Field Day (band)
Encyclopedia
Field Day was a Canadian pop-punk band from Calgary
, Alberta
. The bands original lineup consisted of guitarist and singer John Hiebert, drummer Jay Kreway (who were both members of Calgary punk band "Ninth Configuration") along with bassist Jonas Smith (also known as Joner Baloner).
After a number of local cassette and EP releases, the band released their first full length album Friction on September 29, 1995 on Long Beach California's Lethal Records label. Two songs from the album scored soundtrack appearances. Hiebert's "Denial" appeared on the soundtrack for the movie National Lampoon's Senior Trip
, while the Jonas Smith-penned single "Enough for Two" and it's B-side "Other Guy" were both featured on the soundtrack for the Canadian independent film The Suburbanators. The album was co-produced by the band and Jeff Burns and was a moderate success in Canada, spawning two Much Music-aired videos and charting in the top 50 on the Canadian College Charts.
Shortly after, the band split with Lethal after the label sold Field Day's rights to their own publishing profits. In 1996, they released their second album Big Wheels on Montreal label Cargo Records and played on the Canadian leg of the Vans Warped Tour in Toronto
and Montreal
.
In 1997, the band played again on the Vans Warped Tour in Vancouver
. After the Warped Tour, Field Day signed with Devil Doll Records and released Emerald and Jaded on June 24, 1997. Emerald and Jaded was a combination of songs that appeared on Friction and Big Wheels. Jonas left the band in August 1997 to live in Brazil. He was replaced by bassist Roger Nilson
.
In 2000, the band once again played the Warped Tour in Calgary and released a new album of original material recorded at Calgary’s Sundae Sound studios. The album was called The Dawn of a New Day and was released on August 8, 2000. The Dawn of a New Day featured new bassist Brock McAndless and featured guests Doug Bevans (The Smalls
), Bob Keelaghan (Puritans) and Chris Temple (Earthquake Pills, Wagbeard). The album was co-produced, engineered and mixed by Dave Alcock of Chixdiggit. McAndless quit after recording the album and was replaced by Steve Elaschuk
.
After touring behind The Dawn of a New Day, the band split up. In the early 2000s Jay Kreway spent some time touring with The Burnettes, The Sleepers and The Great Evil with Chris Temple. He also started Huntington Homes, his own house framing company. Hiebert managed and booked bands for the Castle Pub in Calgary.
In May 2004 the band briefly reunited with a second guitarist (Paul Gerber) for an eight date tour through western Canada with Winnipeg band Burn the 8 Track. In an interview with Edmonton news and entertainment newspaper Vue Weekly
at the time, Hiebert expressed interest in recording a new EP for release later that year, as well as re-issuing the band's back catalogue.
In October 2007, Field Day reunited to play one show as part of Castlefest, a series of shows that took place prior to the closing of the Castle Pub in Calgary.
In 2009, Smith returned to the music scene with the independent self titled album JJS3. JJS3 is a one-man band with all songwriting and instrumentation performed by Smith. The name of the new project comes from Smith's full name - Jonas J. Smith III. Since leaving Field Day, Smith had traveled before settling in Whitehorse, Yukon
where he works at local venue Coasters booking entertainment.
.
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
, Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
. The bands original lineup consisted of guitarist and singer John Hiebert, drummer Jay Kreway (who were both members of Calgary punk band "Ninth Configuration") along with bassist Jonas Smith (also known as Joner Baloner).
After a number of local cassette and EP releases, the band released their first full length album Friction on September 29, 1995 on Long Beach California's Lethal Records label. Two songs from the album scored soundtrack appearances. Hiebert's "Denial" appeared on the soundtrack for the movie National Lampoon's Senior Trip
National Lampoon's Senior Trip
National Lampoon's Senior Trip is a 1995 teen movie directed by Kelly Makin.- Plot :The film follows the story of a group of rude and obnoxious seniors from Fairmont High, an Ohio high school. After a typing class, the seniors cut school and throw a party at the home of Principal Moss...
, while the Jonas Smith-penned single "Enough for Two" and it's B-side "Other Guy" were both featured on the soundtrack for the Canadian independent film The Suburbanators. The album was co-produced by the band and Jeff Burns and was a moderate success in Canada, spawning two Much Music-aired videos and charting in the top 50 on the Canadian College Charts.
