Jolene (band)
Encyclopedia
Jolene is an alternative rock band based in North Carolina
. Often described as alt-country, the band despises the term, and refuses to be labeled as such. They can otherwise be described as a rock band
with country music
inflections.
, John Crooke was inspired to form a band with his cousin Dave Burris, and two long-time friends, Mike Kennerly and Mike Mitschele. After touring for six months, Jolene was spotted at a show in Nashville
and signed to Memphis
-based independent label Ardent Records
, where they recorded their debut LP, Hell's Half Acre
, released in 1996.
Jolene signed with the major label Sire Records
eighteen months later. With Sire, they released their second LP In The Gloaming
in 1998. The band expanded to a five-piece during this time, with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Rodney Lanier.
In 1998 Jolene supported Hootie and the Blowifsh on their last UK tour, playing the final show on Halloween Night (31 October) at the Shepherds Bush Empire, London.
In 1999, Jolene joined Blue Rose Records, and have released two albums on that label.
John Crooke and Dave Burris are currently involved with the LA-based band Lamps.
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. Often described as alt-country, the band despises the term, and refuses to be labeled as such. They can otherwise be described as a rock band
Rock Band
Rock Band is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems, published by MTV Games and Electronic Arts. It is the first title in the Rock Band series. The PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions were released in the United States on November 20, 2007, while the PlayStation 2 version was...
with country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
inflections.
Members
- Dave Burris - guitar, backing vocals, keyboards
- John Crooke - lead vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion
- Mike Kennerly - drums, percussion
- Rodney Lanier - keyboards, pedal steel guitar
- Mike Mitschele - bass guitar, bass synth, programming
History
After discovering a cassette copy of R.E.M.'s Fables of the ReconstructionFables of the Reconstruction
Fables of the Reconstruction, also known as Reconstruction of the Fables, is the third studio album by the American alternative rock band R.E.M., released on the I.R.S...
, John Crooke was inspired to form a band with his cousin Dave Burris, and two long-time friends, Mike Kennerly and Mike Mitschele. After touring for six months, Jolene was spotted at a show in Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and signed to Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
-based independent label Ardent Records
Ardent Records
Ardent Records, often shortened to "Ardent," is a Memphis record label founded by John Fry in 1959. Ardent of the 1960s and 1970s featured pop music acts and was distributed by Stax Records from 1972 until 1975. It is best remembered today for Big Star, whose first two albums, released in 1972...
, where they recorded their debut LP, Hell's Half Acre
Hell's Half Acre
Hell’s Half-Acre, Hell’s Half-acre, or Hell’s Half Acre can refer to:In places:*Hell's Half Acre Lava Field, a basaltic lava field on the Snake River Plain, Idaho, USA...
, released in 1996.
Jolene signed with the major label Sire Records
Sire Records
Sire Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:The label was founded in 1966 as Sire Productions by Seymour Stein and Richard Gottehrer, each investing ten thousand dollars into the new company. Its early releases as a...
eighteen months later. With Sire, they released their second LP In The Gloaming
In the Gloaming
In the Gloaming is a 1997 HBO film directed by Christopher Reeve based on a story written by Alice Elliott Dark. Starring Glenn Close, Bridget Fonda, Whoopi Goldberg and Robert Sean Leonard. The film borrows its title from the popular 1877 song "In the Gloaming" by Annie Fortescue Harrison and Meta...
in 1998. The band expanded to a five-piece during this time, with the addition of multi-instrumentalist Rodney Lanier.
In 1998 Jolene supported Hootie and the Blowifsh on their last UK tour, playing the final show on Halloween Night (31 October) at the Shepherds Bush Empire, London.
In 1999, Jolene joined Blue Rose Records, and have released two albums on that label.
John Crooke and Dave Burris are currently involved with the LA-based band Lamps.
Discography
| Year | Title | Label |
| 1996 1996 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1996.-January:* January – At the trial of two American teenagers, Nicholaus McDonald and Brian Bassett, for the murder of Bassett's parents and young brother, defense lawyers attempt to lay the blame for the murders on the fact... |
Hell's Half Acre | Ardent |
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
In The Gloaming | Sire Records |
| 2000 2000 in music See also:* 2000 in music Record labels established in 2000-Events:*January – Gary Glitter is released from jail, two months before his sentence for sexual offences ends.*January 1**John Tavener is knighted in the New Year's Honours List.... |
Antic Ocean | Blue Rose Records |
| 2002 2002 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2002.-Events:*February 3 – U2 perform during the halftime show for Super Bowl XXXVI... |
The Pretty Dive | Blue Rose Records |
External links
- Jolene's record label website (in German)
- Profile of In The Gloaming by Rolling StoneRolling StoneRolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...