The Jayhawks
Def American Records producer George Drakoulias discovered the country/rock/R&B influenced Jayhawks after they had made two low-key records. Legend has it that he phoned Dave Ayers of Twin/Tone Records and overheard a collection of the band's demos, and signed them up. The band, who come from Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, boasted a core line-up of Marc Olson (vocals/guitar) and Gary Louris (vocals/guitar), joined by Ken Callahan (bass), and subsequently Karen Grotberg (keyboards) and Marc Perlman, who replaced Callahan. Together since 1985, until their induction to Rick Rubin's eclectic label they had only sold approximately 10,000 records. Songs such as Waiting For The Sun saw them compared to the Black Crowes (another Drakoulias discovery), combining rugged country imagery with harsh, rough hewn bar blues. Their second album, BLUE EARTH, threw up another name; that of Neil Young. For their own part they cited the Flying Burrito Brothers and Charles & Ira Louvin as their greatest influences. They also record widely as session musicians, including work for acts such as Soul Asylum, Counting Crows and Maria McKee. The group's rapid turnover of drummers continued on TOMORROW THE GREEN GRASS, with Don Heffington on hand in the studio and Tim O'Regan available for touring duties. Songs on this set included Miss Williams' Guitar, a tribute to Marc Olson's wife, Victoria Williams, and the exquisite single, Blue. It saw them still playing simple, direct music, a traditional but never stultifyingly sound.