Jailbox
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Jailbox

Perryville, MO | Established. Jan 01, 2006 | SELF

Perryville, MO | SELF
Established on Jan, 2006
Band Alternative Indie

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"Show Review: Jailbox at Off Broadway, 12/9/10"

Fact: Jailbox hails from Perryville, MO.

Fact: Jailbox was opening for Jill Andrews and Cassie Morgan and the Lonely Pine

Fact: Jailbox doesn’t really sound like the two facts above would lead you to believe.

The quartet’s music reminded me of the swells and climaxing crescendos you might get from a British indie pop band like Starsailor, far from the folksy alt-country I was expecting. Add to that, their approachable attitudes and fun stage banter about The Sing Off, Jailbox turned out to be fun surprise that night. - Louis, Music VS Man


"Perryville’s Jailbox throws CD-release bash at Rock House (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)"

Get your Perryville on this Friday night at the Old Rock House.

“It’s going to be big!” said bass player and ‘loud mouth’ Cody Schenck.

“It will be better than that one time the Saints won the Super Bowl,” commented guitarist Joseph Bassa.

Can four guys from small town Mo. be bigger than the Super Bowl? Well, let’s just focus on the Rock House this Friday when Jailbox celebrates the release of its debut, One for Each of Us. If you go to the show, you’ll get the CD for free.

Members of the folk rock quartet hail from Perryville, Ste. Genevieve and St. Charles. They started playing in earnest last Summer after singer Andy Tanz got back from touring as a member of Samantha Crain’s band.

The new album is made up of easy on the ear pop confections in the vein of Coldplay and Built to Spill. Much of the material is somber and haunting but there are a few burners as well. They should have broad appeal if they can continue to get their sound out there. - Matt Fernandes


"The Perrine Journal reviews 'One for Each of Us'"

Introspective, at times ethereal, but always innovative and imaginative, Jailbox is new music for the new decade. I was able to listen to this album for the first time while driving, and . . . it is definitely road music. Within the tracks I’m hearing strains of Radiohead and Fleet Foxes among others, but something more. This record contains more emotion, more thought, more planning in the writing and arranging than I’ve heard in a long time. And, while these songs are unmistakably the work of a young band, you can already tell that this will not be the last you’ll hear from them.

One For Each Of Us is a collection of thirteen songs that go beyond the normal fare by so-called “alternative” groups these days. “Where Does It All Go?” finds Andy comfortable in his falsetto range. “Plane Crash” features disjointed lyric lines and an ethereal ending reminiscent of Eno. “Taking It Slow Is So Dull” sounds like a mixture of “Mother and Child Reunion” and “Sloop John B.” And I dare anyone to not end up in tears during the album’s finale “Wrapped In You.” Dipping the toes ever so carefully into the waters of prog, Jailbox take chances with odd meter time signatures and very tasty chord progressions unheard of by “indies.” This is especially true for “My Shell,” “Live Peacefully,” “Where Does It All Go?” and the title track. I inquired of Joseph concerning these techniques, to which he replied,

“As far as different time signatures and sevenths, Andy told me that he and Cody (our bassist) used to play in a group awhile ago entitled Millerswitch, in which all the members overly created songs with odd meters and strange chord progressions so extensively, that now, as Jailbox, he's completely comfortable in doing so while making the songs structured naturally.” Such experimentation has proved successful on this album!!

The majority of song conception is done by Andy Tanz. Subsequent arranging and production are a group effort. Ah, yes, the production!! This album is simply a masterpiece of recording and engineering. It doesn’t get much cleaner than this, I can assure you. The only thing I would change is maybe a couple of segues (especially between the first two tracks) for added continuity. - Steve Mowery


"Homespun: Jailbox in The Riverfront Times"

Jailbox may rep for Perryville, Missouri, but the quartet stakes a sonic claim to the melodic and sensitive British rock made popular by Coldplay, Doves and Starsailor. While Coldplay took cues from U2 and set its sights on stadium-rock, Jailbox prefers to keep things intimate while it summons an expansive palette. Guitarist and singer Andy Tanz pulls you in close with a sweet but strong tenor voice, backed ably by guitarist Joseph Bassa and brothers Cody and Samuel Schenck in the rhythm section.

