Jeff Calder grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. He spent his teenage years in Lakeland, Florida, selling clothing after school and trying to convince his friends to let him be in their bands. Upon graduation from the University of Florida in 1973, he pursued a career as a free-lance writer before moving to Atlanta in 1978 to form The Swimming Pool Q's with Bob Elsey. Over the years, his articles have appeared in Atlanta Journal-Constitution, South Atlantic Quarterly, Mix Magazine, and Stomp and Stammer, among other publications. His popular long essay, "Living By Night in the Land of Opportunity: Reflections on Life in a Rock & Roll Band," appeared in Duke University's South Atlantic Quarterly (Fall, 1991). He's also known for his in-depth liner notes for The Deep End and for Matthew Sweet's To Understand: The Early Recordings of Matthew Sweet. His appreciation of Richard & Mimi Farina aired on National Public Radio's All Things Considered in December, 1999.
In the 1990s, during the protracted recording of The Swimming Pool Q's Royal Academy of Reality, Calder was a regional A&R scout for Interscope Records and producer Brendan O'Brien's Sony subsidiary, 57/Shotput Records. For Shotput, he produced The Sight-seers disc Funseeking With The Sight-seers, and he was reissue coordinator for Music To Eat (Sony/Columbia/Shotput), the classic avant-garde rock album by Hampton Grease Band, originally released on Columbia Records in 1971. With Royal Academy co-producer Phil Hadaway, he produced an album for Savannah's City of Lindas. Calder also contributes lyrics and music to Supreme Court (Supreme Court Goes Electric; DB Recs; 1992), his group with guitarist Glenn Phillips; their new album, Sun Hex, is forthcoming.
A-Bomb Woke Me Up: Video. This video is a "No Big Wheel" production video, "The A-Bomb Woke Me Up". A Frame by Frame video created for the Swimming Pool Q's reissue of "The Deep End" in 2001. Photos by Steve Rucker. Animated by Andy King. Art Direction, Props and Modeling by Lisa King. Props and Modeling by Michael Rucker. Extra, extra special thanks to Stuart Clark (http://www.stuartclark.net/) for investing his time and help in converting this video to a modern format, so that it can be viewed on the net. See video below:
Hi, Jeff: Thanks for adding me. I've been a fan of the SPQ's for a long time...was a college DJ at Ga. Southern in the early 80's. Have a great week. ~Lisa
Thanks for being a pal, Jeff. Have always enjoyed getting a few brief moments of your wit laden conversation, over the years. Looking forward to that next moment!
Your delay playing sounds better than mine...you are just creating more work for yourself on that song, cause now i want YOU to play it on the album...i'll just stick with my bass line...
I just saw the Orson Welles 'Macbeth' and I thought I should pay homage to the Thane. What's up, Macjeff? I know you prefer tribute but homage is all I got right now.