Shortly after, the band split with Lethal after the label sold Field Day's rights to their own publishing profits. In 1996, they released their second album Big Wheels on Montreal label Cargo Records and played on the Canadian leg of the Vans Warped Tour in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
.
In 1997, the band played again on the Vans Warped Tour in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. After the Warped Tour, Field Day signed with Devil Doll Records and released Emerald and Jaded on June 24, 1997. Emerald and Jaded was a combination of songs that appeared on Friction and Big Wheels. Jonas left the band in August 1997 to live in Brazil. He was replaced by bassist Roger Nilson
Spiritual Beggars
Spiritual Beggars is a hard rock/stoner metal band from Halmstad, Sweden, formed by Michael Amott, who is known from Arch Enemy, Carcass and Carnage.- Biography :...
.
In 2000, the band once again played the Warped Tour in Calgary and released a new album of original material recorded at Calgary’s Sundae Sound studios. The album was called The Dawn of a New Day and was released on August 8, 2000. The Dawn of a New Day featured new bassist Brock McAndless and featured guests Doug Bevans (The Smalls
The Smalls
The Smalls were a hard rock/metal band from Edmonton, Alberta, with jazz, hardcore punk, speed metal and country music influences. They were probably the most prominent Alberta band in the second wave of performers coming out of the Canadian west coast DIY scene that was first ushered into Alberta...
), Bob Keelaghan (Puritans) and Chris Temple (Earthquake Pills, Wagbeard). The album was co-produced, engineered and mixed by Dave Alcock of Chixdiggit. McAndless quit after recording the album and was replaced by Steve Elaschuk
The Daggers
The Daggers are a punk rock n roll band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The band formed in 1997 and their music is heavily influenced by late seventies punk and rock n roll bands...
.
After touring behind The Dawn of a New Day, the band split up. In the early 2000s Jay Kreway spent some time touring with The Burnettes, The Sleepers and The Great Evil with Chris Temple. He also started Huntington Homes, his own house framing company. Hiebert managed and booked bands for the Castle Pub in Calgary.
In May 2004 the band briefly reunited with a second guitarist (Paul Gerber) for an eight date tour through western Canada with Winnipeg band Burn the 8 Track. In an interview with Edmonton news and entertainment newspaper Vue Weekly
Vue Weekly
Vue Weekly is an alternative weekly newspaper published in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and with new issues coming out every Thursday.Vue was founded in 1995 by former employees and owners of SEE Magazine, upset over losing control of SEE to creditors...
at the time, Hiebert expressed interest in recording a new EP for release later that year, as well as re-issuing the band's back catalogue.
In October 2007, Field Day reunited to play one show as part of Castlefest, a series of shows that took place prior to the closing of the Castle Pub in Calgary.
In 2009, Smith returned to the music scene with the independent self titled album JJS3. JJS3 is a one-man band with all songwriting and instrumentation performed by Smith. The name of the new project comes from Smith's full name - Jonas J. Smith III. Since leaving Field Day, Smith had traveled before settling in Whitehorse, Yukon
Whitehorse, Yukon
Whitehorse is Yukon's capital and largest city . It was incorporated in 1950 and is located at kilometre 1476 on the Alaska Highway in southern Yukon. Whitehorse's downtown and Riverdale areas occupy both shores of the Yukon River, which originates in British Columbia and meets the Bering Sea in...
where he works at local venue Coasters booking entertainment.
Music videos
The video for the song "Enough for Two" received airplay on Canadian music video station Much Music. Other videos for the songs "Denial" and "Big Wheels" were directed by Matthew KershawMatthew Kershaw
Matthew Kershaw is a Gemini Award nominated television producer and film and television writer. He is the co-creator and producer of the award winning series At the End of My Leash...
.
Discography
- Pet (1992)
- Hot Wax (1994)
- Friction (1995)
- Big Wheels (1996)
- Emerald and Jaded (1997)
- Menage a Trois Split EP with Mandingo and Nooner (1999)
- The Dawn of a New Day (2000)
External links
- [ Field Day at Allmusic.com]
- [ AMG's Review of Emerald and Jaded]
- SEE Magazine's Review of Emerald and Jaded
- SEE Magazine's Review of Big Wheels
- YouTube.com link to the Music Video for the song "Enough For Two"
- YouTube.com link to the Music Video for the song "Denial"
- YouTube.com link to the Music Video for the song "Big Wheels"