The strong, varied One for Each of Us works well thanks to equal parts restraint and inventiveness. Much of the first half of the disc centers on quiet songs that are pensive but never moody, evocative but not overwrought or cerebral. The sweet, if oddly named, "Eyes Like a Farmer Tan" floats like an early Kings of Convenience track. "Taking it Slow Is So Dull" comes off as a breezy beach-bum jam, an unexpected bit of whistling, hand-clapping lightness from a record that prefers its hues the color of early summer storms.

As the album progresses, however, the slow simmer of these songs begins to boil. The six-minute "Plane Crash" comes close to disrupting Jailbox's normally gentle waves; the juxtaposition of crescendoing, distorted guitars and round, warm vibraphone notes shows that chaos and order can coincide, however briefly. The next track, "Santa Monica," pushes the needle a little further with a hypnotically syncopated drumbeat, layers of creamy vocals and echo-laden guitar. These are helpful bits of experimentation and noise on an album that could easily coast on its prettiness.
- Christian Schaeffer


"Metromix reviews 'One for Each of Us'"

What do you get when you combine the echo-y, psychedelic sounds of Radiohead and the indie rock elements of a group like The Big Pink or even Cold War Kids? You get southeast Missouri’s newest indie ..rock band.., Jailbox. Some of you may remember a review I did awhile back on a band called Surtsey. Surtsey included Joe Bassa carrying the album with his high pitched voice in front of a tight band. Jailbox also includes Joe Bassa but in this band he’s sitting back taking some of the background vocals and guitar duties. It took me a couple listens to really appreciate what Jailbox had going on and once I got past the slow, dreamy tempos of it, I liked what I heard.

Most of the music on the album is laid back and laden with soft, airy vocals, acoustic guitars and high, electric arpeggios that carry the songs. Miscellaneous percussion adds to the mix. My favorite tune is probably the most obscure one, “Where Does It All Go?”, a choppy, whimsical romp featuring xylophones, extra voices, lots of reverb and one of the best guitar tones I’ve ever heard. The melody is super catchy and you can’t help but smile when listening to this song. Other standout tracks are “Clone Me” (a possible single), “My Shell” which almost has a bit of an A Perfect Circle vibe to it, “Sleep Through New York” and “Plane Crash” which features a guest vocal appearance from Natalie Hayden.

The strangest song title on the disc (and perhaps the most dumbfounding title I have ever heard) is “Eyes Like A Farmer Tan”. The main chorus line is, “She’s got eyes like a farmer tan in the summer”…what the hell? After hearing the song several times, I’m left wondering if there is some actual meaning behind the title or if they just threw some words together that flowed well for the melody. Either way it’s a good track and its words have perplexed me.

I give the production of this disc two thumbs way up. Throughout the record I had to keep reminding myself that this was an unsigned band because the production would definitely tell you otherwise. It’s raw yet all the instruments are crisp and well mixed. The cymbals shine through nicely and Samuel Schenck’s drums have a great, dry tone to them. The dirty Telecaster guitar tones scrape themselves down your eardrums yet the clean notes sit well within the rest of the instruments.

One For Each Of Us does tend to drag a bit toward the end. All the songs are well written and are worth a listen but I found myself almost nodding off during the last three or four songs. They are VERY mellow and just didn’t have enough going on to hold my attention. As much of a fan as I am of slow tunes, I would have liked to hear a few more quick, upbeat numbers to mix things up a bit more.

