Popdose - Latest Comments in Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Marco★★★★★ — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 11:12:30 -0000

I always wondered why there is no 'Sorry Counts' lyrics on the Full-Empty booklet.....

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Marco★★★★★ — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 11:09:11 -0000

Lovely, thanks!

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Marco★★★★★ — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 11:09:02 -0000

It is so lovely to read this. Thanks.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Marco★★★★★ — Sun, 26 Aug 2018 11:07:31 -0000

I searched but found no info about The Basement Lights, not even on discogs.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Nguyen van nhung — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 03:11:19 -0000

http://linktomp3.com/ has a collection of all the Judy bait album some where on their site

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

RP — Sun, 18 May 2014 19:24:42 -0000

Thanks....Jeff and I wrote the song originally with a alt/country vibe....and the album track lost some of that feel.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

RP — Sun, 18 May 2014 19:19:18 -0000

Will....a great article and thank you for getting Jeff to open up.

I doubt there would have been a new Judybats or the 00 album
if not for my persistence and encouragement to keep Jeff Heiskell from giving
up and quitting the music biz for good…..

I met Jeff back in Knoxville back in the early 90’s…..when I
was the guitarist for local alt/ goth group Immortal Chorus. I often caught
their local shows at Planet Earth and was impressed with their
quirky sound and energy. Jeff struck me as a talent with anxiety and southern drawl.

The Doubters Club asked me to join them on the road as second guitar. I hit the road and toured with DC for a year or so....As the group dissolved and Jeff learned of the unethical things Paul and Dave were up to….he retreated back to Knoxville and his secluded bungalow on the Monday Estate. It was then that I reached out to Jeff and encouraged him to keep writing songs and not give up. I would invite Jeff over to my house on the weekends and we would drink cold beer and write a few musical ideas…..these early ideas soon grew into full-fledged songs. “Break My Heart, California, Hiding from the face of God, Shine, Full forward Angel, Your too much and Always” came from these weekend writing sessions.

We kept up the pace and after a few months began to seek out additional musicians to form a proper band. We needed a drummer and bass guitar….I was not really interested in adding a
second guitar….as my guitar forward, Brit-Pop style was laden with delay effects
and lent itself to just one guitar…..as my influences ranged from the Bunnymen,
U2, Cocteau Twins, Gang of Four, Joy Division, Television and the Velvet Underground.

We both knew the Hairell twins…Mike (drums) and Doug (guitar) and Jeff invited them to a jam session. the twins had a friend Rob who played bass and this became the final line up….we rehearsed for several months in a remote log cabin south of Knoxville and developed a nice Brit-Pop influenced sound. Usually Jeff and I would introduce one of the song ideas we had written to the group, then we would finish the songs as the full group.

We settled on the moniker “Shoho” for our first name and played a few gigs under that name…..Shoho was Jeff's nickname for the local Knoxville scenesters that often attended our shows. In typical Jeff fashion......we pissed off the very people that we needed as fans.

Jeff came to rehearsal one day with news that Frank “SuperFrank” Copsidas wanted to finance the band and mange us…..Who? Frank had made some money in the radio industry and owned radio stations across the US and Jeff was attracted to this type of wealthy,
eccentric, older man. Frank flew into Knoxville that summer and laid out his master plan……the biggest part of which called for using the Judybats name again…..as he put it “it’s your only chance” to make it! I was dead set against using Judybats name again…..as only Jeff remained from the original line up and our / my new sound was nothing like the old band…..I actually tried to quit several times but eventually caved and we were now the Judybats part deux…..big Fucking mistake!

The second part of Frank’s master plan was a series of recording sessions in dirty little studios with sub-par equipment and lack of talent behind the desk. Another big mistake was that we (band) mixed down each recording ourselves and did not use outside talent for this important task….Often Mike and Doug would sit at the desk and push their individual tracks forward so that their drum and guitar parts were louder in the mix…..overwhelming Jeff’s
vocals and my lead guitar tracks….Hence the 00’ album is actually a series of rough demos….at best. We never intended for those demos to be released!

The third part of said master plan was to gig in the former Judybats strongholds of DC, Baltimore, Chicago, Atlanta, NYC and Lincoln Nebraska……what a joke! We did have some good shows Like selling out the House of Blues in Chicago. And our song "Break my heart" was included on the Oxford American annual "Southern Music" issue. Sadly it was becoming evident that the crowds were not supporting us as the new Judybats….as each show the crowd became smaller….and the $$ less than before.

Amid all the hard work and efforts of all band members…..Jeff was constantly threating
to quit the band and often was a no-show at rehearsals. This was really hard to
take and defeated our moral. I had my own issues to deal with as well…..anxiety from the general direction of the band including Jeff's apathy. My temper was often out of control and I am sure it negatively affected the band as well as my personal relationships at the time…..I was a real mess!

My dream was fading and there was not much I could do to salvage it…..after several years it became all to evident that we were going nowhere and I left the group….Jeff and the guys
continued for a short time and sadly lost contact with them. I wish Jeff and the guys success on their future endeavors!

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Fresh — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 22:11:26 -0000

Guitarist Doug Hairrell and Drummer Mike Hairrell left Heiskell/ the Judybats- to form "The Basement Lights" from Knoxville, TN. Check 'em out on Myspace...They have a new record coming out in the fall.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Red Meat Buffet — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:10:49 -0000

Jenkins where are you? Red Meat Buffet

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

David Jenkins — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:14:36 -0000

Been so long since I was stung by a Jeff comment--kinda wakes up a part of me. Hope Heiskell goes all dance and remix--shatter the guitar drum frame.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Get Over It, Reader — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 12:37:52 -0000

Actually, I appreciate Jeff finally spilling his version of the truth about the past. He hasn't stopped moving/writing/creating and his decision to cut away from fame to do work he loves and believes in is admirable. I wish there was more passion and less face-time in the current music scene. As far as being a diva, hell yes. He's one of my favorite divas of all time. If you're gonna do it, do it with style.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Reader — Wed, 28 May 2008 16:40:07 -0000

SOunds to me like a bitchy guy who blames everyone else for his failures. He's good, but his obvious need to be a diva far outweighs any redeeming qualities he might have.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

SurferBill — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:15:42 -0000

The problem with Jeff's interviews, is he just never really says how he feels...

SB www.myspace.com/lemonstreet

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

Ocelopotamus — Mon, 26 May 2008 15:02:22 -0000

Nice work, Will. I adore the Judybats '00 album and my favorite song on it has always been "Always" -- that couplet you quoted made me tear up the first time I heard it and it still socks me in the gut now and then. "Anachronistic Me" would make a great title for a book or something.

And yeah, excellent interview. Jeff managed to answer some questions I've had for years. Not that I don't have plenty more ...

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

JohnHughes — Mon, 26 May 2008 13:27:23 -0000

Fantastic!! Jeff is an awesome interview.

Re: Hooks ‘N’ You: Judybats, “Judybats ’00”

WHarrisBullzEye — Mon, 26 May 2008 12:41:48 -0000

And, Jeff, if you should need a ghost writer...