ''Ready for the Flood'' is an album by former Jayhawks bandmates Mark Olson and Gary Louris, released in Europe on December 1, 2008, and in the US on January 29, 2009. It was their first collaboration since Olson had left the band in 1995. The ...
.'' To celebrate the release of the reissues, the Jayhawks—Louris, Olson, Perlman, Grotberg, and O'Reagan—launched a concert mini-tour in January 2011, with shows in
Toronto Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
(January 18),
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
(January 20 and 21),
Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
(January 22),
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
(January 27 and 28), and
Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
(January 29). For the January 20 show at New York's
Webster Hall Webster Hall is a nightclub and concert venue located at 125 East 11th Street, between Third and Fourth Avenues, near Astor Place, in the East Village of Manhattan, New York City. It is one of New York City's most historically significant ...
, the band performed ''
Hollywood Town Hall ''Hollywood Town Hall'' is the third studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Heatseekers chart and number 192 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The cover art for the album was shot in Hollywood Township ...
'' in its entirety, followed by the complete ''
Tomorrow the Green Grass ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on February 14, 1995. It peaked at number 92 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Background ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' was the band's first album ...
'' the following evening.The Hawks Are Out
by Daniel Alleva, ''The Aquarian Weekly'', January 19, 2011.
In 2011 the band reunited again and recorded a new studio album. The lineup consisted of Olson, Louris, Perlman, Grotberg, and O'Reagan, and, as Louris said, "Our goal is to make the best Jayhawks album that's ever been done". Eighteen songs were recorded, 16 of them new, but only 12 made it to the final release. The album, ''
Mockingbird Time ''Mockingbird Time'' is the eighth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released on September 20, 2011. The album marked the returns of the original front man Mark Olson, who had left the group in 1995 after the release of ''Tomorro ...
'', was released September 20. From 2009 to 2012 this lineup performed over 100 shows in North America and Europe before once again going on hiatus in the fall of 2012. 2014 saw new activity from the band once again. The final phase of the career-spanning reissue project started in 2009 commenced in the summer of 2014 with the reissue (on CD and LP) of the three albums the band made after Olson left in 1995: ''
Sound of Lies ''Sound of Lies'' is the fifth studio album by American rock music, rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 112 on the Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200. With the departure of Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, Gary Louris became the principal ...
'' (1997), ''
Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses ...
'' (2000) and ''
Rainy Day Music ''Rainy Day Music'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on April 8, 2003. It debuted on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number 51, selling 19,000 copies that week. History At the time of the recording, The Jayhawks c ...
'' (2003). The reissues, on American Recordings/UME, feature bonus tracks, new liner notes and fresh remastering from original analog sources by Vic Anesini. Deluxe two-LP vinyl editions were also released; this was the first vinyl release in the U.S. of ''
Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses ...
'' and the first time vinyl copies of ''
Sound of Lies ''Sound of Lies'' is the fifth studio album by American rock music, rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 112 on the Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200. With the departure of Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, Gary Louris became the principal ...
'' and ''
Rainy Day Music ''Rainy Day Music'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on April 8, 2003. It debuted on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number 51, selling 19,000 copies that week. History At the time of the recording, The Jayhawks c ...
'' had been available after having been long out of print. Most of the 1997 touring lineup (Louris, Perlman, O'Reagan, Grotberg and Johnson) toured in 2014 and 2015 to support the reissues, concentrating on material from the 1997–2004 era of the band that had largely gone unplayed in concert for over a decade. The band released ''Live at the Belly-Up,'' a digital-only album on April 7, 2015. The band announced in September 2015 that they were recording a new studio album with the 2014–2015 lineup. The album was recorded in Portland, Oregon, with
Peter Buck Peter Lawrence Buck (born December 6, 1956) is an American musician and songwriter. He was a co-founder and the lead guitarist of the alternative rock band R.E.M. He also plays the banjo and mandolin on several R.E.M. songs. Throughout his car ...
from
R.E.M R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternativ ...
and
Tucker Martine Tucker Martine (born January 14, 1972) is an American record producer, musician and composer. In 2010, ''Paste'' Magazine included Martine in their list of the 10 Best Producers of the Decade. Early life Tucker Martine, the son of singer and son ...
producing. In January 2016 The Jayhawks announced on their Tumblr account that their new album would be titled ''
Paging Mr. Proust ''Paging Mr. Proust'' is the ninth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released in 2016. Background The Jayhawks toured and recorded ''Mockingbird Time'' with founding member Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, who returned in 2011. ...
'' and it was released on April 29, 2016 on Thirty Tigers. Kraig Johnson left the band again before the release of ''Paging Mr. Proust''. Jeff "Chet" Lyster was added as a touring member on guitar, pedal steel and background vocals prior to the 2016 tour. The band collaborated with
Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the rock band the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother Dave on lead guitar and backing voca ...
, formerly of
The Kinks The Kinks were an English rock band formed in Muswell Hill, north London, in 1963 by brothers Ray and Dave Davies. They are regarded as one of the most influential rock bands of the 1960s. The band emerged during the height of British rhythm ...
, for an album released in April, 2017 titled ''
Americana Americana may refer to: *Americana (music), a genre or style of American music *Americana (culture), artifacts of the culture of the United States Film, radio and television * ''Americana'' (1992 TV series), a documentary series presented by J ...
'', based on Davies' experiences in the USA. The Jayhawks also backed
Wesley Stace Wesley Stace (born 22 October 1965) is an English folk/pop singer-songwriter and author, who has used the stage name John Wesley Harding. Under his legal name, he has written four novels. He is also an occasional university teacher and the cur ...
on his 2017 album ''Wesley Stace's John Wesley Harding''. Norm Rogers, the band's drummer from 1984 to 1988, died on February 19, 2018. 2018 saw The Jayhawks backing
Ray Davies Sir Raymond Douglas Davies ( ; born 21 June 1944) is an English musician. He was the lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist, and main songwriter for the rock band the Kinks, which he led with his younger brother Dave on lead guitar and backing voca ...
again on his album ''Our Country - Americana Act II'' (released June 2018) as well as releasing their own album ''
Back Roads and Abandoned Motels ''Back Roads and Abandoned Motels'' is the tenth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released on July 13, 2018. Background Along with two new songs written by Gary Louris, the album mainly features songs co-written by Louris for pre ...
'' (July 2018). The band also recorded "What Would I Dreamer Do?" for the compilation album '' Forever Words'', setting lyrics by
Johnny Cash John R. Cash (born J. R. Cash; February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was an American country singer-songwriter. Much of Cash's music contained themes of sorrow, moral tribulation, and redemption, especially in the later stages of his ca ...
to music for the first time. On July 13, 2018 the Jayhawks released ''
Back Roads and Abandoned Motels ''Back Roads and Abandoned Motels'' is the tenth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released on July 13, 2018. Background Along with two new songs written by Gary Louris, the album mainly features songs co-written by Louris for pre ...
'' on Sony Legacy Recordings label, featuring new fifth member
John Jackson John or Johnny Jackson may refer to: Entertainment Art * John Baptist Jackson (1701–1780), British artist * John Jackson (painter) (1778–1831), British painter * John Jackson (engraver) (1801–1848), English wood engraver * John Richardson ...
, who co-produced the album and served previously as a touring member on some tour dates since 2014. The band has been honored with a star on the outside mural of the
Minneapolis Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...
nightclub First Avenue, recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue. Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh. In 2020, the core lineup of Louris, Pearlman, O'Reagan, and Grotberg released the new album, '' XOXO'', that featured songwriting and lead vocals from each member of the band. Previous / part-time members
John Jackson John or Johnny Jackson may refer to: Entertainment Art * John Baptist Jackson (1701–1780), British artist * John Jackson (painter) (1778–1831), British painter * John Jackson (engraver) (1801–1848), English wood engraver * John Richardson ...
and Stephen McCarthy recorded on select songs, as well. The band appeared on the CBS This Morning: Saturday national morning show on June 27, 2020. The band resumed touring in 2021, with multiple dates on the Fall 2021 tour featuring McCarthy in the performing lineup for just the second time in 17 years.