In the end, this is a great debut effort by a band that I would say has a bright future in our scene. They obviously know what they are doing in the studio, I can only hope they sound just as good on the stage. I could see Jailbox doing well with St. Louis bands like Gentlemen Auction House, Via Dove or even One Lone Car. Be sure to catch these guys live as they celebrate the release of One For Each Of Us at Old Rock House on April 23. - Jeff Nations


"Semoscene.com reviews 'One for Each of Us'"

A lot bands say that they play what they want to play and don't care what everyone thinks. Well my friends most of those bands are lying to you and me. While they are hidden away in their practice space they are really thinking about what's hot at the local hangout, what do their favorite bands sound like, or what are all the cool kids listening to, and then they try to mimic it.

Luckily for us the fellas in Jailbox don't really seem to concern themselves with superficial fad rock or lame dance pop and truly play from the heart. Sure, we've all heard some reviewer say the same thing about some other band in some other market, but this time it's true. This disc is laced with a perfect mixture of beauty and atmosphere and contains the ability to create a soundtrack for escape from the rigors of everyday life.

Here's the deal... Get this CD as soon as you can. It doesn't really matter what kind of music you like, this will get your attention. It's rare for a "local" band to put out music that sounds this good and has spent the time and effort to record it correctly. "One for Each of Us" is a rare gem and should be treasured as such. Click on the album art to get more information on Jailbox and how to obtain this CD. - J Sohn


"Alternapop.com reviews 'One for Each of Us'"

Jailbox is Samuel Schenck, Andrew Tanz, Joseph Bassa and Cody Schenck.

“One For Each Of Us”, is the name of the debut album from Jailbox, a new 4 piece band out of Perryville, Missouri. They just released their debut 13 track album which was fully recorded and produced in Samuel Schenck’s bedroom throughout 2009 and 2010.

Cody from Jailbox says in our brief chat:

“My brother, myself, and Andy have been an unofficial band for about 4 years now. We’d known each other and been very close friends since 2002. It’s actually been very on and off band-wise for quite sometime until just last February when our mutual friend of the same length of time, joined us. We really always knew it’d take a fourth guy to get it going properly, but we were too picky and no one was ever quite good enough. Joe fit the spot perfectly. It helps that he’s always been there with us through the years right under our noses. I guess it just was the right time for it all to come together!”

It’s an amazing debut that is quite solid from top to bottom in song writing, hooks, musicianship and production. It’s incredible that this is the quality of work that 4 young guys can produce from a bedroom “studio”.

You can hear a lot of influences here and I personally am reminded of Radiohead/Snow Patrol (“My Shell”), Evan Dando (“Clone Me”), Adam Franklin from Swervedriver’s solo work (“Live Peacefully”), Fleet Foxes and Wilco.

My only complaint, if you can call it that, is that it’s a bit long at 13 tracks. At first I thought it was a little disjointed but I think that there are very few weak tracks here and it’s impressive that Jailbox is able to showcase their songwriting versatility.

Jailbox is working on getting it on iTunes for you to buy so keep a lookout on their website site for my information. (www.jailboxmusic.com) - Chris Thacker


"Metromix reviews 'Empty Rooms'"

Empty Rooms is the latest effort from southeast Missourians, Jailbox. As you may remember I reviewed their debut effort, One For Each Of Us, last year. It was one of the most admirably produced records I have heard from an unsigned band in awhile, not to mention the music was catchy and different, even somewhat quirky in spots. Empty Rooms sports five tracks and these songs still retain the quality you've come to love about Jailbox and the production is just as up to snuff as their previous effort.

The songs on Empty Rooms are acoustically driven and very easy on the ears. The highlight of this record is the vocal melodies. They are well written and are emphasized by pretty harmonies. There are spots that, for whatever reason, brought a Toad The Wet Sprocket vibe to mind even though this record sounds nothing like a 90s alternative effort. Instead imagine roomy, spacey reverb, crisp acoustics, a variety of percussion and dreamy, lullaby-ish vocals and you have Empty Rooms. "How Time Sorts Things" is the obvious single in my eyes but "I Hate It" is a close contender. Overall this is a MELLOW album, song for song. This is easily an EP that you could put on at bedtime and doze off to. However, the band keeps things intersting and there is enough going on to hold your attention, even with longer songs like "Take Me In" and "Barley & Cherries".

