former members / some-time players include Andy Gruhn, Johnny O’Halloran, David Beckey, Matt Gerzema, Pete Christiansen, and Sid Pranke.
Influences
the jam, elliott smith, astrud gilberto, broadcast, cocteau twins, sam cooke, david bowie, nick drake, the carpenters, syd barrett, blondie, led zeppelin, buffy sainte-marie, quasi, rainy day, hoagy carmichael, john lennon, everything but the girl, nat king cole, nirvana, elvis costello, ella fitzgerald, johann sebastian bach, the everly brothers, joni mitchell, fleetwood mac, the mills brothers, stereolab, the jayhawks, brenda lee, leonard cohen, jimmy webb, the cars, claudine longet, johnny cash, the ronettes, brian eno, bob dylan, pink floyd, the magnetic fields, rem, chet baker, unrest, and his name is alive, for starters...
Joyology101 is Jan's online webstore where she sells jewelry and other things she makes. So go there and buy something! 'Cause she needs money real bad, for things like rent and cat food and putting out a new record...
Singer / songwriter / multi-intrumentalist Jan (a.k.a. Jeaneen Gauthier) got her musical start at the age of six, when she received a guitar, and the next year an electric organ, for Christmas. Her first-ever song — an a cappella composition entitled “Gay Rights” — caused quite a controversy at home and was immediately banned. Early influences include Charo, Fred Rogers, The Carpenters, and The Lawrence Welk Show. Jan was often grounded to her room during her teen years, which gave her plenty of time to work on her song-poems, figure out how to play “House of the Rising Sun” on guitar, practice the violin, and listen to The Jam’s “Sound Affects” over and over again.
After a brief stint leading the all-girl garage band Debi-7 in the late 90s, she formed the indie-rock trio JAN, whose debut record “The Early Year” (2000) captured the attention of the college music scene nationwide with a beguiling mix of driving rock rhythms, soft-spoken melodies, and soul-searching lyrics. Their 2002 EP “Smoke + Mirrors” delivers smart / sensitive girlie-rock replete with hooks (and a few barbs, too) while paying tribute to The Magnetic Fields and to Canada, the singer’s imaginary homeland. In “Everything Must Go” (2007, Guilt Ridden Pop) JAN channels Blondie, Fleetwood Mac, and Cocteau Twins influences into a swirling mix of bright, melodic pop and dark shadows.
JAN the band consists of Gauthier on vocals and guitar, accompanied by the high-energy rhythms of drummer Nick Hook and the McCartney-esque basslines of Jacques Wait, who also lends his recording and production skills to the mix.
In recent years Jan has also ventured out as a solo artist, playing simply arranged semi-acoustic tunes that showcase her intimate and silky-smooth vocal style. Currently she is at work recording a new full-length collection. She lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and is self-employed as an illustrator and graphic artist.
Hello Jeaneen! Thank you for the add :-) We love the atmosphere of your songs and we wish you all the best for the future!!!!! We send our rocking salutations to you. Moonvox
Hey! I'm playing a show tonight at the 400 bar in Minneapolis. I'm playing with Martin Devaney, Consolation Champ, and Joey Ryan Doors are at 8 pm. I hope you can make it.
Hey Jan, Hello from Melbourne, Australia. Just stopping by to say hello. How's life in Mpls? I've just uploaded a new track called 'Cracks'. This one's for Westerberg! Take care, Jason x
i liked your comment about the FP record player...i actually found one too at steeple people once...when i was a kid it was my fav thing.......such a delicate sound! xo LB
Thank you for your kind words, we would love to tour the midwest, seems pretty far away at the moment but we aim high! Nice tunes, really like smoke mirrors. Check out the swedish band Sambassadeur if you haven..t heard them, a bit like the way you sound. All the best, Martin -The Early Days
