Jarcrew
Encyclopedia
Jarcrew was a five-piece progressive rock
band from Ammanford, Wales
. They were a relatively well known underground band (Jarcrew never received tremendous critical acclaim) for approximately five years between 2000 and their early 2005 split. They played a bizarre mixture of electronica/house and prog-rock/punk/funk that baffled audiences up and down the UK (despite their somewhat unapproachable commercial nature they were offered some very lucrative support slots, including an elusive support for Scots rockers Biffy Clyro
). Since disbanding, several Jarcrew off-shoots have emerged, most notably Future of the Left
, a band that contained Jarcrew frontman Kelson alongside ex-mclusky
members Andrew Falkous and Jack Egglestone.
Starting in a Welsh mining town, Jarcrew qualified for assistance under the Community Music Wales scheme (a system established to assist bands coming out of the Welsh valleys, be it with monetary support or the release of a record to start a band off on the right track). In 2001 they released their first single, "Paris and The New Math" on Complete Control Music (Community Music Wales' record label, the same label that was responsible for the very first People in Planes
release back when they were known as Robots In The Sky) soon followed by the band's debut album Breakdance Euphoria Kids (a line from track 8 of Breakdance Euphoria Kids, "Money Shot") and the single "Capobaby". The album wound up in the hands of Gut Records
who offered to remaster the recording (as it was deemed too acerbic and not radio friendly enough for general release). Only half the album was eventually remixed, with the original recordings being used for the rest of the album and single. The band agreed to this and with that, they were signed to a national label and were touring up and down the country, as well as providing radio sessions to the likes of BBC
and XFM
in London
(the latter of which can still be found on the XFM website).
19 December 2004 saw the band's final show (with support from long-time friends People in Planes in a small venue in Cardiff
) and early 2005 saw the promise of a new album, which the band assured the world was completely written and ready to be recorded (which was evident from the amount of unfamiliar material the band threw into their set from as early as 2003, shortly after their first - and last - album was remixed and re-released by Gut Records). Hot on the heels of this news came the news that Jarcrew had disbanded. No official reason was cited but it is now common knowledge amongst Jarcrew aficionados that the band split due to Rhod Thomas becoming a full-fledged Jehovah's Witness.
While rumours of a forthcoming reformation persist, Kelson (along with final Jarcrew bassist Hywel "Ricardo" Evans - see Band members) most notably assumed the bass duties in Future of the Left
with former mclusky members Andrew 'Falco' Falkous and Jack Egglestone. Mathias vacated the position in 2010 http://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/kelson-mathias-quits-future-left-apparently-isnt-too-difficult-replace and assumed the bass duties in Hywel "Ricardo" Evans' group, Truckers Of Husk (along with two additional former Jarcrew members, Tom Clark and Rhod Thomas).
However, in 2004 the band saw fit to part ways with Milner - not long before an impending tour (Williams and Clark split the bass duties and sometimes left the bass out completely). In the few shows the band did towards the end of their career, session musicians and bassists from other bands were employed. A man introduced as "Ricardo" - who, according to Kelson, did not speak a word of English but was "fluent in the language of rock" - was the band's bassist for their appearance at the 2004 Compass Point Festival
in Cardiff (this later turned out to be Hywel Evans, who would remain Jarcrew's bass player up until their split in 2005, and later went on to form an instrumental rock
band called Truckers Of Husk - he was also credited as a songwriter on an early Future of the Left track, entitled "The Fibre Provider"). The band claim the split with Milner was amicable, but this is thought to be a press-friendly explanation; Milner claims he was ejected against his will (he did so publicly via the medium of several well-read e-zines, such as Jarcrew champions Drowned In Sound
).
The band also featured on a number of compilations, including the Fierce Panda Records
compilation "The Squirrel EP", which was released on CD and a set of 7" vinyl records. Also featured were fellow Welshmen Funeral for a Friend
, politically fuelled (and, now, also defunct) punk-rockers Million Dead
, The Copperpot Journals, Engerica and thisGIRL
.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band from Ammanford, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. They were a relatively well known underground band (Jarcrew never received tremendous critical acclaim) for approximately five years between 2000 and their early 2005 split. They played a bizarre mixture of electronica/house and prog-rock/punk/funk that baffled audiences up and down the UK (despite their somewhat unapproachable commercial nature they were offered some very lucrative support slots, including an elusive support for Scots rockers Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro
Biffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
). Since disbanding, several Jarcrew off-shoots have emerged, most notably Future of the Left
Future of the Left
Future of the Left are an alternative rock group based in Cardiff, Wales.- Beginnings :Future of the Left were formed by singer/guitarist Andy "Falco" Falkous and drummer Jack Egglestone, both previously of Cardiff band mclusky, alongside singer/bassist Kelson Mathias, formerly of the...
, a band that contained Jarcrew frontman Kelson alongside ex-mclusky
Mclusky
Mclusky , originally known as Best, were a three-piece post-hardcore group formed in Cardiff, Wales. The group consisted of Englishman Andy "Falco" Falkous from Newcastle Upon Tyne, Jonathan Chapple and Jack Egglestone , who replaced previous drummer Matthew Harding in late...
members Andrew Falkous and Jack Egglestone.
