JED

Artist Information

Biography

In 1996, the edge of the world Aberdeen, WA gave birth to JED. A few unlikely counterparts were thrown together by chance, and a musical entity was forged. Over the course of ten years JED has endured as an independent band; rehearsing, writing, performing and self releasing CD’s. JED has earned a reputation for originality, as a top notch live band, and as a band that releases high quality professionally produced recordings.

Ten years running, JED continues to pen multi-faceted compositions that challenge and break away from the typical verse-chorus formula of mainstream rock music without losing popular appeal. JED delves below artistic surfaces, into colorfully enigmatic dimensions, but yet doesn’t stray into anything that feels overly experimental or avant-garde. The music and message are darkly grooving, heavy, melodic, and dynamically and stylistically contrasting enough to thwart any one musical niche.

JED has earned the respect of concert promoters and talent buyers; they consistently give JED’s live performances the highest praise. Press reviewers of JED's recorded material are equally positive, reviewers often note that JED deserves wider recognition and opportunity and those fans of original rock music deserve a chance to discover JED. JED also has a loyal, devoted fan base that is growing and continues to grow as JED's enters new markets and expands their performance venues.

JED’s music sets high standards for Indie and Alternative Rock and raises the bar for the heavy rock syndicate.

Instrumentation

Erik Heimann :: Vocals
Mike Carr :: Guitars
Chad Kunesh :: Guitars
Josh Veals :: Bass
Mike Peterson :: Drums

Discography

2007:: Kurt Cobain Memorial Committee/ Benefit Concert in Nirvana's home town
2007:: Los Angeles Music Awards - Showcase
2007:: Amplify Showcase- Las Vegas
2007:: JED at Hempfest- Seattle, WA
2007:: Aftereffects Tour
2007:: JED top ten finalist at UBL
2007:: JED's "Synesthesia " receives honorable mention for the best of 2006 www.roughedge.com
2006:: "The Atlas Artist Spotlight ", JED Selected by Music Resource Group
2006:: Billboard honorable mention for "Nothing"
2006:: Regional Finalist, Indie Show, Seattle
2006 ::"Synesthesia", release date June 1, 2006
(CD receives great reviews nationally)
"Storming the Fortress Tour" begins, JED performs in WA, OR, ID, MT, CA, NV, ID, UT, CO
2005 :: Release EP "The End is Near"
2005 :: Support for Albert Bouchard's band, Brain Surgeons , " Far West Tour 2005"
2004 :: Signed with Carnelian Agency for exclusive representation
2003 :: Headline Grays Harbor Rocktober Fest
2002 :: LA label interest wined and dinned
2001 :: Typical Alien Image Another Brick in the Wall benefit compilation
2001 :: Sanctuary 200 CD Release
1999 :: Patriotic Loaf CD Release
1999 :: Soundtrack Payback Video game
(Released on all major game consoles in 2005)
1999 :: Soundtrack film "Kill the Killer"
(International distribution 2004)
1999 :: MP3.com Featured Artist
1998 - 1996: Self released three Independent EP's
1996 :: JED formed in Aberdeen, Washington

Official Website

http://www.jedband.com

Audio

• Opal
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• Nothing
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• Metragnomes
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• Rise of the Lombards
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• Ode To The Yeomann
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• Lincoln's Log
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Lyrics

• Nothing
• Ode To The Yeomann
• Metragnomes
• Opal
• Nothing
• Metrgnomes
• Opal

Video

Nothing

Photo Gallery

Press

• LAMA /Rock is Life/Zero Magazine/Crave Magazine/Americore [+ Show ]
  

  Los Angeles Music Awards "JED's performance at the Palmer room was great. JED brought it and all...Los Angeles Music Awards
  
  "JED's performance at the Palmer room was great. JED brought it and all were impressed with the sound and their performance. You really are a great group of professional and talented players in JED and I see you going far in the industry. "
  Jim DeCicco
  President
  LA Entertainment Works, Inc.
  Sept. 9, 2007
  
  
  
  
  Rock is Life
  JED Synesthesia
  
  “Madmartigan” draws you in with its hypnotic rhythms and chunky riffage. ... “New Ambits” is a lyricists dream as the thoughts and emotions come to life from beginning to end. Thick guitars and chunky bass lines command “Nothing.” Once again it’s Heimann’s rock melodies that stand out on “Two Eyed Cyclops.”
  
