Baybeats Band Profile: Jebediah (AUS)

Jebediah
Australia

Formed in 1995 by Kevin Mitchell (guitar, vocals), Brett Mitchell (drums), Chris
Daymond (guitar) and Vanessa Thornton (bass), Jebediah started out playing the
normal gigs young bands do – a school ball here, a band comp there.

Then in 1996, the band signed to Murmur Records (home of Ammonia and Silverchair at the time) and the momentum grew with some amazing shows supporting bands such as Presidents of the USA and Everclear, and playing at Homebake and The Falls festivals. In late 1996, the band’s just-released debut single Jerks of Attention garnered the band its first national radio play and the Jebs start hitting the road properly. In 1997, they played over 150 shows with bands like Powderfinger and Bikini Kill and recording debut album Slighty Odway which shot to the national top 10 and went gold by year’s end, doing well in Australia, Japan and New Zealand.

Over the years, the band went on to tour Australia, UK, Canada, USA and New Zealand, perform with the Smashing Pumpkins, tour with The Living End, perform at festivals such as Livid, Homebake and Pushover, and record albums such as Of Someday Shambles (1999), Jebediah (2001), Braxton Hicks (2004). Of Someday Shambles debuted at #2 and was well-received in USA (especially on college radio), introduced via split CD and vinyl release with Jimmy Eat World in 2000. David Fricke, editor of US Rolling Stone, placed the album among his top releases for the year. Third album, Jebediah, was also a hit, debuting at #8 on the ARIA charts in 2002, with its bagpipe-driven Fall Down becoming a top 20 hit. After a break in 2005 in which the members took time off to catch their breath and do their own thing, the band is now back, working on its 5th album.

Posted with permission from the Esplanade. Information correct as of 21 May 08. For a whole lot more on Baybeats 08, please visit the official website at www.baybeats.com.sg.

Baybeats 08: Observation Deck
Meet-the-Artist: Jebediah (AUS)
Sun, 31 Aug 2008
5.00 – 5.30pm
Open Stage, library@esplanade