Jed Davis
Encyclopedia
Jed Davis is a New York City musician.
As a high-school senior, keyboardist Davis formed the band Skyscape with singer Domenic Maltempi in 1991. Skyscape recorded a CD, Band of the Week, two years later. After moving to the Albany area to attend the State University of New York
at Albany, Davis performed in a solo capacity, self-releasing a demo tape titled Jed Has Too Much Free Time. The demo's 33 songs were recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder by Davis and guitarist Alex Dubovoy in one weekend marathon.
Davis formed a new band, The Hanslick Rebellion, in 1995 with Dubovoy and bassist Mike Keaney. Known for a live show matched in intensity only by the group's backstage in-fighting, the Rebellion self-released the live cassette the rebellion is here in 1996. The volatile band imploded and ended in early 1997, reuniting for a tenth anniversary performance at New York's CBGB
on September 22, 2005.
After graduation Davis moved to Woodhaven, Queens, and began composing in earnest across the musical spectrum, releasing two solo albums, We're All Going to Jail! (1997) and Jed Davis Wastes 8 Years of His Life for Your Listening Pleasure (1999) on Connecticut-based independent label J-Bird Records.
As programmer for the electronica/punk fusion band Collider
(formed 1997), Davis was a pioneer of New York City's Electroclash
movement. Collider's debut album, 1998's Blowing Shit Up, was a mash-up of samples, dance grooves, synthesizers, and rock guitars applied to traditional pop forms and themes.
In 2001, J-Bird Records honored Davis with Everybody Wants to be Like Jed, a tribute album which featured cover art by Peter Bagge
and performances of signature Davis tunes by an eclectic host of indie artists including Brian Dewan
, Daniel Johnston
, Anal Cunt
, Wesley Willis
, King Missile
, and members of Agnostic Front
.
Moving to lower Manhattan influenced Davis's transition from Electroclash toward a rawer punk
sound, and to that end he began collaborating with some of New York's original punk rockers. Collider's final release, WCYF (2003), was produced by Ramones drummer/producer Tommy Ramone
. In addition, Davis's tribute song to Joey Ramone
, "The Bowery Electric", brought Tommy, Marky and CJ Ramone, as well as Ramones
producer Daniel Rey
, together for a historic recording session.
As a session keyboardist, Davis has performed and recorded with musical acts of all genres, including Jessica Simpson
, The Deuce Project, and Bandcamp. He has also written the music and lyrics for a stage musical, Rise and Shine, with librettist Arturo Vega.
After Collider disbanded in 2004, Davis released a single, "With Love From America", under the band name The Congregation Of Vapors. He resumed full-time duty with The Hanslick Rebellion following their 2005 reunion; to date they have released a remastered version of the rebellion is here on CD, and a digital EP entitled The Deli Of Life, which spawned a successful online video for the song "You Are Boring The Shit Out Of Me".
In July 2008, Davis recorded 14 songs for a solo album at Chicago's Electrical Audio
with engineer Steve Albini
under the working title Shoot the Piano Player. As is customary for Albini recordings, the entire album was captured live to tape as performed by Davis and drummer Joe Abbatantuono.
Davis is currently working on new material, both solo and with a new band, Jeebus. The latter features members of both Collider and the Rebellion, plus guitarist Reeves Gabrels
. He is also producing a recording for New Hampshire singer-songwriter Amy Willey.
Davis is co-founder of the independent folk-punk record label Eschatone Records, which is home to Dewan, Michael Bassett, The Visitors and wax.on wax.off, and has also released material by The Valley Arena. He left the company board in the spring of 2009 to concentrate on making his own music; the label will release his CD I Am Jed Davis!, a compilation of representative tracks from Shoot The Piano Player and two other finished but unreleased albums, on July 31.
As a high-school senior, keyboardist Davis formed the band Skyscape with singer Domenic Maltempi in 1991. Skyscape recorded a CD, Band of the Week, two years later. After moving to the Albany area to attend the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
at Albany, Davis performed in a solo capacity, self-releasing a demo tape titled Jed Has Too Much Free Time. The demo's 33 songs were recorded on a 4-track cassette recorder by Davis and guitarist Alex Dubovoy in one weekend marathon.
Davis formed a new band, The Hanslick Rebellion, in 1995 with Dubovoy and bassist Mike Keaney. Known for a live show matched in intensity only by the group's backstage in-fighting, the Rebellion self-released the live cassette the rebellion is here in 1996. The volatile band imploded and ended in early 1997, reuniting for a tenth anniversary performance at New York's CBGB
CBGB
CBGB was a music club at 315 Bowery at Bleecker Street in the borough of Manhattan in New York City.Founded by Hilly Kristal in 1973, it was originally intended to feature its namesake musical styles, but became a forum for American punk and New Wave bands like Ramones, Misfits, Television, the...
on September 22, 2005.
After graduation Davis moved to Woodhaven, Queens, and began composing in earnest across the musical spectrum, releasing two solo albums, We're All Going to Jail! (1997) and Jed Davis Wastes 8 Years of His Life for Your Listening Pleasure (1999) on Connecticut-based independent label J-Bird Records.
As programmer for the electronica/punk fusion band Collider
Collider
A collider is a type of a particle accelerator involving directed beams of particles.Colliders may either be ring accelerators or linear accelerators.-Explanation:...
(formed 1997), Davis was a pioneer of New York City's Electroclash
Electroclash
Electroclash is a style of music that fuses New Wave and electronic dance music. It emerged in New York and Detroit in the later 1990s, pioneered by acts including I-F and those associated with Gerald Donald, and is associated with acts including Peaches, Adult, and Fischerspooner...
movement. Collider's debut album, 1998's Blowing Shit Up, was a mash-up of samples, dance grooves, synthesizers, and rock guitars applied to traditional pop forms and themes.