Jailbox's production quality is one of the reasons I have come to like this band so much. You can tell no corners were cut and nothing was rushed in the studio. The sound overall is big and ambient and matches the music style perfectly. The drums take more of a backseat on this EP and instead a lot of various percussion is highlighted which gives the album even more of a stripped down feel. Once again, this is a record where I cannot find one flaw with production.

To sum it up, if you're looking for an album to, say, keep you awake while driving through the state of Kansas, you'd better steer clear of this EP. However, if you're looking for something to mellow you out at the end of a long, hectic day, Empty Rooms should be at the top of your list. This is yet another solid release from a band that I still contend has a bright future on the STL scene. - Jeff Nations


"Jailbox exclusive interview"

Jailbox exclusive interview

by Daniel Falconer | 28 October 2016
Jailbox
Jailbox

St Louis group Jailbox are back with their new introspective single 'Idea Jar', so we caught up with the guys to find out a little bit more about their music, inspirations and more! Read on to find out what they had to say…

For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound?

Ethereal, dream/shoe-gazey, atmospheric, moon-popish, open to personal interpretation.

What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?

Being able to capture a larger audience within today's technologically savvy society, as it's easier than ever for people to put music on the internet. Listeners today have so many options, which is great, but it takes more effort to earn someone's attention.

How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself?

Extremely difficult if your priority is financial gain. Probably impossible.

How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?

We wouldn't have an interest in pursuing an artistic career in which we didn't have control.

Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?

The world we live in, really. Stories are told every day, through more than words or sounds. The music we do hear and connect with obviously blossoms thoughts and desires of songwriting, however, every day interactions and simplicity like the weather changing resonate with our thinking and pursuit of songwriting.



If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose?

Mike Kinsella or Bryan Adams, if he lets us.

Tell us a random, funny fact about you that not many people know.

We have a fifth member. Bare Ree. He's our furry friend who likes to make cameos from time to time on our social media pages.

Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?

To be able to continue doing this at a comfortable level. To make a means of living.

Where do you hope to be this time next year?

Pursuing sonic adventures in the recording process, and hopefully travelling, seeing beautiful buildings and faces and life.

What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?

We plan on releasing new music and videos.

Jailbox's ew single 'Idea Jar' is available now via FarmerTanz Records.

by Daniel Falconer for www.femalefirst.co.uk - Female First


"FM Presents: Jailbox"

St Louis three-piece Jailbox – Andrew Tanz (vocals, keyboards, guitar, bass, percussion), Joseph Bassa (vocals, guitars, percussion) and Aaron Essner (percussion, drums) – talk about fitting in today’s musical landscape and share their thoughts on the band’s wonderfully reflective and pensive, moon-pop tune called ‘Idea Jar’, out now via FarmerTanz Records.
Hi Jailbox, how are you?

Hey guys, doing well, thanks.

How would you describe your sound?

Soft rock sounds, wet and atmospheric, moon-pop dreamgaze.

As a band, how does the writing process work?

Usually, Andy and Joe sit in a room with a riff, or line, or hook, and form arrangements around ideas which get further developed by Aaron with a beat or pattern structure inserted. A lot of the outline comes from the initial recording process, and trying new recording pathways/techniques.

You had been on hiatus as a band for a while but came back with the release of single ‘Idea Jar’ why did you break and how did you find it coming back together?

We released an EP in 2011 and supported it with an extensive U.S. tour. We felt a little exhausted from the year and individually moved away to explore personal interests other than the outlet of music. Ultimately, as we guessed we would, we ended up missing recording and performing together. We made the decision to come back to a central location familiar to us, with the southeastern area of the state home to our families, we chose St. Louis. jailbox2In terms of genre, where do you think your sound fits in today’s musical landscape?