  JED is not your conventional band. They don’t write verse, chorus, verse. They don’t make a point of driving home their song titles within the lyrics. They don’t hit you with simplistic three chord melodies. No, JED is not for simple rock music fans. Jed is a thinking man’s rock band. Synesthesia is a thinking man’s rock album that is rich with heavy riffs, unique vocal melodies, and cryptic lyrics. I could try and come up with a band they sound like, but they really stand on their own. The closest I can come, it Tool with more fire power
  
  May 2007
  www.rock-is-life.com
  -George Dionne
  
  JED
  Synesthesia
  S/R
  
  "Remember that scene from Armageddon when the team is walking towards the camera in their orange space suits looking all badass in slow-motion before they get shot up into space? A JED song would’ve fit perfectly there. Following in the vein of Disturbed, Mudvayne, and Alice In Chains, JED is a true force in the “get-pumped-up-for-a-fight-or-important-game” sub genre of metal. With tracks like “Nympho”, “Two Eyed Cyclops”, and “Rise of the Lombards”, Synesthesia takes you on a journey through the mystical and dark world of JED.
  
  The production on the album definitely brings out the band’s best side with heavy, chunky guitar tones, and resonating tom fills. If you think you’d enjoy getting hit repeatedly by 18-wheelers, but your too afraid to die, listen to Synesthesia in the safety of your own home and prepare to be hit hard and often. "
  
  
  - Jake Fouts
  
  http://zeromag.com/articles/cd_view.php?id=1497&pi=0
  
  December 2006
  
  
  JED -SYNESTHESIA
  SELF-RELEASED
  By Mike SOS
  September 2006 Crave Northwest
  
  
  "Pacific Northwestern veteran quintet Jed's hybrid style combines the trademark sounds of their geographic area with eruptions of alt-metal explosiveness on the 11-track SYNESTHESIA. Drawing from the shadowy vibes thrown out by notable area acts such as Queensryche and Alice in Chains for its aura of melancholic darkness while drumming up the wares of Sevendust and Mudvayne for the sheer aggressive output, songs like "Nympho" and "Nothing" showcase intense bursts of melodic yet unpoppy hooks sewn together, forming multi-faceted monstrous offerings. Unafraid to explore the murky reserves of the mind through the enlightenment of the unit's unwavering metallic force, songs like "New Ambits" and "Two Eyed Cyclops" take excursions to areas frequently inhabited by Deftones and Chevelle with a semi-nihilistic industrial rock swagger, while cuts like "Opal" stomp over nu-metal plateaus with hypnotic rhythms and sinewy grooves abound. SYNESTHESIA is an album laden with darkened dynamicism and elaborate layers that fans of a higher order of metal will undoubtedly swarm to. www.carnelianagency.com" -Mike SOS
  http://www.cravemagazine.com/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=421
  
  This review by Mike 303 was also published on Americore Magazine and Ear Candy Magazine
  

• Legends Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  " ... Very chunky and filling. I dug Jed a lot. It’s got the heavy nu-metal slams I like and it’s ..." ... Very chunky and filling.
  I dug Jed a lot. It’s got the heavy nu-metal slams I like and it’s got the hard edged basement mixing I also dig. The band sounds tight and dead on, with head slamming rhythms and beats. A brilliant press kit shows us the past history of a decade-long history of stage stomping. Synesthesia is worth picking up for any fan of alterna-Korn, nu-Disturbed or grunge-Garden. Chunky and hot like a hearty chili cook off ...."
  
  
  8/6/2006
  Issue #70
  http://www.legendsmagazine.net/160/jed.htm

• Musician's Atlas [+ Show ]
  

  Sonicbids Artists Step Into The Atlas Artist Spotlight Music Resource Group, publisher of The Mu...Sonicbids Artists Step Into
  The Atlas Artist Spotlight
  
  Music Resource Group, publisher of The Musician’s Atlas and producer of the Independent Music Awards announced that the Hard Rock/Metal band, JED and the Dance/Electronica act, Lucy Bland have won the 2 Free Profiles reserved for Sonicbids members in the Atlas Artist Spotlight – a dynamic print & online program that will put artists in front of 500,000+ members of the global music community - all year long.
  
  September 2006

• Northeast In Tune Featured Artist [+ Show ]
  

  "The Metal Horizon" JED With a heavy alternative rock/ metal feel that makes you want to scream y..."The Metal Horizon"
  JED
  With a heavy alternative rock/ metal feel that makes you want to scream your head off and let loose,
  Aberdeen, Washington’s Jed, provide an edgy sound that is easy to get into. This band is like a heavier Three Days Grace. The band recently released “Synesthesia”. The band has released several albums since forming in 1996. Despite being together for so long, they have yet to get signed. They’ve been doing it all by themselves for all these years and that is very commendable. They have managed to stay true despite competition with bands. Notable songs off the release include “Nothing”, “Rise of the Lombards” and “Metragnomes”. “Nothing” has excellent guitar crunch and driving sounds. “Metragnomes” starts off with this Soulfly-esque tribal sound before it goes into a raw crunch sound. “Rise of the
  Lombards” has a steady vibe to, as the guitar pulls you in. The band utilizes their two guitarists well as one guitarist tends to do sequels in the back, while the main guitarist leads the song. The band is also known to perform a few covers in their set. Some of them include System of a Down’s “Sugar”, Rammstein’s “Tier”, Deftones “Shove It” and even some more popular un rock songs like “Hella Good” by No Doubt and “Walk Like an Egyptian”, the band your head version of the Bangles. Jed are a straight up alternative metal band with meaningful lyrics and hard rocking songs, and their ten years as a band shows their commitment to the music they make. This band is worth the listen. The band also has a lot of show set for the coming months. If you live in California, Idaho, Utah, Washington, or
  Nevada you’ll have a chance to see the band.
  