Starting in a Welsh mining town, Jarcrew qualified for assistance under the Community Music Wales scheme (a system established to assist bands coming out of the Welsh valleys, be it with monetary support or the release of a record to start a band off on the right track). In 2001 they released their first single, "Paris and The New Math" on Complete Control Music (Community Music Wales' record label, the same label that was responsible for the very first People in Planes
People in Planes
People in Planes are a five piece Indie rock band from Cardiff, Wales. They are signed to Wind-up Records. Prior to 2003 they were known as Tetra Splendour and before that they went by the name of Robots in the Sky...
release back when they were known as Robots In The Sky) soon followed by the band's debut album Breakdance Euphoria Kids (a line from track 8 of Breakdance Euphoria Kids, "Money Shot") and the single "Capobaby". The album wound up in the hands of Gut Records
Gut Records
The Gut Group was an independent record label, based in Maida Vale in London, in the United Kingdom.Formally introduced in 1991, Gut Recordings was founded by Guy Holmes, who had been Head of Promotions at Island Records...
who offered to remaster the recording (as it was deemed too acerbic and not radio friendly enough for general release). Only half the album was eventually remixed, with the original recordings being used for the rest of the album and single. The band agreed to this and with that, they were signed to a national label and were touring up and down the country, as well as providing radio sessions to the likes of BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and XFM
Xfm
Xfm is a brand of two commercial radio stations focused on alternative music, primarily indie pop, and owned by Global Radio.-History:Xfm was created in London in 1992 by Sammy Jacob, who later co-founded NME Radio in 2008. Xfm subsequently expanded to a network of four stations; there are...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
(the latter of which can still be found on the XFM website).
19 December 2004 saw the band's final show (with support from long-time friends People in Planes in a small venue in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
) and early 2005 saw the promise of a new album, which the band assured the world was completely written and ready to be recorded (which was evident from the amount of unfamiliar material the band threw into their set from as early as 2003, shortly after their first - and last - album was remixed and re-released by Gut Records). Hot on the heels of this news came the news that Jarcrew had disbanded. No official reason was cited but it is now common knowledge amongst Jarcrew aficionados that the band split due to Rhod Thomas becoming a full-fledged Jehovah's Witness.
While rumours of a forthcoming reformation persist, Kelson (along with final Jarcrew bassist Hywel "Ricardo" Evans - see Band members) most notably assumed the bass duties in Future of the Left
Future of the Left
Future of the Left are an alternative rock group based in Cardiff, Wales.- Beginnings :Future of the Left were formed by singer/guitarist Andy "Falco" Falkous and drummer Jack Egglestone, both previously of Cardiff band mclusky, alongside singer/bassist Kelson Mathias, formerly of the...
with former mclusky members Andrew 'Falco' Falkous and Jack Egglestone. Mathias vacated the position in 2010 http://www.tinymixtapes.com/news/kelson-mathias-quits-future-left-apparently-isnt-too-difficult-replace and assumed the bass duties in Hywel "Ricardo" Evans' group, Truckers Of Husk (along with two additional former Jarcrew members, Tom Clark and Rhod Thomas).
Band members
At their commercial peak around about 2003, the band consisted of:- Kelson Mathias - Vocals, keyboards/synthesizers
- Rhodri Thomas - Drums, vocals
- Rich Williams - Guitar
- Tom Clark - Guitar
- Ben Milner - Bass and vocals
However, in 2004 the band saw fit to part ways with Milner - not long before an impending tour (Williams and Clark split the bass duties and sometimes left the bass out completely). In the few shows the band did towards the end of their career, session musicians and bassists from other bands were employed. A man introduced as "Ricardo" - who, according to Kelson, did not speak a word of English but was "fluent in the language of rock" - was the band's bassist for their appearance at the 2004 Compass Point Festival
Compass Point Festival
Compass Point Festival is a yearly music festival founded in 2000 by Simon Dancey, former Director of Community Music Wales. It takes place in the grounds of Cardiff Castle in Cardiff, Wales...
in Cardiff (this later turned out to be Hywel Evans, who would remain Jarcrew's bass player up until their split in 2005, and later went on to form an instrumental rock
Instrumental rock
Instrumental rock is a type of rock music which emphasizes musical instruments, and which features very little or no singing.Examples of instrumental rock can be found in practically every subgenre of rock, often from musicians who specialize in the style, most notably Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Link...
band called Truckers Of Husk - he was also credited as a songwriter on an early Future of the Left track, entitled "The Fibre Provider"). The band claim the split with Milner was amicable, but this is thought to be a press-friendly explanation; Milner claims he was ejected against his will (he did so publicly via the medium of several well-read e-zines, such as Jarcrew champions Drowned In Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
).
Discography
- Paris and The New Math (single, 13 May 2002, Complete Control Music)
- Breakdance Euphoria Kids (album, 27 June 2002, Complete Control Music)
- Capobaby (single, 16 September 2002, Complete Control Music)
- Paris and The New Math (single, 20 October 2003, Gut Records)
- Jarcrew (album, 3 November 2003, Gut Records)
The band also featured on a number of compilations, including the Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records
Fierce Panda Records is a London-based independent record label, with its first release in February 1994. It also produced a small number of releases that year by now famous artists such as Ash, The Bluetones, Baby Bird and Supergrass...
compilation "The Squirrel EP", which was released on CD and a set of 7" vinyl records. Also featured were fellow Welshmen Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend
Funeral for a Friend are a Welsh post-hardcore band, from Bridgend. Formed 2001, they have released five studio albums, seven EPs, sixteen singles, one DVD, and one compilation album.-Formation and Early Years:...
, politically fuelled (and, now, also defunct) punk-rockers Million Dead
Million Dead
Million Dead were a hardcore punk band from London, UK, active between 2001 and 2005.-History:The band was founded in 2000 by Cameron Dean and Julia Ruzicka, after both came to London from Australia. They were joined by Ben Dawson, who had worked with Dean in a record shop in the city...
, The Copperpot Journals, Engerica and thisGIRL
ThisGIRL
ThisGirl was a rock band from Rotherham and Sheffield, England. The band was formed in 1999, and has released seven albums/EPs. They were well known for their energetic performances and had a series of successful tours, most notably playing on the Barfly stage at Download in 2004...
.