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The Jayhawks

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Who: Formed in 1985, the Jayhawks broke through to the mainstream on the strength of their 1992 classic, Hollywood Town Hall, and its surprising hit single, “Waiting for the Sun” (watch video below). Possessing their own two-headed songwriting monster in co-frontmen Gary Louris and Mark Olson, the Jayhawks channeled Americana’s deepest roots through an indie rock prism long before bands like Band of Horses, Blitzen Trapper, and Two Gallants made it one of the more exciting trends of this decade.

What: Louris and Olson recently released Ready for the Flood(produced by Black Crowes frontman Chris Robinson), their first collaborative studio effort since the 1995 Jayhawks classic, Tomorrow the Green Grass. And this week, Louris releases Acoustic Vagabonds, an offshoot of his Vagabonds album, which emerged earlier this year.The canon produced by the Jayhawks is staggering, from Louris and Olson’s solo projects to revolving-door side project Golden Smog to the Original Harmony Ridge Creek Dippers, the band Olson formed with his former wife, singer/songwriter Victoria Williams, after leaving the Jayhawks.

Fun Fact: Last month, the 1995-era Jayhawks lineup reunited for a one-off show at a music festival in Spain. So far, no plans have been announced for any U.S. appearances with that lineup.

Now Hear This: Gary Louris – “We’ll Get By” from Acoustic Vagabonds

Classic Jayhawks: “Waiting for the Sun”
https://www.youtube.com/embed/bUMyKcNL-Vs

PLUS: Watch the Jayhawks “Waiting for the Sun” on Letterman, circa 1991.