  
  
  August 2006
  http://www.northeastintune.com/index.php?bd=reg&sb=land&article=090651
  
  
  
  
  

• The Fuze On Line Rock Journal/What's UP! [+ Show ]
  

  JED – Synesthesia (2006) " ‘Synesthesia’ is the latest offering from Jed, a band born and weaned...JED – Synesthesia (2006)
  
  " ‘Synesthesia’ is the latest offering from Jed, a band born and weaned in the wake of the Seattle music explosion of the early 90’s. Following the band’s 2001 release, ‘Sanctuary 200’, ‘Synesthesia’ continues to carve from the same polished slab of granite. This is an album full of good ideas – such as the intriguing opener “Madmartigan” and the driving “Metragnomes”. “Nympho” is about as close as the band gets to “funky”, the guys preferring most often to lay a low metal groove. The songs are somewhat dark in execution and quite bizarre, lyrically. One can’t help being curious to see what songs called “Two Eyed Cyclops” and “John Incarnate” are all about, and they do make for some pretty strange, albeit fascinating wordplay. As a vocalist, Erik Heimann is a striking lyricist; he leads Jed’s twin-guitar lineup through eleven dropped-D ditties which, taken singularly, are fairly entertaining with their quasi-futuristic vibes. "
  
  July 2006
  http://www.the-fuze.com/
  
  What's Up
  
  Jed "Synesthesia"
  by Joseph Dethloff
  
  JED
  Synesthesia
  
  " they pack more head banging awesomeness into one song than most metal acts do on full albums and the angst factor is turned up to 11 ... straight through, Synesthesia is hard, melodic and never boring. "
  
  July 2006
  
  

• Synesthesia Review on Rough Edge [+ Show ]
  

  R. Scott Bolton of Rough Edge gives Synesthesia 3 Guitars "Synesthesia" (which is almost as diff...R. Scott Bolton of Rough Edge gives Synesthesia 3 Guitars
  
  "Synesthesia" (which is almost as difficult to type as it is to pronounce) is a collection of eleven tracks that dole out their individual strengths and power with a driving, crushing intensity that isn't created by furious speed or raucous noise. Instead, each track simmers at its own deliberate pace to create a unique combination of hard rock power and subtle melody."
  
  Check out Rough Edge for the complete review http://www.roughedge.com/cdreviews/j/jed.htm
  

• Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles/Knuckletracks #97 [+ Show ]
  

  JED Synesthesia "Formed in 1996 in Aberdeen, Washington, Jed is aiming to follow in Tool's foot...JED
  Synesthesia
  
  "Formed in 1996 in Aberdeen, Washington, Jed is aiming to follow in Tool's footsteps by "penning multifaceted compositions that delve below artistic surfaces into colorfully enigmatic dimensions."
  Mixed by Jack Endino, who's produced albums for Zeke, Gruntruck, Soundgarden and Nirvana among many others, the sound on this 11- song CD is top notch. Full of swells and drifts, this is music that encapsulates dynamic intricacy and stylistic experimentation. Substantial grooves keep left field creative wandering to a minimim. This aids in clearer reception of the complex and widely varied lyrical messages. Close attention must be paid for proper interpretation."
  
  Issue 97 BWBK 6/2006
  
  Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles
  
  "Two Eyed Cyclops" from Synesthesia
  
  "Jed have been hammering crowds for ten years in Seattle with their intelligent, rhythmic, Tool- styled but grunge- infected post-metal sound. Crafting irrestible song sculptures with spaces, huge riffs and soaring to contemplative vocals, Jed raise the bar for creative color and measured arrangements in an alternative world that needs their skills. "
  
  June 2006
  http://www.bravewords.com/magazine/knuckletracks/1000060
  

• CDReviews.com/ Artsy Noise [+ Show ]
  

  CDReviews.com Synesthesia by Kristen Brown "You can’t go wrong with rolled R’s and confusin...CDReviews.com
  
  Synesthesia
  by Kristen Brown
  
  "You can’t go wrong with rolled R’s and confusing lyrics. "
  
  "JED’s positive vibe seems to show itself most prominently in their more experimental tracks. “Rise of the Lombards” is an interesting mix of relatively melodic vocals and spoken (or shouted) background vocals. Combined with out-of-the-blue sweeping guitar riffs, it’s quite the pleasant listening experience. “Opal” is another great example with its eager, open, and abrupt phrasing."
  