Members

Since the departure of John Jackson as a full-time member, the current lineup of the Jayhawks consists of: *
Gary Louris Gary Louris (born March 10, 1955) is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter of alternative country and pop music. He was a founding member of the Minneapolis-based band the Jayhawks and their principal songwriter and vocalist after the ...
: guitar, lead vocals, backing vocals * Tim O'Reagan: drums, backing vocals, lead vocals * Karen Grotberg: keyboards, backing vocals * Marc Perlman: bass, backing vocals, lead vocals


Timeline


Discography


Jayhawks studio albums

* ''
The Jayhawks The Jayhawks are an American alternative country and country rock band that emerged from the Twin Cities music scene in the mid-1980s. Led by vocalists/guitarists/songwriters Gary Louris and Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, their country rock ...
'' (1986) * '' Blue Earth'' (1989) * ''
Hollywood Town Hall ''Hollywood Town Hall'' is the third studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 11 on the ''Billboard'' Heatseekers chart and number 192 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The cover art for the album was shot in Hollywood Township ...
'' (1992) * ''
Tomorrow the Green Grass ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' is the fourth studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on February 14, 1995. It peaked at number 92 on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart. Background ''Tomorrow the Green Grass'' was the band's first album ...
'' (1995) * ''
Sound of Lies ''Sound of Lies'' is the fifth studio album by American rock music, rock band The Jayhawks. It peaked at number 112 on the Billboard 200, ''Billboard'' 200. With the departure of Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, Gary Louris became the principal ...
'' (1997) * ''
Smile A smile is a facial expression formed primarily by flexing the muscles at the sides of the mouth. Some smiles include a contraction of the muscles at the corner of the eyes, an action known as a Duchenne smile. Among humans, a smile expresses ...
'' (2000) * ''
Rainy Day Music ''Rainy Day Music'' is the seventh studio album by American rock band The Jayhawks, released on April 8, 2003. It debuted on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number 51, selling 19,000 copies that week. History At the time of the recording, The Jayhawks c ...
'' (2003) * ''
Mockingbird Time ''Mockingbird Time'' is the eighth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released on September 20, 2011. The album marked the returns of the original front man Mark Olson, who had left the group in 1995 after the release of ''Tomorro ...
'' (2011) * ''
Paging Mr. Proust ''Paging Mr. Proust'' is the ninth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released in 2016. Background The Jayhawks toured and recorded ''Mockingbird Time'' with founding member Mark Olson (musician), Mark Olson, who returned in 2011. ...
'' (2016) * ''
Back Roads and Abandoned Motels ''Back Roads and Abandoned Motels'' is the tenth studio album by the alt country band The Jayhawks, released on July 13, 2018. Background Along with two new songs written by Gary Louris, the album mainly features songs co-written by Louris for pre ...
'' (2018) * '' XOXO'' (2020)


See also

*
Golden Smog Golden Smog is an alternative country-rock supergroup of loosely connected musicians mostly from the Minneapolis area. At various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star h ...


References


External links

*
Official Jayhawks Lost Highway Artist Page
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jayhawks, The Musical groups from Minnesota American alternative country groups Lost Highway Records artists Musical groups established in 1985 Articles which contain graphical timelines 1985 establishments in Minnesota Rounder Records artists Thirty Tigers artists