Calvin, Don't Jump!
Encyclopedia
Calvin, Don't Jump! started as the solo recording project of J. Kirk Pleasant, a musician with extensive connections to the Elephant 6 Collective. Before moving to Vancouver
, British Columbia
, Canada
, he contributed to releases from bands like the Olivia Tremor Control, Black Swan Network
, and Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't
. His own albums have featured contributions from musicians like Scott Spillane
(Neutral Milk Hotel
, The Gerbils
), Jeremy Barnes
(Neutral Milk Hotel
, A Hawk And A Hacksaw
), John D'Azzo (The Gerbils
), as well as Peter Erchick, Eric Harris, and John Fernandes (all of the Olivia Tremor Control).
To date Pleasant has released four full-length albums under this name, as well as four 7" singles, a cd-r of live recordings, and a cassette EP titled Notes From Undersound. His album Conscious of Conscience (2006) marks his first true solo full-length, drawing on assistance from no outside collaborators.
Early in 2007, Pleasant announced that what had begun as a solo project would expand into a four-piece band, geared towards a poppier, more guitar driven sound. The band now features Pleasant (vocals and guitar), Nathan Matthews (bass), Lee-Ann Sheel (drums), and Shinobu Hata (keyboards).
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,...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, he contributed to releases from bands like the Olivia Tremor Control, Black Swan Network
Black Swan Network
Black Swan Network is a musical side project of The Olivia Tremor Control. With contributions from Neutral Milk Hotel members Jeff Mangum and Julian Koster, as well as individual contributions from J. Kirk Pleasant of Calvin, Don't Jump! and fablefactory's Roxanne Martin, it was intended to be an...
, and Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't
Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't
Pipes You See, Pipes You Don't is a project of The Olivia Tremor Control keyboardist Peter Erchick. Conceived in the early 1970's, their first album was not released until July 2001. The band's name may be from a chapter in a children's encyclopedia...
. His own albums have featured contributions from musicians like Scott Spillane
Scott Spillane
Scott Spillane is one of the leaders of the Athens, Georgia, USA band The Gerbils. He is also known for his work playing horns for Neutral Milk Hotel, and appearing on albums and in live shows by Elephant 6 artists such as The Olivia Tremor Control, of Montreal and Elf Power.-References:...
(Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
, The Gerbils
The Gerbils
The Gerbils are an indie rock band that formed in Athens, GA in 1998. Part of the Elephant Six Collective, the band released two albums and toured nationwide during their tenure.-Bio:...
), Jeremy Barnes
Jeremy Barnes
Jeremy Barnes is an American musician. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, the son of a local businessman. In 1995 he moved to Chicago to attend DePaul University but later dropped out. He joined the band Neutral Milk Hotel in January 1996. The band disbanded in 1998 and Barnes spent time...
(Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel
Neutral Milk Hotel was an American indie rock band formed by singer, guitarist and songwriter Jeff Mangum in the early 1990s. The band was noted for its experimental sound, obscure lyrics and eclectic instrumentation....
, A Hawk And A Hacksaw
A Hawk and a Hacksaw
A Hawk and a Hacksaw is a band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, currently signed to L.M. Dupli-cation. The band consists of accordionist Jeremy Barnes, who was previously the drummer for Neutral Milk Hotel and Bablicon, and violinist Heather Trost...
), John D'Azzo (The Gerbils
The Gerbils
The Gerbils are an indie rock band that formed in Athens, GA in 1998. Part of the Elephant Six Collective, the band released two albums and toured nationwide during their tenure.-Bio:...
), as well as Peter Erchick, Eric Harris, and John Fernandes (all of the Olivia Tremor Control).
To date Pleasant has released four full-length albums under this name, as well as four 7" singles, a cd-r of live recordings, and a cassette EP titled Notes From Undersound. His album Conscious of Conscience (2006) marks his first true solo full-length, drawing on assistance from no outside collaborators.
Early in 2007, Pleasant announced that what had begun as a solo project would expand into a four-piece band, geared towards a poppier, more guitar driven sound. The band now features Pleasant (vocals and guitar), Nathan Matthews (bass), Lee-Ann Sheel (drums), and Shinobu Hata (keyboards).
Full-length albums
- Crystal Clear Mississippi (1999, self-released)
- A Way With Birds (2002, Happy Happy Birthday To Me RecordsHappy Happy Birthday To Me RecordsHappy Happy Birthday To Me Records is an American independent record label based in Athens, Georgia, whose catalogue is rather heavily weighted towards twee indie pop music, with several of its bands being related to or influenced by The Elephant 6 Recording Company...
) - Conscious of Conscience (2006, self-released)
- Under Bridges (2010, self-released)
Singles
- Calvin, Don't Jump!/Echo OrbiterEcho OrbiterEcho Orbiter is a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, based indie rock band founded by brothers Justin Emerle and Colin Emerle, described by Philadelphia Weekly as being "Widely considered two of the most inventive songwriters on the [Philadelphia] scene."...
Split (2000, Perhaps Transparent Records) 7" - Calvin, Don't Jump!/Ooss (2000, Norman Records) 7"
- Untitled (2000, Happy Happy Birthday To Me RecordsHappy Happy Birthday To Me RecordsHappy Happy Birthday To Me Records is an American independent record label based in Athens, Georgia, whose catalogue is rather heavily weighted towards twee indie pop music, with several of its bands being related to or influenced by The Elephant 6 Recording Company...
) 7" - Solamente La Euna Este Noche (Self-Released) 7"
Compilations
- U.S. Pop Life Volume 5 (2000, Contact Records) CD
- Winter Report (2001, Hype City) CD
- Hey, It's My Birthday! (2001, Happy Happy Birthday To Me) Cassette
- Build Your Army With Potatoes (2008, Royal Rhino Flying Records) CD
Contributed to
- Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume 1Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume 1Black Foliage: Animation Music Volume One is the second full length album released by The Olivia Tremor Control of The Elephant 6 Recording Company...
(1999, Flydaddy Records) CD/2x12" - Individualized Shirts (2001, Cloud Recordings and Orange Twin Records) CD
See also
- Music of CanadaMusic of CanadaThe music of Canada has influences that have shaped the country. Aboriginals, the British, and the French have all made unique contributions to the musical heritage of Canada. The music has subsequently been heavily influenced by American culture because of its proximity and migration between...
- Music of VancouverMusic of VancouverVancouver, a city in British Columbia, is one of the major cultural centres of Canada. The music of Vancouver is diverse, representing the many peoples that live in the city, ranging from classical and modern avant-garde orchestras and composers through a wide range of pop, rock, rap, jazz, world...
- Canadian rockCanadian rockCanadian rock describes a wide and diverse variety of music produced by Canadians, beginning with American style rock 'n' roll in the mid-20th century. Since then Canada has had a considerable impact on the development of the modern popular music called rock...
- List of Canadian musicians
- List of bands from Canada
- List of bands from British Columbia
- :Category:Canadian musical groups