Friday April 29, 2022 “Blue” Jayhawks
Friday brings us a jayhawk, which is actually not a real bird but more on that later.
In today's immediate world of the internet where artists can be discovered as a result of their video followings it is worth noting that most artists and bands of merit spend years touring honing their style, songwriting and sound and the Jayhawks fall into that latter category. Founded in Minneapolis in 1984 it wouldn’t be until 1995 that they would have their first breakthrough with today’s song “Blue” from their album Tomorrow the Green Grass.
The Jayhawks combined a blend of country, folk, and bar band rock that would make them one of the most widely acclaimed artists to emerge from the alternative country scene of the '80s.
The Jayhawks were signed to their first major recording label when George Drakoulias from Def American records who at the time was managing the Black Crowes had called Minneapolis independent record label Twin Tone and heard the Jayhawks record playing in the background. Drakoulias who would produce albums for the Black Crowes and Tom Petty also did the early production work with the Jayhawks.
As for the bird itself, the jayhawk is mythical, beyond being the mascot for the University of Kansas. The name probably comes from two birds, the blue jay, a noisy, quarrelsome thing known to rob other nests, and the sparrow hawk, a quiet, stealthy hunter. The message here: Don't turn your back on this bird.
Stay safe and well…and certainly don’t turn your back on the band theJayhawks with so many listenable tunes.