  6/26/06
  
  
  
  
  
  Artsy Noise
  Elizabeth Benavidez
  
  Once again the Seattle sound comes from Aberdeen. I was really impressed by this band. It's like every little thing you like about genres from heavy metal to pop smart hard rock. Clear vocals and heavy riffs make this a cd you want to own. I love the "old sound" it has to it that is similar of Alice in Chains and Nirvana with out sounding anything like a copy cat band. Synesthesia is the continuation of what was lost in the 90s a modern kitchen sick blend of aggression, smart lyrics, powerful vocals. and the musical backing to make it all work. My favorite song so far is Track 5 "Nothing". The cover art is brilliant I really liked the photo of the stairs on the inside case. If you haven't heard of this band be sure to see a show or snag their cd. Wether they make it to the top or don't get out of Washington, you want to be a part of this.
  
  http://www.artsynoise.com/Review.aspx?id=1014
  June 2006

• SugarBuzz/ Rough Edge/ Rock, Paper Scissors [+ Show ]
  

  Sugarbuzz :Uncensored" by Cheryl "Oh, but there is more rock to speak of on this rainy evening in...Sugarbuzz :Uncensored" by Cheryl
  
  "Oh, but there is more rock to speak of on this rainy evening in Olympia. Aberdeen's JED took the stage with their tight, multi-textured rock layered over a sturdy metal base similar to that of Floater, Rage Against the Machine and Tool. Like a rocker possessed, You WILL bang you head to these guys, don't even fight it. Accept your fate."
  
  11/11/2005
  www.sugarbuzzmagazine.com
  
  
  Rough Edge
  by R. Scott Bolton
  
  Sanctuary 200
  "Apparently listening to the band's catalog in reverse, I didn't hear Jed's 2001 release, "Sanctuary 200," until after I heard their 2006 "Synesthesia." In all frankness, however, I don't think the order would have made much of a difference. "Sanctuary 200" is nearly as strong a CD as the band's latter material, despite slightly lower production values (probably due more to five year's advances in technology than anything else).
  
  As on "Synesthesia," Jed slow-burns it through "Sanctuary 200." That isn't to say the songs are slow, because they aren't. Instead, they're mid-tempo rockers that depend more on the "simmer" than the "burn." In other words, the band is deliberate and consistent in maintaining a unique sound and, although (like "Synesthesia") many of the songs share the same tempo, "Sanctuary 200" never bores.
  
  Again, like the more recent CD, "Sanctuary 200" is more of a collection of atmospheric rockers than balls-out headbangers ... and that's what makes it unique. "
  
  http://www.roughedge.com/cdreviews/j/jed.htm
  
  Rock, Paper, Scissors
  by Thomas Marchese
  
  " This is, without a doubt, my favorite "heavy," independently released record that we have gotten our hands on. This one went straight into my CD collection at home ... Sancuary 200 is a big, heavy hitting record with original turns all the way through."
  
  

• Lollipop Magazine [+ Show ]
  

  Synesthesia by Dan Bernal " Jed's airtight, stop-on-a-dime rhythm section burns these high octan...Synesthesia
  by Dan Bernal
  
  " Jed's airtight, stop-on-a-dime rhythm section burns these high octane bulldozer riffs around corners on the rails. Deep, punchy production stretches the guitar tones downward, while leaving plenty of articulation upstairs, highlighting a creative blend of cool noise and slick chops. Jed's vocals hinge on an Eastern/Arabic modality, which crept in small doses into a lot of mid-'90s metal (even a small taste in The Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up"), but acts more as a melodic foundation here. With some obvious Tool/Perfect Circle influence, these guys have all the musicianship and character to get somewhere if they can just dig through their hearty bag of tricks and pull out a few big payoff choruses."
  (www.jedband.com)
  
  Nov. 1, 2006
  
  http://www.lollipop.com/article.php3?content=2006/11nov/jed.html
  

Setlist

Nympho
MadMartigan
Ode to the Yeomann
Synesthesia
Rise of the Lombards
New Ambits
Opal
Lincoln's Log
MetraGnomes
The Singularity
Neckbeard
"Nothing"
Two-Eyed Cyclops
Lincolns Log
Dan the Six Billionith Drone
John Incarnate
Saint Bertaidus
Typical Alien Image

Rotating covers selection:

"Sober" by Tool
"Sugar" by System of a Down
"Tier" by Rammstein
"Shove It" by Deftones
"Hella Good" by No Doubt
"Walk Like an Egyptian" bang your head version of the Bangles hit tune


Average set running time: 90 minutes
(Longer performances available)

Basic Requirements

Calendar