In 2001, J-Bird Records honored Davis with Everybody Wants to be Like Jed, a tribute album which featured cover art by Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge
Peter Bagge is an American cartoonist. He is the creator of Buddy Bradley, Hate, Neat Stuff, Martini Baton, and Sweatshop, Apocalypse Nerd and Other Lives. His stories often use black humor and exaggerated cartooning to dramatize the reduced expectations of middle-class American youth...
and performances of signature Davis tunes by an eclectic host of indie artists including Brian Dewan
Brian Dewan
Brian Dewan is an artist who works in many media, including art, music, audio-visual performances, decorative painting, furniture design, poetry and musical instrument design. He has produced three albums of songs and concertized extensively as a solo artist, as well as having performed in various...
, Daniel Johnston
Daniel Johnston
Daniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, Anal Cunt
Anal Cunt
Anal Cunt, also known as AxCx and A.C., was an American grindcore band that formed in Newton, Massachusetts in 1988. Since its inception, the band underwent a number of line-up changes. Known for its grindcore musical style and controversial lyrics, Anal Cunt released eight full-length studio...
, Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis
Wesley Willis was a musician and artist from Chicago. A diagnosed chronic schizophrenic, he gained an enormous cult following in the 1990s after releasing several hundred songs of simple but unique music, with emphasis on his humorous, bizarre, and frequently obscene lyrics...
, King Missile
King Missile
King Missile is an American avant-garde band that has been led in various disparate incarnations by poet/singer John S. Hall since 1986. Currently, Hall performs with a new version of the first incarnation, King Missile ....
, and members of Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front
Agnostic Front is an American hardcore band. The band began playing hardcore similar to their contemporaries, and were thrust to the forefront of the burgeoning New York hardcore scene in the mid-1980s with their widely regarded 1984 classic Victim in Pain before evolving to incorporate thrash...
.
Moving to lower Manhattan influenced Davis's transition from Electroclash toward a rawer punk
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
sound, and to that end he began collaborating with some of New York's original punk rockers. Collider's final release, WCYF (2003), was produced by Ramones drummer/producer Tommy Ramone
Tommy Ramone
Tommy Ramone, also known as Thomas Erdelyi , is a Hungarian American record producer and musician...
. In addition, Davis's tribute song to Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone
Joey Ramone was an American vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist in the punk rock band the Ramones. Joey Ramone's image, voice and tenure as frontman of the Ramones made him a countercultural icon.-Early life:Joey Ramone was born Jeffry Hyman to parents Noel and Charlotte Hyman...
, "The Bowery Electric", brought Tommy, Marky and CJ Ramone, as well as Ramones
Ramones
The Ramones were an American rock band that formed in the New York City neighborhood of Forest Hills, Queens, in 1974. They are often cited as the first punk rock group...
producer Daniel Rey
Daniel Rey
Daniel Rey is an American musician, music producer and songwriter from New York City best known for his work with the Ramones....
, together for a historic recording session.
As a session keyboardist, Davis has performed and recorded with musical acts of all genres, including Jessica Simpson
Jessica Simpson
Jessica Ann Simpson is an American recording artist, actress, television personality, and fashion designer whose rise to fame began in 1999. Since that time, Simpson has achieved many recording milestones, starred in several television shows, movies, and commercials, launched a line of hair and...
, The Deuce Project, and Bandcamp. He has also written the music and lyrics for a stage musical, Rise and Shine, with librettist Arturo Vega.
After Collider disbanded in 2004, Davis released a single, "With Love From America", under the band name The Congregation Of Vapors. He resumed full-time duty with The Hanslick Rebellion following their 2005 reunion; to date they have released a remastered version of the rebellion is here on CD, and a digital EP entitled The Deli Of Life, which spawned a successful online video for the song "You Are Boring The Shit Out Of Me".
In July 2008, Davis recorded 14 songs for a solo album at Chicago's Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio
Electrical Audio is a recording facility founded in Chicago, Illinois by musician and recording engineer Steve Albini in 1997. Hundreds of independent music projects have been recorded there....
with engineer Steve Albini
Steve Albini
Steven Frank Albini is an American singer, songwriter, guitarist, audio engineer and music journalist. He was a member of Big Black, Rapeman, and Flour, and is currently a member of Shellac...
under the working title Shoot the Piano Player. As is customary for Albini recordings, the entire album was captured live to tape as performed by Davis and drummer Joe Abbatantuono.
Davis is currently working on new material, both solo and with a new band, Jeebus. The latter features members of both Collider and the Rebellion, plus guitarist Reeves Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels
Reeves Gabrels is an American guitarist, known for virtuosity, versatility, and originality. His compositions and improvisations defy genre and "explore sonic extremes with a great, adaptive intuition for what each song needs most."...
. He is also producing a recording for New Hampshire singer-songwriter Amy Willey.
Davis is co-founder of the independent folk-punk record label Eschatone Records, which is home to Dewan, Michael Bassett, The Visitors and wax.on wax.off, and has also released material by The Valley Arena. He left the company board in the spring of 2009 to concentrate on making his own music; the label will release his CD I Am Jed Davis!, a compilation of representative tracks from Shoot The Piano Player and two other finished but unreleased albums, on July 31.
External links
- [ Jed Davis biography at allmusic.com]
- Jed Davis artist page at Eschatone Records
- interview with Jed Davis at onefortytwo.com, 2003
- The Hanslick Rebellion official Web site
- official Ramones "Bowery Electric" page
- J-Bird Records Everybody Wants To Be Like Jed press release, 1999
- Cue & Ehh? with Shuffle, 2006