On the softer side of the pillow. Honestly, it comes from a lot of the things in the world – weather, landscape, experience(s), memories, re-memories – and that usually tends to come out of us on the mellower side of things, so probably something emotional.

You are from St. Louis, what is the music scene like back home?

Vibrant. Regardless of what type of music you want to play or hear, there are people in the city somewhere doing it. Albeit, the historical Blues sound is very much alive, the city definitely offers variety. We’ve found our experiences to be very community-oriented, which is something beautiful.

Are there any bands from back home you would recommend to us?

There are definitely some great songwriters, lyricists and genuine players we draw inspiration from: Mackey Smith (the Mustard Beards), Cara Louise, Dubb Nubb, Cody Mitchell, the guys in Cannon Field are amazing.

For those who haven’t seen you perform, what is a Jailbox live show like?

Bring a pillow…Just joking! The jokes may be pretty bad. We have a four-piece set up on stage; two sitters, two standers. Come see for yourself! Lights & sounds.

If you could support one band in the world past or present who would it be and why?

Sigur Ros – total inspiration, hope and beauty. We love everything about everything they’ve ever done.

What does the rest of 2016 hold for Jailbox?

We plan to release new songs and music videos.

@Jailbox
facebook.com/jailbox

©FM - FAMEmagazine


"Jailbox interview - "Idea Jar""

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman October 20, 2016 9:47 am Leave a Comment Tagged With: Alternative, dream pop, Rock, shoegaze, st louis
jailbox

St Louis three-piece Jailbox are delighted to announce the release of their beautifully introspective single Idea Jar, out now via FarmerTanz Records.

Idea Jar displays a unique and ethereal quality to Jailbox’ music; dreamy, sensitive vocals are elegantly lifted by simple, yet effective, guitar pieces, affecting layers of atmospheric percussion add to an already sumptuous song, brought together expertly by beguiling strings. Exploring themes of loss, letting go and personal reflection, Idea Jar perfectly exhibits Jailbox’ evocative, thought provoking music, which brims with emotion, carefully crafted musicianship and easily relatable lyrical content the likes of Owen, Pinback and Sufjan Stevens would be proud of.

In this interview spotlight, we chat with Jailbox about their new release, influences, being a musician in the digital era and more.

Q&A along with links and a stream of their single Idea Jar below.



Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?

The sounds resonate with us as listeners.

What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?

We create for ourselves and to honor our experiences. We hope in doing so to connect with other people’s experiences. It kind of found us all. We are doing our best to create music and sounds that express our interpretation of playing music.

Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?

The world we live in, really. Stories are told every day, through more than words or sounds. The music we do hear and connect with obviously blossoms thoughts and desires of songwriting, however, every day interactions and simplicity like the weather changing resonate with our thinking.

There are still bands we listen to from forever ago, it seems, but just like taste buds, I think we’re always trying to advance and progress for new experiences. Some things just stay great. It’s always a blessing to connect with something that strikes us as ‘timeless’.

Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?

We are always trying to expand recording & songwriting. This was a great project that initiated more creation, getting us back into our songwriting process.

What was the last song you listened to?

Hop Along – “Tibetan Pop Stars”
Bon Iver – “29#strafford apts”
Bruno Mars – “24K magic”
Monk Parker – “Wanna be Forgotten”

Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?

We love the sound /feel of vinyls. Mp3/ streaming is better used for convenience

How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?

We prefer Bandcamp. Bandcamp is free, it’s great outlet to find a viable source of artist’s work

Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?

Society’s growing lack of attention span vs making the listener invest into what you are actually trying to be doing.

Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?

Jailbox.bandcamp, spotify, i-tunes, google play (all major outlets)

Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?

Thanks for taking the time to listen and checking our new tune. We much appreciate it. - Middle Tennessee Music


Discography

One for Each of Us - 2010
Empty Rooms (EP) - 2011
I Got Drunk & Thought About You - 2014

Photos

Bio

www.jailbox.bandcamp.com

Band Members