The End Of An Era.
Chris Ammons recently informed me that Jairus would playing their last show on April 29th. Although they have good reason- they are all moving on to other things, families and whatnot- this is a terribly sad thing for me even if I will not be there to participate. My first concept of a Chattanooga music scene was when I was sixteen or seventeen. Around that time I started the instrumental band I was in as a high school- Chagrin. Along with Carl of Infradig and Ryan who is now in Heroes Are Horses. The first gig we ever played was in he bar where Coptix is now, right on the edge of St. Elmo. I forget the name. I also checked out other nites at the bar, including improv comedy and Counrty Feedback (I think that was the name). At the time I didn't really know any college kids in Chattanooga but Aaron Collier and Andrew Stewart who I had gone to high school with were in that band (again I think, the memories are kind of blurry). This band, whether that was their name or not, became Jairus.
Eventually Jim Tate and Bill Turner joined Jairus on bass and drums and this was the version of Jairus that I came to know and love- Aaron, Jim, Bill, and Chris Ammons.
Ryan Dixon, having passed through a phase of writing god awful panty pop songs (which are well documented on the EP 'Milestones'), eventually became a damn fine song writer. After a few shows where we backed each other up, including a show of his at the Mudpie in Chattanooga and a show of mine for the New City Cafe in Knoxville (and a house show with both of us at my dad's house on Lookout Mtn.) we decided to join forces and he became the second singer for the Quiet Ones. I think one of the first shows we played with this line up- Me, Ryan, and my brothers David and Chris, was with Jairus at Lamar's. The next year or two after this was the epitome of the Chattanooga music scene for me- us, Isaac Wardell, El Toro De Blanco, Gold, Charles Allison and at the head of it all- Jairus.
The only Jairus release I was a present fan for was The Yard And I'm Waiting. To this day, it is my favorite CD from that scene (although Charles' Braced In The Beams is right on par with the level of musical correctness). When I'm hanging out with a new friend and I want to boast of the music from my home town I play for them The Yard And I'm Waiting. To me that album is Chattanooga music. I listen to it and I see the house in St. Elmo it was recorded in. I see people dancing at Lamar's. I can picture in my mind the way Bill plays drums. I imagine sneaking a beer out of Jairus' personal cooler at their shows because the music feels to good not to. I get the same good feeling that first promted me to uninvitedly grab a tambourine and sit in on 'Summer of '96'.
Something I've always considered a standard for good music is nuance- gradual differences between it and popular music, or subtleties. The Yard And I'm Waiting is the most nuanced album anybody I know has ever put out. In Jairus I see a talent that I've always found elusive- the ability to say more by saying less. We are always enamored with the people who can do things that we can't and maybe this is why my iPod shows more plays for Jairus than The Who or Pearl Jam or plenty of other bands.
I know its not a funeral, that I can still be friends with these guys and that they are going on to bigger and better things- but its still a little sad for us here in Seattle. It especially saddens me that we can't be there. But I strongly encourage any of you readers who are in Chattanooga to go and show your support for Chattanooga bands- many of whom have passed without the recognition they deserve. As for us Quiet Ones here in Seattle, I can guarantee that we will put on their record in the coming weeks, sit on our back porch and share a cigarette and a beer to our favorite hometown band.?-John

We just wanted to thank everybody who came out to the show the other night, as we had an amazingly fun time, & thanks to all those who bought us drinks & yelled & danced, etc. Also to the Carter Administration as they were a blast to play with.
We also wanted to thank everyone who has supported us over the years, bought records, come to shows, told people about us, booked shows, sold records, worked the door, listened to us, etc.
It was tons of fun & a really awesome experience. We will still be checking this site & our website, & we will keep you informed of any musical projects any of us are involved in (for now check Jim's band "heroes are horses" & Chris' stuff, both found on our friends top 8 thingy.) If you haven't gotten your copy of our final record: "We Know Some Of It's True" then let us know & we'll see how we can get it to you. It should be available via iTunes before too long as well as other online retailers.
Take 'er easy, We'll talk at ya later.

There's a write up about Li'l ol'e Jairus in the new issue of the Pulse (Chattanooga alt-weekly) & I will make an addendum that it does not mention which is this: Bill is moving to Orlando, Florida. It was written by David Morton & goes a little something like this:

Lamars and Theyre Waiting
Jairus calls it quits

April 26, 2006
Local rockers Jairus give a fond farewell this Saturday at Lamars. Thats right, Jairus is playing their last show. The band is breaking up due to artistic diff Psych! Chris Ammons recently moved to Atlanta, Jim Tate got hitched and the remaining members have began to invest their creative energies elsewhere. While some things begin anew in spring, Jairus sees this season as a good time to call it quits.

Over the past five years, Jairus became a staple of the local scene. John Totten wrote the unofficial obituary on his blog: Jairus 'The Yard and Im Waiting' is Chattanooga music to me. News of the breakup sparked conversation in our offices this week with recollections of past shows in places like St. Elmo and Lamars.

The four-piece began in 2000 and shared the stage with some of indie rocks finest (Of Montreal, Andrew Bird and The Features among them). They released two LPs with one limited edition posthumous LP, "We Know Some of Its True", to be given away at the show. Each disc features hand-made graphics.

"True" opens with a rollicking bass and picked electric guitar with feedback swelling in the background while Chris Ammons sings with lazy candor. Anvil recalls days of drinking beer, sneaking cigarettes in between classes and making out in dark places. The laidback groove of The Soft Basement sounds like a rainy Saturday afternoon with nothing to do. Bass guitar walks sparsely. A keyboard drones a light melody. Ammons explains his immobility: I was up all night with rock and roll. The rhythm section on Our Inheritance borrows from Chicago post-rockers The Sea and Cake. The chorus shifts into a busier hi-hat pattern. A Roland Juno synthesizer warbles in and out of volume swells. The opening lyric generalizes reasons behind the breakup: I can see how life is changing in ways I never thought it would. The album is a chill soundtrack for driving through your old stomping grounds.

Come out and pay your respects. Buy the guys a drink, and maybe pour a little out in the process.

-David Morton

Here's the lowdown on the new cd: Release, April 29, Lamar's
It is titled "We Know Some Of It's True"
It has seven songs, some little surprises, & is 50 min. long.
It is the highest audio quality on a jairus record to date & has captured all members in peak form, with some of the most deft playing on a jairus album yet.
Each disc is hand painted / stamped. Each one is unique.
Also the case has an ejector button. Yes, that is correct, the case has an ejector button.
Here is what it looks like:

We will be playing our final show on April 29, at Lamar's. We will also be releasing our final record at this event. Why is this the final show you ask? Well, come to the show & we will tell you there.

As you may note, a new song has been posted. More will follow. This is from the soon to be released next jairus record. This will most likely be released in April. We'll let you know the details when we know them. We are excited about these songs & the mixing is currently taking place. The album is as yet untitled. Feel free to let us know what you think.

jairus was formed in Chattanooga, TN around 2000. we use lots of fender rhodes & analog synthesizers as well as electric guitars, electric bass guitars, drums and cymbals, glockenspiel, & sometimes other instruments such as cello or violin or gong. Sometimes things are kind of noisy, a lot of times they are melodic & not too loud. There is lots of texture on our records. Also, all of this is topped off with the richest, most syrupy baritone vocals you can imagine.